Porthole...

ALASKA 2002:

BIGGER AND BETTER AT SEA AND ON LAND

When it comes to thinking about the upcoming cruising season for Alaska, think big! With the cruise lines keeping many ships closer to North America in 2002, passengers thinking about Alaska for the first (or fifth) time will find the offerings are bigger and better than ever both at sea and on land.

“Alaska continues to be a ‘hot’ destination,” says James G. Godsman, president of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). “The natural sights and attractions are spectacular. From the remote glaciers to the serene bays and fascinating ports, there is no experience like viewing the unspoiled beauty of Alaska than from the comfort of a cruise ship.”

Overall, the 2002 season is shaping up to be a record year, with cruise lines deploying additional ships to Alaska, adding more cruises, enhancing shore excursions, and offering a larger array of land-based tour add-ons. This means more to see and do in or near the largest state in the U.S. In fact, Vancouver and Seattle, traditional Alaska ports of embarkation, are expecting more cruisers than ever and are providing lots of additional parking targeted specifically at those who choose to drive to the ship.

Some highlights for the 2002 season in Alaska include: the addition of the Star Princess and the Regal Princess, as well as a new wilderness lodge, by Princess; the re-deployment of Holland America’s flagship ms Amsterdam from Europe, where it was originally scheduled to cruise; the decision by Celebrity Cruises to add a third ship to their successful Alaska lineup; an increase in modern rail car offerings by Royal Celebrity Tours for both Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International; new offerings from Crystal Cruises out of San Francisco, Vancouver, and Seward; great Seattle (and Vancouver) options from Norwegian Cruise Line; the addition of Rocky Mountaineer Railtour packages with World Explorer; and much more from these and other lines.

Like many lines, Princess is enhancing their Alaska offerings both onboard and on land. As part of the company’s response to interest in U.S. ports of embarkation and destinations, Princess added a sixth ship to its Alaska 2002 schedule, with a series of 10-day round-trip voyages from San Francisco aboard the Regal Princess (originally scheduled to be plying European waters). “As our passengers continue to show increased interest in U.S.-based voyages, we decided to offer an additional option in our most popular region, Alaska,” says Dean Brown, their executive vice president of customer service and sales. The cruise includes Juneau, Skagway (or Sitka), Ketchikan, the glaciers of Tracy Arm, and British Columbia’s fascinating Victoria.

Up in Vancouver, the inaugural season for the 109,000-ton Star Princess means it will be the largest ship sailing Alaska’s most popular cruise itinerary--the Gulf of Alaska route. In all, the Princess 2002 cruise season will feature a total of 104 sailings on five itineraries. In addition to the 1,590-passenger Regal Princess and the 2,600-passenger Star Princess, 1,950-passenger sister ships Sun Princess, Dawn Princess, and Ocean Princess will return to the popular seven-night ‘Voyage of the Glaciers’ Gulf of Alaska itinerary between Vancouver and Seward. Another sister, Sea Princess, will be deployed on a seven-night Inside Passage route from Vancouver.

On land, Princess is opening its fifth exclusive riverside property right next to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge will be adjacent to the nation’s largest national park, offering a convenient alternative to Denali. Princess passengers will be able to combine their cruise with any of 56 different land tour choices, including 11 at the new lodge and 10 new multiple-night tours that feature the renowned Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. More tours than ever will also feature travel aboard the company’s own Midnight Sun Express Ultra Dome rail cars.

With the longest legacy of Alaska cruising at 54 years, Holland America is offering 115 Alaska cruises in 2002, including the addition of the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam for 19 weekly sailings out of Seattle. Of the move of the Amsterdam from Europe to North America, their senior vice president of sales and marketing David Giersdorf, says, “Not only is Alaska one of the most popular destinations for North Americans, but her new home port of Seattle is easily accessible by a short domestic flight, train, motorcoach, or private vehicle from major population areas in the northwest and west.”

The Amsterdam will be joined by five other Holland America ships: the 1,440-passenger sister ships Volendam and Zaandam and the 1,266-passenger sister ships Ryndam, Statendam, and Veendam. Thanks to the ship’s 22.5 knot cruising speed, the itinerary out of Seattle will include Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan, and a service call in Victoria. The line’s varied Vancouver offerings feature departures on Mondays, Thursday, and Saturdays, with Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay on the itineraries, as well as open-jaw itineraries between Vancouver and Seward that include even more stops.

Holland America features a long lineup of cruisetour options, with 31 different choices to add to a three-, four-, or seven-night Alaska cruise. New features for 2002 include eight cruisetours with two nights at Denali National Park (rather than the standard single-night stay), ten 12- to 21-night Grand Alaska Journeys that offer an in-depth look at the state by land and sea; and two Deluxe Escorted CruiseTours that feature most meals and the personal service of a tour guide for the entire land portion of the trip.

Celebrity Cruises is adding more than 50% capacity to its continually growing Alaska offerings by placing the Mercury into Alaska service, rather than in the Baltic and Mediterranean as previously scheduled. The Mercury and Infinity will sail seven-night voyages round-trip from Vancouver (departing on Sundays and Fridays, respectively), while the Summit will feature seven-night open-jaw options between Vancouver and Seward (departing on alternating Fridays). Varying itinerary highlights include Ketchikan, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, College Fjord, and Valdez.

Celebrity really shines this season with an expanded series of Royal Celebrity Tours packages that feature both Alaska’s interior and new trips to the Canadian Rockies. The Alaska pre- and post-cruise opportunities feature what are currently the world’s largest double-decker glass-domed train cars and great itineraries that take guests deep into the heart of Alaska’s interior. In addition, new 12- and 13-night packages to the Canadian Rockies are available to Infinity and Mercury passengers, with Rocky Mountaineer’s glass-domed train cars, premium hotels like Chateau Lake Louise, Jasper Park Lodge, and Banff Springs Hotel, and a variety of activities and tours. With these additions, plus Michel Roux’s gourmet cuisine and world-class spas, Celebrity has become a top option in Alaska (and Canada).

Sister company Royal Caribbean International also features Royal Celebrity Tours packages, with an added railcar for 2002 in response to Cruisetour success in previous years. The line will have three ships offering both roundtrip and open-jaw sailings in 2002, with the Radiance of the Seas departing Vancouver for seven-night itineraries on Saturdays, the Vision of the Seas doing the same on Sundays, and the Legend of the Seas sailing between Vancouver and Seward on alternating seven-night cruises. Itinerary highlights include Juneau, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier, Ketchikan, Misty Fjords, and Sitka. Cruisetour options, ranging from nine to 13 days and in 13 different packages, are offered to Legend of the Seas passengers (including the same Canadian Rockies trips offered by Celebrity Cruises).

Known for its unusual round-trip Alaska cruises from San Francisco, Crystal Cruises will vary its season a bit with three 10-day itineraries between Vancouver and Seward (or San Francisco). “Though we offer some of the most exotic itineraries in the world, Alaska programs continue to be among our highest-rated destinations,” says senior vice president of marketing, Adam Levitt. “Even the most seasoned world travelers enjoy revisiting the unique scenery and wildlife of Alaska, while appreciating the comfort factor of vacationing close to home.”

In all, Crystal now has nine sailings to Alaska aboard the 940-passenger Harmony. Depending on the itinerary, the luxury vessel will visit the Alaskan ports of Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, cruise Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, and also call on Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. The Alaska season will feature onboard naturalists, excellent children’s programs, special theme cruises for which Crystal is well known, more than 50 shore excursions, and the return of the extended Denali Park Package (June 14 only).

Beginning in late-April, Norwegian Cruise Line will be featuring the Norwegian Sky out of Seattle and the Norwegian Wind out of Vancouver. Both ships will alternate Glacier Bay and Sawyer Glacier itineraries, with ports of call including Juneau, Skagway/Haines, Ketchikan, and Victoria. Their ‘Alaska Vacation Stretchers’ are particularly attractive, with options including five-night Canadian Rockies trips and three-night Seattle/Victoria explorations.

Aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit, the ship is now scheduled to operate 16 seven-day Glacier Route and three Glacier Bay cruises for Carnival Cruise Lines in 2002. Cruising between Vancouver and Seward, the Spirit will feature Prince William Sound, College Fjord, Lynn Canal, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and the Inside Passage in both directions. Southbound cruises will also visit Valdez, Yakutat Bay, and Hubbard Glacier, while northbound itineraries will add Sitka and Endicott Arm Fjord. Long-known for unique shore excursions on all of their itineraries, Carnival will offer more than 100 different options in Alaska, including halibut fishing, alpine lake snorkeling, mountain biking, and more.

Celebrating their 25th year of unique Alaska cruising, World Explorer Cruises continue to provide innovations for the classic 737-passenger Universe Explorer. The line is offering nine sailings in Alaska, with four different itineraries ranging from eight to 14 nights. Long known for the focus on natural wonders, wildlife, and education in Alaska (and Central America), World Explorer’s Alaska options for 2002 include: new three-night pre-cruise excursions with Rocky Mountaineer RailTours; no solo surcharges for more cabins than ever; excellent May, August, and September specials; the largest library at sea; the Complimentary Learning Program that’s very popular with many passengers; and the return of Enhanced Learning programs (modest cost) for those passengers with subject-specific interests.

Thus, whether you choose to fly, drive, or take a bus or train, the Alaska options for 2002 make it one of North America’s (and the world’s) most exciting destinations. Thanks to more ships, more itineraries, and more features before, during, and after the cruise, Alaska is bigger and better than ever.

Alaska tourism pioneer Charles B. West, chairman emeritus of Cruise West, is predicting a record year for Alaska cruising and thinks many first-timers and veterans will opt for the small ship experience. “The liners can’t duplicate what we do,” says West. “Huge liners cruise up and down the Inside Passage main navigation channels, sometimes actually cruising in the open ocean. Meanwhile, our seven small ships, carrying 114 guests maximum, will be exploring glaciers, fjords, islands, and villages east and west of the main navigation routes that are beyond the liners’ reach.”

Cruise West will offer a choice of eight different small ship itineraries for 2002, ranging from three to 13 nights and including five that sail entirely within Alaska waters and begin and end in Alaska ports. “These cruises provide a more comprehensive itinerary than is possible by voyages beginning or ending in Vancouver or other west coast ports,” says president and COO Jeff Krida. “It is not possible to arrange a seven-night itinerary this comprehensive that begins or ends outside of Alaska.” For example, the company’s eight-night ‘Secluded Waterways’ cruise-tour itinerary between Juneau and Ketchikan (or reverse) calls on five Alaska ports (Skagway, Haines, Petersburg, Sitka, and Metlakatla, a native Tsimshian community) and also visits Misty Fjords National Monument, Tracy Arm fjord, LeConte Glacier, Frederick Sound, Wrangell Narrows, Peril Strait, and Glacier Bay. Many of the shorter children six to 17 and several new pre- and post-cruise land extensions (like the ‘President’s Alaska Tour,’ a unique opportunity for a maximum of 20 guests to explore a mix of the most popular areas in the state). In addition, formal and informal nights have been eliminated for the Alaska season, with ‘Country Club Casual’ the attire each evening.

With 11 port-intensive itineraries for its 14-voyage 2002 Alaska season, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises and the Seven Seas Navigator provide a unique luxury alternative. The 490-guest all-suite ship (90% with balconies) will sail from May to September between Vancouver and Seward, with convenient seven-night offerings, as well as two 11- and 12-night choices. New offerings for 2002 include the ‘Club Mariner’ youth program for children six to 17 and several new pre- and post-cruise land extensions (like the ‘President’s Alaska Tour,’ a unique opportunity for a maximum of 20 guests to explore a mix of the most popular areas in the state). In addition, formal and informal nights have been eliminated for the Alaska season, with ‘Country Club Casual’ the attire each evening.