| Thousands of miners left Seattle to pain for | | | | Bears can be a little more hit-or-miss, |
| gold and fortune in Alaska during the 1890s. | | | | wildlife experts say. You can take a $100 |
| Today, more than 835,000 passengers are | | | | "Bear Search" at 7am in Icy Strait Point, |
| expected to pass through Seattle on their way | | | | although there's no guarantee you'll spot |
| to Alaska on Alaskan cruises. Most come for | | | | one. Or you can take a $300 - $1,600 fly-in |
| the quiet, untainted scenery or the rare | | | | adventure to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island, |
| wildlife sightings. | | | | Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park or the |
| | | | McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where |
| Some visit to learn about the American | | | | bears reliably come to feed on salmon. |
| Eskimo, to take an Alaskan husky dogsled | | | | |
| excursion or to feast on Alaskan king crab. | | | | This summer, you can find some great deals on |
| With so many quaint port towns and over | | | | Alaskan cruises if you know where to look! |
| fifteen cruise lines heading to the glacial | | | | Since so many people flood Europe during the |
| waters this season, why not make Alaska your | | | | summer, you can find great savings. For |
| next vacation destination? | | | | instance, Holland America Line offers 7-night |
| | | | premium cruises (with stops in Juneau, the |
| "People go to Alaska to see wildlife for a | | | | Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan and |
| reason, but you see it in many ways and in | | | | Victoria), with prices starting at $699, down |
| many circumstances," said Erik Elvejord, | | | | from $1,629! Summer is actually a great time |
| spokesman for Holland America Line. "Don't | | | | to visit Alaska because the bears are out |
| expect a lineup of bears when you hit the | | | | catching spawning salmon, there are many |
| pier, or pods of whales everywhere the ship | | | | summer festivals, the flowers are in bloom, |
| goes." Seeing wildlife in Alaska while on a | | | | the days are longer and the weather's mild. |
| cruise is all about careful planning, | | | | |
| Alaskans say. | | | | If you're looking to book Alaskan cruises, |
| | | | then you can choose a mega-ship like Holland |
| While animals won't be flocking toward the | | | | America, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity |
| ship, you can visit one of the port stop | | | | Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess |
| towns for guaranteed sightings. Carnival | | | | Cruises or Royal Caribbean. Or you may want a |
| Cruise Lines recommends the Sea Otter Quest | | | | mid-size vessel like Regent Seven-Seas |
| in Sitka, for example, because there's a 100% | | | | Cruises or Silversea Cruises. Smaller vessels |
| guarantee you'll see these playful creatures. | | | | include American Safari Cruises (36 |
| Holland America recommends the Whale Watching | | | | passengers), Cruise West (120), Discovery |
| and Wildlife Quest in Auke Bay because | | | | Voyages (20), Majestic America (220), Maple |
| humpback and orca feeding grounds are located | | | | Leaf Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions or The |
| right amid the Alaskan cruise route. | | | | Boat Company. |
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