The Cruise Report With Cruise Specialists Cruise Reporter Ralph Grizzle

Cruise West will offer guests two overnights in Glacier Bay National Park on its Wilderness Inside Passage itinerary during the upcoming Alaska season. The additional time gives guests the opportunity to explore the birds and sea lions of South Marble Island, the 15,000-foot peak of Mt. Fairweather, and massive glaciers of all varieties, all while under the expert guidance of a National Park Ranger and Native Cultural Interpreter. Cruise West also will offer more departures on this itinerary with two ships instead of one: the 84-passenger Spirit of Discovery and the 102-passenger Spirit of Endeavour. Yet another advantage with this itinerary is the line’s steadfast Whale Sighting Guarantee: Should whales not be spotted on a sailing, the line will refund $250 to each guest — a refund that Cruise West proudly proclaims it has never had to pay.

In September of 2006, I signed on for Cruise West’s 15-day Gold Rush Inside Passage Cruisetour.

What’s a cruisetour? It’s a combination of a cruise and a tour. And it allows you to see and experience the best of Alaska.

The cruise itself sails between Seattle and Juneau, and takes in cities and towns featured on many Alaska itineraries: Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau. As well as some towns that aren’t regularly featured on Alaska cruise itineraries, such a Sitka, Haines and Petersburg.

On a Cruise West “D Tour” we go deep into Denali, 90 miles from the National Park’s Entrance and up close and personal to Denali itself. Want to get away while getting close? Take a look.