Planting the Norwegian Flag in Alaska

Princess and Holland America have both been closely identified with Alaska - and have become leaders in the market - because of their highly visible infrastructure investments there - ground tour operations, hotels and rail operations. Now Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which helped the market explode when the Norwegian Cruise Line brand pioneered the Seattle homeport with more easily accessible cruises (from the US) - is stepping up its infrastructure investments in the 49th state.

The difference is that NCLH's investments are less visible and giving it an advantage over its competitors in booking their ships into the ports.

The complete story appeared in the November 5 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

What to Get the Visitors Bureau that Has Everything

Princess Cruises has presented the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau with a specially-crafted totem pole to celebrate the line's 50th anniversary of sailing to Alaska.

Details appeared in the October 3 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Masters of the Sea

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

The Salmon Are Running on Holland America

Last week the first catch of Copper River king salmon from Alaska arrived in Seattle and Holland America took delivery of it to supply the Pinnacle Grills on Eurodam, Oosterdam and Amsterdam, their three ships sailing to Alaska.

The complete story appeared in the June 21 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Not Your Grandfather's Igloo

Holland America Line officially opened the new 99-room wing of their McKinley Chalet Resort hotel on Friday in Alaska.

Fifty-four of the rooms in the new Ridge View building are junior suites, the first at the hotel.

The complete story appeared in the June 17 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Update from Alaska

Yesterday as events of the tragic mid-air collision of two float planes carrying Royal Princess passengers became known, there were constantly-changing reports. What at first appeared in reports to be two planes which were found intact with their passengers later was revealed to be wreckage scattered over George Inlet and the shoreline with some of the passengers actually missing.

Details appeared in the May 14 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

It Has Begun

When Ruby Princess sailed into Ketchikan and Juneau over the weekend, it began Princess' 50th year sailing in Alaska. The season will continue through September with seven Princess ships sailing to the state.

Princess will take a further step forward on May 11 when Royal Princess arrives and with it comes Medallion Class, the first ship in Alaska to feature Ocean Medallion and all the conveniences it brings with it.

The complete story appeared in the April 30 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - February 27, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• A delay in Norwegian Gem's turnaround
• A delay in a murder trial for an Alaskan cruise passenger
• A deal for leapsters down under
• Royal Caribbean's take on Spectrum of the Seas' float out.

Details appeared in the February 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Video courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Every Summer Since '69

What were you doing in the summer of 1969? If you were Neil Armstrong you were walking on the moon, but fifty years ago in 1969 Princess Cruises was taking their first 525 passengers to Alaska aboard Princess Italia. They haven't missed a summer since (can Neil Armstrong say that?), and they've taken more than five million people to Alaska.

To celebrate their fifty years in the Great Land, Princess has a number of new enhancements to the passenger experience that will await their customers this summer.

The complete story appeared in the January 23 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Ready to “Venture” off the Ship

Summer in Alaska and British Columbia is approaching (eventually), and Seabourn is finalizing their plans for their 2019 season there. That includes assembling their skilled expedition team that will take passengers on the optional Ventures by Seabourn when they go ashore in ports.

Members of the handpicked expedition team for Seabourn’s 2019 season in Alaska & British Columbia include:

• Juan Carlos Restrepo, Expedition Leader – With a passion for the great outdoors and adventure, Juan has explored all the continents and oceans of the world. He began his career in the expedition industry as a Dive Master on luxury yachts and then took his love for expedition to the Polar Regions.

 

• Chris Srigley, Expedition Leader – Chris spends up to nine months a year on expedition ships, including full seasons in Antarctica and the Arctic. Beyond his duties on the expedition team, Chris serves as a Polar Bear Guard, advancing landing parties and keeping a watchful eye while guests experience the natural wonders around them.

 

• Nicki D’Souza, Assistant Expedition Leader – Nicki puts her years of experience and passion for travel to good use assisting guests with shore excursions all over the world. As an expedition leader with many maiden calls behind her, she has led voyages along the West Coast of Africa, South America, Europe and Asia.

 

• Natasha Hanson, Assistant Expedition Leader / Lecturer – An avid outdoorswoman Natasha has guided kayaking and hiking excursions in remote areas of the world. As a general naturalist with over a decade of experience in the Polar Regions, she has shared her knowledge with guests of various expedition ships.

 

• Adam Jenkins, Assistant Expedition Leader / Lecturer – Adam has engaged in myriad adventures at sea, including single-handedly sailing a 27-foot sloop down the Pacific Coast and back up the East Coast to Nova Scotia. He long ago found his calling leading expeditions and working with adventure travelers and scientists. 

 

• Lisa Baldwin, Lecturer – Enthralled by the ocean, Lisa is a competitive ocean swimmer, free diver, naturalist, and traveler who enjoys educating others about the natural environment. Her extensive work as a field biologist and passion for health research gives her a unique ability to be open, friendly and relate to guests on all levels.

 

• Nicki Bunting, Kayak Guide – Nicki credits her Olympian grandmother and competitive sailor father for her adventurous spirit and love of the ocean. An historian, photographer, naturalist, and thrice Tour Guide of the Year in Skagway, Alaska, she has lectured extensively on local and state history.

 

• Ross Ellingwood, Lecturer – Ross’s love of adventure took hold in college and hasn’t loosened its grip. In 2016, he spent six months building a wooden rowing boat in his garage, and then took it on a three-month, 1,100-mile exploration of the Inside Passage. His career has seen him guiding sea-kayaking trips and ice climbing in Alaska.

 

• Jennifer Fought, Lecturer – Certified as a Zodiac operator at nine, Jennifer found her sweet spot in the natural world and spent her youth camping, canoeing and riding horses. With a graduate degree in Structural Geology, she has conducted research from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico to the glaciers of Greenland.

 

• Eric Holst, Lecturer – Over a decade as a Zodiac driver and bridge officer, Eric worked extensively in Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico and Central America. He is fascinated by geography and earth history, especially where they converge with the study of ancient climates and ecosystems and is most content before the face of a tidewater glacier watching the confluence of time, climate and topography on a barely fathomable scale.

• Greg Horn, Kayak Guide – Following schooling and military service, Horn fueled his interests in business and adventure by starting a SCUBA center along South Africa’s Garden Route and later ran a bush camp and dive resort in Mozambique. He has completed 5,000-plus dives in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea and traveled more than 14,000 km by off-road motorbike through South Africa.

 

• Aidan Klimenko, Photo / Videographer – An accomplished photographer, filmmaker and traveler, Aldan explores life around the world through his camera and lens. Raised in Ecuador, he traveled South America in search of adventure and imagery to create a portfolio for entrée into the travel and adventure industries.

 

• Sylvia Stevens, Lecturer – Born in Scotland and relocated to San Diego, Sylvia gave up a successful business career to pursue her love of photography, wildlife and travel. She has worked extensively with injured and endangered animals in various locations, including seabirds, eagles and otters in Alaska, and has three decades of experience as a lecturer and Expedition Leader on ships in the Arctic, Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic.

 

• Peter Torkelson, Lecturer – A native Alaskan, entrepreneur and avid sailor, in 2010 Peter ditched a thriving business and moved with his family aboard a catamaran to cruise 14,000 ocean miles over six years, surviving two hurricanes en route. These days he explores western Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska as often as possible, and recently worked on megayacht charters out of Juneau.

 

• Kirstie Yeager, Lecturer – Kirstie has spent more than two decades studying and working in natural resource management and wildlife research. Her extensive background includes studying grizzly bears in Montana, Steller sea lions in Alaska, and several species at McMurdo and Palmer Stations in Antarctica.

 

The expedition team will rotate throughout the season, and additional team members will join select sailings periodically.

The complete story appeared in the January 16 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Cunard Doubles Down on Alaska

Cunard is returning to Alaska for a short season in 2019. Response to that program has been so good, the luxury line has decided already that a full season will be in order for 2020.

The 2020 program will double the number of 2019 cruises and run from June through September on the newly-refit (this year) Queen Elizabeth sailing round trip from Vancouver. 

These won't be your standard off-the-shelf week-long cruises. Each is different ranging from nine to twelve nights. 

The complete story appeared in the December 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Royal Caribbean Setting Largest Alaska Deployment

Royal Caribbean International is setting up to have their biggest summer ever in Alaska in 2020 when they have three ships there, including the return of Ovation of the Seas (after debuting in Alaska in the summer of 2019).

In addition to Ovation, joining it will be Radiance of the Seas and her sister, Serenade of the Seas.

Details appeared in the November 8 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Fannie Would Have Approved

If you had gone to Alaska a hundred years ago, you may have stayed in a room at Fannie Q's Saloon. If you go in 2019, chances are you may well stay at the Denali Princess Lodge - and dine at Fannie Q's Saloon.

Princess Cruises is kicking off their 50th year in Alaska by opening Fannie Q's Saloon at the Denali Princess Lodge, named after Alaska's own Fannie Quigley, a true Alaskan rough and tumble icon known for her hospitality.

Details appeared in the October 30 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Rendering courtesy of Princess Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Identity Theft?

The last cruise ship just left Alaska, but like the Cubs, Holland America is already looking forward to next year.

Their branding for a bigger and better next year comes with the slogan, “We Are Alaska.”

The complete story appeared in the October 25 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Another Year of Luxury in Alaska

After a successful 2018 summer season (that's not quite over yet), Seabourn confirmed they will return to Alaska next year in response to high customer demand.

Seabourn Sojourn will return to Alaska for a season that will be just 10 sailings running just from June to October.

The complete story appeared in the September 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - September 13, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• NCL change the itinerary of Norwegian Escape again thanks to a change by Hurricane Florence. 
• It's not often you get something free in Alaska.
• Meyer Werft put the two parts of Spectrum of the Seas together. You can see it happen in the video below. 

Details appeared in the September 13 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Complain, Complain, Complain

Despite all the technology like scrubbers and so forth, Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation received at least ten complaints from citizens watching Norwegian Pearl dock at Juneau on Tuesday. They were complaining about the emissions coming from the ship's smokestack.

The DEC hasn't received the reports from their own observers yet, and they can't talk about whether or not they are in the process of issuing a fine.

Details appeared in the September 7 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Seeing Spots?

Passengers who were aboard the August 6 sailing of Norwegian Jewel from Vancouver to Seward (disembarking August 13) are being warned to look out for symptoms of measles. A passenger aboard the sailing was found to have measles and was quickly isolated, but officials are warning all passengers and doctors in the area to watch for signs of measles.

The complete story appeared in the August 17 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Built for China, Sailing in the US of A

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that next summer Norwegian Joy would be moving from China to Alaska to operate alongside Norwegian Bliss. After the Alaska season it will move down the coast to the Mexican Riviera.

According to Norwegian it sounds as if the tremendous demand in Alaska, coupled with the success of Norwegian Bliss, is behind the decision to reposition the ship. But we suspect conditions in the Chinese market have as much to do with it.

The complete story appeared in the July 18 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Meanwhile, 20 Years Later

Windstar has returned to Alaska after a 20-year absence. The boutique line returned to the 49th State with the 212-passenger Star Legend for 25 sailings in 2018 and 2019.

The complete story appeared in the May 23 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Orlando's Loss Is Alaska's Gain

Alaska cruises have become the most-booked domestic destination.

Details appeared in the May 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.