By Judy Antell
An Alaska Cruise tour is a combined cruise and land tour of Alaska. Several cruise lines offer these options; Holland America, based in the northwest, has
cruises that depart from Vancouver or Anchorage. The fully escorted cruise tours let you explore Alaska's Interior, Denali, The Yukon, Kenai, Homer and the Arctic Ocean. The land portion is by domed-car luxury rail.
Wows and Woes
The scenery throughout the tour is truly spectacular. Sitting in the domed train is a particular treat.
The tiny interior stateroom is quite small; it can easily make one feel claustrophobic.
Insider Tips
Bring an extra camera, memory card and battery; you want to make sure you take a lot of pictures. After all, you don't want to have to pay top prices if your camera fails.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
I've been on whale watches where we've seen nothing but the ocean; on this cruise, you could hardly not see a whale, with huge humpback whales putting on daily shows. It was mesmerizing the first time we saw them.
Bottom Line
As of 2009, the tiny inside cabin is only about $1,400 for a 10-day journey; it's worth every penny.
About the Author:
Judy Antell was the editor of Big Apple Parent for 13 years and continues to write for the monthly publication. Antell has been published in "The New York Times," "Parents" magazine and on numerous websites. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Arts degree in literature and drama from Washington University.
