by Ralph Grizzle

Want to cruise Alaska? Get the best selection of dates and staterooms by booking early. Cruise ships sail from Alaska to balmy southerly climes in September, the month that marks the bookend of the cruise season in the Great Land. But with the end of the cruise season up north comes the beginning of another: the season to begin planning for next year's Alaska cruise. In fact, October and November are the strongest booking months for Alaska, especially for cruisetours that combine a cruise with a land tour. Still, it's not too late to get space on an Alaska cruise or cruisetour. This year, the two major players in Alaska - Princess Cruises and Holland America Line - will offer more than 60 variations of cruisetours, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. Space on these tours gets booked quickly, which is why it's best to book several months in advance. 2007 will see no shortage of new ships in Alaska either. Holland America Line will operate eight ships, including three of its newest, while Princess Cruises, which also will operate eight ships, will introduce the 680-passenger Pacific Princess for those seeking a small ship experience. Departure ports are more diverse than ever too, with ships setting sail from West Coast ports as far south as San Francisco. - Ralph Grizzle