Cruising America's Last Frontier

This summer we had the opportunity to cruise in Alaska with our charter client on Holland America’s Koningsdam.  This is not a ship review on the Koningsdam, as we have done that before. Instead, this is a discussion about cruising in Alaska.
Most people don’t know the history about cruising in Alaska which has to include Holland America Line.  This is the 75^th year that HAL has been cruising in Alaska.  75 years ago HAL realized they had a huge problem!  It was the Boeing 707 and the end of cruise ships being used as Trans-Atlantic transportation. So what do we do with these cruise ships? The obvious answer was cruises to the Caribbean from NYC.  No different than today, that market filled up real quick.  HAL made a big gamble and sold a cruise to the undiscovered area we now call Alaska.  It turned out the guests really loved it, however it presented many challenges.   
HAL had to develop the itineraries and resources to operate these cruises.  Over the years HAL has built and developed ports, tours, lodging, and trains for both tourist and employees, and had to get seasonal employees to want to come to Alaska. Needless to say, the other cruise line found out about Alaska as well.
Still today you will always find HAL ships with prime dock locations at most ports of call.  This means the other cruise lines might be at anchor, docked a long way away and needing shuttles.  They also seem to have the most permits to be in Glacier Bay, which is one of the most dramatic areas in Alaska.  It also seems that they own the most land transportation in Alaska meaning they have an advantage for many tours.
Today Alaska is one of the most popular cruising areas, but only available due to weather May to October with the heart of the season (also the highest priced) June to August. With departures available from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage) there are several different itinerary options. The round-trip Seattle and Vancouver cruises are very similar while the cruises Vancouver to Seward (or reverse) offer a different view plus the option of extending to Denali National Park (a must see if you have the time).
The sights are spectacular both on land and at sea.  Yes, you can see whales, seals and otters from your balcony and eagles, beavers and bears while on a land tour.  The Glaciers and wild rivers are mind blowing, while a train ride that the gold seekers rode is still there for you today.  The scenery wherever you go, on sea or land, is mind boggling and makes this one of the best “must do” cruises in the world. -Steve
 

When doing a cruise program there are two options: group versus charter. Both have their pros and cons and different options will fit different clients. A group is essentially a part of a regular cruise, you get the traditional cruise experience and you can add in private events, parties, education, etc as needed. With a charter, YOU are the cruise. The entire cruise can be customized to your liking from the itinerary, events, branding, etc. One of the misconceptions with charters is that you need a few thousand people to charter a ship but this is a viable option for anywhere from 100 passengers and up. We live by the motto “Charter is Best!” and we truly stand behind that. Having the opportunity to fully customize every aspect of your event can create such a unique experience your guests will never forget.