Thousands of miners left Seattle to pain for gold and fortune in Alaska during the 1890s. Today, more than 835,000 passengers are expected to pass through Seattle on their way to Alaska on Alaskan cruises. Most come for the quiet, untainted scenery or the rare wildlife sightings. Some visit to learn about the American Eskimo, to take an Alaskan husky dogsled excursion or to feast on Alaskan king crab. With so many quaint port towns and over fifteen cruise lines heading to the glacial waters this season, why not make Alaska your next vacation destination?
“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.
New in 2008, Holland America is offering more authentic Alaskan cruises, with the addition of expert travel guides on all Glacier Bay-bound ships. The guides will provide native Alaskan narration and recant some of their personal experiences of “local culture, history, art and flora and fauna.” There will be unique presentations throughout the week, educating passengers on Alaska’s wildlife, the gold rush, volcanoes, glaciers, early explorers and the native Huna people. National Wildlife Preserve guides will take visitors through the parks, offering up their expertise at no additional charge, for a more meaningful and enlightening experience.
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.