Alaska Theme Cruises From Un-Cruise

If you thought Alaska was all about the scenery and the wildlife, think again. Un-Cruise Adventures have just announced a wonderful series of typical small-ship cruise that are combined with experts in music, photography, marine biology and wine on seven theme cruises this summer. 

Guest experts sail on week-long cruises aboard both the 88-guest S.S. Legacy and 86-guest Safari Endeavour (above) in south-east Alaska.

The S.S. Legacy, a replica coastal steamer sailing between Juneau and Ketchikan, hosts the 1940s style group Letters From Home on the June 22 voyage. The group performs three-part harmonies, tap dancing and comedy. The Alaska’s Golden History cruise also focuses on the history of the Klondike Gold Rush and includes a shore excursion in each port.

Meanwhile, the Safari Endeavour, sailing round-trip from Juneau on a week-long Discoverers’ Glacier Country itinerary, hosts six themed cruises. The cruise spends two days exploring by land and sea inside Glacier Bay and remote wilderness areas. Hiking, kayaking, whale-watching, skiff excursions, stand-up paddle-boarding and wildlife watching are the main activities, but guest experts on board will provide additional activities for those interested.

Fresh, innovative cuisine is served on all vessels, with guests enjoying attentive, friendly service and a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Charters and group incentives are also available. And, for more on the Un-Cruise style in Alaska, be sure to check out our latest issue on this link.

More info: call (in the US) 1888 862 8881 or visit www.un-cruise.com.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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Alaska Here We Come!

OK, today is the day we venture back off to Alaska and try something new - something really new, as it is only the second cruise on the revamped SS Legacy of Un-Cruise Adventures, and it promises to be a special voyage indeed.

It will all be featured in the Autumn edition of World of Cruising (providing we have no delays on the flight back!) and is a voyage we have been keenly looking forward to since Un-Cruise announced the first of their Heritage Adventure cruises earlier this year.

First of all the Legacy is an 88-passenger replica Victorian steamship designed for coastal and river-cruising. Formerly the Spirit of '98 of failed line Cruise West, she has been rescued by Un-Cruise and given a new lease of life following her christening earlier this month.

And, while Un-Cruise already feature Active Adventures (on three ships in Alaska, Coastal Washington and British Columbia), and their Luxury Adventure style (four even smaller vessels visiting Hawaii and Mexico's Sea of Cortes), the Heritage Adventures are completely new and limited purely to the SS Legacy.

The idea is they will provide a historic and more personal view of the areas they travel, and our cruise from Juneau in Alaska back down to Seattle in Washington state has a Gold Rush heritage theme, so we will get to hear about the 19th century history of the region, as well as sail up-close-and-personal in the 49th state and get some more great looks at one of our favourite parts of the world with its amazing scenery and wildlife.

It all kicks off tomorrow from the Alaskan capital (we're staying overnight in Juneau at the Westmark Baranof Hotel), as we board our chic little vessel and get acquainted with our fellow passengers and the crew, who promise:

• Interpretive staff preparing guests for visits ashore.
• Characters appearing in period costume.
• Presentations by knowledgeable historians.
• Expert guest speakers stepping on board to keep the history alive.
• Important artifacts in the regions visited.
• Local residents sharing their heritage.
• Informative activities to enhance the place in time.
• And all aboard a replica coastal steamer with Victorian-style décor.

Along the way, we will visit Sitka, Wrangell, Haines, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Petersburg and Frederick Sound in Alaska (with some truly out-of-the-way stops en route), and Johnston Strait and the San Juan Islands in Washington, before we reach our end destination of Seattle.

It all shapes up to be a truly original and captivating voyage, with just one small drawback. With the vessel itself and in most of the areas we're travelling, there is no Internet

connection for nearly all the way, so it's unlikely we'll be able to report back as we go (plus, we may well be too busy soaking up all the Alaskan heritage to sit in front of a laptop for long!).

However, we WILL post a day-by-day look at things once we're back and, of course, you can't miss our Autumn issue for the full story and photos. Make sure you subscribe on this link!

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Norwegian Sets Sails With Rocky Mountaineer

The internationally recognised Rocky Mountaineer train has announced a major new global partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line, which will offer even more Rail and Cruise holiday options in 2014.

Connecting with Rocky Mountaineer’s new Coastal Passage rail route out of Seattle, as well as train departures from Vancouver, guests are invited to experience a stunning rail journey through the Pacific Northwest and the Canadian Rockies before or after their Norwegian cruise to Alaska. 

There are five different Rail & Cruise holiday packages available through Rocky Mountaineer for travel in 2014. Each itinerary offers a unique opportunity for travellers to make the most of their visit to Western Canada and Alaska by linking the Rocky Mountaineer with cruises on three of Norwegian’s ships: Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Sun.

One of the most popular packages to add a Norwegian Alaskan Cruise to is the Canadian Rockies Highlights & Coastal Passage. Including the cruise, this holiday ranges from 13-14 days in length depending on the direction selected. Guests can enjoy a seven-night round-trip cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Jewel or Pearl plus a Rocky Mountaineer rail journey in either GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf Service. 

Whether departing from or arriving into Seattle, guests on board the train are seamlessly connected to the Canadian Rockies with stays in such renowned destinations as Vancouver, Banff and Lake Louise. An unforgettable helicopter flight over the towering Canadian Rockies tops off this genuinely amazing holiday experience.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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An Un-Cruise Alaska Delight

Un-Cruise Adventures has added two wonderful themed cruises on their Active Adventure sailings in South-East Alaska this summer as the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer welcomes guest experts on board for a photography theme on June 8 and an Alaska Insider theme on July 13. 

“Our guest experts offer additional insights to complement our own expedition team and adventure activities,” said Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s an added benefit for sailing on these two dates.”

Photography with Amy Gulick

On the June 8 the Eastern Coves adventure, nature photographer and author Amy Gulick joins the trip to share photography tips, lessons and techniques she’s learned over the years as an award-winning photographer and writer. Gulick is a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and her images have been featured in premium publications such as Outdoor Photographer, Audubon, National Wildlife and Nature’s Best Photography.  Guests will receive an autographed copy of her book “Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska’s Tongass Rain Forest.”

The week-long Eastern Coves itinerary sails from Juneau to Ketchikan while adventuring through Tracy Arm Wilderness, Frederick Sound, Thomas Bay, Behm Canal, Misty Fjords National Monument and a half-day port call in Wrangell, one of Alaska’s oldest towns.   Rates on this date begin at $3,195 per person, double occupancy. A $200pp travel credit is offered.

Alaska Insider with John and Jan Straley

On the July 13 Western Coves adventure, long-time local residents John and Jan Straley board for a week of storytelling—fact and fiction—on all things Alaska and insights on humpback and killer whales. John, a poet and author of detective fiction, has won awards over the years for his novels set in Alaska. Jan is a marine biologist and well-known for her extensive studies of whales. She is assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and affiliate faculty at University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

The week-long Western Coves itinerary sails from Ketchikan to Juneau, and explores wilderness areas including El Capitan Passage, Chatham Strait, Frederick Sound, Stephen’s Passage, Endicott Arm and Fords Terror, with a half-day port call at the Tlingit village of Klawock. Rates on this date begin at $3,195pp.

Both Active Adventure sailings include wildlife and whale watching, kayaking, hiking, skiff excursions exploring the coastline, glacier viewing, stand up paddle-boarding and a guided tour in Klawock or Wrangell. Snorkelling and overnight camping ashore are available for a fee. Un-Cruise Adventures also recently confirmed six theme departures on Luxury Adventures aboard the 86-guest Safari Endeavour in Alaska. Themes include photography, marine biology, ornithology and wine from two prominent North-West wineries. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury adventure-cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.