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