A close encounter with emerald forests, snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, glaciers and Icy Bay fjord while cruising through the ‘bucket-list’ destination – Alaska.
Alaskan cruises are the best way to explore the Alaskan region. We opted for a five-star cruise liner which was a royal treat with excellent comfort. Once the ship set out to sea at the pre-announced departure time, we were mesmerized by the sights of glacier chunks floating in the sea, which in itself is an awesome experience. Sailings normally begin either from Seattle, USA or Vancouver, Canada and normally last for seven days. The ship stays in the port during daytime, and sails at night. In port, various land excursions are organized and it is advisable to book your excursion early as they tend to fill up to the allowed capacity quickly. Our hot favourite excursions during the trip were:
Ketchikan
Mendenhall Glacier
This 19km long glacier is the most attractive and popular of all the glaciers. Reason: the Mendenhall ice caves. They exist only because a glacier is melting-- and as you can guess, glaciers don't keep on melting forever. It’s the place to go hiking ‘before you die’. In fact, there are couples who get married there just to build a ‘lifetime’ memory of the beautiful bond.
Icy Strait Point
It is a privately owned tourist destination right outside the small village of Hoonah in Alaska. Get ready for whale watching with the backdrop of snow-clad mountains. Adventure seekers can try the zip-line ride. The 1.5 minutes provides a panoramic view of Port Frederick and surrounding islands from 300 feet above the sea level.
Juneau
The City and Borough of Juneau is the capital of Alaska, popular for its picture perfect sights. A helicopter tour over the glaciers is just a life-time experience and at the same time educative. You can also ride a dog sled like an Eskimo.
Skagway
This historical city is a part of setting for Jack London’s book ‘The call of the wild’ and for Joe Haldeman’s ‘Guardian’. It is where the bygone Gold Rush took place. Don’t miss the train ride on the White Pass and Yukon route to have a breathtaking experience.
TIPS & TRICKS
Getting there:
We landed in Vancouver late May for seven days of unbridled joy and luxury along with taking in all the great sights north of the 40th Parallel. After an overnight stay in a comfortable motel, we boarded a luxury bus specifically run by the Vancouver Tourism Board for cruise passengers. The bus took us on a sightseeing trip of Vancouver. Canada Place, Stanley Park with their famous totem poles, Gas town and China town. After a leisurely lunch, we headed to the cruise passenger terminal to board our cruise-liner.
When to go: The Alaskan cruises run from early May till late September.
Don’t forget to:
A must to take multiple entry visas to USA and Canada for cruising experience
Do check on internet about ‘Things to know before going on an Alaska cruise’.
Did you know?
All glaciers in Alaskan region are named after universities
By,
Author : Prabha and Gopakumar