Free Alaska Shore Excursions With American Cruise Lines

Wildlife, history and native culture all meet in south-east Alaska; it is an amazing area of scenic beauty and cultural experiences unlike anywhere else of earth (hence our feature on it in the current issue of World of Cruising - check out the digital version online on this link). 

And American Cruise Lines are offering a real bonus on their 8-day round-trip cruise from Juneau this summer, discovering areas like Petersburg, Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier. Visitors get to see incredible natural beauty, majestic wildlife and experience first-class onboard service on one of ACL's small ships.

For a limited time only, guests who reserve a stateroom on this Alaska cruise will receive FREE shore excursions AND a Pre-Night hotel stay in the magnificent city of Juneau.

Once on the cruise, you will be able to watch humpback whales frolic in the cool waters of the Gulf of Alaska as you cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage. The pristine coves and inlets offer superb opportunities to view sea lions, orcas, harbour seals and porpoise in their natural habitat. The 94-passenger American Spirit is also ideal as a viewing point for the array of breathtaking sights, from orcas surfacing alongside the ship to Tlingit totem poles pointing to the skies with astonishing mountain peaks behind them.

This unforgettable, personalised cruise experience starts at only $5,350 per person with Free Guided Shore Excursions and a Free Pre-Cruise hotel night in Juneau.

For even more of the south-east Alaska charm, American Cruise Lines also offer an 11-night Alaska Inside Passage cruise, from Seattle to Juneau. 

This unforgettable journey cruises the protected waters of the Inside Passage while docking regularly to explore the natural scenery, historic treasures and local communities along the way.

Early Bird Discount: Book early and Save $400 or more per stateroom on this cruise.

More info: call (in the US) 1800 460 4518 or visit www.americancruiselines.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.

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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More Reasons To Try An Un-Cruise Adventure

You may remember we featured a cruise in Alaska with Un-Cruise Adventures in the most recent edition of World of Cruising (which you can still see on this link - pages 32-36), and we also featured the voyage in day-by-day blogs here at Time Spent At Sea, a series that earned a nomination in the 2013 Avis A-List Awards for travel blogs.

You can still see the blogs, starting with Day One, on this link. So you can tell we are committed Un-Cruise fans, and are always on the lookout for news from this highly distinctive and original adventure-cruise line.

With that in mind, here are some snippets about their forthcoming cruises for 2014 aboard their luxury period style of the unique SS Legacy (above), which we can thoroughly recommend as well worth looking into.

Alaska

From June 15 through August 17, there will be 10 departures of a new Alaska’s Golden History cruise that bring the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush alive. The 7-night cruise visits Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Glacier Bay National Park, Haines and Skagway, while Frederick Sound and Icy Strait are also prime whale-watching territory. An 11-night Gold Rush Legacy cruise between Seattle and Juneau (and reverse) will be offered in June and August.

Columbia and Snake Rivers

From March through May and September through November, week-long cruises depart round-trip from Portland, Oregon, to explore the history and scenery of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Areas visited include the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Clarkston, Hells Canyon, Walla Walla, Washington Wine Country, The Dalles and Astoria, all of which offer another rare and history-rich cruise experience. 

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

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this year - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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An Alaskan Un-Cruise Adventure - Pt 7, Wrangell

Continuing our magnificent Alaska cruise experience with Un-Cruise Adventures on their unique SS Legacy...

Legacy Cruise Day 7

After staying overnight in the Petersburg channel, we were greeted by thick fog in the morning, denying us a second look at the town as we sailed on to today’s rendezvous in the equally small and fishing-based community of Wrangell.

The sound of the ship’s foghorn kept us company through the moody morning mist, but, before long, it was replaced by stunning blue sky overhead and a truly brilliantly sunny day. The Morning highlight today was provided by a chance to indulge in that classic riverboat (and Gold 

Rush steamer) activity – Texas hold 'em poker.

Under the guidance of Hotel Manager Neil, we enjoyed some spirited card-sharping in the wonderful Pesky Barnacle Saloon (below), complete with whisky, of course, and actually managed to while away a full two hours before lunch, swapping chips and make (often outrageous) bets in best play-acting fashion. 

It proved a completely amusing and utterly novel and authentic way to pass a glorious morning in south-east Alaska and we were certainly ready for something to eat at the end of our marathon card session. Lunch was then followed by today’s inclusive tour (although there was an alternative one, to take in the major bear-viewing site of nearby Anan, a 30-minute jet-boat ride away, with guaranteed unobstructed wildlife viewing in the company of

an armed guide – it sounded compelling but, at $300/person, a bit rich for us). 

Two buses arrived to carry us off to the nearby Norton Museum, where Wrangell’s long – and often highly volatile and lawless – history was laid out in clear fashion. Next stop was the town’s Totem park, where a Native Tahltan tribe member told us his family history, as well as that of the local tribespeople.

It was refreshing to hear this summer had been marked by a major gathering of peoples from all over the north-west coast here in Wrangell, and the central ceremonial Chief Shakes Tribal House had been the focal point of a big re-dedication ceremony involving the Tlingit tribe and other First Nation peoples.

Our driver/guide then took us off to the famous petroglyph beach to the north of town, where we marvelled at these 2,000-plus-year-old markings in the rocks hereabouts – and took rubbings of them with the stems of ferns! Finally, it was back in town for a quick look around (not the longest of tours, it has to be said) while continuing to enjoy the clear sense of community and

purpose that Wrangell appears to have in abundance.

Like Petersburg, this is almost totally a working fishing town, and the vast majority of cruise lines never visit this little gem, which is both a shame and a blessing.

Back aboard, the magnificently sunny day continued long into the evening, affording some magnificent photos of the surrounds and our departure from the harbour, with dinner spent dodging out to the aft deck to snap away as the blue gave way to magnificent oranges and pinks.

This evening, it was the turn of female interpreter Arika to provide the women’s view of the Gold Rush, with another one-person presentation in the main lounge. It sparked some pleasant follow-up conversation about the region’s history in general, and the female perspective of it, before it was time to turn in for the night.

Tomorrow we have a much bigger port to explore – Ketchikan, plus, weather permitting, the potential enthrallment of Misty Fjords National Park.

To learn more about Un-Cruise adventures, call 1888 862 8881 in the US; or visit www.un-cruise.com. In the UK, specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line can also help with bookings.

Be sure to read the full report of the cruise in the Autumn edition of World of Cruising, out September 20. You can subscribe here: www.worldofcruising.co.uk/subscribeOrder.html 

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.

An Alaskan Un-Cruise Adventure - Pt 6, Petersburg

More from our magnificent Alaska cruise experience with Un-Cruise Adventures on their unique SS Legacy...

Legacy Cruise Day 6

Another morning in Alaska, another morning of majestic whale-sightings. We are on our way to the tiny Norwegian-founded community of Petersburg today, which means a morning traversing Frederick Sound, and a wide, lake-like body of water that is home to many hundreds of humpback and minke whales.

In typical fashion, we are pretty much wide awake with the early-riser breakfast served at 7am in the main lounge (as an alternative to the full breakfast served in the dining room an hour later) and on deck in time for the first sighting of the day (actually, it was the second, as a minke had already been spotted by the earliest risers).

With the sea a complete, glassy calm all around, it was easy to see the first humpback surface.

And the second. And the third. And so on, until the Legacy was completely surrounded by more than a dozen whales, all cruising the Sound in search of food.

To one side was a group vigorously slapping the water with their tails; to the starboard side was a group dipping and diving in regular fashion. Aft of us was yet another pod engaged in what looked like sideways feeding, where we could see their heads first, then their flippers and finally the big, signature tails.

And, off in the distance, was a solo ‘performer’ simply enjoying the pleasures of a late summer day, breaching at regular intervals and crashing into the sea on his back. Why to whales do this? No-one seems to know, but it could well just be because they can.

Finally, after an hour with the ship drifting along to enjoy the show, the Captain got us back on course for the small town of Petersburg – population less than 3,000.

This heavily fishing-inspired port sees little in the way of cruise traffic and is all the better for it.

We were met at the dock by two ‘fishing’ guides, locasl who can tell us the town’s maritime history (largely based on salmon fishing and processing) as we walk along the shore to the Sons of Norway Hall.

Here the local Norwegian-inspired youth put on a show of traditional dancing (below) while we enjoy coffee and pastries, concluding with some amusing stories from the kids about their lives in Petersburg, and others’ perceptions of it.

The tour continues with a bus ride to the key local sites, which include the quaint downtown area, the Scandinavian-inspired domestic architecture, wall murals and the extensive muskeg at the back of town – a thick peat bog that most people are advised to avoid at all costs!

A black-tailed deer wandered out into the road at one point, bothering the driver not a jot, while

a stop at the Clausen Museum afforded an opportunity for some of the group to jump off and learn more local history.

We preferred to head back into the ‘downtown’ area (all 3 blocks of it) and learn that the Petersburg Fisheries (a division of the Icicle Seafoods, Inc) had canned some 21,792,048 cans of salmon so far this year. Yes, that's right more than 21 million (although the salmon canning industry used to be MUCH bigger in this region, before people started demanding more whole-fish product).

It was easy to see why, as the various different harbours afforded huge and easy access for the big fishing fleet here, and it was refreshing to see a true working port without any of the usual heavy industry or even the yachting marina with its pleasure craft instead of working vessels. There is nothing pretentious about Petersburg – just honest-to-goodness simplicity and sureness.

Back on board, the mist and fog had started to roll in as we prepared for dinner, providing for

some suitably atmospheric photos of the inlet and its surrounds. 

We were due to stay in the area overnight, dropping anchor just up from the port itself, and we enjoyed yet another impressive 4-course dinner, this time featuring a chili-rubbed bison ribeye steak that was truly taste tantalising.

The evening was given over to a one-man tour de force from one of the costumed characters, Kenny, playing the part of successful prospector CJ Berry (who had appeared earlier in the day with his faithful wife Ethel - as played by re-enactor Arika) and regaling us with his stories of failure and ultimate triumph, in the Klondike.

Once again, it underlined the great novelty – and interest value – of this period-style voyage,

and ensured we had yet another memorable historic experience to go with our present-day ones.

Tomorrow - Wrangell

To learn more about Un-Cruise adventures, call 1888 862 8881 in the US; or visit www.un-cruise.com. In the UK, specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line can also help with bookings.

Be sure to read the full report of the cruise in the Autumn edition of World of Cruising, out September 20. You can subscribe here: http://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/subscribeOrder.html

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.

An Alaskan Un-Cruise Adventure - Pt 5, Sitka

Continuing our magnificent Alaskan Gold Rush voyage with Un-Cruise Adventures on their unique new SS Legacy...

Legacy Cruise Day 5

After two immensely rewarding days at sea, we were heading for port again today, but only after a morning cruising the intricate interior waterways between Baranof and Chichagof islands, with a narrow passageway that afforded genuine close-ups with both shores in turn.

Another humpback whale passed by, lazily cruising close in to the rocky shoreline, and a huge colony of sea otters were spied among great clumps of floating kelp along several rocky outcrops.

Chief barman Jason provided another highlight of the morning with his own speciality Bloody Mary mix, featuring a bacon-wrapped whole shrimp. Here was a meal in a glass, and mighty tasty to boot!

The approach to Sitka itself was equally breathtaking, the mountainous hinterland still topped

by snow and ice while the busy working fishing harbour maintains a constant flow in and out. The Japanese-built suspension bridge served as an iconic entryway and the extinct volcano of Mt Edgecumbe appeared offshore out of the clearing cloud.

After a quick lunch, and with the cloud giving way to unseasonably warm sunshine, we embarked on our included tour for the afternoon, on the Tribal Tours trolleys with native Tlingit guide Toby.

Our first stop, at the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi tribal heritage centre where the Naa Kahidi Dancers (below left) provided a traditional Tlingit welcome and song and dance show, demonstrating traditional dances and activities in heart-warming fashion (several of the ‘performers’ were barely four years old, but joined in with gusto!).

Next up was the Raptor Rehabilitation Center, where we were given a close-up of an (injured) bald eagle and told about the highly successful volunteer-led rehab programme, that takes in many injured eagles, hawks, owls and even ravens and returns them to the wild if at all possible. The handful of birds that cannot be treated and returned to flight are, instead, treated to a five-star rest home for the rest of their lives.

There was an optional extra tour at this point, to go kayaking, but we decided we would prefer to stick with the main group and see more of the area.

Back on the Trolley, it was time to take in the Sitka National Historic Park, where we learned more about Tlingit history and especially their long-established tradition of totem pole carving and narrative story-telling. A side-trip to the park's central stream revealed a narrow waterway positively choked with salmon, many dead and the rest in the slow process of coming to a halt and dying. A sobering if macabrely fascinating sight.

Finally, we had time for a half-hour wander through the town itself – and the central icon of St

Michael’s Cathedral (right), the 19th century Russian Orthodox church that burned down in 1966 but has been faithfully rebuilt.

Back aboard, we said a fond farewell to Sitka amidst a beautifully mild evening, sailing away from the shadow of Mt Edgecumbe while the crew prepared yet another excellent dinner.

An evening showing of the classic John Wayne film North to Alaska concluded proceedings but, truth to tell, we were nodding off long before the end.

Next up – a visit to Norwegian-inspired Petersburg.

To learn more about Un-Cruise adventures, call 1888 862 8881 in the US; or visit www.un-cruise.com. In the UK, specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line can also help with bookings.

Be sure to read the full report of the cruise in the Autumn edition of World of Cruising, out September 20. You can subscribe here: http://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/subscribeOrder.html

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.

Alaska Unleashed with InnerSea Discoveries

With more vessels and itinerary choices in Alaska than any previous year, un-cruise adventure operator InnerSea Discoveries and American Safari Cruises has unveiled 2013 rates and dates for its fleet of expedition vessels and yachts. New in 2013, a refurbished Safari Legacy joins the fleet of yachts while InnerSea Discoveries schedules three Alaska Unleashed cruises for the utmost in active adventures.

The 88-guest Legacy, an elegant vessel reminiscent of a gold-rush coastal steamer with Victorian décor, debuts with American Safari Cruises in summer 2013. Sailing week-long cruises between Ketchikan and Juneau, Alaska, the vessel visits Skagway, Haines, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Glacier Bay and the remote fishing village of Pelican. On board, a Living History programme focuses on the storied past of Alaska, including the Klondike gold rush and historical characters such as naturalist and author John Muir, outlaw Soapy Smith and prospector Skookum Jim. Legacy Leaders and local guest storytellers bring the history and spirit of the past alive with period re-enactments and lively presentations.

“The Safari Legacy will be unique within our fleet and adds an option for those interested in exploring the port towns and history of Alaska,” said Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “We’ll also offer more days inside Glacier Bay National Park, with six boats making regular visits, most for multiple days of exploration.”

Adventurers interested in more technical hikes, longer kayaking trips and more opportunities to be active out in the wilderness can choose to sail on one of three week-long Alaska Unleashed cruises aboard the Wilderness Adventurer. On these exclusive adventures, guest capacity is reduced from 60 to 36 guests to enable a more rigorous slate of outdoor activities. Dates are June 8, July 13 and August 10. For this advanced adventure programme, rates start at $5,595 per person based on double occupancy.

Specialising in active adventures in the wilderness, InnerSea Discoveries’ three expedition vessels include the 60-guest Adventurer and 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Explorer. The upscale fleet of American Safari Cruises includes the 12-guest Safari Spirit, 22-guest Safari Quest, 36-guest Safari Explorer, 86-guest Safari Endeavour and 88-guest Safari Legacy.

For more booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

PS: The new edition of World of Cruising magazine is now available online. Follow this link to read it and enjoy cruising even more!

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.