Cruising Alaska
Remnants from the great Klondike Gold Rush of 1896 are a major attraction for visitors to Alaska. For example, the town of Skagway, a popular stop for cruise ships, has a well-preserved historic district with about 100 Gold Rush-era buildings.
The Gold Rush may also be responsible for planting the seeds of Alaska’s modern-day cruise industry. Steamship operators who transported supplies and work crews noticed the potential for tourism along the coastline of Southeastern Alaska. But, leisure cruising didn’t really pick up steam until after World War II, when some wartime vessels were retrofitted for use as cruise ships. By 1986, a record-breaking 28 cruise ships were scheduled to depart from Vancouver, British Columbia, for Alaska. By 2007, the number of passengers arriving in Alaska via cruise ship topped 1,000,000. Today, the Alaska Cruise Association estimates that 60 percent of visitors to Alaska arrive and/or depart via cruise ship. The grandeur of the scenery, a unique culture and magnificent wildlife maintain Alaska’s position as a top cruise destination.
During the past decade, cruise lines have invested millions of dollars into port facilities and infrastructure. The cruise lines have also expanded the shore excursion options available to their passengers. You can now hike, paddle a kayak, pan for gold, search for bears, skim over a glacier behind a team of sled dogs, enjoy the taste of fresh salmon, ride a narrow-gauge train through incredible scenery, learn about Tlingit culture or zoom through the forest on a zip line, to mention just a few popular shore-side activities. Some cruise lines combine time on the water with time on land through innovative "cruisetours” that let you enjoy the stunning scenery the coast and of Alaska’s interior.
Cruise enthusiasts can select from a number of Alaska cruise itineraries. Ships of various sizes and levels of luxury depart from Vancouver or Seattle. Among large-ship cruise lines, Disney is cruising Alaska for the first time in the summer of 2011, deploying the 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder to Vancouver for a series of seven-night cruises. Disney recently added an enclosed viewing lounge to the Wonder’s top deck to ensure terrific views of the scenery.
Most cruise lines visit Alaska from May through September, so the number of sailings is limited. You may still be able to find some availability for the summer of 2011, especially on ships departing later in the season – but, be sure to contact Sherrie Hatton as soon as possible.