Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises Offer Expanded Cruisetour Options in Alaska for 2003
From Longer Stays in Denali to Explorations on the Kenai Peninsula,Cruise and Land Package Pairings Hold Something for Everyone
MIAMI, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From scenic drives deep into Denali National Park to riding the rails through the wilderness in the world's most luxurious glass-domed railcars, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises' proprietary cruisetour packages offer guests a way to experience the best of Alaska beyond the coastline. And with 20 different itineraries to choose from, there is something to suit any interest.
The cruisetours pair seven-night Royal Caribbean Gulf of Alaska cruises on Legend of the Seas or seven-night Celebrity Cruises Glacier cruises on Summit with fully escorted land packages ranging from two to six nights. Packages visit diverse destinations including Homer, Seward, Alyeska, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks. The land packages are offered both before and after the cruises, giving guests even greater flexibility to design their ideal Alaska vacation.
In addition, the cruise lines offer seven different Canadian Rockies cruisetours, in conjunction with seven-night Inside Passage voyages on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas or Vision of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises' Mercury or Infinity. Guests can enjoy four-, five- or six-night land packages through the breathtaking Canadian Rockies with visits to Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Kamloops and Vancouver.
2003 Alaska Cruisetours Highlights
Here are just some of the highlights of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' 2003 Alaska cruisetour offerings:
* Denali National Park -- With six million acres of wilderness, it's no
surprise that Denali National Park is a top draw for visitors to
Alaska. Sixteen of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' land packages
offer at least one night in the park. Of these, four itineraries offer
two nights and include a seven-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour through the
park hosted by an experienced guide to help guests search for native
wildlife including caribou, moose, sheep, wolf and bears. Another new
package for 2003 offers three nights in Denali and visits the historic
mining community of Kantishna, deep in the park. During free time in
Denali, guests can choose from an array of optional activities
including heli-hiking, flightseeing with glacier landings, river
rafting, or a tour to Goose Lake Kennel where they can learn about
homesteading in Alaska and the life of an Iditarod musher.
* Kenai Peninsula -- Far less traveled by tour operators, the Kenai
Peninsula is home to the charming towns of Seward and Homer, Kenai
Fjords National Park, and Exit Glacier -- one of the few glaciers
visitors can reach by foot. Cruisetours to the Kenai Peninsula include
a wildlife cruise on Resurrection Bay, where guests can keep an eye out
for bald eagles, seals, puffin, sea otters, stellar sea lions and even
Orca and Humpback whales. In Homer, known as the Halibut Fishing
Capital of the World, guests are free to fish, kayak or take advantage
of complimentary admission to the Pratt Museum, which focuses on the
natural and cultural history of the Kenai Peninsula.
* Wilderness Express)SM) -- On select cruisetours, Royal Caribbean and
Celebrity Cruises guests travel in comfort and beauty on the world's
most luxurious glass-domed traincars. The interiors of the Wilderness
Express were designed by the companies' ship designers, bringing the
comfort, luxury and feel of the cruise experience to the railways. All
seats can be turned to ensure guests ride forward, if desired, or can
be arranged into cozy seating groups for parties who want to enjoy the
experience together. The traincars also have full dome-level wheelchair
access.
* Deluxe Motorcoaches -- Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' fleet of
deluxe motorcoaches travel comfortably along Alaska's awe-inspiring
highways. A third of the buses are equipped with lifts to meet the
needs of wheelchair guests.
2003 Canadian Rockies Cruisetour Highlights
Here are some of the highlights of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' 2003 Canadian Rockies cruisetour offerings:
* Scenic Train Travel -- Each cruisetour package includes two days of
spectacular scenery while traveling onboard the Rocky Mountaineer
railway. Guests travel on a 100-year-old route that passes through up
to seven mountain ranges and dozens of bridges and tunnels, numerous
waterfalls, lakes and rivers. Onboard, guests can settle back in roomy
reclining seats as they enjoy the famous RedLeaf Service including
complimentary snacks, beverages and a delicious breakfast and lunch.
* Luxurious Hotels -- After a day of exploring, guests can relax in some
of the most spectacular hotels in the region including Chateau Lake
Louise, the Banff Springs Hotel, Rimrock Resort, the Jasper Park Lodge
and Calgary's Palliser Hotel.
* Exciting Activities -- All cruisetours include a variety of activities
such as the Banff Gondola, offering breathtaking views of the
surrounding mountains and hiking trails for the adventurous. Guests
visiting Jasper experience a Snocoach ride on the Athabasca Glacier,
and all packages enjoy the Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Review
in Kamloops.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a combined total of 25 ships in service and three under construction or on firm order. The company also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada and Europe through its cruisetour division. Additional information can be found on
http://www.royalcaribbean.com, http://www.celebrity.com or http://www.rclinvestor.com.
