By Isabel Prontes
The northernmost state in the
United States--Alaska--has long been a popular cruise destination. From the state's many exquisite glaciers, national parks, lakes, marshlands, wildlife sanctuaries and historical villages, there are countless exciting and beautiful things to see and do while cruising and exploring the biggest state in the country. There are certain areas of the country that are essential parts of any excellent Alaskan cruise itinerary.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines offers what some might call the best Alaskan cruise itinerary out there. Aboard the Carnival Spirit ship, tourists of Alaska will be able to explore this northern region for seven nights, starting in Anchorage, Alaska, and ending up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This is a highly extensive Alaskan cruise excursion that stops at all of the necessary, must-see locations in the state.
Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Ave.
Miami, FL 33178
Tel: (800) 929-6400
Cruise College Fjord
Cruise College Fjord is a delight for those fascinated by Alaska's plentiful and beautiful glaciers. There are 16 stunning ice mountains at Cruise College Fjord, which spans 20 miles and is located in the Prince William Sound. Not only will you get to see icebergs, but you will also be able to witness a diverse array of wildlife, including whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals, and if you get really lucky, maybe even an orca or two. This is one of the first stops on the Carnival Spirit cruise itinerary.
Juneau
Juneau is the capital city of Alaska. A stop in Juneau is wonderful, as it has everything from helicopter tours of glaciers and historical, cultural museums to examining wildlife (including whales) from a catamaran and touring salmon hatcheries. Juneau also has a lot of excellent gourmet dining options, shopping (a lot of arts and crafts and touristy merchandise), and even bars and lounges. This is a quaint and diverse city that is a must-see on any Alaskan cruise.
Cruise Lynn Canal
The Cruise Lynn Canal extends all the way from the town of Skagway to the capital city of Juneau. It is North America's deepest and longest glacial fjord, which the Tlingit (Native culture) peoples lived off of, eating many fish and enjoying the sights of harbor seals, humpback whales and sea lions. The Tongass National Waterway is right by the Cruise Lynn Canal and is full of exciting creatures of all varieties, including great bald eagles. This is a wonderful Alaskan stop to explore if animals interest you.
Ketchikan
Another quintessentially Alaskan stop on any Alaskan cruise is the small, charming town of Ketchikan. Ketchikan is located on Revillagegido Island, and used to be a major logging hub. There are a lot of museums, discovery centers and cultural sites in Ketchikan, such as museums, native villages and vast, beautiful state parks. Creek Street in Ketchikan has interesting shopping and high historical relevance. There are a lot of Alaskan handicrafts for sale.
About the Author:
Isabel Prontes is a freelance writer and traveler residing in Manhattan, NY. She has traveled to five continents and counting. Her work has appeared on a number of websites, such as Travels, eHow.com and "Happy Living Magazine." Prontes has a professional background in public relations; she received a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Pace University.
