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Compliments of Holland America

Alaska

15 Day Alaska Cruisetour Vacation

There's no better way to experience Alaska than on a cruisetour. A cruisetour combines a 7-night Gulf of Alaska cruise with 3 to 8 nights on land for the ultimate Alaska vacation. You'll experience glaciers, wildlife, national parks, wilderness, the finest lodges and, of course, a world-class cruise.

Here is an excerpted day by day Journal of The Ideal Alaska Cruisetour Vacation found in Holland America's online travelogue.

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Kenai  Whitepass Yukon Railroad Ketchikan Overview Seattle Overview  Glacier Bay Hubbard Glacier Kluane Whitehorse Yukon River  Dawson Tombstone Territorial Park  Tok  McKinley Explorer  Anchorage  Tundra Wilderness Tour  Denali  Fairbanks  Dalton Highway

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR - Day 1 Anchorage and the Kenai Fjords are a match made in heaven. Flew into Anchorage early yesterday to stay at the Alyeska Prince Hotel and dine at the Seven Glaciers Restaurant. Then cruised to the "hidden" Portage Glacier on the Ptarmigan - unbelievable! Up early today to tour Kenai Fjords National Park. Saw whales, sea lions and got our first look at glaciers. In Anchorage a grilled salmon dinner really got us in the Alaska mood.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 2 The new McKinley Explorer is like cruising on land. We met our traveling companions and Tour Director. Then boarded the McKinley Explorer railcars for sightseeing to Denali National Park. At the McKinley Chalets we opted for the rollicking Denali Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 3 The Tundra Wilderness Tour is a definite "must." The brochure was right! The longer tour showed us more wildlife and the best views of Mt. McKinley - so glad Holland America Line recommends the full Tundra Wilderness Tour. We shot a dozen rolls of film!

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 4: Extra Time Made the most of our extra time in Denali National Park. Soared over the glaciers and spires of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range in a helicopter. Spent the morning rafting. What a day!

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 5 Into the wilderness via the fabled Alaska-Canada highway. Relived history at the restored Gold Dredge No. 8. Then hit the storied "Al-Can" Highway. Our driver entertained us with wilderness tales as we passed through unforgettable scenery.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 6 Our Yukon River experience was a true off-road adventure. Aboard the Yukon Queen II we all marveled at how wild and untouched the country is; fell completely under the spell of the Yukon.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 7: Extra Day Touched the heart of the Klondike in Dawson City. We opted for the Tombstone Park adventure from gold rush Dawson. Incredible vistas of remote, rugged mountains and sub-artic tundra. We heard a ranger talk about the special ecological aspects of the park and then hiked in bear country.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 8 Traveled the route of the stampeders to historic Whitehorse. We broke out our dog-eared copies of Robert W. Service poetry as we passed "the marge of Lake Laberge" via the fabled Klondike Highway. The Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue at our hotel brought the gold rush hilariously to life.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 9: Extra Day Why we came to the Great Land-Kluane National Park. Made the full-day trek up to King's Throne. Friends did the Alsek Valley interpreted hike. Others shot the rapids of the Tatshenshini River. There was a fabulous flightseeing trip featuring Mt. Logan too - something for everybody!

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 10 Followed the Gold Rush Trail. History continued to unfold as we traveled aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and explored Skagway and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. Said farewell to our Tour Director, since we'll embark on our cruise tomorrow.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 11 We're welcomed aboard our ship. The ship stayed in Skagway until 9pm, so we had time to preview Glacier Bay National Park from the air and get acquainted with our elegant vessel.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 12 Glacier Bay National Park - Glorious! Watching glaciers calving, whales breaching and seals basking on ice floes kept us in awe the entire day. And we learned so much from the park ranger and local Huna Totem member.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 13 Misty Fjords via floatplane - the perfect thing to do in Ketchikan. Took off from the harbor, climbed past stunning waterfalls into a wonderland of high alpine lakes. Then we landed and climbed out onto the pontoons for a picture in Misty Fjords National Monument.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 14 Cruising the Inside Passage was pure heaven. After getting up late, we marveled at the beauty of forested islands and sheltered waterways. Kept ourselves busy all day and vowed to cruise again and again.

- 15 DAY GREAT LAND CRUISETOUR -   Day 15 Said good bye, but not farewell, in beautiful Vancouver. Sailing under the Lion's Gate Bridge into Vancouver, we looked back at our adventure. Denali, Kluane, Tombstone, Glacier Bay, Dawson, the Yukon River - we're so glad we made the time to see it all.