CRUISE ALASKA DESTINATIONS I
t is the 49th state of the US, twice the size of Texas and a fifth the size of the ‘lower 48’, as the locals refer to the rest of the US. It is also an adrenaline junkie’s dream with everything from zip-lining to hiking, rock climbing and dog-sledding on the menu. Welcome to Alaska, one of
the last great wildernesses on earth, and a destination high on the bucket-list of most cruise passengers. Some are drawn by the
exciting activities, others by the scenery, which is an alluring mixture of craggy mountains, deep fjords and glaciers that are so huge they stretch almost 80 miles inland from the sea. All are
going for the fun and sense of adventure you just don’t get on a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean or Caribbean. That’s because even now,
despite the impact of humans and the influx of tourists, this place has not been tamed. Juneau is the only state capital in the US that cannot be reached by road, bears and moose roam free throughout the state and rivers turn into raging torrents as the winter snows melt. The climate is also harsh,
freezing in winter (a record -62C was set in northern Alaska in 1971) and warm-ish from mid-May to mid-September, when cruise ships visit. Clients can expect temperatures from
Juneau is the only US state capital that cannot be reached by road, and bears and moose roam free
15C to 26C, but with a good chance of rain, especially in August.
w SPOILT FOR CHOICE Norwegian Cruise Line will have three ships in Alaska next year, Celebrity Cruises will have two and Oceania Cruises, Disney
Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Silversea will have one each. But the market leaders are Holland America Line, which will have seven ships in the region next year, and Princess Cruises, with six, which offer extensive cruise-and-stay programmes using their own hotels, lodges and glass-domed trains. Holland America, for instance,
offers land-based tours that spend up to three days in Denali National Park, where clients can take a tour into the tundra or scoot around on an all-terrain vehicle. They can also combine the park with a trip to the Yukon and the former Gold Rush town of Dawson City. The company is building
15 October 2015
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