by John Parker
Alaska is a destination that conjures up images of glaciers, mountains, wildlife, blue ice waters-but photos don't do this cruise destination justice. It has to be experienced. Over the years, the number of cruise lines offering Alaska cruises has grown, with most now offering land tour extensions as well. For the 2007 Alaskan season, even more options exist to explore this incredible destination, with cruise departures now readily available out of Seattle, Vancouver, Seward and Whittier.
The first lines to pioneer the destination, offering both cruises and cruise tours, were Holland America Lines and Princess Cruises. Holland America actually deployed its first ship, the MS Prinsendam, to Alaska in 1975. Royal Caribbean International began offering their first Alaskan cruises in 1990 aboard the Viking Serenade, and Celebrity Cruises followed in 1996. Carnival Cruise Lines also began sailing in Alaska in 1996 with their ship, the Tropicale, roughly half the size of the ship they now have sailing in Alaska.
This trend continues with other cruise lines as well. Ships placed in the Alaska market include special features that embrace this destination. These are new ships, not aging tonnage, that cruise lines are using to increase their presence. As Noel DeChambeau, Director of Marketing and Sales for Holland America Lines, Inc. notes, "Holland America Lines has steadily increased its presence to 159 sailings on 8 five-star ships, including three Vista-class vessels - MS Oosterdam, MS Westerdam, and MS Zuiderdam."