The major cruise lines offer cruises to Alaska, just as they offer cruises to other places of the world. Look no further than a few of the cruise lines owned by the largest cruise ship operator in the world Carnival Corporation. For example, Holland America Line, which is owned by Carnival Cruise, offers several cruise vacations to Alaska. There are currently four different voyages to Alaska offered by Holland America Line, each of which offers a different itinerary that emphasizes different aspects of the Alaskan cruise experience.

Princess Cruises, also owned by Carnival Corporation, offers many cruises to Alaska as well. For example, Princess Cruises offers a popular seven-day “Glaciers Cruise,” which, as the name implies, focuses on exploring Alaska’s vast glaciers, like those in Glacier Bay National Park.

Of course, the cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation are by no means the only cruise lines that offer voyages to Alaska. The cruise lines owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the second largest cruise ship operator in the world, have many Alaskan cruise vacations available. For example, Royal Caribbean International is currently offering ten separate cruise vacations to Alaska, each of which is a week long. The various voyages visit different ports and vary in price. Celebrity Cruises, also owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., lists several Alaskan cruises on their website. Some are rather lengthy, lasting over 10 days, while others are shorter and last around a week.

As you can see, Alaskan cruises are quite popular, with a number of different cruise lines offering a number of different cruise vacations to Alaska. It can be hard to keep track of them all, as the many cruises to Alaska are spread across multiple cruise line websites, but fortunately there are sites like AlaskaCruises.com, which lists the cruise lines that offer Alaskan cruises.

The bottom line is that there is no shortage of Alaskan cruises. Each cruise line has a different style that will appeal to different people, so if you are thinking about sailing to Alaska, it’s good to explore multiple cruise lines and the Alaskan cruises they offer.

To people who associate cruise vacations with the Caribbean, it may come as a surprise that Alaska is such a popular cruise destination. Aren’t cruises, such people might ask, about sunbathing, drinking fruity cocktails, and exploring exotic beaches? Aren’t cruises, in other words, about enjoying the warm weather offered by the tropical regions of the world (and, to be sure, a little casino gambling too)? Is not the very idea of a cruise inextricably tied to decidedly un-Alaskan locations? In a word, no – cruises carry willing passengers all over the world, and in point of fact Alaska is an extremely popular place to which to take a cruise.

Why take a cruise to Alaska? (In answering this question, we hereby swear not to make any remarks – flattering, critical, or otherwise – about Sarah Palin.) First, you might be drawn by the overwhelming beauty of America’s largest state. No matter where you look, your eyes can’t fail to behold enormous mountains (16 of the country’s largest 20 mountains are in Alaska) and awe-inspiring glaciers, of which there are 100,000. There is also an enormous amount of wildlife in Alaska, ranging from the fish that populate the freezing rivers to the enormous grizzly bears that roam the forests. What’s more, your view of all these amazing displays of nature will likely be uninterrupted by the sight of a human, as Alaska is the least densely populated state in the U.S. Basically, if you are interested in nature as it exists in the Northern Hemisphere, you’re probably interested in taking a cruise to Alaska.

The wildlife and natural beauty of Alaska probably draw the most people to Alaskan cruises, but there are a couple of other reasons that people might take a cruise to Alaska. The first has to do with the length of cruises. Depending on your departing port, a trip to Alaska may constitute a long or short voyage. So, your decision to go to Alaska may have less to do with Alaska itself than with the desired length of your trip. Of course, this reasoning applies to other cruise destinations, but that’s neither here nor there. Second, many people are drawn to cruises to Alaska for the same reasons that people are drawn to the Caribbean: the climate. It may be the case that the stereotypical traveler is on the hunt for sunshine and beaches, but a stereotypical traveler is just that – a stereotype. Many people enjoy the brisk and refreshing air of the North, and Alaska offers this in abundance.

The beauty and climate of Alaska, coupled with more practical concerns (e.g., the length of a cruise), incline many people to head north on a cruise voyage, and we suspect that this will continue to be the case.

American Safari’s fleet consists of Safari Spirit, Safari Quest, and Safari Explorer. Safari Spirit was built in 1981 and renovated in 2005. It is 105 feet long and accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms. Rooms feature TV/DVD; Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattresses; king, queen, or twin beds; and full private bath with heated tile floors. The ship has an on-deck hot tub and fitness equipment, a salon for lounging or watching a movie, and a well-stocked bar featuring fine wines, bottled microbrews, and premium liquors. Although elegant, the environment is also casual. Safari Quest and Safari Explorer have the same features, except Quest accommodates 22 guests and Explorer accommodates 40 guests.

American Safari Cruises travel during the day to Alaska, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Hawaii, and Mexico’s Sea of Cortes. Cruises are either 8 days/7 nights or 15 days/14 nights. The following is a sample itinerary for the Mexico’s Sea of Cortes Cruise: Aquarium of the World.

8 Days/7 Nights — Roundtrip La Paz, Baja California, Sur

Daily Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in La Paz, boarding
Day 2 Isla Partida and Beach Activities
Day 3 Whale Watching
Day 4 The Nature of the Sea of Cortes Exploration
Day 5 Bahia Agua Verde Mule Ride
Day 6 Isla Coyote (Isla San Jose)
Day 7 Los Islotes
Day 8 Disembark La Paz

Journey Highlights

-Extensive exploration of the World Heritage Site biosphere reserve
-Nights spent at anchor in remote bays and coves
-From-the-yacht kayaking, snorkeling and small-boat excursions
-Included trail ride into the mountains with a local ranchero
-Underwater camera to view sea life

African Safari Cruises Prices and Contact

Each of the yacht charters and cruises are offered at one inclusive price, so all premium wines, microbrews and liquors, exclusive shore excursions, on-yacht meals, activities, taxes, port charges, transfers, and lectures are included.

Rates for a Single Stateroom or Commander Stateroom range from $4,995-$5,695 and from $3,995-$4,995 for a Mariner Stateroom. A Captain Staterooms costs $5,795-$6,595. Full charters are $99,995-$119,995.

American Safari Cruises is headquartered in Seattle, Washington at 3826 18th Avenue West, 98119.

Information/Reservations:
Office Hours: M-F 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(Pacific Standard Time)
(888) 862-8881

Toll Free: (888) 862-8881
Fax: (206) 283-9322
Business: (206) 284-0300

Email: sales(at)AmericanSafariCruises.com; info(at)AmericanSafariCruises.com; webmaster(at)AmericanSafariCruises.com; PR@AmericanSafariCruises.com

Alaska is a year round vacation destination with a variety of expedition voyages available all year—even during the colder winter months. Although winter is one of the most scenic times of year to visit Alaska, the shoulder seasons, May and September (also the end of August), are the most popular times to visit.

During the month of May, the climate is warm and the days are long. Wildlife is abundant and flowers are in full bloom. Around the end of August through September, Alaska has the best fall colors in the world with blazing yellow and red trees by Labor Day, with tall mountains with fresh snow on their peaks as a backdrop. Animals begin to feed in the lower elevations, so opportunities to snap a picture increase during this time. In September, in the Interior of Alaska, it also gets dark enough to see the Northern Lights.

If you are interested in an exciting adventure, the opportunity to document the adventure through photography, and learn about photography, you should consider Aperture Academy’s 7-Day Photography Cruise to Alaska. The cruise, which takes place aboard Holland America’s luxury liner Oosterdam, departs from Seattle on August 21, 2011 and returns August 28, 2011.

Presented in collaboration with Canon and Holland America Line, the Aperture Academy photography cruise will feature:

• Presentations by award-winning photographers
• Excursion workshops
• Photoshop classes
• Canon print classes
• Printing labs run by Canon
• Personalized instruction from “from a team of highly experienced photographers, teaching you what YOU want to learn.”

According to the official Aperture Academy website, guests will have a front row seat to the “beautiful Alaskan landscape (rugged mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and lush forests) and amazing Alaskan wildlife (grizzly bear, eagles, whales, otters and more).

The cruise will sail from Seattle to:

• Glacier Bay (Day 3)
• Juneau (Day 4)
• Sitka (Say 5)
• Ketchikan (Day 6)
• Canada-Victoria, B.C. (Day 7)

Each day, whether at sea or exploring Alaska, guests will have unlimited opportunities to photograph the landscape and wildlife, learn, and socialize. The following information is just one example of what to expect. Please note that the information below is from the official Aperture Academy website.

Day 3
The fun begins as we enter Glacier Bay…it will be all hands (holding cameras) on deck for this workshop. We’ll glide through the glacier-heavy waters, and instructors will work with you to achieve the best results while photographing the majestic blue chunks of ice as they float in the bay and fall from the glacier into the sea. The rest of your day will be free to explore the ship, relax, or partake in the Photoshop classes available on the boat with our Adobe certified instructors. Whether your version of raw is from the camera or in the form of sushi on the ship, the day is full of opportunity and fun for you aboard the Oosterdam.

That evening will be geared towards photography adventure as the award winning team of instructors from the Aperture Academy give slide-show talks and entertaining presentations about some of their favorite expeditions behind the lens. Whether it’s spending a week with grizzlies in the wilds of Alaska, braving 30 ft. swells in the seas surrounding Antarctica, or backpacking for 2-months in Iceland, our instructors have been all over the planet and experienced some of the best it has to offer. Sit back, relax, and let them entertain and educate you.

When you are ready to book your cruise, visit the Aperture Academy website at www.apertureacademy.com to get started. On the website, you can also review more details about Aperture Academy, the photography cruise package, the itinerary, and how the pricing works.

Aperture Academy Contact
Aperture Academy
1875 S. Bascom
Suite 600
Campbell, CA 95008
Phone: 408-369-8585
E-mail: info[at]apertureacademy.com

Guests will also enjoy a seven-day Voyages of the Glaciers which will take them through the Gulf of Alaska and on a tour of Glacier Bay National Park. Ths tour also includes two nights at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, and one night in Anchorage. Other scenic tours will take place aboard the Princess Rail and the cruise also features a Natural History Tour in Denali National Park.

Fishing Excursions Include:

· Alaska Sportfishing Expedition (Ketchikan)
· Halibut/Bottom Sportfishing Adventure (Juneau)
· Kenai Upper River Sportfishing (Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge)
· Alaska Sportfishing (Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge)

Fishing cruisetours may take place aboard one of several stunning Princess vessels that frequent Alaska. These include Coral Princess, Diamond Princess, Golden Princess, Island Princess, Sapphire Princess, and Sea Princess.

Princess Cruises is one of the world’s top luxury cruise lines. It is also considered one of the most affordable. In addition to exclusive amenities, a wide variety of destinations and ports of call, 17 vessels, and dozens of excursions to choose from, there is always something new to explore at Princess Cruises. In fact, just recently, Princess Cruises announced its new Pacific Coast Routes, in addition to the New Alaska Fishing Tour. The new Pacific Coast Routes offer the opportunity to take anything from a short overnight coastal cruise to a week-long cruise around Wine Country.

If you would like more information about Princess Cruises New Alaska Fishing Tour, you may contact the cruise line directly at 1-800-PRINCESS. If you are ready to book, you may make arrangements online at www.princess.com or contact your local cruise travel agent. Prices for the fishing tour start at $3,248 per person, based on double occupancy.

Tip: Pre-reserving for cruise tours and excursions is highly recommended, as spots tend to fill up rather quickly. You can pre-reserve shore excursions up to 120 days before your departure date.

Princess Cruises Contact

Princess Cruises
(Corporate Headquarters)
24844 Avenue Rockefeller
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Princess Tours
800 5th Avenue, Suite 2600
Seattle, WA 98104-3176

Reservations Information
For questions about making a new reservation, existing booking, payment, and cancellation, please contact your local travel agent or call Princess Cruises at 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) for assistance.

Thanks to smaller crowds and rock bottom prices, May and September are quickly becoming the most popular months to book. The weather can be tricky during the month of May as it is Alaska’s “transitional period” weather wise. Temperatures dip fairly rapidly during the month of September, so keep an eye on the weather forecast before you go so you’ll know exactly what to pack.

Alaska cruise vacations typically cover Far North Alaska (Barrow, Nome and Prudhoe Bay), Interior Alaska (Denali National Park), Southcentral Alaska (Anchorage, Kenai and Seward) and Southeast Alaska (Juneau, Skagway). Juneau, Nome, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and Nome are popular ports of call and the Gulf of Alaska Cruise is the most popular cruise itinerary among the most popular Alaska cruise lines. Other Alaska ports of call include College Fjord, Glacier Bay, Haines, Icy Straight Point, Hubbard Glacier, Inside Passage, Misty Fjord, San Francisco, Seattle, Seward, Sitka, Prince Rupert, Skagway, Tracy Arm, Valdez, Vancouver, Victoria, and Whittier.

The Gulf of Alaska Cruise, offered by Carnival Cruises, as well as Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Holland America Line, are week-long cruises sailing between Anchorage and Vancouver, B.C. Visitors will tour the glaciers of College Fjord, the mountains of Juneau and the coastal islands of Glacier Bay. Land excursions will cover the endless amounts of shops and restaurants available at every stop and the many architectural sights of Vancouver. Top land tours include Denali Park, Fairbanks, Kotzebue, Prudhoe Bay, and Talkeetna.

Most Alaska cruises vacations offer excursions that feature activities such as bear watching, fishing, hiking, kayaking, rafting, and visits to Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. There are also a variety of wildlife tours featuring opportunities to watch everything from sheep, moose and grizzlies to polar bears, bald eagles and caribou interacting in their natural habitat.

Base prices for most Alaska cruise vacations include: accommodations, onboard entertainment, activities, meals and standard facilities. Expect to pay for alcohol, gambling, tips and extras such as spa treatments as well as port fees and taxes. Unless you book an “air and sea” package, you will also pay for airfare from your town/city to the port of embarkation, which is typically Anchorage or Vancouver. If you want to save money, best bet is to book online. Most cruise lines offer amazing Internet deals and discounts as well as specials for purchasing excursions in advance.

To book an Alaska cruise vacation, contact your favorite Alaska cruise line directly or visit the cruise lines’ official website. Please visit one of the top cruise line directories at www.shipsandcruises.com for a directory of all cruise line websites. You can also contact your local cruise travel agent for discounts and deals or visit any of the discount cruise websites or booking search engines listed below. For detailed information about the best Alaska cruise lines, please continue reading below.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

Five major cruise lines feature weekly service from Seattle aboard 10 premier vessels. Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility. Celebrity Cruises offers weekly departures to Alaska onboard the Infinity, plus 3 and 4 day Pacific Northwest itineraries on the Mercury. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 722-5941.

Holland America Line offers seven-day cruises from Seattle to Alaska on the ms Amsterdam, ms Oosterdam and the ms Westerdam. Holland America passengers depart from the Terminal 30 Cruise Terminal located at the south end of Seattle’s downtown waterfront. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (877) 932-4259.

Norwegian Cruise Line has made Seattle its homeport for seven-day summer cruises to Alaska on board the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Pearl. Passengers depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 on Saturdays and Sundays. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (800) 327-7030.

Royal Caribbean offers seven-day cruises to Alaska on the Rhapsody of the Seas departing from Terminal 30 every Friday. For sales information please contact your local travel agent or call (866) 562-7625.

About Seattle Cruises Cruise Lines

Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity and Summit feature AquaSpas with thalassotherapy pools and a wide assortment of beauty treatments. Art aficionados on their way to Alaska will also appreciate the Celebrity’s impressive art collections as well. Guests aboard any of Celebrity’s 11 ships can expect an endless number of unforgettable cruises filled with excursions highlighting culture, wildlife, history, and geology. Alaska excursions will include all highlights along with everything from flightseeing and flights to the Arctic Circle to dog sledding.

Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Line is considered the best Seattle to Alaska cruise line thanks to their excellent cruisetours. These cruise lines currently lead the industry in interior voyages (Alaska and Yukon Territory) and Holland has exclusive passage into the Yukons Kluane National Park, as well as Tombstone Territorial Park. Princess Cruise Line’s 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruise should be noted as well.

While the majority of Alaska cruise lines mentioned above are kid-free, there are several cruise lines that top the list for families interested in an Alaska cruise. Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line feature special shore excursions for kids and teens, as well as onboard activities that will keep kids busy during long days at sea. Royal Caribbean may also be a bit more family friendly.

This award-winning adventure cruise company features multi-day sailing cruises throughout British Columbia, Alaska’s Inside Passage, and Haida Gwaii. Sailing cruises take place aboard the 92-foot schooner Maple Leaf, which offers accommodations for around 10 guests. According to eWaterways, “Maple Leaf’s main is open and airy by day, and the sleeping areas offer large comfortable beds (bunks) with fluffy duvets, pillows and throws and brass reading lamps. They are surrounded with walls on two-and-a-half sides and thick, heavy curtains on the other one-and-a-half sides.”

Maple Leaf has three bathrooms, with showers, a dining lounge/library, an above-deck wheelhouse, and ample deck space. Because of the intimate setting, remote destinations and rugged conditions, these cruises are best suited for outgoing, healthy individuals that are capable of climbing in and out of a sailing ship. In some cases, there are no docks. These cruise are also best for individuals that are “enthusiastic about participating, amenable to the vagaries of weather, and friendly enough to get along in the relatively close quarters of a sailing yacht.”

Guests can choose from a number of cruise tours such as Alaska Adventure Sailing Cruises from Sitka, AK to Prince Rupert, BC; Galapagos Island Cruise Tours; Great Bear Rainforest Sailing Cruises, Gulf Islands, BC; National Park; Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands Tours; Vancouver Island’s Wild Side Sailing Cruise; Whales and Totems of the Great Bear Rainforest; Painting Holidays by Sail in British Columbia, Canada; Craft Beer Tour (Tall Sails and Ales), and Family Adventure Vacations. Prices range from $2,150-$5,975, depending on destination, type of cruise (adventure, theme, etc.), and season.

Sample Itinerary – Gulf Islands BC by mapleleafadventures.com

Day 1: Orientation, cruising. Seabird island visit, wildlife watching, porpoises. Anchorage Saturna Island.

Day 2: Morning hike on Saturna Island, forest ecology learning. Cruising, beachcombing a remote island, sea lion haul out.

Day 3: Village visit, sailing in Georgia Strait or one of many channels in the area, walk to visit Canada’s largest arbutus and Garry Oak meadow.

Day 4: Intertidal life, First Nations shell middens, wildflower meadows, remote island anchorage. Optional kayak.

Day 5: Sailing, island anchorage, evening kayaking.

Day 6: Cruising to Sidney.

If you are interested in booking a maple Leaf Adventure cruise, there are several ways to go about it. You can contact the company directly toll-free at 1-888-599-5323 or Outside US & Canada: +1-250-386-7245 (250-FUN-SAIL). You can request information via email at info@mapleleafadventures.com or mapleleaf@mapleleafadventures.com. You can also visit the official Maple Leaf Adventures website at www.mapleleafadventures.com to request a brochure or submit an online form detailing your questions or booking information.

Maple Leaf Adventures Address and Contact

Maple Leaf Adventures offices are located in downtown Victoria, above the famous Murchie’s Tea and Coffee merchants.

Mailing address:
PO Box 8845, Stn. Central
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3Z1
Canada

Courier address is:
#209 – 1110 Government Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 1Y2
Canada

Labor Day is always the first Monday in September. On this day, the nation pays tribute to the “creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.” In any given city, many suburbs, and even small towns, you can find a number of cruise options that cover architecture, history, nature, and other related themes. For example, in Chicago, a quick trip to the city’s famous Navy Pier (600 East Grand Avenue) offers access to dozens of dinner sightseeing cruises, narrated architecture cruises, river cruises with live music and lunch, as well as narrated speed boat cruises that cover museums, skyscrapers, and the like.

In cities such as New York, cruisers may hop aboard just about any Labor Day weekend cruise to sail around the harbor. Yacht cruises allow visitors to sail the harbor in style, while sightseeing cruises offer a more casual environment characterized by jeans, t-shirts, and American comfort foods. Guests can snap pictures of the famous New York skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and other historic aspects of a city built by America’s architects, engineers, construction workers, sheet metal workers, woodworkers, and more. There are literally dozens of cruise opportunities in New York, but a great start would be Circle Line Downtown cruises at Pier 16, South Street Seaport, New York.

California, Seattle, Texas, Florida, Maine, and many other states offer hundreds of opportunities to cruise on Labor Day. All you have to do is check with your local pier, port, harbor, or beach to find the best cruise for your budget and group size.

Labor Day Cruise Deals

If you have not booked a Labor Day cruise yet, don’t worry. You will know what to do next year. As for Labor Day cruise deals, you can catch a deal right now, today! Labor Day is one of the top holidays for special sales on all types of merchandise from A-Z and it is one of the best days to nab a deal on cruises ranging from an Alaska adventure cruise to a Caribbean Cruise to an exotic cruise to Thailand. You can search for Labor Day cruise deals on your own by visiting any of the discount search engines listed at the end of this article or you can contact your local cruise travel agent and let them do the searching for you.

Labor Day cruise deals may come in the form of advanced booking discounts of up to 50 percent off or last minute discounts that can average up to 75 percent off. You may also enjoy special family discounts, group discounts, and weekday discounts. These deals are always sweeter if you book on Labor Day. Labor Day cruise sales may start at as little as $199 per person depending on destination. If you want to seal a Labor Day cruise deal, please contact your cruise travel agent by midnight on Labor Day or start browsing the discount booking search engines listed below. Happy Labor Day!

Discount Cruise Deals

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
Cruise411.com
Cruise.com

To find out more about discount cruise vacations, you can visit any number of cruise review websites to read reviews from real passengers, with real experiences. While there are many cruise review websites to choose from, some of the most popular (and reliable) cruise review websites include:

Cruisecritic.com
Cruisereviewsonline.com
Cruisereport.com
Cruisedirectonline.com
Cruisemates.com

Cruisecritic.com offers more than just reviews, this site has several search functions to help you find everything from bargains and discounts to theme cruises, and exotic itineraries. The site also includes features, news, planning tools, and a variety of cruise message boards where fellow cruisers can exchange stories and information.

Reviews, ratings, rankings, and popularity contests — at Cruisereviewsonline.com find out which cruise ships are at the top and which ones are not. Get other information on cruise lines, as well as information, ratings and rankings on embarkation ports, and ports-of-call.

Cruisereport.com offers the lowdown on cruise lines from A to Z. Unbiased reviews, cruise searches, quotes, and feature articles are just a few of the sites extras. You can also search for “the perfect cruise” and browse through news pieces about cruising. After checking out their ratings and reviews, you can also search for discounts and deals. With more than 50,000 visitors per month, Cruisereport.com has information on roughly 8,500 current sailings.

Cruisedirectonline.com relies on reader surveys to help keep reviews & ratings in check. In addition to cruise ship reviews and ratings, visitors to the site will find top ten and top thirty lists, as well as feature articles about the best of the best in the world of cruises. The site has other information about discounts, as well as information on roughly 12,000 sailings. Cruise Direct Online has been featured in Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine, and on MSNBC, CNBC, MSN Money, and more.

Cruisemates.com offers short reviews and ratings. The two types of ratings include: star ratings and value ratings. Star ratings are based on one question — “how good is this ship?” One star is the worst, five stars is the best. Cruisemates.com takes everything from age and accommodations to food, service, and entertainment into account when rating the worlds cruise ships. Value ratings or “thumbs up” ratings are all about the “Bang for your Buck.” Five thumbs up means the ship is an excellent value while one thumb up means you won’t find much of anything that resembles a value here.

For more information about Labor Day and what this special holiday is really about, visit the official U.S. Department of Labor website at www.dol.gov.

According to the Alaska Cruise Association, “Alaska has some of the most stringent marine environmental standards in the world. In addition, the cruise lines have voluntarily adopted higher standards than those required by law spending more than $200 million in environmental upgrades in recent years. In fact, the industry has been recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard for its efforts to safeguard Alaska’s environment.” As an employee of an Alaskan sightseeing cruise ship, you have your work cut out for you.

To become a member of an Alaskan sightseeing cruise team, many of the required skills will depend on the type of job you are interested in. For example, for food service positions that require cooking, management, or say, advanced wine knowledge, you may have to have no less than an associate degree in a related field plus several years of experience working in hotel restaurants, cruise ship restaurants, or stand alone restaurants.

If you would like to become part of the deck and engineering department, you will also have to have no less than an associate degree (all upper level positions require a bachelors degree or higher), plus knowledge of Alaska’s strict environmental laws, and experience working on cruise ships. Once you begin your search for positions, each job posting will offer a detailed description of the skills and requirements the ship is looking for. Please read through the descriptions carefully and follow the application procedure to the letter. If the job posting requests an online application and copies of any relevant certifications or licenses, submit the application and documentation promptly. Visit the Ships and Cruises Directory for official cruise line listings and contact information.

In some cases an Alaskan cruise line, or a cruise line that makes frequent trips to Alaska and other locations around the U.S., will list a few job openings, but not the openings you are looking for. In some cases, but not often, a cruise line will offer contact information only and no job postings page. If you cannot find job postings for the cruise line you are interested in, you can handle the situation this way:

Send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.

Tip: The more flexible you are, the better your chances of landing a job on an Alaskan sightseeing cruise. Applicants willing to work any time of the year, any itinerary, whether extended or a few days, are most attractive to employer’s.

Top Cruise Lines for Alaskan Cruises

Celebrity Cruise Line
Princes Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Disney Cruise Line