From Russia With Love: Matryoshka Nesting Dolls
Matryoshka dolls are an instantly recognizable symbol of Russia. They can take on many forms, but are always a series of wooden dolls of decreasing sizes that fit one inside the other, typically painted to represent either traditional Russian folklife or more topical or satirical themes. It has be
Choose Your Cruise – March 26, 2021
This was a wild week in the cruise industry. CLIA and the CDC went back and forth about the Conditional Sail Order and several more cruise lines have concrete start dates in June cruisers can now book! Since we still can’t sail from American ports, these cruises leave from islands in the Baham
Traditional Tlingit Tastes
The Last Frontier, otherwise known as Alaska, has always maintained a certain mystique to those in the Lower 48. One of the least populated and visited states in the country, many travelers have misconceptions of Alaska, its economy, its landscape, the food, and, naturally, its people. And nowhere i
Princess Cancels More Sailings Due to Canada Cruise Ban
Along with their Carnival Corporation brand sister line Holland America, Princess Cruises was forced to cancel select Alaska, Canada, New England and Pacific Coast cruises in 2021. Earlier this month, Canadian Transport Ministry announced an Interim Order that extends the closure of Canadian po
Holland America Cancels Cruises That Depart or Conclude in Canadian for 2021
When Canada banned cruise ships from visiting their ports until 2022, it created a whole host of headaches for cruise lines. We’re now starting to see the repercussions of that decision as Holland America Line has paused all sailings that depart from or conclude in a Canadian port in 2021
Canada Bans Cruise Ships Until February 2022
In an effort to “monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it is having on the marine and tourism sectors,” Canada has issued two new Interim Orders which prohibit pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until February 28, 2022.
Let’s Fully Appreciate Alaska’s Glaciers
“Have a taste,” my guide on Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier says, handing me a canteen cup he’s just filled at a tumbling freshet on the slope we’re climbing. “It’s pretty good.” The frigid, aquamarine water is indeed quite good — as cold as water can get, highly oxygenated by bouncing
Choose Your Cruise – October 23, 2020
Halloween is right around the corner and the scariest thing cruisers can think of is spending a full nine months on land. Knock on wood, we’re at the tail end of this pandemic and that means you can start planning your 2021 cruise with supreme confidence. Check out the three cruises below and
Holland America Sets Sights on Alaska Cruises in 2021
As cruise lines continue beefing up their offerings for 2021, Holland America Line announced a renewed focus on Alaska with a full lineup of cruises and land excursions for 2021. The cruise line will position six ships in the region from April to September of 2021 with some of the best shore ex
Alaska’s Lost Cruise Season
It was gearing up to be the biggest season ever. For years, cruise passengers have disembarked their ship in Juneau, Alaska only to hop on board one of Holly Johnson’s seaplanes at the Juneau waterfront for the ride of a lifetime. Johnson, President of Wings Airways & the Taku Glaci
A Positive COVID-19 Test Derailed an Alaska Cruise, But Did It Have To?
The sky was falling if you listened to media outlets from all over the country. UnCruise Adventures had only been back in action for less than a week and they already had a positive COVID-19 case on board. The backlash was instant: Why did they think they could cruise? Are those people crazy?
UnCruise CEO Discusses Recent COVID-19 Case and Where the Cruise Line Is Headed
It’s safe to say that Captain Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures, loves the sea. In fact, he was just 18 years old when he received his Ship Master’s License, the highest level possible for a ship captain. Shortly after that, he owned his own marina. Being a sea captain and marina o
Fishing Alaska’s Panhandle is a Dream Summer Road Trip
Travelers all over the country are rediscovering the quintessential American road trip this year, and many are deciding that now is the time to enjoy the adventure of their dreams and hit the Alaska-Canadian Highway. With the great state of Alaska as their final destination, they̵
Windstar Cruises Announces Return Date
One of the foremost small ship cruise lines in the industry announced their date for return following the pause in operation due to COVID-19. Windstar Cruises will return to operation on September 3, 2020 when their motor sailing yacht Wind Spirit sets sail in Tahiti. The cruise line first
Cruise Stoppage Costs Alaska $800 Million
The economic toll of COVID 19 on the cruise industry is devastating, but the people of Alaska may be the biggest losers in the whole ordeal. Mike Tibbles, a Cruise Lines International Association Alaska representative, spoke to the Alaska Board of Marine Pilots this week and explained that with the
Cunard Line Extends Pause in Operations
Citing “the continued impact of COVID 19,” Cunard Line made the decision to pause their voyages further past the initial date of May 15, 2020 previously announced. The line also announced they have cancelled the entire Alaska season and all departures on Queen Elizabeth through
Cruiser’s Guide to Glacier Bay National Park
You won’t have to use your imagination to understand why the Huna Tlingit consider Glacier Bay to be their spiritual homeland. Advancing glaciers drove them out for a time during the middle of the 18th century, but retreating ice has been drawing them home in recent years. Crystaline waters fi
Vitamin Sea: Mother Nature’s Natural Spas
Organic, all-natural, wild, and raw are the buzzwords today as we increasingly realize the value of reconnecting with the natural world. Renewal, revitalization, and restoration are key, and these no longer go hand-in-hand with chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and a cosmetic surgeon. There is a desire fo
Port Guide: Skagway, Alaska
When you step off the ship in Skagway, you’ll find yourself back in time in a frontier town built on the wild-eyed dreams of gold seekers from all across the globe. A glance down the main drag, Broadway Street, reveals a small cityscape worthy of a Hollywood set for filming scenes portraying t
Cruising to Sitka: Your Guide to a Day in Port
With a population of nearly 9,000 year-round residents, Sitka is the Last Frontier’s fourth biggest town. There are fewer people cruising to Sitka than other Inside Passage port cities, so some travelers believe it provides a more authentic Alaska experience. Sitka is the only port city in the
