Alaska Cruises: Big Land, Big Numbers
November 14, 2005
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the amount spent on travel and tourism in America?s biggest state is up, and there are no signs of that trend changing. That, of course, has a lot to do with the great scenery and abundant wildlife of Alaska, but it is also due to the fact that Alaska cruises and cruising in general is on the rise.
?It shows that the cruise industry was returning, that people were taking land trips, rail trips, air trips, and that?s good. Alaska did very well in terms of their expenditure increases,? says Cathy Keefe of the Travel Industry Association of America, of Alaska cruises.
The data for travel and tourism is revealing. The data shows that the expenditures in the state were up almost 3% between 2002 and 2003. While 3% might not sound like a significant amount, in brass tax, it translates into about $40 million. Between 2002 and 2003, Alaska welcomed about 1.42 million North American visitors; between 2003 and 2004, the number increased to 1.55 million, a 9.15% increase.
Of course, right now, Alaska cruises aren?t really in progress; it won?t be until around next May that cruise ships start to head up through the Inside Passage. Yet the time to book your Alaska cruise is right now. While May seem a world away?the leaves haven?t even completely fallen, let alone started to bud?it?s not that far away at all in terms of booking one of the popular Alaska cruises.
For a 10-day cruise vacation to Alaska in May or June, for example, there?s really no better time than the present to book. Beside the fact that cabins are being taken up on a daily basis, there?s a lot to coordinate on your end, such as getting time off work and finding someone to look after the house. Taking one of the Alaska cruises, after all, is not as simple as just hopping in the car going to the movies.
As the increased numbers in travel and tourism attest, more and more people are visiting Alaska every year, and cruise passengers are no small number of them. ?Cruise bookings for 2006 are looking very strong and Alaska?s one of the big cruise areas. It?s a big dream area for people in terms of cruising,? says Keefe.
The big dream that Alaska cruises fulfill is made up of blue-ice Pacific waters, deep green forests, unique wildlife, and hospitable cities and towns?and that?s just along the coast. With cruisetours that offer people the chance to explore more of Alaska?s inland before or after their cruise, the opportunities for adventure stretch as far as the horizon.
So, what could it mean if you wait too long to book your cruise? Well, you could be forced to make your way to the main deck of the ship to see the view of calving glaciers and basking walruses rather than simply opening your balcony doors. (Balcony accommodations are the first to go, usually?especially when the cruise is headed to a destination as scenic as Alaska.)
Not having a balcony cabin?s just the start of what you could miss if you wait too long; your ideal dinner time, dates of departure that work for you, the cruise lines you wish to sail with?all that?s in jeopardy if you hesitate for much longer to call your Cruise Network travel agent. But you don?t even need to believe me?ask anyone, and they?ll tell you that Alaska cruises book up very far in advance.
