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Juneau is the most visited port city on the entire Alaskan cruise route. The city is located in an absolutely spectacular location, on a narrow salt water channel, surrounded on all sides by huge, lush mountains and vast glaciers.

If you are planning a cruise to Alaska, the odds are that you will be stopping in Juneau. Having been to the city and fallen in love with it, I have compiled this list of the top 5 shore excursions for cruise ship passengers visiting Juneau.

1. Mt. Roberts Tramway

The Mt. Roberts tramway is a low-cost option that is nonetheless one of the best excursions in Juneau. The tram picks you up from the waterfront right by the cruise docks, and it whisks you up into the mountains high above the city. The view from the top of the tramway is spectacular, and there are hiking trails for people of all abilities.

2. Four Glacier Helicopter Adventure

This aerial tour is simply spectacular, taking you over the vast and awe-inspiring Juneau Icefield and highlighting four specific glaciers: the rapidly advancing Taku Glacier, the retreating Norris Glacier, the Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier — with its amazing ice spires — and a unique floating glacier. These glaciers are actually rivers of ice and are changing daily, always presenting new sights to behold. This really is a once in a lifetime experience.

3. Mendenhall Glacier River Rafting

This is another incredibly unique and unforgettable experience. You take a short bus ride from the cruise docks to the visitor’s center at the base of the immense Medenhall Glacier. There, you will board a river raft for a trip down the Mendenhall River that will take you past the immense face of the glacier. You’ll see amazing wildlife and take in absolutely spectacular scenery. It’s a thrilling adventure for everyone from beginners to experienced rafters.

4. Juneau Helicopter Flightseeing and Glacier Trek

This adventure includes a 30 minute helicopter ride that will give you the most spectacular views of glaciers from above – and you really haven’t experienced glaciers until you’ve seen them from the air. Then you will spend two hours on top of a glacier with an ice axe, crampons, and full ice climbing gear – all provided by the tour operator. You will exploring the glacier close up, from a point of view very few people ever get to experience. It’s thrilling and amazing, and you’ll be taught all the skills you need during an orientation session, so beginners are welcome.

5. The Helicopter Dog Sledding Excursion

What could be more quintessentially Alaskan than a dog sled ride? Now combine that with a thrilling helicopter ride and aerial glacier tour, and you’ve got one amazing shore excursion.

Scott Russell is a writer, consultant, frequent traveler, and an editor of http://www.alaska-cruise-advisor.com, which provides information on all aspects of Alaskan cruising, including details on Juneau and dozens of Alaskan shore excursions.

As it is often the case, when one has experienced a cruise vacation, it then becomes a way of life and the preferred way to vacation. I think it speaks volumes that so many people have taken more than one cruise. If you ask a first time cruise vacationer if he’d do it again, the answer is always an affirmative!

So why are cruises such a big hit?

I think of cruises as floating hotels that move from place to place leaving you with not a care in the world. All your needs are met in terms of accommodation, food and entertainment.

Unlike unsavory airplane food, the cruise ship variety is excellent. On a cruise ship, you will never go hungry as they offer you a myriad of options. In traditional dining, you go to the dining room at a specified time and experience a more formal setting. In anytime dining, as the name indicates, you can enjoy your food anytime with a variety of foods buffet style. There are also can’t miss favorites such as pizza and hamburgers around the clock. Let’s also not forget that there is room service as well. All this is included in the price of your cruise stay. However, if you want to try something extra special, there are the more upscale restaurants with extra charge. Now you know why some of your friends gain a few extra pounds after a cruise!

When you’re on a cruise, chances are you’ll never be bored. There are traditional hotel facilities such as the gym, pool and spa. In addition, the entertainment cruise directors really try hard to accommodate the interests of all passengers. By day, there are organized activities that range from crafts, sports, computer courses, and dance lessons. There are also activities geared towards children if you’re traveling with kids as well. The key to not missing out on all the ship has to offer is to read the daily newsletter which lists the planned activities for the day.

For the evening activities, there are comedy, magic, singing and dancing productions held in the theater. After the shows, if the night is still young for the late owls, they can dance the night away at the disco or perhaps try their luck in the casino.

As you can see, there are lots of things to do on board the ship. Participation is not only fun, but let’s you mingle with the other passengers as well. But all of this does not negate the fact that you are traveling the world and there are things to see! You can either book an excursion with the cruise ship or explore on your own. It’s a great way for passengers to pick and choose their excursion based on their budget, activity level, and interests.

In all, that is what you can expect as a first time cruise vacationer. You can see why a cruise vacation is the preferred method of travel by many and it is an activity that enjoys repeat customers. The people, food, entertainment is great while you travel and see the world. It sounds like the ideal vacation to me.

Cheap Cruises Headquarters is your guide to finding the best cruise deals. For more information, visit http://cheapcruiseshq.com/.

Once the provinces of the rich and famous, cruises have changed and Caribbean cruises are fast becoming the most popular vacation choice; this has got to be the easiest way to see a variety of Caribbean islands in a short space of time. It should be on everyone’s list of vacations with tropical Caribbean islands, clear, clean beaches and of course a fun filled time on board the cruise liner. There is guaranteed to be a package to suit you and depending on you budget it can be a short weekend break as a vacation add on or a full 14 days or more.

Sailing is an excellent way to enjoy yourself and this includes a person who just wants to send all day on board enjoying the entertainment to someone who can’t wait to explore all the new sights. If anything, you will have a hard time keeping up with everything that you can possibly do on a cruise liner. Before making the trip, it is wise to find out more, so go to your nearest travel agent to find the right package, but you can also find comments and reviews online.

Almost every Caribbean island will receive cruise liner guests but they can’t call on every one each trip as it would take to long so you need to look for a package that will call at the islands you want. Disco loving people that don’t like to sleep will enjoy those cruise vacations that arrange activity filled days and non-stop party evenings. Even though your tour operator should be able to provide information on the types of Caribbean cruise packages that are available, there will probably be more advice to be found on the web sites.

Besides the usual, you need to pack suitable attire for many occasions like formal evening wear as well as beach, deck and other casual wear. These are ideal opportunities to dress up which many of us do not get the chance to do these days so the ladies will want at least two evening gowns and the men will require a tuxedo. Even if you intend to bring along your children on a family cruise vacation, there are plenty of programs to occupy them and they will not have a dull moment.

A wide variety of activities are planned for them so that you can spend the time to do what you like; trained staff will look after them so you can put your mind at ease while you are enjoying and relaxing with your spouse. Some Caribbean cruises are specifically for adults only, which ideal for couples, honeymooners and people that would like to have a child free vacation. Honeymooners and couples celebrating wedding anniversaries can also have cruise liner packages tailored to suit them as well. A Caribbean cruise vacation is the ideal venue for singles, couples and for families as everyone is looked after with a multitude of activities available; no-one ever feels left out.

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How early should you book an Alaskan cruise? Should you wait until the last minute to get the best deals?

Unlike with Caribbean cruises, for which last minute deals are readily available, the market for Alaskan cruises is much tighter. There are fewer ships sailing in Alaska than in the Caribbean, due to smaller port capacities and limitations on entry into the major glacier viewing locations.

Because of this limited supply and an ever-growing demand, there have been fewer and fewer last minute Alaskan cruise deals available in recent years. If you are looking for a specific type of cabin, such as a balcony room or a suite, last minute deals are even harder to come by.

So does that mean that last minute Alaska cruise deals are a thing of the past? Not at all. In fact, you can still find fantastic deals if you are willing to be a bit flexible with the time you cruise.

The very best last minute Alaska cruise deals can be found for cruises that sail at the start of the season in the month of May. If you are able to travel in May, and you are a bit flexible on the date of your cruise, you often can find some outstanding deals on most all cabin categories, with savings of 50% or more over peak season rates in July and August.

The next best last minute prices can be found for Alaskan cruises sailing at the end of the season in September. The weather in southern coastal Alaska in September is only a few degrees cooler than in August, and there are even fewer bugs, making September a great time to cruise.

But what if you have to travel at the peak of the season, during the months of July and August? You can still find great deals for these months, but you must start planning your cruise early. In fact, the best time to start planning is over a year in advance.

Most Alaskan cruise lines start selling cabins on cruises over a year before their sail dates, in April and May of the prior year. So if you want some great early booking discounts, start looking very early and shop around, since additional discounts are available through travel agencies who have access to group pricing.

Alaska cruises offer a great value and remain the most economical and convenient way to see Alaska. So plan ahead or be flexible with your departure date, and you can find some fantastic deals.

Scott Russell is a writer, consultant, frequent traveler, and editor of http://www.alaska-cruise-advisor.com, which provides information on all aspects of Alaskan cruising, including details on Princess, Holland America, and the other Alaska cruise lines.

Alaska cruise tours are the best way to combine an Alaskan cruise with a land tour of the vast, untamed interior of the state. Generally, cruisetours are booked separately from cruises, with the cruise and land tour combined into one package.

Therefore, most cruisetours must be booked all at once – don’t try to book a cruise first, then add on the land portion later, as most cruise lines will not allow this.

Of course, with so many cruisetours to choose from, it can be a bit confusing. In order to help you select a truly outstanding cruise and land tour, I’ve compiled the following list of the very best tour packages currently available.

1. Princess Alaska Cruise Tours: Explorer Kenai

This wonderful 13 night Princess tour really has it all – starting with two days in Fairbanks, two days in spectacular Denali National Park and another couple days in the beautiful Kenai Peninsula before heading to Whittier for the start of your cruise. It’s a great sampling of the varied and amazing landscape of Alaska’s interior.

2. Holland America’s Cruise Tour #9: Alyeska, Denali, & Fairbanks

The land portion of this trip starts at the fabulous Alyeska Prince Hotel south of Anchorage, which might just be the best hotel in all of Alaska. It then follows the scenic Seward Highway to Anchorage for one night in Alaska’s largest city. Next you head by rail to Denali National Park for two amazing days, before continuing on by rail to Fairbanks.

3. Royal Caribbean’s 12 Night Canadian Rockies Cruisetour

For a change of pace, this cruise tour visits the amazing Banff and Lake Louise in the breathtaking Canadian Rockies rather than touring inland Alaska. The cruise portion of this package is actually a round trip out of Vancouver, meaning that no return flight from Anchorage is necessary. It’s a great alternative for anyone not wanting to take a one-way cruise, and the locations it visits in the Canadian Rockies are amongst the most beautiful spots on the planet.

4. Celebrity 14 Night Cruisetour: Talkeetna, Denali, & Fairbanks.

Celebrity’s most impressive cruisetour offering Stops at Alyeska, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks, providing a wonderful sampling of Alaska’s interior. This is an excellent choice for anyone seeking to get a look at a wide range of landscapes and natural environments.

5. Princess Alaska Cruise Tours: Direct to the Wilderness

This wonderful tour bypasses Anchorage and takes you directly to Denali. You hop on a train to the interior directly after getting off your cruise (or before you cruise on southbound itineraries). The train ride is spectacular, and it is followed by two full days in Denali National Park, home of the spectacular Mt. McKinley, before heading on to Fairbanks for a riverboat ride. This cruisetour is a great way to see and experience much of Alaska’s incredible coast and interior without breaking the bank. Of all the tours available, this one is my favorite.

Scott Russell is a writer, consultant, frequent traveler, and editor of http://alaska-cruise-advisor.com, which provides extensive information on Alaska cruise ports, ships, excursions, and tours.