Discover Alaska

               Explore the Unspoiled Nature of the Last Frontier

From action-packed wilderness adventures to extraordinary

sightseeing, a journey to Alaska is an unforgettable experience.

There are three vacation options for experiencing the natural splendor of Alaska: Inside Passage, Northbound or Southbound cruise, and Guided Tours which
can be added to a cruise or completed on their own.

With the completion of our Inside Passage cruise from Seattle on Discovery Princess (May 8-15, 2022) we have now experienced all three options. We'd love to share our experiences with you.

We will start our exploration with our most recent voyage.

Journey to the Last Frontier

Our second edition of Ship to Shore newsletter has been distributed to our email subscribers. For more than a year the pause button has been pushed keeping travel to a minimum across the globe.   

We have been fortunate to travel across the globe for more than 30 years collecting memories and stories.   We've shared many of our stories here in this blog and also in person as often as possible over the years.   This newsletter is another opportunity to share our travel stories about some of our favorite destinations with our readers.

If you aren't already receiving our emails, Sign Up Today for our Ship to Shore Newsletter.   

Here is a taste of what you'll read about in our monthly newsletter.

Ahoy Mates! Come aboard and gather 'round as we tell you about our next adventure on the high seas and land that takes us to distant shores. Last time we visited a land beyond expectations - Galapagos Islands. For those just joining us this journey, visit the Expedition to Galapagos captains log.

This is the captain; our plans call for us to shove off from Seattle, Washington headed to the Last Frontier.  On this voyage you will sail aboard Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas. From the North Star observation capsule, which rises 300 feet in the air, you will have a 360-degree view of our surroundings. It’s all hands-on deck watching for diverse wildlife. Orca, Mountain Goats, Bald Eagles, Bears, Puffins, Sea Otters, and Humpback Whales which have been spotted in these waters.  You will make your way through the Inside Passage arriving at our first port of call in Juneau, Alaska. Here you will go ashore to have a meal of fresh-caught salmon baked on an open fire pit.  Once you are fed, we set sail for Skagway. Half of you will board a vintage rail car to travel along the White Pass and Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway to Bridal Veil Falls, Dead Horse Gulch, and Glacier Gorge. The rest of you will search for Klondike Gold before returning to the ship. Back onboard we sail for Sitka. When we arrive, there will be two landing parties. One group will explore the volcanic coast by ocean raft while the second group will explore the wilderness sea by kayak.  Following your exploration, we will be cruising Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. Endicott Arm is one of the largest breeding grounds for harbor seals on the planet. Keep your eyes peeled for these creatures splashing in icy waters near the ship. Along the shore you might also glimpse brown bears, bald eagles, sea ducks, deer, moose, and wolves. This completes our exploration of the Last Frontier so we will set a course back to Seattle.

We are planning additional voyages for this year. They must conclude by October because the winter weather will set in and travel by ship will be impossible. Sign up for these voyages here.

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There is much to explore of the Last Frontier.   

To read the full story, subscribe to Ship to Shore today and we'll send you the last two issues.   

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Heading to the Last Frontier

Inside Passage Cruising

Round-trip Seattle 

 With the passing of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, cruise lines are announcing their return to Alaska this summer.   Normally, cruises would have already started in Alaska, but there was a major roadblock, which was lifted by the passing of this legislation.   Read More

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation (Carnival, Holland America, and Princess Cruises) has announced 7-day Inside Passage voyages from Seattle beginning in July, 2021.

Carnival Cruise Line

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Carnival Miracle Sailings

Carnival Miracle will sail weekly departures starting Tuesday July 27, 2021 through September 14. There are seven 7-day cruises featuring calls in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord. The September 14 departure is an 8-day cruise with an additional stop in Icy Strait Point. 

The cruises will be open to guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the cruise; proof of vaccination is required.

Holland America Line

 

Holland Nieuw Amsterdam Sailings 

Holland America Line will resume operations to Alaska with seven-day itineraries aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, calling at Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and Stephens Passage. The first cruise for the brand is scheduled to depart July 24, with 11 Saturday departures that will operate through Oct. 2.

The cruises will be open to guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the cruise; proof of vaccination is required.

Princess Cruises

Majestic Princess will sail 7-day Inside Passage voyages which include ports of call in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.  The ship will depart on Sundays starting July 25 - September 26.

In a briefing we attended yesterday from Princess Cruises, we learned that not all the protocols have been finalized.  Passengers will need to be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to sailing.  

According to Princess, passengers will be able to disembark the ship on Princess shore excursions or on their own.  They are waiting for CDC guidelines regarding masks and capacity limits, among other safety protocols which will need to be followed.   Princess Cruises will continue to update the trade, so it is best to work with a professional travel advisor so that you have the latest information.

Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group (Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) has announced 7-day Inside Passage voyages from Seattle beginning in July, 2021.

Royal Caribbean

Serenade & Ovation Sailings

Royal Caribbean® returns to Alaska with two fan favorites sailing from Seattle. Adventures on Serenade of the Seas® begin July 19, 2021 from her new homeport of Seattle, and the biggest ship in the region, Ovation of the Seas®, returns August 13, 2021. It’s time to take on the untamed thrills of the Last Frontier..

Plan your Alaska cruise with peace of mind knowing that all crew members and vacationers 16 years of age or older will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and everyone 12 or older after August 1, 2021  will receive a test prior to sailing. These measures are part of Royal Caribbean's commitment to the health and safety of every guest, crew member and community visited. The measures will be evaluated and updated as public health circumstances evolve. 

No matter which itinerary you choose, get ready for fjord flightseeing in Juneau, glacier gazing in Alaska’s Inside Passage, and peak seeking in Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm Fjord.

Celebrity Cruises 

 

Celebrity Summit Sailings

Starting on July 23, you’ll be able to discover the wild beauty of Alaska once again aboard the fully revolutionized Celebrity Summit. This 7-night cruise will set sail from Seattle and will visit stunning destinations including Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. 

During your journey, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with towering glaciers, watch whales as they breach the water, and admire the rugged landscapes of the Last Frontier from the comfort of this award-winning ship.

The same health and safety protocols will be implemented on Celebrity Summit.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Bliss Sailings

 Norwegian Bliss will sail Alaska itineraries out of Seattle starting August 7, 2021 through October 16, 2021. The itineraries include stops in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait Point. Each stop offers between 7 and 13 hours of port time. 

 Just like the other cruise lines, all adult guests will need to be fully vaccinated to be onboard.

Contact us to book your Alaska adventure today. 

There are many choices when it comes to sailing to Alaska this summer and next year. Alaska is often a once in a lifetime experience, so you want to get it right. As Alaska specialists, we can advise you on the cruise ship that is right for you and your guests. 

In addition, the health and safety protocols continue to evolve, and there is no need for you to concern yourself about understanding them - we will take care of that for you.

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Cruising Returning to Alaska

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2021 Alaska Season Open

The Alaska cruise season has a short window, usually from mid-May through September.  The cruise lines have been working closely with the CDC, Alaska, Canada, and government officials to try to salvage at least part of the 2021 Alaska Season.   We are happy to report that it will be possible to have a shortened season.   

While not all details are finalized, the cruise lines are beginning to announce their schedules and booking reservations.   It is anticipated that demand will exceed supply, so book early if this is something you are interested in doing.

What is PVSA

The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (sometimes abbreviated to PVSA) is a protectionist piece of United States legislation which came into force in 1886 relating to transport of goods or passengers between two places in the same country by a transport operator from another country.

No foreign vessels shall transport passengers between ports or places in the United States, either directly or by way of a foreign port, under a penalty of $200 (now $762) for each passenger so transported and landed.

The Passenger Vessel Services Act, however, 

• does not prohibit foreign-flagged ships departing from and returning to the same U.S. port, provided the ship visits any foreign port; 
• does not prohibit foreign-flagged ships departing from a U.S. port, visiting a distant foreign port, and then continuing to a second U.S. port. However, in order to embark in a U.S. port and disembark in a second U.S. port, the vessel must visit a distant foreign port outside of North America (Central America, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and all of the Caribbean except Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, count as part of North America).

 
Because of this legislation, cruise ships typically stop in a Canadian port when cruising in Alaska to avoid the fees per passenger. Since Canada has not opened their borders to cruise ships, the Alaska season was in jeopardy, even if CDC gave the green light to resume cruises from U.S. ports this summer.

Note:  some people call the PVSA the Jones Act -- but they are two different things. The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the United States. The Jones Act requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned, and operated by United States citizens or permanent residents.

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

Late last week, after ASTA Legislature Day on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., both the Senate and House of Representatives passed legislation that would allow cruise ships to avoid stopping in a foreign port (somewhere in Canada) during the Alaskan cruise.   President Biden signed it into law on Monday.

Several cruise lines have posted their plans for inside passage cruises from Seattle, Washington.  These will be roundtrip seven day cruises.  Cruisetours will not occur on these voyages, however we work with suppliers that could provide a land tour.

We will post additional details about the cruises to Alaska, as well as additional destinations, in blog posts.   Be sure to follow us for the latest news.   Contact us to help plan your next vacation on land or sea.   Just like the Alaskans, we depend on tourism for our income, so we appreciate the opportunity to create new memories for you and your traveling companions.   We also have all the details regarding health and safety so you can plan with confidence.

Stay Updated on Recent 

Cruise Industry 

& Other Travel News

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Connect With Us On

       

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat