Although once the domain of the hardy explorer, with the advent of cruises for the mass market Alaska is now accessible to most adventurous tourists. During the summer months, many cruise lines ply the Gulf of Alaska calling in at ports such as Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Haines and Ketchikan. Glacier Bay National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and deservedly so although there are plenty of other wonderful sights in this final frontier of unspoiled wilderness. See glaciers break off in huge chunks, called calving, wildflower meadows, brown bears, humpback whales, sea lions, killer whales, moose and puffins in this stunning beautiful environment. The Inside passage is a narrow fjord passing between towering mountains and colorful waterfront communities. In September the Fall colors appear and make a stunning picture against the snow-capped mountains.
Cruising makes a trip to Alaska extremely accessible. It is sparsely inhabited with very few hotels and restaurants and would be unable to cope with tourists en masse driving and touring the area independently. For tourists, being transported from place to place with some spectacular scenery from the Inside Passage, cruising is the best, cheapest and easiest way to experience Alaska. Glaciers and icebergs are the main focal points for excursions ashore where cruisers can take a helicopter trip to view the scenery, go hiking up the ice-blue glacier with crampons, ski and snowboard, ride a snowmobile or take a traditional sleigh ride drawn by pony or traditional husky dog team. Meltwater from the glaciers creates amazing waterfalls.
Other wonderful sights and experiences offered from the warmth and comfort of your Alaskan cruise ships are whale watching and seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. This surreal phenomenon is created when electrons collide with air particles in the earth’s magnetic field. The result is a display of colored lights dancing across the sky in bright greens, purples, oranges and reds. However, it has to be dark before this natural light show can be seen, and Alaska is known for its long summer days, with dusk closely followed a few hours later by an early dawn. Further north, in the Arctic circle, there is continuous daylight during June, and conversely in the winter, December sees continuous darkness.
While cruise lines offer mobile accommodation and excellent cuisine, there is also plenty of entertainment whilst cruising between ports. Lectures about Alaska give a rich insight into the area, or play organized card games, read in the library or watch a film. After dark, the casino offers entertainment to suit all skill levels. With blackjack tables, roulette, baccarat and plenty of slots, everyone is made welcome from the novice to the semi-professional player. Lessons are offered generally at the beginning of the cruise and regular cruisers may get vouchers for free chips or two-for-one bets in their loyalty package.
Cruises to Alaska are offered from May to September by Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess cruises and Cruise West as well as other leading tour companies. Booking an Alaskan cruise will certainly be a once in a lifetime experience and you will witness some breathtaking scenery and undoubtedly enjoy some wonderful experiences.
