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| Product ID: |
3439
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| Ship: |
Spirit of Columbia
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| Duration: |
4-nights
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| Departures: |
May - August 2008
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| Description |
Cruise West guests would rather watch for whales than spend the afternoon in a casino. They linger outside on deck as the Captain noses under a waterfall, rather than watch a video. On a small ship, the focus is outside where Nature provides the entertainment, rather than on artificial amusements conjured up to occupy your attention during long hours of open water.
With Cruise West, you're not just a visitor, you're a participant. Whether you're kayaking off a wilderness island in Mexico, hiking in a rain forest in Alaska, or enjoying a spectacular spring garden in British Columbia, each of our small-ship cruises is an engaging experience for all your senses.
Recommended for:
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| Price Guide |
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| C^ |
$1,449
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$1,249
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| B^ |
$1,499
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$1,299
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| A |
$2,249
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$2,049
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| AA |
$2,399
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$2,199
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| AAA |
$2,599
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$2,399
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| DLX |
$2,849
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$2,649
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Prices are per person, double-occupancy, U.S. dollars. Single and Triple rates available upon request where applicable.
^ No single rates available in this category. Above rates are based on 19 May departure.
ADD ON - A Denali Wilderness Lodge experience from US$2,300
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| Itinerary |
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Day 1 - SAIL FROM WHITTIER
Board a motorcoach in Anchorage to travel to Whittier. This 2-hour scenic drive follows a significant portion of Turnagain Arm, named by Captain Cook in 1778, because his crew, exploring up the fjord in a small boat was forced to turn back. Watch for Dall’s sheep clinging to the rocky precipices. The marsh flats are the perfect habitat for a variety of birds and grazing moose. Look for lurking coyote and lumbering bears on the perimeters of the marshes and forests. In mid to late summer, the small beluga whales with bulbous foreheads are sometimes seen feeding on spawning salmon making their way up the arm. Sail from Whittier, located at the northern end of Passage Canal in Prince William Sound. The Sound is about 100 miles wide with an amazingly intricate coastline deeply cleaved by fjords and inlets. Prince William Sound is about the same size as Puget Sound in Washington and three times larger than San Francisco Bay. The steep, jagged Chugach Mountains crown this coastline. The snowy peaks capture much of the significant rainfall that occurs here, creating one of the larger ice fields in the world. Prince William Sound contains one of the largest concentrations of tidewater glaciers in Alaska and we visit most of them. Continue down Passage Canal, lined with hanging and valley glaciers and fringed by the verdant rainforest. Enter Blackstone Bay with its glacially carved valley lined with eight glaciers of various types, hanging, valley, or tidewater. Keep an eye out for sea otters, harbor seals and the occasional river otter. D
Day 2 - COLLEGE FJORD / ESTHER PASSAGE
We’ll make our way to the head of College Fjord and Harvard Glacier. This tidewater glacier is fed from the Chugach Icefield and runs 24 miles. The sheer immensity of this glacier, a mile-and-a-half wide, is awe-inspiring. Harbor seals haul themselves out onto icebergs surrounding the glacier face, seeking safety from transient orcas. The icebergs also provide a protective area where the seals bear their young in May and June. College Fjord is lined with a dozen glaciers, most of which were tributaries of Harvard before its present-day retreat. Look for bears foraging along the shorelines, identify various seabirds and keep an eye out for Alaskan sea otters peacefully floating on their backs. A few hundred otters thrive in nutrient-rich Port Wells at the confluence of College Fjord. Near Port Wells a very narrow passageway appears, suitable only for small vessels. Here is a serene and sheltered route leading us into the heart of the Sound. We sail into more open waters on our way to Columbia Bay. Columbia Glacier, the second largest tidewater glacier in North America, is in rapid retreat and is very closely monitored by scientists. The closest we will get to the face of the glacier is about seven miles. Miles of icebergs, large and small have fallen off the face of this glacier and are bottle-necked along the shallow submerged moraine. The moraine, acting like a reef, grounds giant icebergs the size of a house, plugging the bay with ice and providing you the uncommon opportunity to see this phenomenal force of nature. BLD
Day 3 - CHENEGA GLACIER AND ISLAND EXPLORATION
Explore the more remote wilderness region in the southwestern part of the Sound. Beautiful coves, inlets and steep rocky cliffs demarcate the mainland and various islands. Cruise narrow passageways, peaceful and abundant with bursts of birdcalls or languorously swimming sea otters. Knight Island Passage and Montague Straits support an extraordinary abundance of marine mammals, including humpbacks, orcas, seals and sea lions. Visit the Chenega Glacier, dramatically descending nearly 600 feet in its last quarter mile to its terminus in the saltwater. Its tall ice cliffs are over 100 feet high and dominate Nassau Fjord. BLD
Day 4 - DISEMBARK TO ANCHORAGE
Visit a large kittiwake colony before continuing to Whittier for disembarkation. Transfer by motorcoach back to Anchorage. B
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
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| Inclusions |
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Cruise Only price guide:
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4-night up-close and personal Alaska – ‘Glaciers of Prince William Sound’ cruise onboard Cruise West’s Spirit of Columbia
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All meals, entertainment and activities whilst cruising
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Port handling charges/taxes/fees of US$205 per person
NB: Please note that international airfares are not included. Please ask for a quote for airfares when you call.
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| Conditions |
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*Conditions: Valid for new bookings only. Valid for sale until sold out. Early bird special rates for departures to 15 June – save US$200pp; for departures after 15 June 2008 – save US $100, only valid if cruise is booked and deposited by 07 December 2007. Prices are per person twin share and quoted in US Dollars. All rates are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Travel the World reserves the right to modify or withdraw this promotion at anytime without prior notice. Other conditions may apply. Tour Code: 18A. Lic No: 2TA003774. Issued: 20 August 2007.
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