An Alaskan Cruise Adventure

Erika Affolter describes this as a breathtakingly beautiful destination that offers more than just spectacular scenery.

Erika recently travelled to Alaska and now rates it as one of her most loved destinations. By far the largest American state, Alaska accounts for approximately one-sixth of the entire country. Erika says Alaska’s beauty is manifold, and has to be experienced: tidewater glaciers; complex rivers; the mountains and the flora. The wildlife-viewing during the 18-hour summer days includes caribou, grizzly bears, bald eagles and thousands of orcas and gray whales.

She flew into Whitehorse in the Yukon to begin the Alaskan adventure. First was a breathtaking ride on the Yukon White Pass Railway that took Erika and her companions to Skagway, a famous gold-rush city. Then she visited Haines for some thrilling bear watching. But not content with bear watching she then boarded a small plane and flew past countless glaciers and snow-covered peaks to Juneau.

An Inside Passage Cruise was the next part of this Alaskan journey. Erika says you leave the crowds behind as you cruise at fingertip closeness through some of the most magnificent destinations in western North America. The cruise maximizes opportunities to truly experience the wildlife, culture and people along the way. According to Erika, expedition leaders and on-board lectures on different topics made this cruise that much more interesting, particularly when they visited Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm.

What could possibly be the ultimate highlight of a trip to Alaska when the menu has such a depth? For Erika it was having a pod of orcas frolicking around the ship and watching the countless sprays from a pod of nearby humpback whales that repeatedly flipped their tails far out of the water to dive into the depths. The unpredictability of wildlife at close range is to be powerfully, movingly and unforgettably touched in a way that transcends what travel photos later evoke.

Recommended package:

Cruise West is a small ship cruise company that offers a variety of cruising experiences. The focus is on the experience. They employ experts to come aboard and provide the insight and knowledge to the passengers that would be hard to find travelling on one’s own.

An example itinerary : 7day/8nights Cruise West cruise with sailings from May each year.

Include:

* 7 nights cabin accommodation
* All meals
* Sightseeing
* Services of experts and onboard lecturers
* Taxes, port charges, fees & onboard services

Gratuities are not required or expected.

Contact Erika for more information on (02) 8270 4800 or email her at eaffolter@conciergetraveller.com.au

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