For Alaska lovers with only a week: Alaska Gulf Cruises

Your invited to use all your senses as you see, hear and feel the awesome power of Alaska's glacier-filled waters. Holland America ice-intensive 7-Day Glacier Discovery cruises depart from both Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage). Within a single week, you can experience the wonders of spectacular Glacier Bay National Park and extraordinary scenic cruising in beautiful College Fjord. You'll visit rustic Alaskan ports, such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Haines and Skagway as well. You can choose to sail north or southbound, with time to enjoy 7 days relaxing onboard the ship before (or after) a few days in the heart of Alaska.

From Seward, you may opt for longer tours into Alaska's beautiful and wild interior. And, as they travel the Seward Highway to or from the Anchorage airport, they enjoy spectacular views as they pass between the dramatic shorelines of Turnagain Arm and the jutting peaks of the Chugach Mountains. This National Scenic Byway was chosen as one of its "Drives of a Lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler.

Your Great Land experiences are enhanced on board our mid-sized ships, Ryndam and Statendam, which feature the largest interior and ocean-view staterooms in Alaska. And both ships offer many comfortable and expansive glacier-viewing vantage points, from the Promenade and Lido Decks to the Crow's Nest and the ship's bow, which is opened to guests in Glacier Bay.

Guests will enjoy their elegantly appointed Mariners' Dream™ staterooms as well as the variety of activities onboard. Whether guests wish to relax with a latte in the Explorations Café powered by the New York Times or savor a cooking demonstration in the Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, there's as much to do while sailing as there is to do ashore.

Contac us and we can discuss the various options you have with the variety of nature and glacier-viewing. We'll help you research the history of the ports you'll visit as we become your “historical guide” for this itinerary. Try something new; An Alaskan Seafood Fresh Ketch!

Serve up Fresh Ketch – an authentic Alaska Cruise Seafood Souvenir

Your invited to share your Alaska Cruise experience with Fresh Ketch from Holland America. This attractively packaged Alaskan seafood feast makes a great take-home cruise memento or an inspiring gift that you can have delivered to friends and family at home.

Fresh Ketch features the ultimate in Alaskan souvenirs – wild Alaskan king salmon, halibut, smoked salmon and king crab. The feast for six to eight people comes wrapped in a keepsake box decorated with local artwork, and filled with menus, recipes, cooking tips, special cooking tools, place cards and secret sauces. A memory book includes descriptions of the seafood, the Alaska fishing fleet and more.

"Our Alaska guests tell us that enjoying wild Alaskan seafood is a major part of their vacation experience," says Richard D. Meadows, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Guest Programs. "We prominently feature wild Alaskan seafood on our ship menus, and we've taken it a step further, providing a convenient way for guests to take that culinary experience home as a gift or souvenir."

On each Alaska cruise, the chef hosts a complimentary cooking demonstration featuring the wild seafood from Fresh Ketch, taking guests step-by-step through the preparation process.

Fresh Ketch comes in two versions:  Halibut Schooner and Salmon Troller. Both versions contain an entree portion of the featured fish, as well as appetizer portions of other seafood. Flash-frozen to preserve fresh flavor and texture, all the Fresh Ketch seafood is sustainably harvested in Alaska. Each package contains six pounds of seafood, enough to serve six to eight diners. Each package is $294, including shipping and handling.

Fresh Ketch is available on Alaska ships and online year-round at a special site devoted to Holland America Line: http://holland.alaskafreshketch.com.