Whether you are saving for Disney World or planning a family vacation with "something for everyone," it can be quite a feat. However, Alaskan cruises are a no-fail option. Kids as young as pre-schoolers are entertained by the White Pass & Yukon train ride in Skagway, panning for gold and other ship activities aboard Holland America or Carnival cruise lines. Grammar school aged children and teenagers enjoy the more active adventure trips like hiking, dog sledding and glacier viewing. Seniors are never disappointed with the delicious Alaskan king crab and salmon dinners, gorgeous scenery and shows right on the ship. In seven days, you will see so much and experience a lifetime's worth of memories for a reasonable price.
"People go to Alaska to see wildlife for a reason, but you see it in many ways and in many circumstances," said Erik Elvejord, spokesman for Holland America Line. "Don't expect a lineup of bears when you hit the pier, or pods of whales everywhere the ship goes." Seeing wildlife in Alaska while on a cruise is all about careful planning, Alaskans say. While animals won't be flocking toward the ship, you can visit one of the port stop towns for guaranteed sightings.
Carnival Cruise Lines recommends the Sea Otter Quest in Sitka, for example, because there's a 100% guarantee you'll see these playful creatures. Holland America recommends the Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest in Auke Bay because humpback and orca feeding grounds are located right amid the Alaskan cruise route. Bears can be a little more hit-or-miss, wildlife experts say. You can take a $100 "Bear Search" at 7am in Icy Strait Point, although there's no guarantee you'll spot one. Or you can take a $300 - $1,600 fly-in adventure to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island, Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park or the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where bears reliably come to feed on salmon.
There are, of course, many other activities that draw people to Alaskan cruises. Some say "Why Alaska? Wouldn't you rather go somewhere warm like the Bahamas or Hawaii?" For starters, you can't see glaciers somewhere warm. Sure, they're cold -- but for people who live near the mountains already, nothing compares to mountains of ice that have existed since pre-human times. If Al Gore's predictions are accurate, these behemoth ice caps may one day disappear. Also, where else can you pan for gold, catch a 4.5-pound salmon, traverse by dogsled or purchase traditional Huna native artwork?
Alaskan cruises are a great way to get around the 49th state. Cruising.org can point you in the right direction for a cruise in Alaska. Or try the Online Vacation Center at (800) 329-9002, which offers sharp discounts; as low as $699 for a seven-night excursion aboard premium cruise lines like Holland America. To board the ship, you may need to fly to Seattle or Vancouver, although flights are less expensive than flying directly to Anchorage, Alaska.
