TRAVEL
CONNECTION
Alaska is
amazing
At sea and on land,
experiencing Alaska
is a trip like no other
TODD BIGELOW
by PETER GREENBERG
Peter Greenberg
is the multiple–Emmy
Award–winning travel
editor for CBS News
and host of The
Travel Detective on
public television
(petergreenberg.com).
A
n Alaska cruise is a voyage of
discovery through thousands
of miles of scenic and everchanging coastline. Each port
along the way provides immersion in
Alaska’s history and an endless parade
of wildlife: whales, bears, eagles, seals
and moose. And you’ll sail by almost
otherworldly places, like Tracy Arm and
Sawyer Glacier, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier
Bay and, on some cruises, College Fjord.
While COVID-19 closed the Alaska
cruise season for the first time ever in
2020, Canada is expected to open its
ports by March 2021, which means the
time to start planning an Alaskan cruise
is now, as the Alaska cruise season typically runs from late April to September.
In 2019, 37 ships sailed to Alaska—a
new record. But in the era of COVID-19,
fewer ships will be sailing this summer,
and none will be sailing with full passenger loads, which means a less crowded,
more rewarding cruise experience—and
with new pandemic safety, hygiene
and social distancing protocols in place.
My favorites
Ketchikan is the gateway to Tongass
National Forest and Misty Fjords National Monument. You can see black bears at
Neets Bay. I love the floatplane tours, as
well as fishing trips. On my last cruise
there, I caught a 28-pound king salmon.
The chef on my ship cooked it for me
(and some of the other passengers) for
dinner that night.
Juneau—Alaska’s capital—is another
great port. Helicopter up to the Mendenhall Glacier, one of the great photo ops,
where you can drink ice-cold glacier
water, and even dog-sled. Check out the
Mendenhall Ice Caves, a 12-mile-long
cave inside the glacier. In Juneau, head
for Tracy’s King Crab Shack, home to
fresh king crab from Bristol Bay and
Norton Sound. Then stop by the legendary Red Dog Saloon, which dates back
to the gold rush days; it features a
surprisingly diverse bar menu, including beer from local craft breweries.
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