Alaska attracts cruise passengers, from May to October, to see its vast and unspoiled landscape of mountains, forests, glaciers and fjords.
Its spectacular scenery and wildlife are the main attractions of the area which covers more than 580,000 square miles.
To make the most of an Alaskan cruise more and more passengers are opting to extend it with an overland stay
Alaska has an extensive programme of land tours, which can include plying the Yukon River on board a paddleboat or taking a private railcar to Denali National Park to view North America's highest peak - Mount McKinley.
Another overland tour, out of Vancouver, is a coach tour or rail journey to the Canadian Rockies, where the Banff and Jasper National Parks are famous for their alpine display.
Did you know ...
- The 49th state of the USA is the largest in the Union, and boasts eight National Parks.
- Nearly a third of the total land area lies inside the Arctic Circle.
- The people are from mixed descent; the indigenous Indian tribes
maintain much of their tradition and culture, living alongside
descendants of the gold prospectors who started to arrive at the
end of the 19th century.
Ships of all sizes
Most of the voyages are on large ships such as Princess Cruises' Sun Princess (pictured above) offering traditional experiences including all the luxury and comfort passengers associate with cruises.
There are also smaller ships that can cruise into areas some of
the larger vessels have to miss, getting even closer to the glaciers.
Weather report
In summer the climate is mild and moist, and it is possible to enjoy 21 hours of sunshine in a single day, and the temperature can rise to 28 degrees.
How do I get there?
Alaskan cruise itineraries are fly-cruises, flying from an airport in the UK to Vancouver, although a few do start in San Francisco and others from Alaska's own ports of Seward and Anchorage.
