Alaskan Cruises

Some say Alaskan cruises were born when 27-year-old writer Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore documented her first trip to Glacier Bay aboard "The Idaho" in 1883. Of course, naturalist John Muir had been raving about Alaska's wilderness for years. After Scidmore's Alaskan adventure, she wrote about the mountains, forests, glaciers and bay in a series of newspaper and magazine articles, which later became a book. America was captivated by this pristine frontier. Now there are over 15 cruise lines that have sent almost a million passengers to Alaska.

"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.

When considering Alaskan cruises, you'll have to decide which port stops are most important to you. Seattle and Vancouver are popular family-friendly port stops you won't want to miss. In Ketchikan, you will see the Saxman Native Village and The Great Lumberjack Show, as well as hike the Deer Mountain trail. In Juneau, you can board the Mount Roberts tramway, go whale watching and see the Mendenhall Glacier. Sitka has the New Archangel Dancers, the Alaska Raptor Center and scenic trails around Blue Mountain Lake. You won't want to miss Skagway's "White Pass & Yukon Railroad" through gold rush country or the Klondike Gold Rush Historic Park.

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