The good folks at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution report on a bit of bright light for the Alaska cruise industry.  Apparently the aggressive deals and discounts they have been offering have resulted in a huge rush of customers.

Princess Cruises set new records for daily booking by recording an increase in volume of 17 percent over its previous best day. Their Alaska cruise specials have been some of the most aggressive, and I’m sure they are grateful for the response.

A welcome development is that the fuel supplement charges of last year have been eliminated across the board.  The lower price of oil has lowered the costs for the cruise lines, and they’re happily passing their savings on to their guests.

Going against the grain, Royal Caribbean has many of its passengers up in arms over a recently announced $3.95 fee for late night room service orders.  It will be interesting to see if they make the fee stick, or are forced to roll it back.

Anyone looking for an excellent Alaska cruise deal should find a lot of great options this season.

Source:  The Altanta Journal-Constitution

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s statehood, and Cruise West has some phenomenal Alaska cruise deals and itineraries on offer to celebrate.

Cruise West began offering cruises in Alaska in 1973, and has risen to become one of the premier small ship Alaska cruise lines.  Their ships carry no more than 140 guests, ensuring an intimate experience and allowing them to get up close and personal to the glaciers that are the highlight of any Alaska cruise itinerary.

Cruise West has arranged to bring on board a great lineup of special guests on select itineraries, including Vic Fisher and Jack Coghill, both of whom signed the original Alaska statehood document in 1959.  Also featured are former Governor of Alaska Tony Knowles and Dick Mackey, the very first Iditarod dog sled racing champion.

Food lovers won’t be disappointed either, as Cruise West has gone all out to ensure they provide the best of local Alaskan cuisine.  Breakfasts will include local berries and birch tree syrup, sure to give maple syrup lovers a new taste experience.  Of course, no Alaskan cruise would be complete without seafood, and the state’s world famous salmon, black cod, halibut and crab will be in abundant supply.

To make things even more attractive, Cruise West is offering an additional $50 onboard credit for anyone celebrating a 50th birthday or wedding anniversary.  If you can book early you can take advantage of some great discounts that bring starting prices down to just $999 per person.

Source: PR Newswire

Cruise West is perhaps one of the best known companies offering small ship, luxury Alaska cruises.  In a move towards lowering their carbon footprint and embracing the Internet, they have just announced a webinar on their departures for the upcoming season.  The presentation will be sure to provide lots of great information and shouldn’t be missed.  More details are available at their site.

Cruise West’s Alaska cruises begin on May 20 this year, with itineraries traveling in both directions between Ketchikan and Juneau.  Ports of call include Tracy Arm, Frederick Sound, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Glacier Bay, Petersburg, Sitka, the Misty Fjords and Metlakatla.  You can expect to see a range of wildlife including whales, bears, and eagles.

For anyone looking to save some money off their normal $3,999 per person and up prices, Cruise West is offering discounts of as much as $550 per cabin on early bookings until March 27 .  If you’ve been considering a cruise with the luxury small ship Alaska cruise line, this is a great offer you shouldn’t miss.

Source: The Province

For anyone looking to save a few pennies on their next Alaskan cruise, the 2009 edition of the Alaskan TourSaver has been announced and has some great 2-for-1 deals.

For day trippers, there’s a full day cruise from Juneau deep into Glacier Bay National Park. The per couple package price is $350 for the lodge and an additional $186 for airfare.

Rail enthusiasts will love the Alaska Railroad package, leaving from Whittier and heading out on a scenic tour to a glacier.  The price for two people is only $84.

To take advantage of the deals, you have to purchase the TourSaver for $99.95 to take advantage of the over 130 2-for-1 offers included.  Definitely a smart purchase for anyone looking for some great Alaska cruise deals.

Source: Find Articles

Tim Conder, a cruise analyst for Wachovia, recently discussed the health of the Alaska cruise market for the rest of 2009.  It’s not a surprise to anyone that the economy is hurting badly right now, and the cruise market has felt the impact.  Bookings were way down in January, and the cruise lines responded by slashing fares to unheard of levels.  But did their Alaska cruise discounts bring in the buyers?

The answer is mixed.  In the short term, especially for Alaska cruises departing in the next two months, bookings have firmed up a bit.  But the rest of the year still looks pretty bad.  The major lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, have been doing their best to prop up prices, but it looks like they won’t be able to do so for much longer.  They have an incredible number of unsold berths staring them in the face, and you can sure bet they’re going to move aggressively to fill them.

The bottom line?  February saw some pretty amazing Alaska cruise deals, but the best may be yet to come.

Source: Travel Pulse