2 cruise lines are pivoting to offer summer 'land tours' in Alaska - see what it'll be like to take
- On top of suspended cruises amid COVID-19, Alaska cruises have been halted due to Canadian restrictions.
- Now, Princess Cruises and Holland America will be offering land-based Alaska tours.
- Visitors can stay at the cruise lines' Alaska resorts.
- Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.
Cruising to Alaska has been put on hold, but Carnival Corporation's Princess Cruises and Holland America have found a new way to offer travelers a chance to visit the state, sans cruising.
Last month, the Canadian government announced a cruising ban in the country's waters until February 2022. As a result, the possible return of Alaska cruises by the end of this year was also put on hold due to port call and flag-bearing issues.
Shortly after this ban was declared, Princess Cruises unsurprisingly canceled trips that were once set to cross Canadian waters, and said it would be "engaged with various US and Canadian government officials" to save any 2021 cruises that had plans to sail through the country.
Similarly, Holland America isn't offering any cruises to Alaska before April 2022.
Source: Princess Cruises
Travelers who miss cruising with Princess Cruises or Holland America can instead stay at Alaska resorts owned by the two cruise lines: Holland America's McKinley Chalet Resort and Westmark Fairbanks Hotel ... ... and Princess Cruises' Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge above the Kenai River. These hotels will then offer up different tours and packages so visitors can still experience Alaska without cruises. These guests can then opt to take a guided tour or create their own custom itinerary. Options include tours around Alaska's Kenai, Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks between five to six nights with either tour director or guidance from staffers. There's also an eight-hour escorted "Tundra Wilderness Tour" available in Denali National Park with a chance to see Alaskan wildlife, such as bears and caribou. Train enthusiasts can book several nights at the national park through the "Denali Rail tours," which shuttles guests to the park from Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska. Desperate to get back on a cruise? Opt for the Portage Glacier Cruises offerings, which brings passengers from Anchorage to the Portage Glacier.from Business Insider https://ift.tt/3t42Eqq
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