Alaska 2018 – By Land and Sea!

I just returned from leading our 2017 Alaska adventure and I can’t wait to get back! Every time I visit I am blown away by the glaciers, waterfalls, wildlife, food and people.   Alaska is best explored by both cruise and land, so we are offering two incredible adventures that can be booked separately or combined to make the ultimate CruiseTour experience.  Cruising is the ideal way to enjoy Alaska’s unmatched pristine aquatic beauty.  Who better to experience Alaska with than Holland America who is currently celebrating their 70^th year of exceptional Alaska cruises. Not only have they been doing it the longest, they are consistently rated the best in the region with amazing food, entertainment and enrichment activities.  For the land portion to Denali and the heart of Alaska we are using Globus, a company who has been at the top of its game for more than 85 years. We take all of the best that Holland America and Globus provide, then supplement those with our own signature fun and educational events and excursions.   We invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience while we handle the details.

Fully Inclusive Cruise Package Price Includes: Harr Travel Concierge Service, Pre-paid gratuities, 3 Premium Excursions, 2 Nights Specialty Dining, 1 Night Pre or Post Cruise

The Best of Alaska: 7 Day Land Tour
Optional Pre-Cruise Add On

Land Tour Price: $2907

• July 10, 2018 – Fairbanks
• July 11, 2018 – Fairbanks – Denali National Park
• July 12, 2018 – Denali National Park
• July 13, 2018 – Denali National Park – Alaska Railroad-Talkeetna
• July 14, 2018 – Talkeetna-Big Lake – Anchorage
• July 15, 2018 – Cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park (Board the Westerdam)
• July 16, 2018 – Return Home

Can be purchased as a stand alone.

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Glacier Discovery: 9 Day Southbound Alaska Cruise
Holland America Westerdam

Cruise Package Price Starting at: $2999

• July 15, 2018 – Seward (Anchorage), Alaska, US
• July 16, 2018 – At Sea
• July 17, 2018 – Glacier Bay
• July 18, 2018 – Haines, Alaska
• July 19, 2018 – Juneau, Alaska US
• July 20, 2018 – Ketchikan, Alaska, US
• July 21, 2018 – Scenic Cruise The Inside Passage
• July 22, 2018 – Vancouver, BC – Post Cruise Package
• July 23, 2018 – Return Home

Day 1 – Anchorage

Anchorage Alaska is big-city living. It is home to more than a quarter-million people—nearly half the state’s population. The city has shopping malls, national discount stores, movie theaters, fast-food restaurants, fine dining, high-rise hotels and a busy international airport. That makes Anchorage an anomaly in a state where the featured attraction is wilderness—specifically Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula and Katmai National Park. Alaska’s residents joke that visitors can’t really claim to have seen the state until they leave Anchorage.

But, as with most places in Alaska, the wilderness is never far away. The snowcapped Chugach Mountains rise just behind the city, and some of the state’s premier natural attractions are within a day’s travel. If you visit in summer, you’ll have extra time to see the sights—there are 17-21 hours of daylight per day then.

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Day 2 – At Sea

Holland America Line takes very special pride in their elegant and spacious fleet of ships. They’re some of the best-equipped and most beautifully designed cruise ships in the world. Because their mid-sized ships carry fewer guests for their size than other ships in premium class, you are able to experience relaxed, refined surroundings with an extra measure of personal space. There is a sense of spaciousness throughout the ship, from generously proportioned public rooms to plenty of outdoor viewing room.

Most staterooms on Holland America ships have twin beds that are convertible to queen-size beds. While interior stateroom bathrooms have a shower, Oceanview stateroom bathrooms also have a bathtub. In staterooms as well as throughout the ship there is WiFi connectivity for cell phones and other wireless devices, thanks to satellite broadband services.

Day 3 – Glacier Bay

At the northern end of the Inside Passage, 550 mi/880 km southeast of Anchorage, the Glacier Bay National Park waterway stretches for 65 mi/105 km and contains 16 tidewater glaciers. In 1980, Glacier Bay became a U.S. national park and preserve. It encompasses 3.2 million acres/1.3 million hectares and can be visited only by sea or air.

The park has a variety of wildlife, including marine mammals, wolves, moose, black and grizzly bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and bald eagles. The area also has a unique subspecies of black bear named “glacial bears” because of their silver-tinged fur. They are identical in size and features to the common black bear, but are found only in glacial areas.

Included Excursion – Chilkat Bald Eagle Jet Boat Adventure
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Day 4 – Haines

Haines, Alaska, is situated on a spit of land on the west side of the Lynn Canal along one of the deepest fjords in the Inside Passage. It is one of only three ports in southeast Alaska with access to North American roads. As a result, Haines is a busy place in the summer. Many vacationers (and their vehicles) ride a ferry to Haines and head up the Haines Highway to the Alaska Highway into northwestern Canada and the Alaskan interior. Other visitors arrive by cruise ship. In warm-weather months, the town’s population swells considerably.

A haven for bald eagles and artists, Haines is distinctive, with the officers’ quarters of historic Fort William H. Seward nestled around a parade ground and the snowy 6,500-ft/2,015-m Cathedral Peaks towering in the background—all visible from the water. The first permanent army post in Alaska, the fort now houses hotels, restaurants, art galleries, Alaska Indian Arts and the Chilkat Center.

Each fall, more than 3,500 eagles flock to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve on the Chilkat River to feast on a late run of salmon. Several hundred remain in the area throughout the year.

Included Excursion – Juneau Sled Dog Adventure
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Day 5 – Juneau

Juneau, Alaska, enjoys a majestic setting in a narrow fjord with Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts towering above it. To the east is the vast expanse of glacial ice known as the Juneau Icefield, and to the west are the wilderness islands of the Inside Passage.

Because of the natural beauty that surrounds the city—as well as its gold-rush-era buildings and many shops—this state capital is a popular tourist destination. In fact, Juneau is visited by more cruise ships than any other port in Alaska.

Included Excursion – Flightseeing Seaplane Tour to Misty Fjords
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Day 6 – Ketchikan

Ketchikan, Alaska, is the site of an ancient Tlingit fish camp and was a supply town during the gold rush. Ketchikan is about 3 mi/5 km long but only a couple of blocks deep. Located on the southwest shore of Revillagigedo Island, it’s the first port of call into Alaska, hence its nickname, The First City.

Ketchikan is considered an Alaska Native cultural center for the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribes, as well as a sportfishing mecca. The town generally gets more than 150 in/388 cm of rain annually, but don’t let the liquid sunshine (as residents prefer to call it) keep you inside—Ketchikan is worth exploring in any kind of weather.

Day 7 – Scenic Cruising The Inside Passage

The Inside Passage is a protected seaway that stretches for more than 1,000 mi/1,600 km between the coast of southeast Alaska and a narrow string of islands to the west. It ends in Skagway, about 90 mi/145 km north of Juneau. The waterway has long been the favored sea route between Anchorage and the cities of Seattle and Vancouver because it’s much calmer than the Pacific Ocean. It is also much shorter and easier than going overland via the Alaska Highway. The Inside Passage is the only link—other than by air—to Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka.

As you sail along the rugged coast, passing the magnificent Alexander Archipelago, you’ll see cloud-shrouded mountains, glaciers, fjords, islands covered with coniferous rain forest, Alaska Native villages, eagles, seals, orca and humpback whales, bears, moose and other animals. If your journey includes Tracy Arm, a narrow fjord surrounded by granite cliffs and ending at South Sawyer glacier, you may see harbor seals and their pups on the ice floes during the summer (it’s included on many cruises, or you can visit as a side trip from Juneau). Another highlight is Glacier Bay, in Glacier Bay National Park.

Day 8 – Vancouver

Vancouver, British Columbia, is known as Canada’s emerald jewel for its lush rain forests. On a clear day, from downtown you can see the Strait of Georgia’s blue-green waters, glacial fjords, islands, and mountains with snow caps and dense forests.

The city is home to people from all over the world and has continued to draw many immigrants from China, other parts of Asia and around the world.

Vancouver is relaxed and outdoorsy, yet cosmopolitan. It’s also sports-minded, and its hockey fans cheer hard for their NHL Canucks. The city also boasts high-fashion boutiques, a vibrant arts scene and a fondness for health-conscious eating. The winter weather of gray skies and drizzle only emphasizes Vancouver’s attractions at other times of the year.

Best Entertainment at Sea Onboard Holland America’s Westerdam

Danny and Randy cruised on the Westerdam this past December to scout for this trip.  Both were blown away by the entertainment onboard and said that the high quality was their biggest surprise.  Holland America has recently doubled down on their live entertainment and have added several music venues to each of their ships.  They have partnered with the original BB King’s Blues Club in Memphis to bring 8-12 incredible singers and musicians on every sailing.  BB King’s onboard the Westerdam was hopping every night rocking music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  In addition, the Westerdam now has a new Billboard Music piano club where they play the top 50 songs from the past 50 years, as well as the new Lincoln Center Stage where top musicians play chamber and classical music.  All of this is in addition to the full stage production shows that Holland America is well-known for.

Holland also provides a robust educational program that will be supplemented by a series of activities from Harr Travel onboard.  Holland America has recently partnered with BBC Earth and will provide enrichment and entertainment throughout your voyage.  They partnered with America’s Test Kitchen on PBS to offer a culinary arts center onboard where you can participate in cooking demonstrations and tastings.  Holland has also partnered with Microsoft to offer digital workshops on learning how to use your computer, phone or other technology.  With all of this education onboard, you can’t miss.

Lincoln Center Stage

BB Kings Blues Club

Billboard’s Dueling Pianos

Experience the New Westerdam

A fun fact: In 2007 Holland America cut the Westerdam in half and added a 130-foot section to her and added some or our favorite amenities.

Cruise ships need renovations and refurbishment about every two years.  While the crew is always continuously cleaning, painting, sanding and varnishing, repairing and updating items around the ship, it is the big drydock renovations where the most happened.  The Westerdam is going in for its second biggest facelift to date, and will come out refreshed and updated with Holland America’s best and most successful venues.    The updates that we are excited about are the renovation of the Culinary Arts and BB King’s, the addition of Billboard Onboard and the new Lincoln Center Stage.  In addition the rest of the public spaces, furniture and carpeting will get a full refresh.  You will be cruising on an almost new ship!

• Westerdam Renovation – April 2017
• New popular musical venues being added: Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard, BB Kings Bar, Gallery Bar and more!
• Pinnacle Grill, the popular specialty dining option, will undergo a makeover.
• Full refresh of all the aspects Holland America is beloved for.

Gourmet Culinary Experience

Holland America takes their food seriously.  They have consistently been ranked at the top of their class, but they have recently embarked on a massive upgrade in dining throughout their fleet.   They hired 5 extraordinary master chefs to refresh and revamp their menus and offerings. With the collective experience, passion and creativity of five world-class celebrity chefs, the Holland America Line Culinary Council® brings global influence and expertise to dining venues across the fleet.  The awards have started to flood in and dining has never been better onboard Holland America.  We invite you to Savor the Journey.

• The Pinnacle Grill – Refined and luxurious, romantic and intimate, the Pinnacle Grill represents the pinnacle of exceptional cruise dining.
• Le Cirque – Experience the illustrious Le Cirque restaurant with Master Chef Rudi Sodamin who worked with Le Cirque’s Executive Chef Craig Hopson to re-create the legendary eatery’s whimsical ambiance and award-winning cruise dining experience on board.
• Canaletto Restaurant – “Spartire” is the Italian word for sharing; Canaletto Restaurant’s new menu is designed around this authentic Italian experience and offers a variety of dishes to enjoy and share with family and friends
• 24-Hour In-Room Dining – Complimentary In-Room Dining is a phone call away. Sleep in and order breakfast delivered to your stateroom. Have an early dinner on your verandah before an evening shore excursion. Or ring for a salad, sandwich or entrée any time “just because.”

Club HAL Kids Program

Danny says: Many of my favorite travel experiences as a kid were on cruises.  The kid’s clubs were an awesome way to meet other kids from all over the world and have an amazing time with all of the games, crafts and other activities.  As a parent now and a kiddo not that long ago, I think cruising is the perfect way for every member of the family to get exactly what they need…including breaks from each other from time to time 😊 

This Alaskan adventure is perfect for every member of the family ages 3 and up.  Holland America prides itself in having activities and dedicated spaces for kids so they can have a wonderful time with kiddos their own age, while their parents and grandparents enjoy everything this cruise has to offer. Holland America Line’s youth activities program, Club HAL, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They’ll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties.