Alaskan Culture Article

An Alaskan Cruise Makes For An Unparalleled Travel Experience

Whether your travel is for business or pleasure, the nature of the trip usually determines how long the trip will last. For those planning a vacation, a great choice for something new and different is an Alaskan cruise.

You can fly up to Alaska and make side trips from the major airports, but you will find a cruise vacation to Alaska to be must more relaxing and enjoyable. You can start from San Francisco or Los Angeles and make port calls in such places as Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Haines, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park and Ketchikan.

The cruise ships have plenty of on-board activities so you can work out in the gym, cool off in the spa, dance, play the casino games, watch movies or live shows, drinking and eating are also favorite activities. You can also spend your time watching for such wildlife as humpback whales, dolphins, and sea lions.

You can select from a wonderful array of international dishes including vegetarian, diabetic and low calorie foods.

Once you’re reached Alaska, you can choose to stay at some of the luxury hotels while touring other locations where you can try dog sledding, hiking or climbing.

The large Alaskan cruise ships will have a passenger list of more than 2000 passengers. Room rates cost from $750 to over $3000 for the shortest trip of about 7 days. You may be able to get discounts for special events such as a wedding, birthday party or other celebration.

If you don’t want to travel with so many people, try traveling on one of the smaller vessels which typically carry 120 passengers each trip.

It is recommended that you make your reservations well ahead of time especially if you want to travel during the peak season from May to September. Your cruise will depart from either San Francisco or Los Angeles. Contact your travel agent to arrange not only for transfers from an airline to the ship, but for side trips and an interesting itinerary once you arrive in Alaska.

The time spent on the ship and the time spent on side trips can be structured in such a way as to provide an enjoyable experience for everyone in the party. Just be sure you allow for extra time in your schedule so that you can try other experiences on your vacation. You won’t regret taking a few extra hours here and there to fully explore your Alaskan vacation.

An Alaskan cruise will provide you with the opportunity to view scenery of breathtaking beauty, and to see wildlife, and glaciers that you won’t see elsewhere. There are many activities which will please all members of your family both on the cruise ship itself and on the many side trips you can schedule.