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Cruises vs. Cruise Tours

A great Alaska adventure can be had on cruise-only itineraries and on many cruisetour itineraries. Both options offer spectacular views of Alaska: cruise-only itineraries focus on magnificent glaciers and fascinating frontier ports; cruisetour itineraries combine cruising itineraries with 3 to 20 days of land touring to also explore the vast inland wilderness of Alaska and the Yukon. The advantage of choosing a cruisetour is that you get a greater variety of Alaska attractions; for example, a cruisetour is the only way to see Glacier Bay and Denali National Parks, the Yukon and the Arctic. Additionally, most cruisetours include the personal services of a tour director who helps with logistics, enlivens the interpretation and helps you select your optional excursions. We encourage you to use this website, your travel agent and/or the cruise linet to research both options. We know how important your vacation is to you, and it is just as important to us that you have the best possible Alaska experience while you are our guest.

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What to think about

Alaska is unique among world destinations. Remember that you are coming to see natural wonders and wildlife in its natural habitat. Glaciers don't calve on a schedule and grizzly bears and mountain vistas do not show up just because you do. Give yourself the most unhurried itinerary possible to be sure you have the best opportunities for unforgettable wildlife and scenic viewing. To help you determine the best duration of your Alaska vacation, ask yourself what you want to see and if you think you will ever be back.

Determine if creating a personal connection with nature is important to you; if it is, chose one of many "Personal Wilderness" cruisetours available. These exciting new itineraries take you beyond Alaska's well-known attractions and give you extra time to explore exquisite and rarely visited national parks and wilderness areas off the beaten track. Travel with a small group of like-minded explorers and discover your own favorite spot to commune with nature in Kenai Fjords, Kluane, Gates of the Arctic, Tombstone, the Klondike and the Yukon River.

And finally, if there are Alaska specific activities that you have always wanted to experience, such as dog sledding, salmon fishing, panning for gold, glacier hiking or searching for bears, be sure to pick an itinerary that will allow you to experience these once-in-a-lifetime adventures. The more you personalize your Alaska adventure, the more memorable your Holland America vacation will be.

Inside Tip: As soon as you have booked your cruise or cruisetour, visit the cruise line online and reserve your favorite excursions; all optional excursions have limited capacity and they fill up fast.

Time and Budget

We believe experiencing Alaska by sea and by land is a traveler's "must do" experience. That's why we offer a greater selection of Alaska cruise and cruisetour itineraries  with more tour options to meet every schedule and budget. All cruise-only itineraries are 7-days with the option to travel round-trip to and from Seattle, to and from Vancouver or one-way between Vancouver and Anchorage (Seward or Whittier). Our cruisetour itineraries run from 11-day Value Priced Tours to a 20-day Great Land Grand Tour. Again, we encourage you to take as much time as your schedule and budget will allow to ensure you have the best opportunity to see as much of the Great Land as possible.

If you are on a tight schedule or budget, Value Priced  Cruisetours were designed to give you the opportunity to maximize your Alaska cruise with minimal impact to your schedule and budget. With just three or four extra days and a few more dollars you can extend your 7-day Alaska cruise to include an exploration of Denali National Park, Anchorage and Fairbanks.