Crystal Cruises Raises the Bar on Alaska Shore Excursions for 2003 Season
12 New Land Programs - 59 In All - Highlight Summer of Fun
LOS ANGELES, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Never one to rest on its laurels, Crystal Cruises has upped the ante in Alaska with 12 new shore excursions that are sure to exceed the expectations of seasoned and novice cruisers alike. The new excursions run the gamut -- from glacier landings, bear watching, and wilderness dining, to a ghostly graveyard exploration.
"We've observed that guests who have sailed on Crystal Harmony's Alaska itinerary in the past few years are re-booking for a second or third trip," says Craig Laforest, Crystal's director of land programs. "When we designed the new excursions, we wanted to appeal to those guests who had sampled a number of our existing land programs and we also wanted to illustrate to the novice cruiser how substantive -- and exciting -- an Alaska cruise can be aboard Crystal Harmony."
In all, guests can choose between 59 excursions on nine departures that sail, conveniently, roundtrip from San Francisco every 12 days beginning June 2. A 10-day itinerary begins May 23 from Vancouver to San Francisco.
The line is offering still more adventurous excursions for a clientele that is growing increasingly more active. For those willing to don crampons and use basic glacier climbing equipment, the Glacier Outback Adventure, from Juneau, is centered upon a glacier landing where guests can view gaping crevasses, crystal clear pools and emerald blue fissures. Another active excursion out of Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier Native Canoe & Salmon Bake, which will allow guests to paddle their way past icebergs to the face of the majestic Mendenhall Glacier in a Native canoe -- and then top off the day with a traditional Alaskan salmon bake. The Whiskey Cove Kayaking shore excursion will explore quirky Ketchikan and the shoreline along Pennock Island where majestic bald eagles soar overhead. On land, the Alaska Dog Sled Adventure out of Skagway will visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Park in a quintessentially Alaskan fashion -- by dog sled.
The line has also developed two additional Signature excursions for the 2003 Alaska season. The Guided Alaskan Fishing and Private Wilderness Dining land program, available out of Ketchikan, lets guests catch their own fish, which is later prepared, beachside, over a roaring fire. The Neets Bay Bear Watch Expedition will transport guests by seaplane for an up-close-and-personal encounter with black bears while they fish for salmon.
Still other new excursions expand Crystal Harmony's roster of tours focusing on Alaska's history in the Last Frontier. For its part, Sitka's Russian Past and Dance will focus on the town's founding by Russian explorers and settlers -- and culminate in a lively Russian folk dance and demonstration
by a local dance company. Out of Skagway, the Klondike Gold Dredge and Gold Panning excursion will visit the Klondike Gold Dredge and explore the inner workings of the myriad gold dredges that were used in the Klondike goldfields.
The Ketchikan Explorer by Land & Sea will combine a walking tour of the town and all its quirks followed by a trip aboard a water-jet powered vessel for a tour of the glacier-etched George Inlet. Meanwhile, in Victoria, British Columbia, a Graveyards, Ghosts and Headstones excursion will explore the spooky side of the city, with visits to an array of allegedly haunted cemeteries.
Guests sailing aboard the 940-passenger, Six-Star rated Crystal Harmony can pre-register for any of the 59 wide-ranging land programs offered this summer. Long before stepping into the Last Frontier, guests can preview and complete a pre-registration form or visit Crystal's website at http://www.crystalcruises.com to preview their preferred shore excursion. Payments are not required before sailing but will be charged to the guests' shipboard folio.
The line's Alaska season kicks off May 23 with a 10-day itinerary departing from Vancouver and ending in San Francisco. The 10-day cruise will be followed by the nine 12-day departures: June 2, 14, 26; July 8, 20; August 1, 13, 25; and September 6. Fares begin at just $1,995 per person, based on double occupancy.
Children 12 and under will sail free on all 2003 voyages to Alaska when sharing the same stateroom with two adults. Junior cruisers will learn the nuances of social etiquette and receive education in ballroom dancing, poise, confidence and self-esteem during exclusive Cotillion lessons and parties as part of Crystal's expanded Junior Activities Program in Alaska this summer.
For the seventh consecutive year, Crystal Cruises was named the best large cruise line in the 2002 readers' survey conducted by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines.
Crystal Cruises is booked exclusively through professional travel agents. For a complimentary brochure on the 2003 Alaska season, or any of Crystal's worldwide sailings, call 800.820.6663.
