Why is Alaska So Popular Today?
What destination do families cruising
for the first time and seasoned
travelers like most? Caribbean, you say?
Oh, think again. When it comes to
travel, they both love to take a land &
sea vacation [aka a cruisetour] to The
Great Land of Alaska.
In our 20-plus years of working with
couples, families and groups to Alaska,
the amount of travelers we take on
cruise and land vacations has grown over
15% every year. It continues to grow
organically, from social media and word
of mouth. So says Raye Trencher,
Alaska destination specialist, at
Alaska Cruises Direct
Presented by Cruise Direct Online. She
further adds: " For most people Alaska
remains their new destination, unlike
the Caribbean where most people have
been there multiple times."
One of the reasons Alaska is so popular
today is that
you can marvel at sunlight at midnight
and close-ups of whales, eagles and
caribou. You can delight in Denali's
(formerly known as Mt. McKinley )
majesty and meadows carpeted with
wildflowers. Amid unsurpassed grandeur
and serenity, the true wilderness of
Denali is calling. Catch sight of a
humpback whale or wolf pups frolicking
in the snow. Alaska is as rustic and
romantic as one could ever imagine.
Alaska: "Whales, Wonders and Wilderness"
Glaciers
Alaska itineraries will bring you face
to face with at least one of these icy
mammoths in places like stunning Glacier
Bay National Park a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and named a Cruise Wonder
of the World by Conde Nast Traveler or
breathtaking Tracy Arm Fjord, and
farther north at College Fjord or
Hubbard Glacier.
Wildlife
How many times in your life have you had
the opportunity to see moose grazing in
vast meadows, whales frolicking in
glistening waters and bears in their
native habitat? In Alaska, all that is
possible - including glimpsing Denali
National Park's Big Five: brown bears,
wolves, moose, Dall sheep and caribou.
National Parks
Here you'll find some of America's most
stunning national gems - awe-inspiring
Denali National Park, home to North
America's tallest peak, 20,310-foot
Denali; Wrangell-St. Elias National
Park, larger than the country of
Switzerland; Glacier Bay National Park
with towering Margerie Glacier; and
beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park,
with its glaciers and abundant marine
life.
Inside Passage & Alaska Cruise Ports
Sailing into ports along the Inside
Passage, you'll get a glimpse into the
welcoming personality of the Great Land,
and a taste of the fascinating gold rush
history that has left its mark on the
region's streets, saloons and
storefronts. These are serene waters,
where one moment you can be sailing
through a wide bay of barrier islands
and the next you're cruising through a
narrow waterway flanked by towering
forested walls. That's the splendid
spectacle of the Inside Passage - the
scenery is constantly changing, from
picturesque shores to friendly coastal
towns. Stretching from Puget Sound,
Washington, through the British Columbia
coast and into the Gulf of Alaska, the
Inside Passage includes more than 1,000
islands, seemingly endless shore line
and thousands of idyllic coves and bays.
Sailing from Seattle, San Francisco, Los
Angeles or between Whittier and
Vancouver, you'll marvel at the
breathtaking scenery and encounter ports
like Gold Rush-era Skagway and
Ketchikan, the capital city of Juneau
and British-flavored Victoria. These are
places where you can visit a Native
village, learn about the triumphs and
tragedies of Alaska's Gold Rush heyday
or go dog sledding with a real musher.
The Inside Passage has stories to tell
that will give you a greater
understanding of the culture, history
and lifestyle of the Great Land.
Check out our
video and see
why Princess
takes more
guests to the
Great Land than
any other cruise
line.
"Marvel
at sunlight at
midnight and
close-ups of
whales, eagles
and caribou.
Delight in
Denali's
(formerly known
as Mt. McKinley
)majesty and
meadows carpeted
with
wildflowers.
Amid unsurpassed
grandeur and
serenity, the
true wilderness
of Denali is
calling. Catch
sight of a
humpback whale
or wolf pups
frolicking in
the snow.
Alaska is as
rustic and
romantic as one
could ever
imagine. Whales,
Wonders and
Wilderness"
In Alaska you'll find Fjords carved by
mighty glaciers stretch toward
white-capped mountains. Salmon leaping
up from the rivers and straight into the
mouths of waiting bears. Playful pods of
whales and dolphins swim through
shimmering waters, dog-sledding and the
northern lights, and rich emerald
forests reach into impossibly blue
skies. Cruising Alaska will transform
your view of the world as you experience
the Great Land's vast wilderness,
enduring historic Gold Rush towns and
communities.
"Indeed Alaska is the perfect adventure
, from the mild to the wild, there is
something exciting to do for everyone."
It's easy to understand why the multiple
choices for adventure in Alaska are
perfect for families, couples, friends
and family groups seeking to check off
one more item on their bucket list and
make once-in-a-life time memories.
America's last frontier
Often, visiting Alaska has as much to do
with what people may feel as with what
they will see. There is a mystique that
surrounds Alaska. To some it represents
a dream, a trip of a life time, a life
altering event, a chance to reach out
and touch something inside themselves
that is wild and beautiful like they
imagine Alaska to be. Our job is to put
that dream - or as much as possible of
it - within reach to you. Alaskan
cruising is affordable, only the
memories are priceless! When it comes to
planning your trip, Alaskan Cruises &
Land and Sea Vacations are more
economical than you might think. With a
wide range of options and choices,
there's a cruise or cruisetour to suit
most any budget.
An Alaska Cruisetour...where a balcony
cabin and a spectacular train ride
become front-row seats for one of the
most breathtaking shows in nature. How
magical!
Why add a land tour to your cruise?
To fully experience Alaska, you'll want
to discover its interior from Anchorage
to Fairbanks with Denali National Park
in between. On an Alaska cruise, you'll
journey along the southeast coastline of
Alaska, experiencing its glaciers,
nature's ever-changing and fragile
masterpieces. But on an Alaska Land &
Sea Vacation you'll uncover so much
more, by combining a seven-night Alaska
sailing with a small-group tour into its
magnificent inland destinations. Stay in
the finest available lodges and embark
on remote roads and railways in deluxe
transportation. Visit Glacier Bay
National Park, and stay a minimum two
nights in or near Denali National Park
and take the Tundra Wilderness Tour
through Denali. And, if you are
traveling south of Anchorage, the Kenai
Fjord National Park boat tour is a must.
Shore & Land Excursions beyond your port
of call offer unique one of a kind fun
and adventure.
Consider a private whale-watching
excursion or a unique dog-sled
experience; or helicopter land directly
on a glacier, or go fishing on remote
mountain lake. Perhaps
taking the White Pass and Yukon train, built
in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush.
The
train is a narrow-gauge railroad linking
the port of Skagway, Alaska, with
Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. On the
train you can experience
the breathtaking panorama of mountains,
glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels,
trestles and historic sites from the
comfort of vintage passenger coaches.
Choose kayaking ,trekking, panning for
gold or take a gentle raft ride to view
hundred's of eagles.
Alaska shore excursions are all
adventure!
Did you know? Denali creates its own
weather. So, Mt. Denali ( formally named
Mt. McKinley ) may not be visible during
your trip. So anyone who promises you'll
see it, just has not "been there and
done that".
"The Husky Homestead tour is widely
heralded as an authentic look into rural
Alaskan lifestyle based on over 35 years
of Alaskan adventures: from freight
hauling on Denali to crossing the finish
line in Nome with a champion Iditarod
team. We were greeted by cuddly puppies
and got to share an intimate view of the
Alaskan Husky as they explode from the
kennel on a training run.
We
got a behind-the-scenes look at what
goes into creating a championship team
and carving a life in Alaskas Interior.
In an hour long presentation by Jeff
King himself, we heard compelling
stories from the trail and saw actual
racing sleds, arctic survival gear and
equipment used to traverse 1100 miles of
Alaskas most rugged terrain."
Did you know? You can fly roundtrip
to/from Seattle and take a roundtrip
cruise. The airfare will be cheaper than
flying into and out of Vancouver. Take a
cruisetour northbound or southbound,
from Vancouver or Fairbanks and the
airfare will be more expensive. The
one-way cruises are likely to be
cheaper. Consider arriving a day early,
in case of weather or flight delays to
spend time exploring Vancouver; or
arrive early to spend time in Fairbanks
or Anchorage.
Alaska is great for friends and family
groups...business meetings, too!
Did you know? Cruising Alaska is a
great alternative to meeting at a resort
hotel. You can bring along your
family for a multigenerational reunion
or gather for a corporate retreat,
training session, or conference.
All-inclusive pricing covers all
shipboard and wilderness lodge
accommodations, meetings, training
sessions and or conferences, most food,
entertainment, and more.
"While we offer exclusive mini-group
rates for 3 couples or more, we also
arrange group cruises from 20 to over
100 guests. One of our group tours focus
on professional and amateur photography.
Both the Camera Craftsmen of America and
the Texas School of Photography have
traveled with us repeatedly. They both
chose Alaska more than once for their
cruise destination for their meetings
and/or training sessions.
Take it from Raye & Marty Trencher, who
have traveled the world for over 40
years, and commented Although we've
visited many iconic destinations around
to world, Alaska has always been our
favorite".
Alaska: By Land. By Sea. By Experts
With unmatched experience and insider
knowledge, Raye & Marty Trencher
are Certified Alaska Travel Experts.
Their deep history and experience of
20-plus years exploring The Great Land
mean you can discover the Alaska of your
dreams. Every cruise visits one or more
glaciers, including Glacier Bay National
Park, Hubbard Glacier, Twin Sawyer
Glaciers, or the glaciers of College
Fjord. Another exclusive, they can take
you beyond your ship's ports-of-call in
Alaska. Alaska Cruisetours are the
ultimate Alaska experience - a vacation
combining an unforgettable 7-day Voyage
of the Glaciers cruise with 3 or more
nights exploring Alaska by land. Every
Alaska Cruisetour includes the state's
top two attractions - pristine Glacier
Bay National Park and picturesque Denali
National Park, home to North America's
tallest peak.
On land, you'll stay at exclusive
Princess Wilderness Lodges near
legendary national parks and most Alaska
Cruisetour itineraries include exclusive
Princess Alaska rail service, giving you
yet another way to see the wonders of
the Great Land! Perhaps take a land tour
to showcase the Yukon Territory, which
is rich in Klondike Gold Rush history.
Did You Know? Alaska's native
Athabascan people named the mountain Denali - the Great One. Today this
glorious 20,310-foot peak is the
centerpiece of the crown jewel of
America's national park system, Denali
National Park. At over six million
acres, this Alaska treasure is unrivaled
for wildlife viewing and included on
every cruisetour itinerary.
"Up north there's a land without fences.
Animals outnumber people, sunlight
shines at midnight and nature reigns.
Life is different. This northern
frontier still boasts pristine
landscapes, majestic wildlife and a
coastline that is one of the most
enthralling waterways in the world.
Beyond Alaska's fortress-like glacier
walls lie scenic ports of call,
treasured national parks, and abundant
wildlife. ...and, with more than 1,400
miles north to south and 2,400 miles
east to west, Alaska is truly a land of
epic proportions".
Ready to cruise and tour Alaska? Get
started planning now. Raye & Marty
Trencher can help you every step of the
way through the planning process of your
cruise vacation. And the best part is,
their services are absolutely FREE! Call
them at 800.365.1445 Today.
-
Meet Raye and Marty
Trencher, who are
part of an exclusive
group of travel
agents who are
recognized by
Princess as
Certified Alaska
Cruise Experts, and
the Alaska Travel
Industry
Association, earning
that distinction for
their unique
qualifications and
knowledge as Alaska
cruise planning
professionals. No
one knows Alaska
like they do. From
planning to packing,
from discount rates
to departure dates,
and where and what
to see, everything
you need to know
about Alaska and
Alaska cruises and
cruise tours.
-
-
Connect with
like-minded Alaska
cruise travelers
that are actually
experienced - having
been there, and done
that! They are eager
to share their own
stories about
visiting Alaska,
both from the sea
and on the land. If
you need help, have
questions or want
more information,
talk to them. They
are advocates who
love Alaska, it's
people, wildlife,
wonders and
wilderness.
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