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What We're You Thinking Of;  An Alaska Cruise -or- An Alaskan Land + Sea Vacation?  Explore them all below

 

An Alaska Cruisetour...where a balcony cabin and a spectacular train ride become front-row seats for one of the most breathtaking shows in nature.

50 MUST-DO ACTIVITIES WHEN SAILING ALASKA

Best Alaska Cruises & Cruisetours 2021 - 2022

Featuring Alaska Adventure Vacations

 

 

Welcome To Alaska

 

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Alaska : dream. see. inspire.

Let your spirit of adventure guide you to the Last Frontier. Be Ready To Be Wowed. Explore What's Possible In Alaska. An Alaskan vacation is a must for the seasoned or first-time cruise traveler. Where else can you see amazing wildlife like moose, bears, and eagles in a virtually pristine wilderness?  Combine flightseeing with cocktails beside a rushing river. Or treat yourself to a night at a fabulous lodge after climbing America's tallest peak,  and traveling in comfort and style doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the opportunity for real adventure.

 

50 MUST-DO ACTIVITIES WHEN SAILING ALASKA

Discover the top activities to sail Alaska

50 must-do activities when sailing to Alaska

#1 Be sure to check out the Northern Lights Experience in the planetarium on board your ship.
#2 Try Reindeer Sausage at any of our Princess Wilderness Lodges or onboard the train.
#3 Join the Alaska-inspired Chef’s Table with special dishes featuring fresh Alaska seafood.
#4 Experience the thrilling Zip Rider in Icy Strait Point with a top speed of 65mph!
#5 Sample a variety of brews at our Alaska Beer Tasting event.
#6 Pan for gold at Gold Dredge 8 in Fairbanks.
#7 Try a Bison slider or Bear Lard Pie at Fannie Q’s Saloon at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®.
#8 Bite into a juicy Ernesto Burger – awarded the best burger at sea by Cruise Critic – at the Grizzly Burger at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®
#9 Roast marshmallows, make s’mores and share stories with friends at the fireside patio at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®.
#10 Enjoy stunning scenery through glass-domed windows as you travel between ship and lodge via exclusive Princess Direct-to-the-Wilderness® rail service.
#11 Indulge in a Bering Sea Crab trio at the King Salmon Restaurant at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.
#12 Take a little bit of Alaska home with you by purchasing a McKinley ‘Mac’ the Moose or Stanley the Bear plush.
#13 Meet and hear from Libby Riddles in Juneau, the first woman to win the grueling 1,150-mile Iditarod sled-dog race.
#14 Be on the lookout for Stanley the Bear mingling with guests on board.
#15 Watch for wildlife above, below and on land, from whales to orcas, eagles to puffins, plus moose, caribou and bears.
#16 Take part in a nostalgic can-can dance class and kick up your heels with fellow guests.
#17 Cuddle with future sled-dog puppies in the Piazza in Skagway – and be sure to take photos!.
#18 Join an exciting Lumberjack presentation or try your hand at axe-throwing.
#19 Discover the secrets of capturing the perfect shot in Alaska from award-winning photographers on board.
#20 Join National Park Rangers on deck as they offer commentary and insight on Glacier Bay National Park.
#21 Learn about the fauna and flora of Alaska from naturalists who come aboard.
#22 Watch an Alaskan local carve a totem pole and explain its rich history.
#23 Hear exhilarating stories from Capt. David Lethin, from the popular Discovery™ show, Deadliest Catch.
#24 You hook it, we’ll cook it. Reel in a fish on select Princess shore excursions and our chefs will prepare it for you with our Cook My Catch program.
#25 Meet the Mountain Climbers who share tales of conquering Denali, North America’s tallest peak, at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge®.
#26 Try favorites from local Alaska eateries on board, including crab cakes from Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau, fish tacos from the Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan or seafood chowder from Bonanza Bar & Grill in Skagway.
#27 Kids will love our Alaska Explorers youth program and they can even earn their own Jr. Ranger badge!
#28 Visit Alaska’s top two attractions – Glacier Bay and Denali National Park – on any Alaska cruisetour.
#29 Spend time in Denali National Park on a Natural History Tour or a Tundra Wilderness Tour, on most Alaska cruisetours.
#30 Step out onto the viewing platform and take in the fresh Alaska air and wilderness while enjoying scenic Princess rail travel.
#31 Take a sternwheeler riverboat cruise while in Fairbanks.
#32 Take a shuttle from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier, the only drive-in glacier in Alaska.
#33 Retrace the original route to the White Pass Summit of Yukon on a nostalgic ride on the White Pass Scenic Railway.
#34 Explore picturesque Kenai while rafting through Kenai Fjords National Park.
#35 Learn the history of totem poles at Totem Bight State Park or visit quaint Creek Street in Ketchikan.
#36 Take in stunning views of Denali from the deck at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge®.
#37 Enjoy a cold brew while soaking in views of Nenana River from the expansive deck at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®.
#38 Fish for famed Copper River salmon and admire the Wrangell St. Elias range while staying at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge®.
#39 Take a stroll back in time in Skagway along wooden boardwalks from the gold rush era.
#40 Enjoy our custom-built Tree house at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge®, as seen on Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters
#41 Experience the excitement of a real Klondike festival that celebrates the spirit of the Alaska gold rush in the Atrium.
#42 Marvel at Hubbard Glacier, 76 miles long and 1,200 feet deep, visit the 16 dazzling glaciers of College Fjord or venture through Endicott Arm Fjord to Dawes Glacier.
#43 Experience Princess Medallion Class™ while cruising in Alaska. #44 Listen for “white thunder” as you watch a glacier calving at Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park.
#45 See if you can spot Denali’s Big 5 in Denali National Park: Bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall sheep.
#46 Try to capture a photo of a whale tail or a pod of orcas as you sail across the Gulf of Alaska.
#47 Take a ride on the Mt. Roberts Tramway in Juneau for spectacular views of Alaska’s capital.
#48 Go flightseeing or land on a glacier and then take a thrilling sled dog ride.
#49 Experience unique Alaska adventures on a Discovery™ or Animal Planet™ Exclusive Shore Excursion like the Black Bear, Wildlife & Nature hike in Ketchikan or a Glacier landing from Juneau.
#50 Find out if you can endure the Alaska tundra, as you compete with fellow guests in Can you Survive, part of our Discovery at SEA program.

 


 

Alaska Excursions

Don't just visit this famous land, live it on Alaska excursions. Rush across the snow on a dog sled with a professional musher, fly fish for salmon in fresh rivers and soar over miles of glacial tundra in a helicopter. Watch migrating humpback whales from the deck of a catamaran or Native craftsman carve a traditional totem pole, and expand your Alaska cruise experience.

Learn more about Alaska Excursions

 

 

Inspiration & Advise

Certified Alaska Cruise Advisors

Raye & Marty Trencher

 

Certified experts in their field, representing over 40 years of  hands-on "been there and done that" travel experience and expertise. In 2020, they celebrated 20 years of helping like-minded people plan their once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Alaska.

 

Representing all major cruise lines and a certified member of several consumer and travel trade organizations including the Cruise Lines International Association, Alaska Travel Industry Association and the Travel Leaders Group. To our new friends, we're happy you found us, and we look forward to welcoming you to our avid cruise traveling family. To our long-time seasoned cruise travelers, we offer you a warm welcome back. We are grateful for your loyalty, as you are an intrinsic part of our company's success.

 

Their mission is plain and simple. Leave no sea unsailed.

To provide real-life accounts and expert advice, not just a flood of information. They literarily have cruised "round the world", sailing thousands of nautical miles, visiting ports of call, inspecting ships, sampling itineraries and critiquing shore excursions.

And now they hope to pass on that knowledge and information to you. Their stories offer the best possible cruise options based on your lifestyle, interests, budget, travel experience, etc. plus they'll point out where to get group rates ( without joining a group!), free upgrades, shipboard credits and other amenities or discounts. Get advise about tipping; packing; clothing; flights and schedule options; shore excursions, proper immigration documentations and much more.

They will tell you how to avoid travel scams and common travel mistakes,  and share insights on the latest cruise news and how it affects your vacation planning

The Value of Knowledge And Know-How, from Alaska Certified Experts.

Our Certified Alaska Cruise Travel Experts are the key element of what differentiates us from others.  Our staff is the number-one reason people return to travel with us, again and again. Management and staff each have over 40 years experience in travel. We offer our knowledge, experience, expertise and service; and then provide travel services if requested. All with no agency fees. We have been highly specialized in Alaska travel since we started offering the destination over 20 years ago, and know the destination inside and out. Each of us is a cruise vacation professional. We're a valuable resource of first hand knowledge coupled with contagious enthusiasm for our work, here to help you plan the perfect Alaska cruise vacation. You'll find we're just like you, sharing one common dream, the dream of cruising and the spirit of the sea. Call today and let us plan your most memorable vacation experience ever. Our services and advice are complimentary and we have lots of valuable information that we love to share.

 

We have Certified Alaskan Cruise Experts who are eager to help you sort through all your options, answer all questions, give you their best advice and book your cruise or cruise tour. Certified Alaskan Cruise Experts have years of hands-on destination experience and expertise in travel to Alaska. And, we've been recognized by Princess Cruises as one of their top Alaska Cruise Advisors in North America so our buying power and connections go a long way to getting you a great deal! Plus, we offer some amazing shore excursions.  Choose salmon fishing, taking a helicopter and flight see over and land on glaciers, kayaking, trekking, panning for golf or feel the exhilaration of riding a dogsled, Alaska shore excursions are all adventure!

 

We Are Avid Travelers Just Like You

 Whether you're looking to book an all-inclusive land & sea package, or just a cruise, we can provide you with the best options available. We have access to the best choices and prices, and Bonus Extras that aren't available everywhere else. If you need help planning an upcoming Alaska cruise, Alaskan Land & Sea Vacation, or you just have questions about a specific destination or trip, call us at 800.365.1445. Offering free advice and insider tips you can trust from someone who is not only a certified travel expert, but an avid traveler, with over 30 years experience and expertise.

We'd love to help plan your next unforgettable cruise or vacation. Do you have a vacation in mind? Call us at 800.365.1445 to get started.

 

Looking for better perks @ sea? Never hurts to Ask.

Q&A
Q. "I notice most name-brand cruise lines offer pretty much the same perks: Shipboard spending credits, cabin upgrades, free gratuities, complimentary specialty dining, free wi-fi etc. Are there any better perks?"
A. Cruise lines change promotional offers every few weeks, but often the total "real" value of the offer is the same, just the list of inclusive features shuffles about. So, it never hurts to ask about what's on offer now. There may even be a group deal you can get in on, or a special offer you've not heard of. To learn about those hard-to-find " unpublished" deals, make that phone call.  It could save you hundred's of dollars off the cruise fare and an even sweeter deal with one or more bonus extras.

Q. You probably have a lot questions about Alaska. We've been there and done that, so we have the answers you need.
A. Call us and we'll be glad to share our first hand up-close stories and adventures, knowledge and expertise to help you travel with confidence. You'll get valuable insights on how to customize your itinerary based on your tastes and budgets, from Certified Alaska Travel Experts. We look forward to having you call us at 800.365.1445. The call is free and so is the advice. Never an obligation to book.

 

What's Trending Now

Travelers are spending more and embarking on 'bucket list' cruise adventures and new cruise destinations According to the latest Outlook Report, when it comes to cruising, travelers are looking for a few things: unique and exclusive experiences (92%), exotic itineraries (90%), wildlife (87%), enrichment and education (84%) and thrills (61%). For people looking for next-level travel, cruising is the new cool. Known for eschewing "things" in favor of experiences, Millennials, are choosing cruises in increasing numbers to visit bucket-list destinations, unique and exclusive excursions, seek out wildlife and exotic itineraries and, ultimately, discover the thrill of other-worldly adventure.

Alaska Leads The List!
Alaska is the top destination for adventure or expedition travel with nearly eight of 10 (78%) travelers choosing the region as their destination when booking adventure travel.  In some cases like Alaska, where capacity is limited,  planning starts a year ahead of time. So, if your looking for the best advertised prices, largest selection of available accommodations, and deals available for next year, cruise travelers should focus their efforts to find a professional certified cruise travel expert during mid-summer.

 

ALASKA CRUISETOURS

3 - 8 day land tours combined with a 7 day Alaska Cruise.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

We've created this Photo Gallery to give you a little jumpstart. Feel free to pick and choose what catches your eye!

 

 

 

 

Raye & Marty with Jeff King at Husky Homestead (Denali)

 

Leave the crowds behind and join an intimate group to meet champion

sled dogs at the Husky Homestead.

Enjoy a personal tour of the homestead kennel of four-time Iditarod champion, Jeff King.

Meet the champion sled dogs, cuddle the puppies, and see the summer husky training in action.


.Luxury Rail Tours from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Denali National Park, Talkeetna
Experience the unobstructed views of the Alaska wilderness and delicious cuisine from the comfort

of a glass-domed luxury rail car on your Alaska vacation.

In addition to wrap-around domed viewing windows, many railcars feature an open-air platform for the ultimate viewing experience.
Riding the train through the Alaska wilderness is a truly magical experience.

Each journey comes with its own unique adventures, breathtaking vistas, and leisurely tours.

Each destination offers different excursions and viewpoints.
One of the best parts of your rail tour is simply relaxing in a luxury glass-domed rail car, looking at glorious Alaska scenery.

 Rafting up to a glacier on a scenic float or...
...get your heart racing with three hours of whitewater adventure.

_________________________________________________________

 

 


Hiking

Get incredible off-trail access with a hike and flight combo.
Experience all the natural beauty Alaska has to offer on a hike accessible for any level
.

 


Learn about the true-life adventures and experiences in the Bering Sea in pursuit of crab.
 

More Things To See and Do!
Cross the Arctic Circle and experience the Far North
Hit the rails for a little bit of history and a whole lot of scenery.
Tour the beautiful and remote Kennecott Mines.

Learn which wines to pair with Alaska seafood.
Soak in the relaxing Chena Hot Springs
.

 

Riverboat Discovery - Fairbanks, Alaska

Visit North America's largest tidewater glacier.

The Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America.

A tidewater glacier is one that flows into the ocean.

The glacier is approximately 7 miles wide at its foot and 76 miles long


Fishing
Catch dinner on the Kenai River, you definitely won't go hungry.

 

 


Some of Skagway's newest sled dogs!

Snap a picture with the puppies and meet their dog handlers who will be training them for a life of dog mushing.


"Treehouse" views at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Helicopter Glacier Landings!

Take a snow day and explore the incredible glaciers nearby.

See spectacular views only available by flightseeing or enjoy an exhilarating helicopter landing on a glacier.

View the ice blue Mendenhall Glacier by kayak or mush along the ice and snowy terrain on a thrilling dog sled ride.

 

► Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge - Photo Gallery

► Denali Princess Lodge - Photo Gallery

 

 

 

Looking for a Group Cruise Vacation?
Friends, & family have the most fun - especially on a group cruise.

Whether it's for weddings, reunions, birthday milestones or simply getting together with friends and family,

there are many reasons why groups choose to sail with us again and again.

And, one good reason is our exclusive mini-group rates for as few as 3 couples! Call for details.

 

Often, visiting Alaska has as much to do with what people may feel as with what they will see. There is a mystique that surrounds Alaska.

To some it represents a dream, a trip of a life time, a life altering event, a chance to reach out and touch

something inside themselves that is wild and beautiful like they imagine Alaska to be.

Our job is to put that dream - or as much as possible of it - within reach of you.

Get Inspired

Our friendly faces going to all kinds of places!

 

 

Alaskan cruising is affordable, only the memories are priceless!

When it comes to planning your trip, Alaskan Cruises & Land and Sea Vacations  are more economical than you might think. 

With a wide range of options and choices, there's a cruise or cruise tour to suit most any budget. "

ather your family, grab your friends - start planning your Alaska cruise today".► Learn More

 

Working with us offers some distinct advantages...

We have been narrowing in on our area of expertise for years, setting out twenty years ago with a single

destination - specialty in mind; Alaska...and have been hyper focused on it, since day one.

Our efforts include first hand " been there...done that" knowledge, building travel provider relationships

that leverage value and savings, personal consulting and unique amenities.

Alaska represents our passion and an a result we have become that go-to person to consumers.

That's what we're recognized as, and that's what like-minded travelers are looking for.

We're not trying to cast a very wide net and have thousands of new customers, offering everything under sun.

What we really try to do, is help a limited number of clients plan their Alaska vacation by sharing our knowledge and expertise about their destination.

Testimonials

While the high tech race moves forward, old fashioned expert advice is what Raye & Marty

offer like-minded cruise travelers who visit Alaska Cruises Direct.

There are some things only experience can tell you. While our site highlights many great offers,

planning an Alaska cruise is more than just clicking through a list of dates and prices.

It's learning all about what there is to see and do in Alaska, and the best way to enjoy your vacation.

 

 


 

Friends, Family & Couples Cruising

"Hi Marty! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you so much for all that you did for our family/friends cruise on Royal Carribbean. My family loves the RCCL line....and as concerned as I was that we had little ones coming on this vacation, I was so impressed with the Ocean Adventure's Club. My two little ones wanted to be there all the time. I now have no reservations about bringing them on another RCCL cruise, the staff is just fabulous! When I originally started to research cruises and Travel Agents to help with the process, I was overwhelmed (Let's face it, sometimes the internet can be a good thing and sometimes it can be a bad thing). I am so happy that I can across your website. I sure didn't expect the response that I received from our family and friends when I started planning the cruise, and you were there every step of the way putting up with my cabin changes, adding new guests at the last moment, and removing guests in some cases, too! You were amazing and I know for a fact that you are responsible for our worry-free and amazing journey. Everyone that joined us on the cruise was extremely impressed at how well the whole thing fell together with little trouble on their parts. Again I can not thank you enough, and don't forget that we will be planning another one ! Explore Family Cruises "


"I just wanted to thank you for all your help. Packer Expeditions was excellent and I would highly recommend them again for anyone looking to do a glacier hike. Also, we ended up being upgraded to an outside cabin... It was a truly welcome surprise to say the least. It made all the difference in the world both having a window (even though it was an obstructed view) and having a larger cabin. Alaska was totally awesome and we thoroughly enjoyed the land tours. All the coach drivers and tour folks were very knowledgeable and helpful. So next time we are looking for a cruise I will be in touch! Thanks again, Ann."


" Our trip was excellent. The room, with the upgrades, was amazing! We saw many eagles (bald and golden), one bear, many whales, including one breach, seals, one bear, one wolf, moose and caribou, and many smaller animals.. If we travelled during salmon run, we probably would have seen more bear and eagles. The scenery is to die for, the vistas spectacular. The ship was great; service, food, etc were all great. Thanks for everything. " 

 

" Raye, We had a wonderful time on our vacation. The cruise was fantastic. The service, the food and the entertainment was great. We had great weather at all of our stops. We did the Lumberjack show in Ketchikan which was very entertaining and enjoyed by all of us. In Juneau we did the Mt. Robert's Tram, a whale watch and the Mendenhall Glacier. All three excursions were great. In Skagway we did the White Pass Railroad which was fantastic. My nine year old granddaughter stood on the platform of the train, with her father, and just kept saying how beautiful Alaska is...The land tour was very nice. The lodges were all beautiful. The rooms at the Kenai lodge were our favorite. The rooms were very large and they all had a wood stove and a deck. The Sea Life Center was great.  Mt. McKinley lodge was my favorite. We took your advice and went to the fire pits. The restaurant we ate at was good. We took the first shuttle to Talkeetna the next day. That was an interesting little town. I had to try the Fireweed ice cream that was very good. We enjoyed the train ride to Denali. We did see a moose. The Denali lodge was very nice. We took your advice again and went to the Husky Homestead. My granddaughters loved that excursion. Jeff King is such a great speaker. I am sure we will all follow the Iditarod next year. The Natural History Tour of Denali was good. We had a great driver. We saw a moose eating on the side of the road and one caribou. We did like the dining shuttle at the Denali lodge. The Fairbanks Lodge was really nice. We took the shuttle into town and spent some time exploring. The Riverboat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8 were great. On Saturday we took a shuttle to North Pole and then spent a few hours at Pioneer Park before getting our flight home. The best part of the land tour was not having to handle our luggage. We even checked our luggage, for our flight home, at the lodge in Fairbanks and got our boarding passes. It was a wonderful trip and we all enjoyed every minute of it. The two weeks went by so quickly. Thank you for all your help and making it so easy to book this vacation. "

Certified Alaska Cruise Travel Experts

Celebrating  20 + years! Since 1999, we have been helping thousands of cruise travelers explore Alaska
Our Certified Alaska Cruise Travel Experts have 30 years extensive cruise planning and destination knowledge each, helping you plan the cruise that's right for you, offering a truly memorable and personalized experience.

Contact Us: 800.365.1445

We're at your service from the beginning you contact us,  to the end of your journey and beyond.

 

 

 


 

*All About What You See & Read
The cruises shown on this web site are capacity-controlled and similar deals may be available from competing online, neighborhood travel agents, as well as the cruise line directly. All rates are per person for an inside cabin unless otherwise stated, and include port charges. Prices may vary by departure date. Please note these recent deals were limited-time offers, when we searched the Internet. You will need to click on an available link to check what's on offer today, to stay updated on recent deals, and to take advantage of opportunities to save before they are sold out or their time is (or was) up. Prices and availability are subject to change and offers may be withdrawn, by the suppliers at any time. There is no guarantee that these rates, free extras or special amenities will be available at the time of your search or actual booking. Use this information as a starting point in your vacation planning process. Check with us or the cruise line directly for the latest up-to-date-offers.
Savings are off brochure rates for off peak departures. Other savings available for peak season departures ( June, July August ) Not every ship, not every sailing is discounted. Call us to find out about your cruise selection. 800.365.1445. The prices and descriptions of cruises and tours shown, are suggestions to give you an idea of how much you can do on land and on the river in America within your budget. The prices shown are just a guide, as there are over 400 ocean cruises and tours to choose from and the cost varies depending upon what cruise line, cruise ship, destination, sailing or departure date you choose. The information shown is meant to serve as a starting point for trip planning, with a variety of options to fit your needs. **Early booking discounts and special promotions are limited time offers and may have expired by the time you make your booking. If you missed the deadline, call us as new promotions may be available at the time of your call. Travel Direct Corporation is the website owner and the Cruise Line Materials and Marks used are "owned by the cruise lines o rtheir affiliates".
Photo's and artist renderings courtesy of Princess Cruises and others. All rights reserved
 **The data and research are based on online survey responses of 1,300 North American travel agents from the Cruise Lines International Association.

 

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