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

Much has been reported about the major Alaska cruise lines struggling to meet the new environmental regulations due to take effect in 2010. The latest development, though, is that it may in fact be impossible for them to do so with current technology.

While there are land-based systems that would help them meet the requirements of the 2010 law, none of them have been adapted to use for cruise vessels. A best guess is that it will take at least two years, if not longer, to enable Alaska cruise ships to take advantage of them. Some new technologies, including a refrigerator-sized system that could remove ammonia from waste water, are still very much in the experimental stage.

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line seem to be the furthest ahead in working towards satisfying the new requirements. Companies estimate they are spending in the range of $3 million to $5 million on every ship just in water treatment systems. Alaska cruise line standards are much stricter than the city waste water regulations of the ports where they dock.

Source: Juneau Empire

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

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

The Star out of Toronto, Canada, has posted a helpful roundup of current Alaska cruise deals.  While I’ve covered many of these bargains before, it’s nice to review them and make sure nobody misses out.

• Carnival Cruises is offering a 25% discount on advance bookings of three to five months, depending on the length of the cruise.
• Celebrity Cruises is promoting a 50% reduction in deposits.
• Holland America Line takes it a step further with its Vacation Stimulus Plan, offering a 50% reduction in both deposits and tours.
• Norwegian Cruise Line is granting a $250 on board credit, and child fares as low as $99.
• Princess Cruises continues to promote its complimentary balcony upgrades on all ocean view staterooms.
• Royal Caribbean is offering a $200 onboard credit.
• Silversea Cruises is promoting a 30% discount on advance bookings, as well as an additional 5% discount for advance payments.

It’s great to see the Alaska cruise lines competing for your business, and really trying to outdo each other.  With all of these excellent Alaska cruise deals on offer, you’re bound to find one to your liking!

Source: The Star