Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
Into the wild Have the time of your life when you sail the waters of Alaska and visit Canada
Get ready for breathtaking beauty and amazing adventure when you sail the waters of Alaska
alaska is one of the world’s great cruise and wilderness destinations and it’s a big hit with Australians, who love the wide open spaces and gorgeous natural scenery that USA’S 49th and largest state offers in abundance.
Images of furry black and brown bears, bald eagles, cute otters and breaching whales all help to paint a picture of a divine wilderness destination calling
out to come and visit. There are ways to cruise Alaska that will suit some people and not others, so choose your options carefully. Here’s what you need to know.
GO THE INSIDE PASSAGE
This is the big one. It’s the cruising superhighway offered by the big names like Holland America and Princess in a well-rehearsed drill. It’s affordable and comfortable, and if this is your only chance to see this wonderful part of the world, grab it. Most of the time aboard ship is spent on a leisurely meander through the forested fjords with passengers enjoying the crisp air out on deck as they survey the perfect scenery from a distance. Port visits will be a familiar mix of self-guided strolls among the shops, folk museums and cafes, as well as optional pre-organised
excursions to nearby sites like parks, sanctuaries and scenic lookouts.
Alaska cruises on the big ships typically depart from either Vancouver in Canada or Seattle, two beautifully situated cities in their own right. The ships then embark on either a seven or 14-day cruise sailing up the tranquil east coast of Vancouver Island and past the fjords and islands of British Columbia’s (BC) Inside Passage to the glaciers and outlying ports of coastal Alaska. Guests can then choose to spend more time exploring the frontiers of Alaska on one-way itineraries or easily managed return trips.
In Alaska, the common stops are Juneau, Ketchikan, Haines, Sitka and Skagway, while on the longer 14-day round-trip itineraries you may see Homer, Kodiak as well as Alaska’s largest city, exciting Anchorage.
LOVING THE SMALL SHIPS
The many nooks, crannies and tiny waterways of the Inside Passage are the ideal venues to take one of the numerous adventure cruises on offer. These expedition-style voyages are typically aboard the much smaller vessels, often with just a few dozen fellow passengers. Look out for names like Lindblad Expeditions, Uncruise and Alaskan Dream.
Just like expedition cruises in other parts of the world, you can expect comprehensive and enriching explanations of your experience, photography classes, energetic wilderness hikes, kayaking and the type of wildlife viewing you would only otherwise see in National Geographic documentaries. Too fabulous!
A typical itinerary is a week aboard one of these compact ships, starting or finishing at one of the established ports like Juneau or Sitka where there are convenient air links. Petersburg, Wrangell, Glacier Bay NP, Icy Strait or even tiny Elfin Cove are common stops. Head off to explore a glacier aboard
one of the Zodiac rigid inflatable runabouts or go for a long hike in a coastal forest with an expert guide, stopping frequently to study the special wonders of the native flora.
SAIL AND RAIL TOGETHER
Certainly one of the most innovative Alaska travel combos on the market are the combined itineraries offered by Holland America (HAL) and the famed Rocky Mountaineer railway. Already a proven hit with Australian travellers, the luxury railway has teamed up with HAL and their various Alaska-based vessels to deliver an exceptional on and offshore experience, so this a logical and great value addition to either voyage.
The Rocky Mountaineer’s superbly comfortable Goldleaf carriages have massive domed panoramic windows through which to digest the sprawling landscape. Speaking of digestion, this top-tier service (of three levels) serves sumptuous a la carte meals in a private dining room beneath the passenger compartment, with complimentary beverages throughout. Regular, but unobtrusive, commentary is accompanied by frequent champagne top-ups, in case you need to be reminded that you are on a premium service. Without sleeper cars, the entire train stops overnight en route, ensuring not a minute of the spectacular scenery is missed and bringing valuable tourist dollars to the remote towns along the way.
Turquoise lakes, thundering waterfalls and snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see – is it any wonder the Canadian Rockies features on so many Aussie bucket lists? And perhaps yours too!
HEAD FOR THE ROCKIES
Even if you’ve been before, there’s always the lure of returning in a different season. Think sleigh rides and back-country skiing in Whistler, Banff and Jasper in winter, then wildflowers and baby animals in spring, sunny patios and those famous lakes in summer, and gorgeous red, yellow and orange fall foliage colours in autumn.
The Canadian Rockies cover a 1200km section of the North American Rocky Mountains, encompassing five national parks along the border of Alberta and British Columbia. With activities including hiking, kayaking and horseriding, there’s something for everyone in this wilderness paradise.