in August, 2022, we will be hosting a Distinctive Voyages group for a cruise to Alaska and we’d love to have you join us. The Distinctive Voyage Program offers special, exclusive experiences and amenities (all included in your regular cruise price- no additional fees) for discerning travelers on the world’s top luxury cruise lines. As a Distinctive Voyage member (again, there is no fee to be part of this unique group) you will enjoy a private cocktail reception in your honor, a private tour just for our group and the services of onboard hosts throughout the cruise to make suggestions on what to see and do and offer any assistance as needed. By God’s grace, John and I have been selected, from thousands of travel agents in the US, to act as Distinctive Voyages hosts. We are honored and thrilled to be part of such an exciting travel opportunity and will do our very best to take excellent care of our passengers.
Our adventure to Alaska begins on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia where we will board the gorgeous Regent Seven Seas Mariner for a 7-night cruise to Anchorage through the inside passage. Vancouver is Canada’s third largest city, named after Captain George Vancouver, who sailed the area’s waters in 1792. Today Vancouver offers travelers tram rides to the top of Grouse Mountain and opportunities to visit the lovely Ming Dynasty Gardens, historic Gas Town and picturesque Stanley Park.
After cruising through the spectacular Inside Passage, our first port of call will be Ketchikan, the name supposedly comes from the native term "Katch Kanna", which roughly translates: "spread wings of a thundering eagle." At one time Ketchikan was proclaimed the “Salmon Capital of the World.” An outstanding collection of totem poles make a visit to Ketchikan essential for anyone interested in Native art. From there we will venture on to Juneau. In 1880, Joe Juneau and Richard Harris were prospecting for gold with the help of Indian guides. Here they discovered nuggets “as large as beans” at the mouth of the aptly named Gold Creek. Out of their discoveries came three of the largest gold digs in the world where more than $150 million in gold was mined. Juneau’s surrounding beauty and natural wonders have attracted cruise ship travelers for over a century, with steamship companies bringing tourists here since the early 1880’s.
On day 5 we arrive in Skagway, a town that retains the flavor of the gold rush era, especially on Broadway with its false-front buildings. In Skagway, you can visit the Trail of ‘98 Museum with its outstanding collection of gold fever memorabilia.
From there we will cruise to our next port of call to discover the frontier town of Icy Strait Point surrounded by nature in its unspoiled glory. Pine trees as tall as skyscrapers, humpback whales, eagles, wild salmon, black bears and more, form the harmonious tapestry of life in this Alaskan hinterland. You could visit the Native Theater and Heritage Center to see Tlinglit tribal members enacting their history through song and dance or stroll over to the Cannery Museum and find out how this staple of the Alaskan diet, salmon, is processed. Shop for locally made preserves, jewelry, wooden carvings, clothing, and bath products. Take a walk along the well-marked nature trail to Hoonah. Enjoy delicious and abundant seafood, Dungeness crab, salmon, shrimp and cod in this remarkable natural environment.
We will spend a day cruising Hubbard Glacier, North America's largest tidewater glacier. It's 1350 square miles of blue ice and one of the most active in Alaska. The views will be truly breathtaking. We conclude our cruise arriving at the port in Seward. From there, passengers will have a choice of flying directly home from Anchorage or taking a side trip into Denali National Park and Preserve for a few days to enjoy the amazing animals and landscape of this most famous national park.
Regents Seven Seas is considered a luxury cruise line. Their business strategy is very different from most of the cruise lines that go to Alaska. While other cruise lines offer lower cabins fares to attract passengers and then charge for many things while onboard, Regents Seven Seas pricing structure includes everything: airfare, all shore excursions (there will be up to 56 for you to choose from on this cruise alone), 1-night pre-cruise hotel package, unlimited beverages including fine wines and premium spirits, open bars and lounges and mini-bars in staterooms, pre-paid gratuities, specialty restaurant dining, transfers between airport and the ship, unlimited wi-fi, valet laundry services, and butler services in larger suites. I have seen a side-by-side comparison between Regents and the other cruise lines that go to Alaska and, when you add everything in (airfare, land excursions, specialty dining, beverages, etc.) the total cost of the 7-day cruise on both lines is the same.
However, the luxury experience found aboard a Regents Seven Seas ship is definitely a cut above. For example, every stateroom on this ship is a balcony suite stateroom with a king-sized bed, a sitting area and a private balcony. The smallest cabins onboard are over 300 square feet, which is significantly larger than most balcony cabins on other lines. There are only 700 passengers aboard ship vs. several thousand on other lines. This means you will have an easier time getting on and off the ship in port and more space to just enjoy the ship. The crew count is 445, which means a ratio of 1 crew person for every 1.5 passengers, a much better ratio than most other lines offer. Bottom line: while it looks like you are spending more to cruise on Regents Seven Seas, you aren’t; but you will definitely have a much more luxurious experience.
If you’d like more information on this cruise or any others we are hosting, please contact us soon either by phone, email or text.
Until our next adventure…