Charting a course for Alaska waters: Alaska's cruise industry plans 2008 itineraries.With tourism revenue continuing to fuel Alaska's economy, those who work in the travel industry ward off the chill of winter with a look ahead to the warm months of summer and the 2008 cruise ship preview. Next summer's tourism season has heated up already with news of ship upgrades, creative booking discounts, added departures, and ambitious excursion opportunities for visitors to The Last Frontier. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Plus, as the U.S. dollar continues low against its Canadian cousin and the growth of the euro, cruise companies and their land-based partners hope to reap the rewards of increased interest by foreign travelers looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a bargain. AN ALASKA EXPLORER Holland America Line Holland America was founded in 1873 as the Dutch-America Steamship Company, a shipping and Passenger line. Because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line (HAL). has eight ships scheduled for 156 cruises in 2008-59 sailings on three Seattle-ported ships and 97 on five ships based in Vancouver, British Columbia British Columbia, province (2001 pop. 3,907,738), 366,255 sq mi (948,600 sq km), including 6,976 sq mi (18,068 sq km) of water surface, W Canada. Geography . The company has announced three distinctive Alaska itineraries for 2008--the "Glacier Bay Glacier Bay Narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean, southeastern Alaska coast, U.S. About 60 mi (97 km) long, it contains 16 active glaciers that descend from the St. Elias Mountains to the east and Fairweather Range to the west. Inside Passage," "Glacier Discovery," and "The Alaskan Explorer" cruises. Popular among its cruise packages, the company's "The Alaskan Explorer" cruise, operated by three ships, departs from Seattle and serves up the requisite glaciers, wildlife and Alaska history via stops at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, along with Victoria. The ship Amsterdam (1,380 guests) highlights Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm Tracy Arm is a fjord in Alaska near Juneau. It is named after a Civil War general named Benjamin Franklin Tracy. It is located about 45 miles south of Juneau and was designated as a wilderness area by the United States Congress in 1980. and Sawyer Glaciers. The ship Oosterdam (Vista-class, 1,848 guests) highlights Hubbard Glacier Hubbard Glacier, SE Alaska, largest tidewater glacier in North America, on Disenchantment Bay at head of Yakutat Bay, at the northern end of the Alaskan panhandle. Extending 76 mi (122 km) from Mt. Logan in Yukon Territory, the glacier's face is more than 6 mi (9. and Yakutat Bay Yakutat Bay is a 29-km-wide (18 mi) bay in the U.S. state of Alaska, extending southwest from Disenchantment Bay to the Gulf of Alaska. "Yakutat" is a Tlingit name reported as "Jacootat" and "Yacootat" by Yuri Lisianski in 1805. . The ship Westerdam (Vista-class, 1,916 guests) cruises Glacier Bay. The larger Vista-class ships offer a wide variety of options for verandah staterooms. Among its 97 cruises from Vancouver, Holland America Line offers a combination of round-trip Inside Passage sailings and one-way cruises from Vancouver and Seward--allowing travelers the option of combining a cruise with additional land-based touring. Aiming to satisfy an experienced, world-savvy clientele, cruise companies are searching out unique and unusual shore excursions for their passengers. In addition to the requisite glacier flight-seeing, sea kayaking, fishing and wildlife viewing, Holland America Line offers more in-depth shore excursions through its cruise-tours, which combine a cruise with an extended 11- to 20-day, land-based tour. The 2008 schedule includes 29 cruise-tours offerings, encompassing 14 national parks This is a list of national parks ordered by nation. Africa
 National Wildlife Refuge ,
Gates of the Arctic, Klondike Historic Site (Dawson City), and others.
"Holland America's CruiseTour itineraries let guests take their time to have a personal wilderness experience in the areas of Alaska and the Yukon that most intrigue them," says Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs, and a certified travel counselor. "We take guests to scenic national parks and recognized wilderness areas, and we design optional excursions to let them fully experience the adventure while they are here." PRINCESS: DESTINATION-INTENSIVE Among the summer 2008 Alaska offerings by Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is an American cruise line, based out of Santa Clarita, California, that operates cruise ships also shares the same building with Cunard Line headquarters. It is one of the many cruise lines operated by the Carnival Corporation. is what the company is calling "the most destination-intensive itinerary in Alaska." Princess Cruises will sail five vessels on its Gulf of Alaska Noun 1. Gulf of Alaska - a gulf of the Pacific Ocean between the Alaska Peninsula and the Alexander Archipelago Pacific, Pacific Ocean - the largest ocean in the world program next summer, including--for the first time in Alaska waters--the ship Tahitian Princess Tahitian Princess (formerly R Four) is a small luxury cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises. She mainly sails around the French Polynesian islands, Cook Islands, Marquesas Islands, and often sails to Hawaii. Her only sister ship is Pacific Princess. , debuting a longer route that features the brown bears of Kodiak, Valdez, and the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park Kenai Fjords National Park, 669,983 acres (271,248 hectares), S Alaska. The park features the great Harding Icefield and its radiating glaciers, many of which descend to tidewater, and a magnificent series of fjords along the coast of Kenai Peninsula, with rain , among other Southeast stops. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the company, Princess ships will offer 73 signature Gulf of Alaska sailings and eight departures of the new "Connoisseur"-package voyages throughout the 2008 summer season. Ranging from 670 to 2,670 passengers, Princess ships include Diamond Princess Diamond Princess can refer to:
The Island Princess is a cruise ship for the Princess Cruises line. She is the sister ship to the Coral Princess. , each returning for another season of the seven-night "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruises between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Whittier; and the Tahitian Princess, which joins the lineup with the 14-day "Connoisseur" cruise sailing roundtrip from Vancouver. "We dedicate our newest and most innovative ships to these itineraries because we believe they offer an unrivaled way to see Alaska's worldfamous coastline," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours Princess Tours is an Alaskan sightseeing passenger car service owned by P&O Princess Cruises and operated by its Rail Division. Princess Tours runs ten cars a day (five north, five south) from Anchorage to Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad, stopping at Talkeetna, Denali, and . "... with our new, longer Connoisseur itinerary, we're offering travelers the chance to explore many of the hidden gems of this region they don't often get the opportunity to explore...." Travelers can pair the seven-day Gulf of Alaska cruises with any of the company's 34 land-tour opportunities, offering a chance to see the best of Alaska by land and sea, according to Princess. In addition to its "Connoisseur Voyage" cruise, the company offers travelers the "Voyage of the Glaciers" and "Inside Passage" destination packages. The 2,670-passenger Princess ships Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will sail 37 voyages departing Saturdays from Vancouver, or Whittier and stopping at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. The itineraries feature daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord College Fjord is a fjord located in the northern sector of Prince William Sound in the U.S. state of Alaska. The fjord contains five tidewater glaciers (glaciers that terminate in water), five large valley glaciers, and dozens of smaller glaciers, most named after renowned East . In addition, the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess will offer 36 sailings on the same itinerary, departing on Mondays, according to the company. The "Inside Passage" destination offers round-trip sailings from Seattle or San Francisco and a seven- or 10-day cruise stopping at Southeastern ports. CRUISE WEST'S SWEET FLEET Seattle-based Cruise West offers travelers 160 Alaska departures in 2008, an additional 14 departures from last summer. In addition, the company touts its upgrade of the ship Spirit of Yorktown The Spirit of Yorktown is a small cruise ship owned and operated by Cruise West. It carries 132 passengers. with a new cabin category offering visitors a private balcony, renovated lounge and new collection of Alaska artwork. Cruise West debuts its ship Spirit of Glacier Bay in Alaska waters during 2008--making it the eighth of the company's fleet to sail Alaska offerings. The ship will sail the Glacier Bay Highlights cruise--one of two packages offered under the company's "Alaska Getaways" category, which concentrates on the Glacier Bay and Prince William Sound Prince William Sound, large, irregular, islanded inlet of the Gulf of Alaska, S Alaska, E of the Kenai peninsula. It has many bays and good harbors; the large Columbia Glacier flows into Columbia Bay, in the N central portion. areas. Cruise West's Alaska visitors may also choose from a half-dozen cruise packages under its extended-journey "Grand Voyages" and Southeast-oriented "Traverse the Inside Passage" categories. Cruise West, which bills itself as the "largest American-owned cruise line" and a second-generation family business with historic ties to Alaska, calls on 24 Alaska and Russian ports and targets the soft-adventure traveler--one looking for the "up close and personal" opportunities available from small-ship cruising. Onboard, cruise passengers become participants in their own itinerary, benefiting from the camaraderie that comes from a small passenger list. Cruise West ships each carry between 78 and 138 guests, with the Spirit of Yorktown topping the list for capacity. ROYAL TREATMENT During the summer of 2008, Royal Caribbean guests can select from more than 55 Royal Caribbean voyages to the Great Land. The ship Radiance sails a seven-night north- and southbound itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia and Seward. The familiar Rhapsody of the Seas Rhapsody of the Seas is a Vision Class cruise ship for Royal Caribbean International. She sails Western Caribbean itineraries year-round out of ports along the Gulf Coast. Onboard amenities include a full-service spa, two swimming pools, six bars, a pizzeria, and an ice-cream returns to Seattle cruising on seven-night, round-trip "Alaska Fjords & Glaciers" voyages. Serenade of the Seas Serenade of the Seas is a member of the Radiance class of ships, belonging to the Royal Caribbean International fleet. The Serenade sails the Southern Caribbean during the winter and spring and cruises in Alaska during the summer. will sail a seven-night, round-trip itinerary from Vancouver, visiting the Hubbard Glacier. For an extended Alaska adventure, the ships Radiance and Serenade serenade [Ital. sera=evening], term used to designate several types of musical composition. Opera and song literature yield numerous examples of the serenade sung or played by a lover at night beneath his beloved's window; outstanding is will each sail a 14-night "Ultimate Alaska" voyage. Royal Caribbean is also offering combination land-sea cruise tours and features 20 packages designed to fit before or after the cruise. Destinations include Fairbanks, Seward and Denali National Park Denali National Park Preserve, southern central Alaska, U.S. Established in 1980, it comprises the former Mount McKinley National Park (1917) and Denali National Monument (1978). . Many of the tour packages include segments on Royal Caribbean's Wilderness Express, a glass-domed railcar offering unobstructed views of the state's wildlife and landscape. A CELEBRITY CELEBRATION The word for Celebrity Cruises' 2008 season appears to be "ultimate," as in its 11- and 14-day "Ultimate Alaska" itineraries. In addition, the line offers "Alaska Hubbard Glacier Cruise" and "West Coast and Alaska" itineraries, as well as north and southbound Alaska itinerary packages. Founded in 1989, Celebrity merged with Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean International (OSE: RCL NYSE: RCL) is a Norwegian-American cruise ship company based in Miami, Florida. It is a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., with 21 ships in service and one more under construction. All the ships have names ending in "of the Seas. in 1997 to form Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. A roundup of the cruise line's 2008 offerings follows, by ship. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NORWEGIAN'S PEARL, SUN AND STAR Alaskans living and working along the waterfront will spot three familiar cruise ships back again next summer flying the Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a company operating cruise ships, headquartered in Miami, Florida. It is most well known for its Freestyle Cruising, which means that there are no set times or seating arrangements for meals, nor is formal attire required. flag. The ships Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Sun, all part of the line's Freestyle Cruising designation, will again sail to Alaska during the 2008 cruise season. The Norwegian Pearl, which is the cruise line's newest ship and features the first bowling alley at sea, along with the Norwegian Star, will sail seven-day round-trip cruises from Seattle. The Norwegian Sun will sail sevenday round-trip cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia. All itineraries sail Alaska's Inside Passage and highlight either Glacier Bay or Sawyer Glacier. Always rolling out innovation on the cusp of industry trends, the cruise line's Freestyle Cruising "offers guests the flexibility of having no fixed schedules or dining times, no formal dress codes and a variety of activity options--perfect for families and individuals alike who prefer to do what they want, when they want," according to the company. "With 'Freestyle Cruising,' our guests can enjoy the Alaska experience to the fullest," says Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "In particular, 'Freestyle Cruising' gives them the freedom and flexibility to explore ashore, and really make the most of this spectacular destination without worrying about returning to the ship for a set dining time." The Norwegian Pearl will call at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. The Norwegian Star calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Prince Rupert, British Columbia For other uses, see Prince Rupert (disambiguation). Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's north coast, and home to some 12,815 people (Statistics Canada, 2006). . Finally, the Norwegian Sun will stop only at the Alaska ports of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. The cruise line offers its passengers 130 shore excursions, ranging from options such as a ride aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to an interpretive visit to the Cape Fox Rainforest Preserve. SELLING FUN--CARNIVAL Carnival cruise line offers three itineraries for its Alaska season: Glacier Bay and north- and southbound Alaska packages. The seven-day Glacier Bay itinerary includes stops in Vancouver, British Columbia; Juneau; Skagway; Ketchikan; and cruising along the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. The line's seven-day northbound Alaska itinerary departs from Vancouver, and includes among its ports of call: Ketchikan, Juneau, Lynn Canal, Skagway, Sitka, Anchorage and general cruising along the Inside Passage coastline, College Fjord and Prince William Sound. The seven-day southbound Alaska itinerary departs Anchorage and includes among its stops and cruising sites: College Fjord, Prince William Sound, Sitka, Juneau, Lynn Canal, Skagway, Ketchikan and Vancouver. Alaska shore excursions include motorcycle tours, a visit to the rainforest canopy, and railway ride. SAILING THE SEVEN SEAS Regent Seven Seas Cruises Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a cruise line, formerly known as Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Luxury cruises are offered to over 300 ports on six continents, including Antarctica. (RSSC RSSC Radisson Seven Seas Cruises RSSC Robotics Society of Southern California (Fullerton, CA) RSSC Regional School Support Center (New York state) RSSC Regional Space Support Center ), formerly Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, sails to more than 300 ports on six continents, including stops in Alaska. The company touts its ambiance am·bi·ance also am·bi·ence n. The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment: "The noir ambience is dominated by low-key lighting . . . as "upscale, but not uptight," according to the company Web site. Although the company offers such exotic offerings as an 82-night, five-continent odyssey, its 2008 Alaska season takes smaller bites. "Our 2008 program presents an enticing blend of exotic ports and emerging destinations as well as 'must see' cultural capitals on every continent," said Mark Conroy, Regent's president. "Innovative itineraries are our trademark, but Regent guests will also delight in our lavish accommodations, fine dining, entertainment and innovative enrichment programs." The company's 700-passenger, all-suite, all-balcony ship--Seven Seas Mariner--will sail Gulf of Alaska waters, offering a season of seven-day Alaska cruises before commencing a "Grand Asia Pacific" cruise at the end of the season. QUICK SILVER The Silversea cruise line will sail its ship Silver Shadow (388 guests) to Alaska for a season starting in late May through early September. Itineraries depart from Vancouver, British Columbia, San Francisco, Seward and Los Angeles and include port calls in the Alaska towns of Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway and Wrangell. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Celebrity Infinity will bookend her Alaska season with "Ultimate Alaska" itineraries. The first is an 11-night itinerary northbound from San Francisco, Calif., April 28, 2008, arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 9. The second is southbound out of Vancouver on Sept. 19, 2008, with a 14-night itinerary that arrives in San Francisco Oct. 3. According to the company, both sailings feature several cities and sights in Alaska (Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, and others); the southbound trip also includes Washington and Oregon stops. Celebrity Millennium kicks off the 2008 Alaska season with a 14-night "Ultimate Alaska" itinerary, sailing roundtrip from San Francisco May 5. On May 19, Celebrity Millennium will sail an 11-night West Coast and Alaska cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver. The Celebrity Millennium ends its Alaska season with another 14-night "Ultimate Alaska" sailing Sept. 22 from Vancouver to San Diego, Calif. Celebrity Mercury sails a 14-night "Golden Gate to Alaska" cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver April 27. Between May and September, Celebrity Infinity will sail a series of seven-night Hubbard Glacier itineraries round-trip from Seattle, Wash. Celebrity Millennium will alternate between seven-night northbound and southbound sailings between Seward and Vancouver. During the same months, Celebrity Mercury will sail a series of seven-night Hubbard Glacier itineraries round-trip from Vancouver before an eight-night trip from Vancouver to Seattle on Sept. 14. Celebrity Millennium's May 30 northbound sailing will be the vessel's first sailing of the season that offers the line's Alaska cruise-tour packages. Beginning May 11, cruise-tour packages are available for all of Celebrity Mercury's 2008 sailings roundtrip from Vancouver. |
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