2009 CruiseTours: Experience Alaska’s Wilderness by Land and Sea With Holland America Line

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SEATTLE, June 23 /PRNewswire/ — Recognized as a leader in Alaska tourism for more than 60 years, Holland America Line’s diverse selection of CruiseTours showcase the grandeur of the 49th state from the tip of the Kenai Peninsula, to the fjords of the Inside Passage, across the Arctic Circle, and through the rugged Yukon Territory. With 29 CruiseTours ranging from 10 to 20 days in length, Holland America Line combines a cruise of the scenic Inside Passage with land tours into the expansive wilderness of Alaska.
Celebrating 50 years of statehood in 2009, Alaska’s wilderness, wildlife, native culture and eventful history are center stage on the CruiseTour itineraries. Many tours also delve into Canada’s Yukon Territory tracing the history of the Klondike Gold Rush.
“For many people, a cruise or CruiseTour to Alaska is the trip of a lifetime,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “We have designed the CruiseTours to be a comprehensive tour of the best there is to see and do in Alaska via land and sea. The myriad natural wonders and vastness of the state calls for exploration by many modes of transportation — ship, train, motor coach, boat — and Holland America Line owns the infrastructure to smoothly combine all these elements together into one unforgettable CruiseTour.”
Holland America’s comprehensive CruiseTours indulge guests with a relaxing cruise aboard five-star ships and exciting land travel via the luxury, domed McKinley Explorer(R) railcars and comfortable coaches. Great Land cruise tours 1-10 feature travel on custom-built, highway Explorer Coaches(TM). The coaches have just 45 seats with extended legroom and first-class amenities: leather seats, battery-charging stations for guests traveling with electronic equipment, LCD monitors and a mini-galley serving beverages and snacks. Every seat is equipped with a headset and eight-channel audio.
Itineraries and optional excursions encompass 14 national parks and wilderness areas. In addition to Denali, Glacier Bay, Kluane and Tombstone, they include the Kenai Fjords, Gates of the Arctic, Klondike (Skagway), Wrangell-St. Elias and Sitka national parks, plus the Klondike Historic Site (DawsonCity), Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Misty Fjords National Monument and Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.
A total of 20 Holland America CruiseTours feature “Double Denali” — two nights at a classic wilderness lodge near the gates of Denali National Park, plus a guided Tundra Wilderness Tour offering the best wildlife and Mt. McKinley viewpoints.
“Wildlife sightings are at the top of most people’s wish list in Alaska,” said Meadows. “You’ll have a good chance of spotting wildlife if you give yourself enough time. Moose and bear aren’t on the payroll. We encourage people to give themselves time — two days if they can — in Denali so they have plenty of opportunities for spotting wildlife.”
Great Land CruiseTours
Ten Great Land CruiseTours include three- or four-day Inside Passage cruises between Vancouver and Skagway. New for 2008, northbound Great Land Tours include a glacier cruise experience with a trip into Tracy Arm to see the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Southbound CruiseTours visit Glacier Bay National Park.
Six Great Land Klondike CruiseTours offer 11- to 15-day adventures to Denali National Park; Dawson City with optional excursions to Tombstone Territorial Park; Fairbanks; an exciting Yukon River cruise aboard the mv Yukon Queen II; and Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon Territory. Some CruiseTours also include Kluane National Park and the White Pass & Yukon Railroad with Lake Bennett excursion.
Four Great Land Wilderness CruiseTours range from 10 to 13 days and provide a more affordable wilderness experience. They feature Denali, Whitehorse, Kluane, the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, Beaver Creek and Fairbanks, with travel along the most scenic stretch of the Alaska Highway.
Glacier Discovery CruiseTours
Travelers wanting more time on the ship may choose a Glacier Discovery CruiseTour which combines a seven-day cruise with a land tour. These CruiseTours range from 11- to 20-days. In addition to a tidewater glacier experience at either the Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park, most offer two-night “Double Denali” stays, the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour and tour directors.
Nineteen different itineraries include options to travel above the Arctic Circle, cruise the Kenai Fjords National Monument, explore the Kenai Peninsula or stay two nights at the Alyeska Resort near Anchorage.
The leader in Alaska Cruises and CruiseTours
Holland America Line has been leading tours in Alaska for 60 years and has eight premium ships offering a total of 156 cruises in 2009. These include 59 sailings on three ships home-ported in Seattle and 98 cruises on five ships based in Vancouver, BC.
CruiseTours start at $1,299 per person, double occupancy. For more information about booking an Alaska cruise or CruiseTour, contact a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit .
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About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc ]
Holland America Line’s fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 358 ports of call in over 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108- day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.
World’s Leading Cruise Lines
The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.
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Holland America Line