News from the Cruiselines
Scroll Down to view 13 news stories about companies in the Alaska cruise trade...
Maple Leaf Adventures Welcomes
Alaska Naturalist Carrie Hisaoka
Hisaoka spent last summer researching birds on the tiny island of St. Lazaria, a stunning nesting site for hundreds of thousands of seabirds including tufted puffins. In addition to field research projects on seabirds, raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl throughout Alaska, she has also rehabilitated eagles and other birds. She is currently working with a humpback whale biologist responsible for the Alaska humpback whale database, and leading hiking and birding trips in Sitka.
Hisaoka’s first-hand knowledge of southeast Alaska is a key element of Maple Leaf’s Alaska sail cruises: an up-close and fascinating exploration of the natural world. Guests will be able to learn about the wildlife and ecosystems of the Tongass National Forest, as well as walking, zodiacing and kayaking the area. Glaciers, whales, bears, beaches and hot springs are key features, as well as stops in historic Alaskan towns.
Hisaoka joins a crew that includes one of the coast’s most experienced bear guides, an expert crew and top chef.
The two 12-day trips are aboard the 92-foot "tall ship" schooner Maple Leaf. The trips are rated a Frommer’s “best travel experience” and the company was rated one of the best adventure travel companies on earth in 2009 by National Geographic Adventure editors.
Trips: June 13-24, June 24-July 5 (12 days, 11 nights) Cdn $5975 all inclusive (accommodations, fine meals and snacks, beverages, shore excursions and use of gear on board including kayaks).
Info: http:// www.mapleleafadventures.com/alaska-cruise/ or 1-250-386-7245 or toll free 1-888-599-5323.
Holland America Line Highlights Yukon
In 2010 Alaska & Yukon CruiseTours
In 2010 Holland America Line highlights the magnificent wilderness of Canada’s Yukon Territory. Of its 31 Alaska and the Yukon CruiseTours, 13 include Yukon destinations such as Whitehorse, Dawson City, Tombstone Territorial Park and Kluane National Park. New in 2010 is the “Best of the Yukon” CruiseTour, one of three adventuresome Expedition CruiseTours just introduced by Holland America Line.
“With more than 60 years’ experience in Alaska and Yukon tours, Holland America creates itineraries to highlight the best and most comprehensive Yukon experiences,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs.
CruiseTours featuring the Yukon range from 10 to 20 days in length and depart May 9 through Aug. 28, 2010. All combine a three-, four-, or seven-day Inside Passage cruise with a land tour of top destinations in Alaska and the Yukon. Guests experience the wilderness, wildlife, native culture and history while traveling by luxury motor coach, rail and often river boat.
CruiseTours featuring the Yukon start at $1,249 per person, double occupancy. For more information about booking an Alaska & Yukon CruiseTour, contact a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
3 Lines Announce 4 Additional Ships to AK in 2011
Now comes word that two additional vessels – the 80-guest Wilderness Discoverer and the 66-guest Wilderness Adventurer – will cruise Alaska's Inside Passage between Ketchikan and Juneau in 2011, concentrating on a wide variety of off-ship adventures such as caving, kayaking among icebergs, hiking far-off trails, stand-up paddle-boarding, snorkeling, and “polar-bear club” swims as well as observing and photographing Alaska wildlife and sealife. The cruiseline dispatching the vessels is InnerSea Discoveries, the recently created small-ship sister brand associated with veteran Alaska cruiseline American Safaris. The latter line has operated in Alaska waters for 13 years.
More information is available from the following phone contacts and websites: 1-877-901-1009, www.InnerSeaDiscoveries.com; 1-888-352-2500 disneycruise.com; and 1-888-799-4625,crystalcruises.com.
Cruise West Adds Additional Alaska
Gold Rush Inside Passage Departures for 2010
Alaska continues to be a “hot” destination for small-ship exploration line Cruise West (www.cruisewest.com). So hot that the line has added Gold Rush Inside Passage voyages in 2010 to accommodate growing demand and additional guests.Bookings for Cruise West’s popular Gold Rush Inside Passage have shown an increase of 15 percent over sales for the same time period in 2008. To accommodate the demand the line added two departures (for a total of 12). The voyage offers 10-nights for the price of seven with rates starting at $3,599 per person, double occupancy before savings. More important is the authentic experience and the opportunity that a small-ship offers to get guests closer to wild and sea life – there’s a reason the line’s motto is up-close, casual and personal.
“We are responding to our guests preference for longer cruises embarking or disembarking from a major U.S. port like Seattle," said Richard Genovese,VP of Sales & Marketing for Cruise West.
The 10-night itinerary has been revised to include the authentic Tsimshian community, Metlakatla. Port calls include traditional favorites and many jewels: San Juan Islands; scenic sea and wildlife cruising in the Strait of Georgia, Frederick Sound, Tracy Arm and Sergius Narrows; the Norwegian fishing village of Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway and Glacier Bay National Park. Twelve departures will cruise between Seattle and Juneau at the beginning and end of the season on the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown, 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour, 78-guest Spirit of Columbia and 84-guest Spirit of Discovery.
Cruise West offers three additional Alaska itineraries to the Gold Rush including a new seven-night Alaska’s Inside Passage itinerary (25 departures) that highlights more wilderness and Zodiac experiences and authentic ports of call, and four-night getaway voyages, Glacier Bay Highlights (19 departures) and Glaciers of Prince William Sound (19 departures).
BC Ferry Offers Summer Service Between Port Hardy & Prince Rupert;
Connects With Alaska Ferries and Sailings Through Southeast Alaska
BC Ferries has ramped up its service for the 2010 summer season between highway-accessible Port Hardy at the northerly end of Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert. The new vessel Northern Expedition will operate the Inside Passage route through September 30.
The fifteen-hour journey aboard BC Ferries’ newest vessel follows the rugged B.C. coastline and offers stunning vistas of unspoiled wilderness. The relaxing voyage (north or southbound on alternate days) often entertains travellers with sightings of bald eagles, porpoises, whales and other west coast wildlife.
The 150-metre Northern Expedition features 55 modern staterooms, and accommodates 600 passengers and 130 vehicles. The day-cruise boasts spacious passenger areas such as the Canoe Cafe, Vista Restaurant and the Raven and Aurora Lounges with a comfortable and stylish atmosphere.
Alaska-bound passengers can connect at Prince Rupert with Alaska Marine Highway System ferries for near-daily connections to Ketchikakn and Alaska ports north.
For more information contact BC Ferries at 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779) or visit
www.bcferries.com.
Crystal Cruises Announces 2011 Worldwide Itineraries;
Luxury Vessel Crystal
Symphony
Will Return to Alaska
The Crystal Symphony did visit several Alaska ports in 2009 as part of a world cruise.
Port calls and viewing areas in 2011 will include Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Glacier Bay in Alaska plus Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information call 1-888-799-4625 or visit www.crystalcruises.com.
15 Cruiselines Schedule Alaska Sailings for 2010
by Mike Miller, Publisher,
www.AlaskaCruisingReport.com
Fiftteen cruiselines
have dispatched 39 vessels to Alaska in
2010. For more detailed information than is furnished below, click the
link "2010 Alaska Cruises" in the list of website pages at the upper
left corner of this section.Large
to "Mega" Cruiseships
Carnival Cruiselines: 1-800-437-3111; www.carnival.com. Vessel: Carnival Spirit (2,124 guests. Departures from Seattle and Vancouver.
Celebrity Cruises: 1-800-437-3111; www.celebritycruises.com. Three vessels: Infinity (1,950 guests), Mercury (1,870), Millennium (1,950). Departures from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Seward, and Vancouver.
Holland America Line: 1-877-SAIL HAL; www.hollandamerica.com. Eight vessels: Amsterdam (1,380 guests), Oosterdam (1,918), Rotterdam (1,316), Ryndam (1,258), Statendam (1,258), Volendam (1,432), Zaandam (1,432), Zuiderdam (1,916). Departures from Seattle, Seward, and Vancouver.
Norwegian Cruiseline: 1-866-234-0292; www.ncl.com. Two vessels: Norwegian Pearl (2,394 guests) and Norwegian Star (2,244) will sail seven-day Inside Passage Sawyer Glacier and Glacier Bay cruises. Roundtrip departures from Seattle.
Princess Cruises: 1-800-PRINCESS; www.princess.com. Eight vessels: Coral Princess (1,970 guests), Diamond Princess (2,670), Golden Princess (2,600), Island Princess (1,970), Pacific Princess (670), Sapphire Princess(2,670), Sea Princess (1,990), Star Princess (2,600). Departures from San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and Whittier.
Royal Caribbean International: 1-800-327-6700; www.royalcaribbean.com. Three vessels: Radiance of the Seas (2,100 guests), Rhapsody of the Seas (2,000), Serenade of the Seas (2,100). Departures from San Diego, Seward,
Seattle, and Vancouver.
Mid-Size
Cruise
Vessels
Regent
Seven Seas
Cruises: 1-800-285-1835; www.RSSC.com. One vessel: Seven
Seas
Mariner (700 guests). San Francisco, Seward, and Vancouver.
Silversea Cruises: 1-877-215-9986; www.silversea.com. One vessel: Silver Shadow (382 guests). Departures from: Departures from: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seward, and Vancouver,
Small Cruise Vessels
American Safari Cruises: 1-888-862-8881; www.amsafari.com. Three vessels: Safari Explorer (36), Safari Quest (22), Safari Spirit (12). Departures from Juneau, Petersburg, Seattle, and Sitka.
The Boat Company: 1-360-697-4242; www.theboatcompany.com; Two vessels: Liseron (20 guests), Mist Cove (24). Departures from Juneau and Sitka.
Cruise West: 1-800-888-9378; www.cruisewest.com. The company will deploy four vessels to Alaska in 2010: Spirit of Columbia, (78 guests), Spirit of Discovery (84), Spirit of Endeavor (102) and Spirit of Yorktown (138). Departures from Seattle, Juneau, Whittier.
Discovery Voyages: 800-324-7602; www.discoveryvoyages.com: One Vessel: Discovery (12 guests. Departures from Whittier into Prince William Sound.
Departures from Whittier and Cordova.
Lindblad Expeditions: 1-800-EXPEDITION; www.expeditions.com. Two vessels: National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird, each 62 guests. Departures from Juneau, Sitka and Seattle.
Maple Leaf Adventures: 1-250-FUN SAIL; www.MapleLeafAdventures.com. One sailing vessel: Maple Leaf (9 guests). Departures from Prince Rupert, B.C. and from Juneau.
Carnival Cruise Lines' 2010 Alaska Voyages
Will Operate Round-Trip From Seattle
For the first time ever, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate a schedule of seven-day Alaska cruises round-trip from Seattle beginning in May 2010.
In total, 17 week-long Alaska cruises will operate from the Port of Seattle from May 11 to Aug. 31, 2010 departing Tuesdays aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit.
Port calls on these voyages include the popular Alaskan destinations of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as Victoria Island, British Columbia, and cruising Tracy Arm Fjord.
Each of these destinations offers a rich history and culture, along with awe-inspiring natural wonders, including calving glaciers, magnificent fjords and native sea and animal life.
The Carnival Spirit also features an on-board naturalist who educates guests on the region’s colorful history and points out animal and marine life from the ship’s bridge.
Prior to the start-up of the new program, Carnival Spirit will operate two special voyages – a six-day Inside Passage voyage from Vancouver to Seattle departing May 5, 2010 and a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Seattle to Vancouver Sept. 7, 2010. Both voyages include a cruise through the Inside Passage along with port calls at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan; and the seven-day cruise also includes a day of cruising in Glacier Bay.
Kids sailing on Carnival Spirit can enjoy three different children’s programs – Camp Carnival for ages 2-11, Circle “C” for ages 12 to 14, and Club O2 for 15- to 17-year-olds – with facilities and counselors dedicated to each group. Many activities in these programs feature fun, educational activities with an Alaska theme.
Reservations are currently being accepted for Carnival’s 2010 Alaska cruises from Seattle. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.
Princess Debuts Fully Digital Travel Documents
The timely digital documents include a brand-new email series filled with personalized pre-cruise information, a downloadable Princess Countdown ConnectionTM widget that delivers useful and entertaining information to a passenger’s computer, personalized online luggage tags, and customizable shore excursion eBooks. The change from printed information to fully digital documents applies to all North American passengers on voyages departing on or after January 21, 2010.
Personalized Pre-Cruise Emails
As soon as passengers book their cruise, they will begin to receive a new series of four emails that are timed to deliver just the right information needed for each stage of the cruise planning process. Replacing a printed Cruise Answer Book, the emails include the passenger booking details and interactive content that gives passengers a fun, engaging way to learn more about the signature amenities and activities they will experience on their ship.
The information will be customized to the itinerary and the ship the passenger is sailing, and greetings are featured from some of the senior officers who will be sailing on their cruise.
Princess Countdown Connection(TM)
To help passengers anticipate and prepare for their upcoming sailing, the innovative Princess Countdown ConnectionTM widget is an eye-catching online clock that ticks down the days, hours and minutes until their cruise departs. The new application, which can be downloaded from the pre-cruise emails, can live right on a passenger’s computer desktop, and will automatically deliver an array of personalized information to them about their upcoming sailing such as dining, onboard activities, shore excursions and notices.
Personalized Online Luggage Tags
Passengers will also be able to print their own personalized luggage tags from their home or office computer.
Shore Excursion eBooks
Beginning in December, passengers will be able to print their own personalized shore excursion eBook for their cruise. Using this innovative tool, passengers will be able to select their favorite excursions from the wide array offered in each port, and create their own customized eBook of shoreside experiences.
Additional information is available by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.
World's Leading Cruise Lines Group Launches New Website
World’s Leading Cruise Lines (WLCL) – comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn – has created a new website to provide a one-stop resource for exploring the full range of quality cruising experiences available to consumers today
.
Created to enhance awareness with both consumers and travel agents, WLCL’s new website www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com provides insight into each brand’s fleet, shipboard experiences and popular destinations. Videos featuring each brand are provided as well as links to member lines.
“Each brand contributed content and imagery, allowing guests and travel agents to more fully appreciate the diverse features and amenities offered by the World’s Leading Cruise Lines, each a leader in its specific market segment,” said Bill Harber, Carnival Corporation’s Director of Marketing.
Carnival Corporation is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of brands in North America, Europe and Australia, comprised of AIDA, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, (Publisher's note: Holland America Line, Ibero Cruises, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn. (Cruiselines in bold face have operated in Alaska for decades.
(Publisher's note: Cruiselines shown in bold face type operate in Alaska and have done so for decades)
Alaska Adventure Line Maple Leaf Gives 1% for the Planet
Cruises and cruise-tours can be an eco-friendly way to travel, notes
one cruise executive whose company is active in the BC/Alaska cruise
scene. For example, Kevin Smith's Maple
Leaf
Adventures is a tour organization that
offers Alaska
adventure cruises aboard a sailing ship. and is the first cruise
company in the world to give one percent of its Alaska ecotour revenues
to conservation through "1% For The Planet."1% For The Planet, set up by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and Craig Matthews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, is an alliance of businesses who donate a percentage of sales (not profits) to environmental conservation. It currently has 961 company members who donate to 1,628 environmental organizations worldwide. Musician Jack Johnson is a member, as are clothing companies Patagonia and Mountain Equipment Co-op.
Maple Leaf Adventures’ tours are similar to Galapagos cruises or African safaris, but instead explore the islands, fjords and rainforests of southeast Alaska. Wildlife viewing, nature interpretation and cultural history are paramount. A small group of guests travels aboard the 92-foot classic schooner Maple Leaf and on frequent shore explorations, accompanied by expert naturalist, chef, captain and crew.
“We’re thrilled to see Maple Leaf Adventures leading the way in the travel industry,” says Terry Kellogg, executive director of 1% For The Planet. “Experiential travel can be good for the planet, when it’s done on a small scale, with strong environmental ethics, and enriched by opportunities for guests to learn.”
For more information, contact Maple Leaf Adventures at 1-888-599-5323 or visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com
Alaska-Bound NCL Cruiseship Offers Onboard Bowling!
"NCL, Where You're Free to Whatever" is part of Norwegian Cruise Line's brand identity capturing the essence of the company's unique Freestyle Cruising, which allows guests to do whatever they want, whenever they want. Case in point: Since the 2007 summer cruising season NCL's Freestyle Cruising ship Norwegian Pearl -has been offering the industry's first onboard bowling alley! The Pearl is one of two NCL vessels in Alaska during the 2009 spring-summer-fall cruising season.More information about Norwegian Cruise Line and its Alaska programs is available from www.ncl.com.
Carnival Cruiselines Features "Water Wars"
Through an exclusive agreement with Minnesota-based “Water Wars,”
Carnival has becme the first cruise line to feature the
popular water balloon-themed attraction, currently found in amusement
parks in 22 countries throughout the world.The “Jr. Dyno Water Wars” units consist of two custom-built “battle stations” in which participants propel water balloons through the air via catapults in an effort to splash their competitors.
First available on Carnival’s Imagination and Fascination, the units have undergone fleetwide installation - including Alaska - and have been located on ships’ open decks adjacent to main pool areas.
“Water Wars” is the latest poolside activity aboard Carnival’s ships which also feature swimming pools, cascading water slides, and acres of deck space for sunning and relaxing. The attraction is particularly popular among the 525,000 children who sail with Carnival each year.
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