| There are adventurous travelers and there are | | | | Arctic Alaska Travel Service in 1946. This eventually |
| travelers who really enjoy being pampered more than | | | | became Westours which he sold to Holland America, |
| a great adventure. I have vacationed the complete | | | | and then started Cruise West. |
| spectrum, I have pinched pennies while vacationing in | | | | These ships have experts on board who love and |
| Gatlinburg Tennessee and stayed in a very expensive | | | | appreciate the wildlife and scenery. They are usually |
| vacation home with a private maid in Saint Jean de | | | | cruising close to shore and searching for whales, bears |
| Luz, France. I will admit that the vacation home with a | | | | and other wildlife. When they spot something they |
| private maid was a nice way to experience France. | | | | generally detour the ship to give you an up close look. |
| But, I am an adventurer at heart probably born from | | | | Instead of continuing their course past feeding whales |
| my days as a kid where I grabbed a fishing pole or net | | | | they position themselves upcurrent of the feeding |
| and waded creeks and ponds to see what was there. | | | | whales hoping to drift back closely so you can see |
| My favorite type of travel is where you see things up | | | | them. If there is a section of shoreline just begging to |
| close and personal with exposure to the people, | | | | be explored they can anchor the ship and launch |
| culture and wildlife. This might require you to hop on a | | | | inflatable zodiaks to take you ashore. A small ship |
| rubber landing raft and land on a beach where no one | | | | cruise is more like a continual shore excursion rather |
| lives or it might require you to reach down and pet a | | | | than cruising from port to port. |
| whale. Adventurers run between 8 and 98 years old | | | | Here is one of the itineraries available. |
| generally. | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 1 - You will meet your traveling |
| Today's adventure takes you on an Alaska Cruise to | | | | companions and ship representative in the lobby of the |
| the lower Alaska coast, the Alaska Inside Passage | | | | hotel. A motorcoach will take you to the ship. |
| and it's wonderful glacier areas. This is one of the | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 2 - MISTY FJORDS NATIONAL |
| world's most unspoiled locations where wildlife abounds | | | | MONUMENT AND METLAKATLA On my first trip to |
| and beautiful scenery is found at every turn. There are | | | | Alaska I took a plane ride to Misty Fjords. On this trip |
| few other trips where you can hope to see | | | | you will cruise through the Misty Fjords area with |
| Humpback Whales, Killer Whales, Minke Whales, | | | | steep mountains shrouded in mist. This is a great area |
| Dolphins, Bald Eagles, Puffins, Dall Sheep, Caribou, | | | | to see brown and black bears |
| Reindeer, Moose, Elk, Brown Bears and Black Bears. | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 3 - PETERSBURG |
| My first whale watch was in the Northeast. The | | | | Enjoy "Little Norway" with a population around 3000. |
| whales were bubble feeding and I literally could have | | | | The scenery is beautiful with 10,000 foot mountain |
| jumped off the ship and into the whale's mouth as it | | | | peaks along the water's edge. The Leikarring Dancers |
| rose with a mouth full of water (and krill). This is a | | | | will perform traditional Norwegian dances in colorful |
| great experience that any wildlife lover should enjoy. | | | | and authentic Norwegian dress. Samples of Norwegian |
| Besides the wildlife and scenery there are several | | | | pastries are also included. |
| amazing things to do in Alaska which include taking a | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 4 - FREDERICK SOUND AND |
| dogsled ride, viewing bears as they catch salmon, | | | | TRACY ARM |
| stream fishing for salmon and trout, ocean fishing for | | | | Travel through Holkham Bay and the steep fjord cliffs |
| salmon or huge Halibut, walking on a glacier, flying over | | | | of Tracy arm for 25 miles. This is an incredible area |
| incredible mountains and glaciers. | | | | with beautiful greenish sea water. |
| There are several ways to see Alaska: | | | | Cruise Frederick Sound which has a very large |
| 1) Rent an RV or car and drive. This is an adventure | | | | population of Humpback Whales due to high nutrient |
| but you cannot see the coast and two vehicles | | | | levels in the water. The Humpies travel back and forth |
| together is much safer. If you are really interested in | | | | from Hawaii each year to feed and build up strength |
| driving Alaska go to this website | | | | for having their calves. You will also see sea lions and |
| 2) Fly and stay at a lodge which is a great way to see | | | | seals in this area. |
| inland alaska or a section of the coast. Most of these | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 5 - SITKA |
| lodges focus on fishermen, if you don't fish the other | | | | You will not arrive in Sitka like a large cruise ship. You |
| opportunities are limited. A couple of the best lodges | | | | will come in the back way through beautiful |
| for non fishermen are Denali Backcountry Lodge and | | | | passageways between Baranof and Chichagof |
| Kantishna Roadhouse. | | | | Islands. These scenic passages are too narrow and |
| 3) An Alaskan Cruise with a major cruise company | | | | dangerous for a large ship. There are many wildlife |
| aboard a large ship. These large ships often hold | | | | viewing opportunities while you are enjoying the |
| thousands of people and provide shows and gambling | | | | scenery. You can see bears, bald eagles, black tailed |
| for your entertainment. The two biggest cruise | | | | deer and see otters. |
| companies in Alaska are Holland America (my first | | | | There are plenty of optional shore excursions available |
| alaska cruise was with them) and Princess but almost | | | | in Sitka. This is also a great place to fish for Salmon or |
| every major cruise company has an Alaskan Cruise. | | | | Halibut. |
| This is normally the cheapest way to see Alaska. This | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 6 - GLACIER BAY NATIONAL |
| can also be combined with a land tour before or after | | | | PARK AND PRESERVE |
| the cruise. | | | | The ship will enter the park in the early morning and |
| 4) An Alaska Cruise on a smaller cruise ship which | | | | pick up a park ranger and a Tlingit Interpreter to |
| holds approximately 100 people. This is not the | | | | provide you with great insight into this magnificent area. |
| cheapest way to see Alaska but it is the best value | | | | While cruising the park you will see beautiful glaciers |
| for adventurous people. This can also be combined | | | | and icebergs floating by. The sky will be filled with |
| with a land tour before or after the cruise. | | | | seabirds such as puffins and murrelets. Steller's sea |
| A small ship cruise is made for explorers & | | | | lions, brown and black bears will be seen on the |
| adventurers. The advantages are: | | | | shorelines and islands. In the water will be seals, sea |
| 1) Small ship cruising is usually more personal as the | | | | otters and humpback whales feeding in the rich |
| crew and other passengers are very focused on the | | | | waters. |
| destination and it is a casual atmosphere. Most people | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 7 - SKAGWAY AND HAINES |
| you speak to will have interests similar to yours. | | | | You will disembark the ship and receive a tour of the |
| 2) You will be able to safely cruise close to shore | | | | Skagway area. The Chilkat trail at Skagway was a |
| where wildlife is very abundant, | | | | primary access for gold rushers. You will also be able |
| 3) Small cruise ships offer education and expert | | | | to see and possibly buy the famous Tlingit blankets |
| visitors. | | | | made out of the hair of mountain goats. There are |
| 4) A small ship cruise can squeeze into narrow | | | | also optional shore excursions available here such as |
| passages and beautiful fjords that a larger ship can | | | | fishing. |
| only think about. | | | | You will stay in a top hotel this night |
| 5) Small ships also carry inflatable landing rafts which | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 8 - ARRIVE IN JUNEAU |
| allow you to beach and explore remote areas, or | | | | Transfer to the Juneau hotel and enjoy the city or lots |
| come close enough to a brown bear to make you | | | | of optional activities such as hiking, flightseeing or even |
| nervous. | | | | dogsledding. |
| The Cruise West cruise company was founded by | | | | Alaska Cruise Day 9 - Bid a sad farewell to Alaska |
| Chuck West, an Alaska bush pilot who started the | | | | and transfer to the airport. |