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DISCOVER ALASKA CRUISE TOUR
on the ISLAND PRINCESS
June 6 to 20, 2012
Denise Johnson of Travel Broker Tours invites you to join her on an exciting 15 day fully escorted Alaska Cruise Tour aboard the Island Princess!
Your invited to join Denise Johnson, your personal travel escort on this exciting 15 day diverse land and sea holiday. Enjoy two of the Alaska's undisputed jewels, breathtaking Glacier Bay National Park by sea, and dazzling Denali National Park by land. You will never forget them - a 10 story crystal blue icebergs calving into the tidewater with a thunderous crack, the spectacular and untamed wildlife, from a nesting eagle high in Sitka spruce to a family of brown bears foraging along a rocky beach, your first glimpse of the soaring magnificence of Mt. McKinley, it's everything you imagined and all you have come to see.
What's Included
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 Our Program
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Detailed Itinerary
June 6: Fairbanks
Board your flight for Fairbanks and transfer to our hotel.
June 7: Fairbanks
Sightseeing today includes a Riverboat Cruise on an authentic sternwheeler and a Gold Mine Tour with a hearty miner’s lunch included. The evening is yours to spend at your own leisure.
 FairbanksFairbanks emanates a quality of light, energy and warmth found nowhere else on Earth. The northern lights will change you, while the summer midnight sun charms you. Greet the Arctic wilderness on our doorstep or be amazed by our magnificent neighbor, Denali. Be transported into our gold rush past or engaged in the art and culture of our vibrant and diverse city. Though the economy has evolved over the last century, Fairbanks still remembers its origins. Italian immigrant Felix Pedro's initial 1902 gold strike coincided with Captain E.T. Barnette's goal of building a trading post on the banks of the Chena River and the gold rush to Fairbanks was on. Spend some time at the North Pole with Santa or visit the Chena hot Springs or the Ice Museum. Make your journey into the heart of the Last Frontier and experience the light, energy and warmth found only in Fairbanks, Alaska. |
June 8: Fairbanks to Denali National Park
Travel to Denali National Park by Princess rail service. Check into the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge for an afternoon and evening at leisure. Stop by the Tour Desk to learn about optional excursions.
 Princess RailRelax and view the scenic beauty of a ride in a deluxe private dome railcar attached to the Alaska Railroad. Sit back and enjoy the large picture windows. Your railcar's dedicated Car Manager will be your guide during your trip. Accompanying the live narration is a satellite-triggered audio system which will chime in when particular points of interest are passed. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife and magnificent views of Mt. McKinley. Three hours into the trip marks one of the most spectacular views of McKinley, and if the weather is good the train will slow to allow passengers to snap a few photos. North of Talkeetna you will cross the startling 918-foot Hurricane Gulch trestle, towering 296 feet above the creek below. Be sure to have your camera ready, as this is one of the route's best photo opportunities. Before arriving at Denali Park you will pass though Broad Pass, the highest point on the Alaska Railroad at 2,363 feet. Enjoy the great view from your second level dome seat. |
June 9: Denali National Park
Enjoy a morning Natural History Tour into the park. The rest of the day is free for relaxing at the lodge or to take optional excursions.
 Denali National ParkDiscover the best of what Denali has to offer. Larger than the state of Massachusetts, Denali National Park and Preserve is six million acres of pristine wilderness. Mt. McKinley, at 20,320 feet, dominates the park when visible. The varied terrain includes crystal clear rivers, mountain lakes, expansive tundra, alpine meadows, sweeping vistas and abundant wildlife. Spend time stream fishing, see the wonders of Denali by helicopter or even enjoy a horse drawn covered wagon ride. |
June 10: Denali to Mt. McKinley
Travel by motor coach to the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Spend your evening enjoying the lodge this evening.
 Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness LodgeFrom the moment you arrive at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge in Denali State Park, you know you're somewhere special. Located south of the National Park on the banks of the Chulitna River, this Alaska lodge is a true wilderness retreat with a host of recreational activities, exceptional amenities and awesome views of Mt. McKinley. Plan a day trip into Talkeenta on our daily shuttle service for only $10 roundtrip or relax on the deck at the lodge after a walk on one of our many hiking trails. Our premiere wilderness lodge has it all! This comfy Alaska lodge invites the ultimate relaxation experience. Each of the guest rooms is nestled peacefully on a hillside in this wilderness getaway. Relax in comfort and style in rooms with two double beds, lofty, nine-foot ceilings with fans, a sitting area, a television and telephones. In the main lodge there's a room so spectacular we've named it The Great Room. An irresistible haven with an impressive stone fireplace, The Great Room features cozy sitting areas, tables for card and board games, and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range -- with one of the most inspirational views of The Mountain found anywhere. Your Alaska lodge experience isn't complete until you've gazed on this scenic expanse! |
June 11: Mt. McKinley to Kenai
This morning, travel by motor coach to the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge for a 2-night retreat. You will have all afternoon and evening to explore the area and plan optional excursions.
 Kenai PenisulaWhile it can be hard to leave the cozy romance of our Wilderness Lodge, the great outdoors offer its own scenic appeal. The Kenai River is not only famous for its dazzling blue-green hues, but also as a haven for accomplished and novice anglers alike. The Tour Desk is staffed with Princess professionals who arrange fishing tours on the Kenai River -- famous for its trophy-sized fish -- plus river rafting, flightseeing, nature hikes, wildlife viewing cruises through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park and more! Part of the allure of the Kenai Peninsula is that you never know what you might see. Tour Kenai Fjords National Park for a glimpse of its impressive ecosystem, or go river rafting, horseback riding, or one of our many other activities. |
June 12: Kenai
Enjoy a full day at leisure. Choose one of the many optional excursions such as fishing or hiking. Or, just relax on the deck overlooking the beautiful Kenai River.
June 13: Kenai to Whittier
Relax this morning before boarding a motor coach to Whittier and your awaiting ship. Embark and sail this evening. Island Princess sets sail at 8:30 pm
June 14: Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising) 3:00PM – 8:00PM
| Hubbard Glacier Hubbard Glacier is a tidewater glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska and the Yukon Territory of Canada. From its source in the Yukon, the glacier stretches 122 km (76 mi) to the sea at Yakutat Bay and Disenchantment Bay. Named in 1890 after Gardiner G. Hubbard (regent of the Smithsonian Institution and first president of the National Geographic Society), it is the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska, with an open calving face over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) wide. |
June 15: Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) 10:30PM – 8:30PM
 Glacier BayGlacier Bay, the body of water, covers an area 1,375 square miles (3,560 km2) of glaciers and accounts for 27% of the Park area. It was a large single glacier of solid ice till early 18th century. It started retreating and evolved over the centuries into the largest protected water area park in the world. Glacier Bay, on the Gulf of Alaska, was known as the Grand Pacific Glacier about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) thick and about 20 miles (32 km) in width which has since then, over the last more than 200 years retreated by 65 miles (105 km) to the head of the bay at Tarr Inlet, and in this process left separate 20 other glaciers in its trail. In 1890, the name “Glacier Bay” as such was given to the bay by Captain Lester A. Beardslee of the U.S. Navy. It was first proclaimed a U.S. National Monument on February 25, 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge. |
June 16: Skagway, Alaska 7:00AM – 8:30PM
 SkagwaySkagway is situated at the northern end of the south east Alaska’s Inside passage. Its from here that the prospectors in search of their fortunes set out in search of the Klondike gold fields. Three men were responsible for originally discovering gold - George Washington Carmack and his pals Jim Skookum and Charlie Tagish. Once the news was out, there was no stopping the swarms of prospectors who descended on the settlement. The reason for its popularity was because Skagway afforded easy access to the gold fields via two main trails - the Chilkoot Trail and the White Pass Trail. Captain William Moore discovered the White Pass trail and decided to build a town at the mouth of the bay. The first steamship docked at "Moore Wharf" in the summer of 1896. Local miners changed the name from Mooresville to Skagua, a Tlingit word meaning "windy place". It was a 600 mile trek from Skagway to the gold fields and many thousands of men lost their lives in search for gold. Then in 1889 a railroad was built over the White Pass, making access much easier. It is said out of over 100,000 men who set out, only 4,000 actually found gold, 100 or so became rich, and only a handful managed to keep their fortune. This small town owes it popularity to it's past. This "Living Museum" atmosphere is evident in the downtown historical district where over 60 gold rush buildings now come under the jurisdiction of the "Klondike Goldrush Park". |
June 17: Juneau, Alaska 3:00PM – 8:00PM
 JuneauJuneau was put on the map as a result of the discovery of gold, which brought the settlement prosperity. Gold prospectors Richard T Harris, and Joseph Juneau discovered gold nuggets the size of beans and peas in the mouth of Gold Creek in August 1880. News spread fast and the town grew as a center for hard rock mining. In its heyday, three great mills were in operation producing 20,000 tons of ore daily - the most successful low grade hard rock mining in the world. In 1917 disaster struck when portions of the Treadwell tunnels caved in and flooded the mine.  This was to be the beginning of the end of the mining industry, and when World War II came, the government closed down the final mill as a manpower conservation matter. Juneau had diversified sufficiently by then, and was experiencing a war boom; government had all but jilted the economic void, and today the folk of Juneau either live off the government, of live off the civil servants who do. Today Alaska’s capital is a city of contrasts offering small town charm and cosmopolitan atmosphere; high rises tower above twisty narrow streets and frontier shop fronts. The cities coastline extends over 40 miles, the "longest city in the world" and it has as area of 3,108 square miles, making it the biggest town size in all of North and South America. As a state capital, it is unique in that it cannot be reached by road. |
June 18: Ketchikan, Alaska 10:00AM – 6:00PM
 KetchikanKetchikan is situated on the Western coastline of Revillagigedo Island, which belongs to the vast island group called the Alexander Archipelago. It’s known as Alaska's first, or gateway city as it is literally at the first stop northbound along the Alaska's inside passage. Originally the area was settled by a Tongass tribe of Tlingits who fished salmon in Ketchikan Creek. Ketchikan was so called after the name of one of those early Tlingit Indian settlers - kitschk. It wasn’t until 1885 that white man discovered Ketchikan when the Pacific Coast Steamship Company began excursions to south east Alaska. Industry was established with the opening of Ketchikan's first cannery in 1887. The town grew little until 1900 when gold was discovered, and in the mining industry proved to be the main attraction of the settlement. In the 1930's and 40's Ketchikan earned the reputation as "Salmon Capital of the World." Ketchikan’s other main money earner apart from tourism was and still is timber. The Ketchikan spruce mill is Alaska's oldest manufacturer, and today most of the timber is loaded onto lumber ships and destined for Japan. Today Ketchikan, is Alaska's fourth largest city with a population of approximately 15,000. The locals describe Ketchikan as 5 miles long, 4 blocks wide, and 2 blocks up Deer Mountain. It is famous nowadays for three things; totem poles, the fishing industry, and as a jumping off point for exploring Misty Fjords National Monument. It also rains a lot in Ketchikan. A sunny day is rare and should be considered a bonus in Ketchikan. |
June 19: A Day at Sea
June 20: Vancouver
After breakfast we will disembark our ship and off to the airport for our flight home with lasting memories of our journey.
Pricing:
- Rates are based on twin sharing per person
- CRUISE ONLY
- Other categories available
- Single and triple rates available, please enquire
Island Princess Staterooms:
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Category "I" Inside Stateroom
Category "EE" Oceanview Stateroom
Category "BC" Balcony Stateroom
Category "AC" Mini SuiteOur Ship - Island Princess:
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The Island Princess brings vibrant new dynamics to "Love Boat" cruising. (The ship, after all, does have a name to live up to. She succeeds the TV show's original floating star, the former Island Princess.) Luckily for romantics, there's almost never a crowded feel, even with 1,970 passengers aboard. There are lots of nooks for sunning, reading or sipping cocktails. Even the main dining rooms are cleverly divided into small spaces. Personal Choice Dining is all the rage, and for good reason. Passengers get to choose when, where and with whom they dine, 24/7. Meals and snacks are available round-the-clock in the Horizon Court. This casual restaurant, located forward on Deck 14, offers a buffet at any time, except for the hours of 11:00 pm to 4:00 am when there's a Bistro menu with table service. Other casual options are a poolside pizza counter and a grill, both open 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Room service is available 24 hours a day. |
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Additional Costs:
- Domestic/International Airfare to Fairbanks, AK and return from Vancouver, BC (As we are a full service travel agency, we can assist you with airfare from your home city.)
- Medical and Personal Insurances (baggage, cancellation, etc.)
- Passports (required for Canadian Citizens)
- Tips and Gratuities on-board the Island Princess and for local guides
- Alcoholic beverages and bar beverages
(soft drinks), laundry & personal charges - Meals on land portion of tour
- All optional excursions or deviations from the itinerary
- Items of personal nature and souvenirs
Deposit:
- 20% of Cruise Tour Rate per person upon booking
- Balance due on March 19, 2012
Cancellation Charges:
Once a deposit has been paid the following scale of cancellation charges will apply: (Note that insurance premiums, once paid, are non-refundable).- Cancellation notice received more than 75 - 57 days of less to departure - Loss of deposit
- Cancellation notice received more than 56 - 29 days prior to departure - 50% of total cost
- Cancellation notice received 28 - 16 days prior to departure – 75% of total cost
- Cancellation notice received 15 days or less – 100% NON refundable
Travel Broker Tours would be happy to assist you in arranging flights from your home to join us!
For more information or to register for this tour please contact Denise Johnson at:
Travel Broker Tours
A division of The Travel Broker & Cruise Centre
1758 Bath Road Kingston, ON Canada
Telephone: 613-389-7914 or 1-800-387-7678
Email: denise@thetravelbroker.ca
Web: www.thetravelbroker.ca
