Spectacular Alaska!


One of my all time favorite cruise destinations is Alaska, America's last frontier. You might wonder why I think this is such a great cruise destination. I enthusiastically have to say that Alaska is breathtakingly beautiful, and full of wondrous sights, plus this is a destination that will please everyone!

How could a person, young or old, not watch in anticipation as whales glide through cobalt blue waters with the chance to witness a full breach? Or how about watching the silly clown birds called Puffin (close relatives of the penguins) cavort on the sea? In Alaska you can glimpse a pod of minke whales (one of the smallest whales in the world), or watch giant grizzlies snatch salmon midair as the fish leap up the falls in their quest to make it back to their spawning grounds. Alaska is a place where eagles soar through the sky for all to see and it is not uncommon to see moose meandering through downtown Anchorage. If you are lucky enough to visit Alaska during the off-season (May and September) and add a land tour to Fairbanks, you just might witness one of earth's most spectacular shows -- the Aurora Borealis.

Alaska Puffin Northern Lights

I hadn't been on a cruise to Alaska for many years. This past September I decided to travel through the inside passage and Glacier Bay on the ms Ryndam (an upper premium cruise line). I had an absolutely wonderful time. I had forgotten just how breathtakingly beautiful Alaska is, and to add the luxurious atmosphere of Holland America's ms Ryndam (which is an upper premium cruise line) was the topping on the cake. From the superb cuisine to the stellar service, my overall cruise experience on the Ryndam was nothing short of Incredible!

My journey began with a three day pre-cruise visit to Vancouver, British Columbia. I am a big believer in arriving at your destination in plenty of time to visit the area before getting on board. After all, if you travel that far you may as well see all the sights. Years ago my husband and I planned a driving trip to see the famed Buschart Gardens on Victoria Island, British Columbia. Unfortunately, due to one of those famous life "hiccups," we never made it. So, as part of my pre-cruise adventure, I immediately scheduled a tour to visit and stroll through the magnificent grounds of these fabulous gardens as I wasn't sure if I would ever the get opportunity again!

Denali in Fall

Next stop, Anchorage - Alaska's largest city, which is located on Cook Inlet known to have the second-highest tidal range in the country! From the port in Anchorage, I went on a glorious full day excursion where I visited Mendenhall Glacier in the morning and went on an afternoon whale watching tour. Mendenhall Glacier is part of a 100 mile long and 45 mile wide ice field. Neither words nor pictures can describe the magnitude of the glaciers vastness! On the three hour whale watching excursion, I was lucky (remember I went in September and you don't typically see the whales this late as they are already migrating south) to see many whales cavorting throughout my journey. I kept a keen lookout in anticipation of witnessing a full breach but alas, it was not meant to be. Whales Breaching

The day ended with a true Alaskan tradition -- an authentic salmon bake. These are family run establishments (they typically provide visitors fishing, hiking, kayaking tours etc.) where you are treated to great food, entertainment and atmosphere. Needless to say, the specialty of the house is freshly caught salmon. That's me standing by the waterfall! Alaska Waterfall

The next day we sailed on to Ketchikan - Alaska's fourth-largest city. Ketchikan is also one of the nation's wettest towns. They receive 13.5 feet of rain per year! During my visit, I took a flight seeing trip to nearby Misty Fjords National Monument and witnessed this spectacular 2.3-million acre reserve from the air. Incredible! Again, pictures won't show the grandeur of the park, but I will remember the breathtaking views for a very long time. Misty Fjords

One of my days was spent cruising Glacier Bay. This experience was absolutely awesome. At this point, I was saddened that I wasn't Ansel Adams - ready and able to capture the sheer immenseness, pristine beauty, and awe that I saw at Glacier Bay. I am glad I was able to witness this sight first hand and I will hold in my memory the exactness of what I saw forever.
Alaska Glacier

Sitka was the last stop on this divine cruise. The capital of Alaska until 1906, Sitka was a Tlingit settlement when Alexander Baranov set up a Russian fur-trading post at the site in 1799. I don't know about you, but I love to kayak and it was here that I got out on a glacial lake and got to paddle for several hours. This was so much fun, and after all that hard work, I was completely famished.

After leaving Sitka the ship headed back to Vancouver, this was the final night of the cruise. It was a perfect evening -- the sea was smooth as glass, the sky was clear, and as I strolled along the promenade deck, I spied more whales off in the distance. As we sailed off towards our final destination, I watched my last sunset from this splendid ship and was saddened that I would be returning home the next day. I was already missing my home at sea, the ms Ryndam.

There are a myriad of wonderful cruise options to Alaska, the last frontier. I highly encourage you to consider this as your next destination. There are cruise only, cruise/land options or just land options. Alaska is a destination that is easy to access and will cater to all age levels. It is an adventure lover's paradise, come and experience Alaska for yourself.

The Alaska cruise season runs from early May to late September, with most lines cutting rates during May and September (the shoulder months, remember the Aurora Borealis). Rates will rise as you approach the mid-point of summer. Now is the time to reserve space and take advantage of early booking discounts. Now that I've whet your appetite for this magnificent land, hurry to book your 2010 Alaska cruise to obtain best pricing and availability. Contact pat@incrediblejourney.net to make your reservation today.