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

Vancouver is an increasingly popular port of departure for one-way Alaska cruises headed to or from Seward or Whittier.  But with so many choices, how do you select an Alaska cruise line that’s just right for your trip?  The good news is that with a little research, you can narrow down your options relatively quickly.

If a family Alaska cruise is what you are interested in, there are three Alaska cruise lines using the port of Vancouver.  Carnival Cruise Lines is noted for its family friendly tours and bills itself as the “fun ship” for good reason.  Norwegian Cruise Line tries to promote a more casual approach to cruising, and is another popular choice for families with children.  Royal Caribbean International is the final choice for a family cruise to Alaska, with a focus on adventure with such onboard attractions as a rock climbing wall and putting greens.

If you are more interested in a luxury Alaska cruise, you also have a number of choices.  Celebrity Cruises is a more upmarket option known for its gourmet dining and luxurious amenities.  Holland America Line is another alternative that looks to provide an elegant, traditional onboard experience.  Finally, Princess Cruises is unique in that it runs a number of its own lodges in Alaska, and its onboard amenities are of high quality.

If you are looking for a small ship Alaska cruise, your choices are more limited, but the options are all excellent.  Cruise West has been in the business for a very long time and has the smallest ship capacity of just over 100 passengers, enabling it to cruise to places where larger ships can’t visit. Regent Seven Seas accommodates about 700 guests on its Alaska cruise tours, and every cabin is an outside suite with a balcony.  Silversea is the favorite of Conde Naste Traveler magazine, and operates ships with just under 400 passengers, making it a nice intermediate option.

One thing’s for sure, with so many great options, you’re bound to find an Alaska cruise departing from Vancouver that’s just right!

Source: The Vancouver Sun

The Juneau Empire reports that while the capacity cuts planned in the Alaskan cruise market this summer are not great news for the cruise lines, for the rest of us there should be some pretty good Alaska cruise deals popping up for the 2009 season.

In addition to Royal Caribbean pulling its 2,100-passenger Serenade of the Seas after the 2009 season, small ship Alaska cruise stalwart Cruise West said it’s dropping three of its eight ships, a reduction in capacity of 40%.

Bookings are down considerably from last year.  In response, cruise lines are removing ships and dropping prices aggressively on the ones that are remaining.  Fares are down to about half of 2008 levels.

Those good deals might not last, though, as the huge discounts have resulted in a lot more bookings. If you’re considering an Alaskan cruise in 2009, it might be a good idea to book soon to take advantage of the low prices.

Source: Juneau Empire

Just in from The West Australian, Silversea Cruises has announced aggressive savings for a number of its upcoming Alaska cruises.

The cruise line is offering an onboard spending credit of $774 per person–a full $1549 per couple–for its May and September sailings on its Silver Shadow ship.

The promotion can be applied to shore excursions, spa treatments, and a host of other amenities.

Why the credit and not an outright discount on the price of the cruise?

The logic is that the super luxury cruise lines such as Silversea Cruises want to make sure they are not tarnishing their brand.  With their premium cruises and prices, the last thing they want is to be viewed as a discount cruise line!

One thing is for certain, anyone shopping for discount Alaska cruises should consider these two departures on Silversea Cruises to make their trip far more affordable.

Source: The West Australian