From your ship you will watch the many breathtaking sights of Alaska glide by. Maybe you’ll even glimpse a whale

When cruise lines put their ships into the north Pacific in 1990 as a safe have during the first Gulf War, the marvels of Alaskan cruising were discovered.

And in the 30 years since, its popularity has grown at a startling rate.

Now tens of thousands flock by ship to the 49th and most northerly of America’s 50 states each year to witness some of the wonders of the world.

Alaska simply takes your breath away, and the joy of cruising this wonderful region is that from your ship you will watch one beautiful sight after another pass by. Maybe you’ll even glimpse a whale.

And if you can, take in the Denali National Park, with America’s tallest mountain, the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay.

Anchorage
Nestling on the south-central Cook Inlet, Alaska’s largest city is also a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains including the Chugach, Kenai and Talkeetna. Its cultural sites include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which displays traditional crafts, stages dances, and replicas of dwellings from the area’s indigenous groups. T

Haines
Meander around this beautiful village in sunshine and you’ll see why a film crew encamped there for a year to use it as the backdrop to the 1991 tear-jerking movie White Fang about an abused dog-wolf. And be sure to tog up in waterproofs for an eagle preserve and wildlife river adventure.

Juneau
For a state capital, Juneau maintains a surprising small-town charm, in part because it can only be reached by sea or air due to surrounding wilderness. Visitors to theAlaska State Museum can see collections from the indigenous people. More adventurous shore excursions are also available, including a Musher’s Camp & Sled Dog Discovery.

Hoonah-Hoonah
This means “where the north wind doesn’t blow” in the language of the Tlingit Indians. It is the gateway to Icy Strait Point with ample opportunities to see bears and eagles in their natural habitats as well as humpback whales, which migrate to the area in the summer.

Ketchikan
Totem poles are one of Ketchikan’s main attractions and the best places to view them are the Saxman Village and Totem Bight State Park. Guests can also learn about the local cultures and ecosystems at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. But be prepared for rain. Ketchikan gets its fair share – in fact 162 inches of it on average a year.

Nome
The most famous gold rush town in Alaska is set at the tip of the Seward Peninsula overlooking the Bering Sea, which is about as far away as you can get in Alaska. It offers an wonderful mix of Native culture, rugged Alaskan adventure, dramatic scenery, world-class sporting events, and rich history.

Seward
Surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains, this city port, set on situated at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, is a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, where glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield into coastal fjords that attract whales and porpoises in abundance.

Sitka
Called “Shee Atika” by the Tlingit Indians, then “New Archangel” by Russians who ousted them, Sitka boasts a multicultural heritage. Two dozen of its attractions are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Castle Hill and Building 29, built by Russian settlers in 1835. Excursions explore waters populated by seals and and sea lions, take you close to shore to see nesting bald eagles, and if you are lucky provide an opportunity to watch humpback whales feeding close to land.

Skagway
Skagway, with a population of just over 1,100, enjoys a spectacular natural setting at the northernmost reaches of the Inside Passage in the Southeast. Not much has changed over the last 100 years, with streets lined with wooden boardwalks and restored buildings.

Wrangell
At the heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage, Wrangell is surrounded by natural beauty. Visitors have opportunity to experience mountains, islands, the rainforest, glaciers and wildlife in all their glory, and there are plenty of opportunities for the adventurous.

Valdez
Amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery is a big draw for tourists to Valdez, which sits at the head of a natural fjord that reaches inland for around 11 miles from Prince William Sound. Its history involves English and Russian exploration and whale watching, skiing, and glacier climbing are just some of the things on offer.