Hi Everyone,
I received this press release from Holland America and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
Holland America Line's 2008 CruiseTours to Alaska & the Yukon Feature
In-depth Experiences from Glacier Bay to the Arctic
SEATTLE, Aug. 28
From Alaska's incomparable Glacier Bay and Denali National Parks to
the Kenai Peninsula, Arctic and Yukon Territory, Holland America
Line's 2008 Alaska CruiseTours will explore natural wonders and
provide guests with in-depth wilderness experiences. With 29
CruiseTours ranging from 10 to 20 days in length, Holland America Line
combines an exceptional Inside Passage cruise with land tours designed
to show guests the best of the North's wilderness, wildlife, native
culture and eventful history.
Holland America's comprehensive CruiseTours indulge guests with a
relaxing north or southbound cruise aboard five-star ships and
exciting land travel via the luxury, domed McKinley Explorer® railcars
and custom-built, highway Explorer Coaches(TM). Introduced in 2007,
the Explorer Coaches(TM) with just 45 seats, provide 50 percent
additional leg room over the 54-seat version. The new coaches feature
first-class amenities: leather seats, battery-charging stations for
guests traveling with electronic equipment, LCD monitors and a
mini-galley serving beverages and snacks. Every seat is equipped with
a headset and eight-channel audio.
"Holland America's CruiseTour itineraries let guests take their time
to have a personal wilderness experience in the areas of Alaska and
the Yukon that most intrigue them," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC,
executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "We
take guests to scenic national parks and recognized wilderness areas,
and we design optional excursions to let them fully experience the
adventure while they are here. "Guests can do a self-drive jeep tour,
wilderness jet boat safari or helicopter flight-seeing with a glacier
landing in Denali National Park. They can enjoy hiking in Tombstone
Park, dog-sledding in Skagway, sport-fishing in Ketchikan and
river-rafting in Kluane National Park, a pristine UNESCO World
heritage site. Between our 29 CruiseTour itineraries and many optional
excursions, guests are sure to have memory-making experiences of a
lifetime."
Meadows noted that the 2008 itineraries and optional excursions
encompass 14 national parks and wilderness areas. In addition to
Denali, Glacier Bay, Kluane and Tombstone, they include the Kenai
Fjords, Gates of the Arctic, Klondike (Skagway), Wrangell-St. Elias
and Sitka national parks, plus the Klondike Historic Site (Dawson
City), Yukon Charley National Preserve, Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge, Misty Fjords National Monument and Tetlin National Wildlife
Refuge.
Most Holland America Line itineraries feature Denali National Park
stays that offer more time to experience this untamed wilderness. A
total of 18 Holland America CruiseTours feature "Double Denali" -- two
nights at a classic wilderness lodge near the gates of Denali National
Park to provide more time there -- plus a guided Tundra Wilderness
Tour offering the best wildlife and Mt. McKinley viewpoints. Ten other
CruiseTours include a one-night Denali stay and either the Tundra
Wilderness Tour or Denali Natural History Tour. All Double Denali
tours include tour directors to ensure excellent guest satisfaction.
Great Land Klondike CruiseTours
In 2008 Holland America Line offers six Great Land Klondike
CruiseTours highlighting Klondike heritage and wilderness. All include
three- or four-day Inside Passage cruises between Vancouver and Juneau
or Skagway with southbound cruisetours featuring Glacier Bay National
Park.
The Great Land Klondike CruiseTours offer 11- to 15-day adventures
that let guests experience Denali National Park; Dawson City with
optional excursions to Tombstone Territorial Park; Fairbanks; an
exciting Yukon River cruise aboard the mv Yukon Queen II; and
Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon Territory. Some cruisetours also
include Kluane National Park and the White Pass & Yukon Railroad with
Lake Bennett excursion. All departures have tour directors.
Great Land Wilderness CruiseTours
The Great Land Wilderness CruiseTours range from 10 to 13 days and
provide a more affordable wilderness experience. They feature Denali,
Whitehorse, Kluane, the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, Beaver Creek and
Fairbanks, with travel along the most scenic stretch of the Alaska
Highway. These CruiseTours feature three new attractions: Uncommon
Journeys, where sled dogs demonstrate their skills during summer
training near Whitehorse; a tour of the Museum of the North at the
University of Alaska in Fairbanks; and a natural history presentation
at the entrance to Kluane National Park. All four itineraries feature
tour directors.
Glacier Discovery CruiseTours
In 2008, all 19 Glacier Discovery CruiseTours treat guests to the
stunning icescape of Glacier Bay National Park or mammoth Hubbard
Glaciers on a seven-day cruise. Glacier Bay departures also include
scenic cruising in College Fjord. These CruiseTours range from 11- to
20-days. In addition, most offer the two-night "Double Denali" stays,
the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour and tour directors.
Guests who wish to travel above the Arctic Circle or cruise the Kenai
Fjords National Monument can do so on several of these CruiseTours.
Another tour explores the Kenai Peninsula -- a favorite vacation spot
for Alaskans -- to visit Homer on Kachemak Bay and Cooper Landing on
the Kenai River. Guests also can opt for a luxurious, two-night stay
at the Alyeska Resort near Anchorage, plus the Portage Glacier tour
aboard the mv Ptarmigan.
The leader in Alaska Cruises and CruiseTours
This fall, Holland America Line celebrates its 60th anniversary as the
leader in Alaska travel with eight premium ships offering a total of
156 cruises in 2008. These include 59 sailings on three ships
home-ported in Seattle and 97 cruises on five ships based in
Vancouver, BC.
CruiseTours start at $1,249 per person, double occupancy. For more
information about booking an Alaska cruise or CruiseTour, contact a
travel agent.
Holland America Line's fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to
314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies. Two-
to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including
Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a
Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean,
Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.
In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich,
Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of
cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers. Fleetwide,
the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling
more than $225 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center
presented by Food & Wine magazine - a state- of-the-art onboard show
kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts
provide cooking demonstrations and classes - Explorations Café powered
by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom
amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's
Dream Beds.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America
Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines
alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises,
Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion
to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these
lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's
Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to
the world's most desirable destinations. |
745568. HAL's 2008 CruiseTours to Alaska & the Yukon!
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