Why Is Alaska So Popular Today!

Get ready to experience adventure to America's last frontier - Alaska.

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.

 

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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".

 

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"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 Alaska's 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 Alaska's most rugged terrain."

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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.