Cruising Alaska: A Traveler's Guide to Cruising Alaskan Waters & Discovering the Interior, 5th edition (Hunter Travel Guides)

215 Pages·2001·1.29 MB·English

by  Larry H. Ludmer

CRUISING
ALASKA
5th Edition
CRUISING
ALASKA
5th Edition
A Traveler’s Guide to
Cruising Alaskan Waters
& Discovering the Interior
Larry H. Ludmer
HUNTER
HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC.
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818
732-225-1900; 800-255-0343; Fax [phone]
Acknowledgments
As always, I would like to thank Bonnie Crosby of
Cruise Holidays of Henderson/Las Vegas for her
assistance in coordinating the gathering of im-
portant information on the various cruise ships
traveling to Alaska. In addition, the prompt and
courteous assistance provided by the media rela-
tions departments of the cruise lines is greatly
appreciated. Worthy of special mention in the
latter group are Denise Seomin of Princess;
Maureen Camandona of Glacier Bay Tours &
Cruises; Dennis Myrick of World Explorer
Cruises; and Gayle Kohmetscher of Clipper
Cruises. Thanks to all.
Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
The Way to See Alaska 3
Setting Priorities: Best Cruise Ship vs. Best Itinerary 6
THE RIGHT CRUISE FOR YOU 7
The Alaskan Cruise Market 9
Traditional Cruise Lines 10
Other Ship Operators 13
The Ships 15
Large Cruise Liners 18
Small Ships 42
Alaska Marine Highway Ferries 47
Gateway Cities & Getting to Your Ship 48
Ship Itineraries 49
Large Cruise Liners 52
Small Ships 61
Alaska Marine Highway Ferries 66
Make Sure It’s What You Want 69
Activities During Alaska Cruising 69
Options in Port: Package Tours vs. On Your Own 72
Some Alternative Modes of Getting Around 73
PRACTICAL INFORMATION 75
Weather/Clothing On & Off Ship 77
Dining 79
The Cruising Season 80
Discounts, Flight Arrangements & Cruise Tours 81
Customs 85
Things to Take Along 85
Traveling with Children 87
So, It’s Your First Time Cruising... 87
Accommodations On Land 90
Time of Day 90
Cruise Lines & The Environment 91
Further Information 91
vii
Cruising Alaska
PORTS OF CALL & CRUISE SIGHTSEEING 93
The Inside Passage/Misty Fjords/Tracy Arm 96
Misty Fjords 98
The Tracy Arm 99
Ketchikan 99
Accommodations 105
Juneau 105
Accommodations 112
The Lynn Canal, Skagway & Haines 112
The Lynn Canal 113
Skagway 113
Accommodations 120
Haines 120
Accommodations 123
Glacier Bay National Park 123
Sitka 126
Accommodations 131
Wrangell 131
Accommodations 134
Yakutat Bay, Hubbard Glacier 134
Prince William Sound, College Fjord, Columbia Glacier 136
Valdez 138
Accommodations 142
Seward 142
Accommodations 146
Homer 147
Accommodations 149
Some Other Ports 150
BEYOND THE CRUISE 151
Anchorage 153
Around Anchorage 161
Accommodations 165
The Interior 167
Heading North 168
Denali National Park 170
Accommodations 173
Fairbanks 174
viii
Contents
Accommodations 177
The Matanuska Valley 178
Other Alaskan Destinations 180
Alaska Peninsula & Aleutian Islands 181
Nome 181
The North Slope 182
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve 182
West Coast Gateways 183
Seattle 184
Vancouver 187
Victoria 189
ADDENDA 193
Additional Sources of Information 193
State of Alaska 193
Transportation 194
Public Lands 195
Alaska Localities 197
Cruise Lines 199
Small Ship Operators 201
Tour Operators 202
Major Hotel Chains in Alaska 203
Major Car Rental Companies 204
Gateway Cities 205
MAPS
Coastal Alaska 5
Ketchikan 101
Juneau 107
Skagway 115
Haines 121
Sitka 129
Wrangell 133
Valdez 139
Seward 143
Homer 147
Downtown Anchorage 157
ix
Introduction