Groups receive discount
American West Steamboat Company offers discounts to groups of nine and more passengers traveling on a 7- or 11- night trip through Alaskas Inside Passage aboard its Empress of the North luxury sternwheeler. Group discounts range from 30- to 35-percent depending on cruise and number of days traveled. Also applicable are early booking savings of $600 to $1,000 per cabin.
The Empress of the North is popular seven-night package travels from Juneau and visits Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and Skagway. Because of the size of the sternwheeler, it is able to visit many scenic areas that are not available to the larger cruise lines. These include visits to Peril Strait and Le Conte Bay, cruising into Tracy Arm Fjord, Misty Fjords, and a full day excursion into Glacier Bay National Park. Shore excursions are included in the cruise price.
The 11-night cruise departs May 17 and Sept. 9 and travels between Seattle and Juneau. The itinerary features all destinations included on the seven-night trip, plus the San Juan Island Archipelago with stops in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. Contact: 800-358-8854
Up-close view of Prince William Sound
Glacier Bay Cruiseline has a new itinerary which travels Prince William Sound aboard the M/V Wilderness Adventurer. The eightnight excursion is available from June 10 through Aug. 8 and includes a one-night stay at a Whittier hotel. The company is known for its adventure cruises and this trip is classed at a medium-adventure level. It includes activities like sea-kayaking, nature walks and wildlife viewing. The 68-passenger vessel is equipped with a floating dock which is used to launch its fleet of seakayaks. Other activities include guided nature walks and wildlife viewing. Contact: 800-451-5952
ARAMARK expands Denali operation
Aramarks Denali Park Resorts is now the largest operator in the Denali National Park Nenana Canyon region with the addition of the Grande Denali Lodge and the Denali Bluffs Hotel to its portfolio. The company has also expanded its entertainment and dining operation with the acquisition of the Peak Experience Theater, a multimedia presentation about Mt. McKinley. It has also added the Alpenglow Restaurant and Bar and the Mountaineer Bar and Grill, and will be reopening the popular BBQ Denali Smoke Shack restaurant. Aramark has been a Denali Park Resorts concessionaire for more than 25 years. Other company facilities include the McKinley Chalet Resort, the McKinley Village Lodge, the Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, Alaska Raft Adventures and shuttle and tour services throughout the park. Contact: 907-683-8200,
Be a part of the Iditarod challenge
If you have a traveler who has always dreamed of experiencing the Iditarod, they can now bid for a spot to ride with their favorite musher and team of dogs. All race participants participate in the Idita-Rider Musher Auction. The bidding process then allows a winner to ride along from the Anchorage start line and over the first 11 miles of the race. This years event has 97 ride-along winners. For information about the 2006 Iditarod auction go online to www.iditarodauction.com
Speedy ferry service
Alaska Marine Highway has launched its second fast vehicle and passenger ferry. The M/V Chenega serves the Prince William Sound communities of Valdez, Cordova and Whittier. The craft, an aluminum catamaran-style vessel, travels at twice the speed of the previously offered service. The ferry accommodates 150 passengers at its observation lounge; 108 passengers at the mid-ship seating lounge and additional seating is located at the outdoor solarium. Services include a full-service refreshment and snack bar and a video game room. Contact: 907-465-6643
This article is sponsored by:
www.grouptravelblog.com
