Suddenly, you see something moving down below and
you pan over to see something oddly shaped walking
lazily out of the woods at the edge of the field. You've
never seen anything like it before, but you immediately
recognize it by its furry antlers and wrinkled neck.
It's a moose!
A huge smile forms on your face when you realize that
this is the Alaska you've always dreamed of seeing. It's where
the wildlife easily outnumbers humanity; where animals
of all shapes and sizes freely move about the rainforests,
glacier-covered tundra and even the waters. And the best
way to see it all is on an cruise to Alaska. Catch a
glimpse of nature's most unique creatures from aboard a
ship or on a shore excursion.
Remember all of those whale tales you heard during your
childhood, like the fictional Moby Dick? These fantastic
tales make these aquatic mammals seem like mythological
heroes. Even if those stories struck the slightest amount
of fear in you, chances are that you wouldn't miss the
opportunity to see one of these magnificent whales, up close
and personal. Truth be told, there is something undeniably
mystical about these animals.
And as much as the moose is Alaska's animal
representative on land, the whale is its ambassador at sea.
Countless cruisers have lined the rails of excursion boats,
setting out in search of these underwater goliaths and
hoping to spot one or two breaching the surface. It's a
magical experience, seeing a whale rise up from the depths.
And who knows? You may even spot one (or two) from
the deck of one of cruise ships.
In fact, Alaska has several species of whales that make
their home here, at least for part of the year, that you're
likely to spot during your visit. Most notable is the humpback
whale, one of the world's most endangered species of
whale. Shaped like a missile and covered with bumps, the
humpback can stay underwater for as long as half an
hour, eats anywhere from 2,000 to 9,000 pounds of fish
and krill each day, and can live up to 95 years.
Another Alaska native is the killer whale, or Orca, which
is, in fact, not even a whale, It's actually just a big porpoise.
And the name is misleading, since they're not the "killers"
movies make them out to be. They're extremely social
mammals. They travel together in pods as large as 30 - and
are always led by the females. To get an even better view of
them, most cruise lines offer whale watching shore excursions in Juneau,
Ketchikan, Prince Rupert and Victoria. during the summer months,
which is thought to give them
a lot of their energy. In fact,
half of their summer weight is
stored fat that helps them
prepare for the winter months.
Still, Alaska's brown bears
don't technically hibernate like
some other bears might. They
just get very, very lethargic
during the winter, and just lay
around in their dens.
Another interesting fact is
that brown bears aren't
necessarily brown. Some have
coats in shades of blonde,
black or even a combination
of these colors. When it comes
to bears, most people also
don't know that the large hump
over their shoulders is actually
pure muscle, giving their
forelimbs strength for digging.
Their powerful claws can be up
to 6 inches in length and, unlike
the claws of lions or tigers,
aren't retractable. Sure, you're
not likely to see any bears while
you're peering out over the
deck of your ship, but there's
always a chance you might see
one when you go exploring on
a wildlife adventure.
Experience it all. On a
cruise to Alaska, you get a
front-row seat to one of the
most wondrous natural
showplaces on the planet. Interested? Call us at 800-677-0110 for your choice of Alaska Cruises!
Below are our Recommendations for Alaska Cruises:
Use our AWESOME free search engine to find ANY Alaska cruise on EVERY cruise line! Simply put "Alaska" in the destination field along with the cruise line of your choice and the time of year you want to go(Alaska cruises are from May to September) and click "search".
Below you will find some of our Alaska Cruise promotions!
Alaska cruises are a once in a lifetime experience. If you are like most people, you'll probably only do an Alaska cruise once. Call us today to talk to knowledgeable experts who have actually BEEN on these cruises! We will guide you down the right path of choices-Should it be a 7 day Alaska cruise or an 11day Alaska cruisetour? We KNOW Alaska cruises! Call us today at 800-677-0110 and let us help you find the Alaska cruise of your dreams!
Alaska Cruises
