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LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
AMERICAN WEST STEAMBOAT COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2007 ALASKA CRUISE SCHEDULE
Carefully Planned Journeys Allow Travelers Intimate Access to Alaska’s
Wild and Majestic Frontier
Seattle, May 25, 2006 – American West Steamboat Company, one of North
America’s premier all-American and U.S.-flagged river and coastal
cruising companies, announced today the details of its 2007 Alaska
cruise schedule. The award-winning cruises are designed as an
unparalleled voyage that give guests an intimate view of the
history-rich and vast wilderness waterways of Alaska’s Inside Passage
that most Alaska cruises miss. The Empress of the North, a
custom-built ship, combines modern five-star comfort, service and
convenience and brings to life a sense of adventure shared by
steamship travelers during Alaska’s Gold Rush era. New for the 2007
schedule is the opportunity to take a dramatic cruise into the mouth
of the Stikine River, considered one of the last truly wild rivers in
North America. Also, guests will enjoy even more scenic cruising
exploring the natural wonders and unique culture of America’s last
frontier.
“We have carefully prepared our 2007 Alaska itinerary to provide
guests with the most intimate way to explore Alaska’s most remarkable
ports of call, more chances to view some of America’s most
breathtaking scenery and wildlife and a variety of opportunities to
learn about the region’s unique history and culture,” said David A.
Giersdorf, President and Chief Operating Officer, American West
Steamboat Company. “We’ve come up with a cruise experience as
extraordinary as the destination itself.”
An Intimate Adventure through Alaska’s Inside Passage
Departing from Juneau, the popular seven-night Alaska cruise provides
an unforgettable way for guests to explore and experience Alaska. With
just 112 staterooms and suites, the Empress of the North provides
intimate access to the scenic places, historical events and varied
cultures that have shaped the great land.
The 2007 schedule allows guests to fully experience the majestic
grandeur of Alaska’s endless forests, breathtaking glaciers,
plummeting waterfalls and abundant wildlife. The cruising route
includes a transit of Peril Strait, as well as scenic cruising through
the 22-mile long Wrangell Narrows and Lynn Canal, North America’s
longest glacial fjord. Because of American West Steamboat Company’s
specially-designed ship, guests travel to remote areas that few
travelers ever get the chance to see. Empress of the North is the
first cruise ship to enter the mouth of the Stikine River. This
glacier-fed mighty river was once a major navigation route to the
Klondike traveled by multitudes of sternwheelers. Guests will enjoy
breakfast at the mouth of this great river followed by exploration of
Eastern Passage.
One of the highlights of the journey is sure to be an unforgettable
dinner at the face of Le Conte Glacier which sits in a stunningly
beautiful fjord and is famous for its regular calving events. On its
final day, the trip culminates with one of the most dramatic travel
experiences in the world – a breathtaking journey through the
26-mile-long Tracy Arm. There, waterfalls cascade from sheer
2,000-foot granite walls. The twin Sawyer Glaciers frequently shed
enormous bergs and the waters team with marine life.
The journey includes visits to Alaska’s most colorful ports of call
including Juneau, the Gold Rush capital with its colorful boomtown
frontier history and nearby Mendenhall Glacier; Sitka, once known as
the capital of Russian America, accessible only by sea or air;
Wrangell, a historic village which provides a glimpse into the “real”
Alaska; a salmon feast at Chief Shakes Island; and Petersburg, a
Scandinavian-influenced fishing village also called Little Norway.
“After spending years cruising in the Alaska waterways, this is one
destination that still makes my jaw drop with every trip I make,” said
Captain Dale Orgain, Master of the Vessel the Empress of the North.
“In 2007, we’ve put together a wonderful schedule that will offer even
seasoned Alaska cruisers something unique. The trip combines new ways
to experience Alaska, along with even more of the activities that our
guests tell us are the highlights of every trip – more time exploring,
more time viewing wildlife and marine life and unmatched glacier
viewing!”
Expert onboard naturalists and custom-designed land excursions,
included in the cruise price, enrich the Alaska experience. Guests
will watch for humpback whales in their summer feeding grounds at
Point Adolphus; learn about the Russian and Tlingit cultures at the
Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka; and take a scenic railway journey at
Skagway that follows the Gold Rush Trail of ’98.
With 18 sailings to choose from between May 12 and September 8, 2007,
rates for the seven-night program start from $2,969 per person based
on double occupancy. Rate shown with applicable 10 percent early
booking discount savings. It does not include port charges, taxes and
transfers.
12-Night Alaska Cruise Explores Even More of Alaska and British
Columbia’s Wonders
In order to give guests the opportunity to explore the entire Inside
Passage, American West Steamboat Company will debut two 12-night
sailings during 2007 exploring points between Seattle and Juneau. In
addition to experiencing all that the spectacular seven-night
itinerary offers, guests will also discover Canada’s pristine Inside
Passage as well as wonderful cities such as Seattle, charming
Victoria, B.C. and the very cosmopolitan Vancouver, B.C.
Guests can choose from two 12-night cruises. The May 12, 2007 cruise
departs from Seattle and travels north to Alaska’s Inside Passage. The
September 15, 2007 cruise departs from Juneau and travels south to
Seattle. Rates start from $4,769 per person based on double occupancy.
Rate shown with applicable 10 percent early booking discount savings.
It does not include port charges, taxes and transfers.
An Alaska Experience Fit for a Tsar
Launched in 2003, the Empress of the North achieves a balance of
modern refinement and historical charm for her 223 guests. This
American-built sternwheeler cruise ship is specially designed with a
shallow draft and quiet propulsion that takes guests deep into
intriguing places that other ships can’t reach. The state-of-the-art
ship is entirely custom-built to reflect a regal Russian Alaska theme.
Public rooms are decorated in royal jewel tones of red, green, gold
and black. Expansive art collections throughout the ship display
unique Native American artifacts and Russian antiquities such as
beautiful and rare Faberge eggs. Every stateroom reflects this Russian
heritage with elegant furnishings including rich mahogany wardrobes
and luxurious velvet d.ries.
Also unique to the ship is the luxury of space. Staterooms are
generously proportioned and public spaces are ample. Nearly 90 percent
of these deluxe staterooms feature private verandahs from which guests
can enjoy an up-close view of the landscape that has captivated
travelers from lands far and wide for hundreds of years. In addition,
the Empress of the North offers exceptional live entertainment, fine
dining, and warm, attentive service from a friendly all-American crew.
Early Bookings Ensure the Very Best Value
The extraordinary cruises through Alaska’s Inside Passage and the
Pacific Northwest sell out each season. Guests are encouraged to
reserve their travel by September 30, 2006 to ensure the greatest
choice and availability of departures and to take advantage of early
booking savings of 10 percent (up to $700 per couple). For additional
information, please contact your travel agent.
About American West Steamboat Company
Founded in 1995, American West Steamboat Company is one of North
America’s premier river and coastal cruising companies, offering
award-winning unique, historical, nature-oriented cruise itineraries
through the Pacific Northwest and Alaska’s Inside Passage. The
company’s specially designed ships deliver an unequalled combination
of five-star comfort, service and convenience while bringing to life a
sense of adventure shared by travelers of years past. Guests
experience intimate access to historical points of interest and the
breathtaking wonders of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Both the
Empress of the North and the Queen of the West are American-built and
registered.
American West Steamboat Company and Delta Queen Steamboat Company are
divisions of Ambassadors Cruise Group, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Ambassadors International, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMIE).
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