Three cruise lines currently sailing in Alaska have announced new vessels and itineraries for 2012. American Safari Cruises has added the 860-passenger Safari Endeavor to its three-yacht fleet for weeklong, roundtrip itineraries from Juneau.
The renovated Safari Endeavor will cruise from May to September with added amenities, such as massage rooms, hot tubs, a sauna, a wine bar and library. Some of the highlights of the ship’s itineraries include Glacier Bay National Park, the Icy Straits, Frederick Sound and Endicott Arm.
Two-week cruises from Seattle to Juneau and back will run in the spring and fall. The cruise line received its highest occupancy rates in its 14-year history in 2011.
InnerSea Discoveries, the parent company of American Safari Cruises, has also announced new Alaskan adventures with the company’s new ship, the Wilderness Explorer. Weeklong voyages start between Juneau and Sitka for a total of 76 passengers.
“This is an ideal time to expand our fleet,” said Dan Blanchard, CEO of American Safari Cruises and InnerSea Discoveries, in a statement. “This ship fits in nicely with our fleet, and we are [adding] new amenities and spaces fitting our style of active adventure.”
The renovated ship will feature rooms fitted with large windows, flat-screen TVs, DVD players and iPod docking stations. The company has also added a kayak launch to the ship’s main deck, which can release five kayaks at once.
One of the newest Alaska small-ship cruise companies, Alaska Dream Cruises, also released new sailing itineraries for 2012. Passengers can now choose from three-, six-, eight- and 11-day cruises from Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan.
The cruise line’s fleet will stop at 15 ports in 2012, including well-known ports like Tracy Arm, Skagway and Glacier Bay National Park, as well as the lesser-known towns like Kake, Thorne Bay and Hobart Bay. These cruises run from May through September.
For more information, read the Travel Weekly article or visit www.alsaskandreamcruises.com and www.innerseadiscoveries.com.
