Our Alaskan Cruise

Holland America Line has put up this year’s video brochures for their Alaska cruisetours.

ALASKA: Imagine its dramatic landscape, wildlife and rich history revealed through a lens of comfort and impeccable service. For 65 years, Holland America Line has brought the best of Alaska and the Yukon to our guests and our expert planning allows for these natural wonders to unfold. Choose from a wide-array of 7 or 14-day cruises or expand your adventure with a cruisetour and go into the great interior of Alaska and the Yukon. A cruisetour is a seamless and effortless land and sea vacation offering extra time in the best places like Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak Mt. McKinley.

Katie Farden at InvestigateWest has a revealing look at the recycling operations of an Alaska cruise ship. The scale of a cruise ship amplifies the environmental impact and the efforts required to minimize that impact are equally massive.

While the 1,432 passengers aboard Holland America’s Zaandam, are enjoying a five-course meal at one of the ship’s plush dining venues or unwinding with a hot-stone massage in the vessels’ full-service spa, crew are bustling below, sorting out tons of waste and recyclables.

Read more…

Here’s a Holland America Lines Alaska Cruise promotional video from 2009

Alaska’s Cruise Leader

Alaska and Yukon CruiseTours (2010)

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Cruise ship haze over Juneau, Alaska

So let’s consider which cruise ships have received Environmental Violations in Alaska (1999-2009) when making your travel plans.

Virgin Holidays gives Responsible Tourism awards each year, with 2008 being the first for Cruise or Ferry Operator (Holland America Lines won) and Royal Caribbean gaining top honors for 2009.

Friends of the Earth have just released their 2010 Cruise Report Card.

Anne Vipond and William Kelly of the Vancouver Sun compare the experience of a Seattle departure vs. Vancouver:

It’s worth taking an Alaska cruise from Seattle if you would like to spend a day or two in Seattle and would like to visit Sitka. However, if you want to see all of the Inside Passage and visit the Klondike Gold Rush town of Skagway, take your cruise from Vancouver.

There is little or no difference in cost between a round trip cruise from Seattle or one from Vancouver, although the best prices from either port are usually offered on the May sailings. According to Harvey Strydhorst of Sea Courses Cruises, good pricing is still available on Alaska cruises, comparable to the bargains that were offered last year.

A Tale of Two Port Cities

Seattle Skyline view from Harbor Avenue, West Seattle Photo by Daniel Schwen

Ralph Grizzle at Avid Cruiser writes…

Reason number 8,028 to book a balcony stateroom: the early-morning view in Sitka, Alaska. It was 7 a.m., and my stateroom was immersed in darkness until I rose from my bed and stood in front of the curtains. I used both hands to draw them back for a view that caused me to audibly express my awe.

Read more at Avid Cruiser