Alaska - 2009 (Part One)

We recently had the privilege to join top travel industry executives on an 8-night sail from Vancouver to Alaska as part of the 13th annual CruiseOne National Conference. Celebrity Cruises hosted us with more than 300 other travel agents aboard the Celebrity Mercury for this unforgettable experience.

The Celebrity Mercury sailed September 14, 2008 for Ketchikan, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Hubbard Glacier; Sitka, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington. The conference, themed “Xperts in Cruising,” offered extensive training opportunities for in-depth training in luxury, group and particularly Alaska travel. The trip also included a check presentation and $6,000 donation to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, Alaska, courtesy of CruiseOne and Celebrity Cruises. Executives from all major cruise lines, as well as destination convention and visitor bureaus and tour operators, attended this highly regarded event.

If you have not ever been to Alaska you are missing the trip of a lifetime and if you have already been to Alaska, now is the time to think about going again.

Alaska is one of the premier destinations in these United States. The combination of breathtaking scenery, fabulous wildlife and friendly Alaskans, make this state a must-experience for residents of the “Lower 48” and Hawaii. And you can’t forget the abundance of fresh wild salmon and halibut. Do you like to fish? Fishing licenses are easily attainable on-line or at certain fishing sites and you can use it the same day. There are opportunities to pack and ship your fresh catch back to the states or even, in some cases, have them cooked and served while you are there. How about whale watching, seeing salmon swim upstream or a trip on the Alaska Railroad? Ever see Bald Eagles in their natural habitat? How about learning the history and hearing the stories that are communicated through the totem poles? Wouldn’t it be fun to pan for gold? These are but small tastes of the many activities and experiences that you can come into contact with, not to mention a taste of the local history and heritage. Bored? Never! – Young and Old will savor this experience!

Most people begin with a 7-night cruise and that is a great way to start. So many cruise ships make Alaska their home during the summer months and you can choose from just cruising to places such as Juneau, the state capital, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. You will also visit sites such as Glacier Bay State Park or the Hubbard Glacier where people cheer as they witness the spectacle of glaciers calving. Cruises traditionally start from Seattle, Vancouver or Seward/Whittier.

Better yet is to add a cruise tour that will take you to Anchorage or Fairbanks before or after the cruise and then to wonderful locations such as Denali National Park, Mount McKinley, Copper River, Talkeetna and other sites not available from the cruise ship. The “high season” is summertime, between June and August but May and September are also great times to visit. Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Lines are amongst those with a steady presence in Alaska and commitments to the ecology in that region. We will be happy to walk you through the many alternatives for travel to that region. This is a wonderful opportunity for a fun, but also educational family experience. Children love it! Itineraries are available for 2009 and filling rapidly as interest in Alaska continues to grow.

For those of you who wish to experience even more options at different times of year, there are also ample opportunities for land excursions before, during or after the cruise ship season.
The State Sport is Dog Mushing. Per Wikipedia, “Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow.” On the first Saturday of March, the most famous dog mushing race with which we are probably familiar, the Iditarod begins. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual sled dog race in Alaska, where mushers and teams of typically 16 dogs cover 1,161 miles (1868 km) in eight to fifteen days from Willow to Nome. Why not visit Anchorage in early March and expereince the ceremonial start that occurs in the city every year. Spend a week and enjoy the many attractions in that area. The average high at that time of year is about 34 degrees with very little precipitation (that is why the Iditerod does not start there). Living in the desert of Arizona, you can imagine that I am not someone who likes cold weather but it’s really worth the trip and I’m ready to go. (Brad wants to know “who am I and what have I done to his wife?”)

As I mentioned earlier, a cruise allows you to get just a small taste of this magnificent state but there is so much more. After three trips to Alaska, we can’t wait to return to see more.

After several presentations at conference that immersed us in the many options available in our 49th state we have seen a wealth of possibilities for travel there by land or sea. So what do you want to experience on your next vacation and what are you waiting for? I’ll be willing to bet that Alaska is for you and we are here to make your dream a reality.

MEET OUR FRIEND - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

We have cruised with another couple for the past four years. Two years ago, while on a Baltic/Scandinavia/Russia cruise, we stopped in Copenhagen, Denmark where we met our travel companion’s brother Richard Karpen. Richie took us on a walking tour of Copenhagen where we saw, among other things, the classic sculpture of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid. Although we knew that Richard was a tour guide we didn’t know just how seriously he took it.

This year we learned a lot more about Denmark, the city of Copenhagen and about Richard. He first came to Copenhagen almost twenty years ago met and pursued a love interest and later became a part time transplant. He spends his summers (May through September) there and his winters in a warm country in South America.

Each summer Richie conducts very affordable tours of many of the highlights of his adopted city. You may join him for English speaking guided walks to various parts of the historic city center where, along with seeing the main sights of the city, you can learn about Copenhagen, Denmark, The Danes and of course, Hans Christian Andersen. These tours include:

· Castles and Kings - (Walking Tours Monday and Thursday Mornings)
· Royal Copenhagen - (Walking Tours Tuesday and Friday Mornings)
· Romantic Copenhagen - (Walking Tours Wednesday and Saturday Mornings)
· Rosenborg Castle and Royal Treasuries - (Castle Tours Monday and Thursday Afternoons)
· National Museum – (By Special Arrangement Only)
· Private Tours and Dinner Visits– (By Special Arrangement Only)

What makes Richard’s walking tours most interesting is that he does them in authentic 19th-century fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen’s attire of top hat and long coat. When guiding tours of the Rosenberg Castle, Hans becomes transformed to Sir Richard of Rosenborg. Not only does he dress the part, he constantly researches his subjects and is extremely knowledgeable on both Hans and Copenhagen. His knowledge of his subjects is not at all superficial; he knows them in great depth. When he is at the Rosenborg Castle, staff and other visitors listen to his narration and gain more insight. While we were on one of the tours a passerby actually addressed him as Mr. Andersen. Not only does Richie, excuse me, Hans know all about Denmark, his adopted city of Copenhagen and Hans Christian Andersen, he also knows a lot about very good authentic Danish food and where to get it.

During the average tour of about 90 minutes Hans presents his city, its history and architecture. The viewings include the inside as well as the outside of many of the buildings and landmarks of Copenhagen. The tours not only include Copenhagen’s important buildings, alleys, canals, statues, squares and courtyards, they also include historical insights into many of Denmark’s notable people such as kings, queens and other famous personalities as well as its economy, customs and habits.

Richard has a love of music and plays several instruments and is an accomplished sitar player. Through appreciation of music came a love of dance where he has studied classical Indian dance and now studies Tango.

To learn more about Richard, Hans and Sir Richard at Rosenborg Castle, take a look at:

http://www.copenhagenwalks.com

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/scan/karpen.htm

Slightly Off the Beaten Track (Part 2 of 5)

Have you cruised to all of the usual ports of call? Are you tired of the same old islands? Would you like to do something just a little different? Say a cruise to some place that is slightly off the beaten track. Well, this series of blog postings will give you a few ideas.

Would you consider cruising the Panama Canal? What about the San Blas Islands? I had the privilege of working in Panama for a while and then periodically making management visits to the Isthmus over a number of years. During that time I spent a lot of time at or near the “Ditch”. Back then I could truthfully say that I watched the sun set over the Pacific and had never been west of Chicago. Since my work there included offices at both ends of the canal, my visits included many rides on the Panama Railroad which runs along the canal. My interest in and fascination with the canal has never diminished. The engineering marvels designed into the canal in the very early twentieth century were amazing then and still are. Although it runs between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the water in the canal itself is fresh water fed from rainwater accumulated in lakes and fed by rivers.

Visiting the canal can be accomplished in two manners, from the Atlantic side into and back out of Gatun Lake or traversing the entire canal which is the most interesting and scenic crossing. More details on traversing the canal later.

Let’s take a look at how these voyages are made. Cruises to Panama and San Blas usually start in either Southern Florida or California while the shorter canal transits are usually part of a Western Caribbean cruise and limited to going through the three Gatun locks into Gatun Lake and vice versa. While the ships are at Gatun Lake time permits boarding the Panama Railroad at Colon and crossing the Isthmus into Panama City. This is a very interesting ride and passengers are able to see the towns and points of interest along the way. Guided tours enable passengers to see highlights of the city as well as the former Canal Zone. And, there is, of course, time for shopping.

Trans-canal cruises usually take place as part of ship repositioning when ships are being moved from Europe and the Caribbean to Alaska and the Far East for that season and vice versa.

While transiting or traversing the canal you will see locomotives or “mules” that are designed not so much to move the ships through the canal but, more importantly, to slow them down and to keep them in a straight line through the locks so they don’t bump the sides. The canal is now on its third generation of mules. The first was built in Schenectady, New York in 1914 by General Electric (Pictured at Left) and the latest by Mitsubishi of Japan (Pictured at Right). When traversing the canal your general direction is East/West but, because the canal is at the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama and the way it curves, you actually travel North/South.

Panama City is on the southern or Pacific side of the canal as is its former Canal Zone counterpart, Balboa. On the Atlantic or northern side are Colon and its former Canal Zone counterpart, Cristobal. Panama City is very urban and well developed while Colon primitive and focuses mainly on industry and support of canal vessels.

What is probably the most interesting part of a trans-canal cruise is a visit to Panama’s San Blas Islands. If desirous of going there, you must check the ship’s itinerary since only a limited number of ships stop there. This is where you will encounter one of the oldest indigenous populations in the Western Hemisphere. About 37,000 Kuna (Cuna) Indians have inhabited areas of the isthmus and the 365 San Blas Islands for thousands of years. These people have chosen to reject today’s ways and to live as their ancestors did. The San Blas Islands archipelago runs along the coast of the Isthmus. About 36 of the islands are inhabited by Kuna communities with an additional 13 communities located on the mainland coast, for a total of 49 communities. The 924 square mile Kuna Yala or territory is an autonomous area in Panama and divided into three caciques or regions. Although Spanish is spoken, the primary language of the region is Kuna. Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first Governor of Panama was married to the daughter of a Kuna cacique or chieftain.

Life in a Kuna village is very simple and somewhat primal. They are usually located at the mouth of a river where fresh water is abundant. Homes are huts constructed of wooden sticks or bamboo with thatched roofs constructed in only a few days by members of the community.

Being a matriarchal society, Kuna women are in charge of the families’ monetary resources and are often seen wearing gold earrings, nose rings, bracelets and necklaces. Families consist of many children some of whom attend community schools. The Kuna economy is mainly self supporting and they exist on what they grow, catch or make. Locally grown corn, pineapples, mangos and some root vegetables are eaten as are locally raised animals and an abundance of fish. They also import bananas and rice. Kunas are very good businessmen and their trading is based on the exchange of coconuts, lobsters and giant crabs. Kuna trade partners are Colombian trade boats (for coconuts) and Panama City restaurants (for lobsters & crabs).

One of the primary exports from Kuna Yala are Molas. These are brightly-colored examples of artistic expression designed and handmade by Kuna Indians even today. They consist of a number of different colors of cloth laid one top of another, the maker then cuts down through the various layers of fabric forming primitive yet spectacular designs of natural, mythological or geometric figures. These layers are then sewn with incredibly small and perfect stitches. "Mola" means blouse, and a Kuna woman usually makes a pair with related, but not necessarily identical motifs, which are then attached to the front and back of her blouse. They usually measure 16 x13 Inches each. Different, attractive, decorative, Ingenious, unique, are some of the words to describe this art form.

We have several framed molas in our home and they can be viewed as would a picture. I had an aunt who collected figurines, pictures and other representations of clowns. I had a pair of Clown Molas made just for her. When she passed away we inherited the molas and they are now part of our collection. When in San Blas you must consider buying one or more molas. As with the fine art they represent, they are to be viewed and enjoyed. When viewing a Mola think, what does it do, Is it alive, does it speak to me?

Although diving is not permitted in Kuna Yala, I would suggest you take along your bathing suit, fins and snorkel when visiting San Blas. The undersea flora and fauna are sights to behold.

Should you desire to take a photograph of a Kuna Indian, the usual tip is a dollar.

You need to Visit San Blas!

Slightly Off the Beaten Track (Part 1 of 5)

Have you cruised to all of the usual ports of call? Are you tired of the same old islands? Would you like to do something just a little different? Say a cruise to some place that is slightly off the beaten track. Well, this series of blog postings will give you a few ideas.

How about the Sea of Cortez for openers? You say, where in the world is the Sea of Cortez? It may be closer than you think. Have you done a Mexican Baja or Mexican Riviera cruise? If you can answer yes, you were almost there. The Sea of Cortez is the body of water between the Baja California Peninsula and the mainland of Mexico. It is also known as the Gulf of California. It’s right around the corner from Cabo San Lucas and up the road from Mazatlan. The Sea of Cortez is both remarkable and unique. Its waters can reveal dozens of shades of blue in one vista and there are more than 900 islands within those waters. Many of the islands are uncharted and most of them are uninhabited by humans.

Cruises going into the Sea are often extended Mexican Riviera cruises so, if you haven’t done the “Mex Riv,” here’s a two for one special. Arizona residents and visitors may be familiar with Rocky Point. It is located in the Sea of Cortez.

The Weather

The weather is mild and pretty tolerable year round. The dry season is from December to April. Squalls or "Chubascos" are common from July through October. Hurricanes rarely reach up into the Sea and there is only one recorded hit on Guaymas which is on the mainland side about half way up the Gulf. Temperatures can range from the high 50s in winter to 100+ at the height of summer. Spring is fantastic.

What to Do and See

Walking tours and shopping for local crafts Kayaking and fishing

Water Sports including - Diving - Snorkel and SCUBA

Large rays, Sea turtles and Sea lions, Dolphins and Whale watching

The islands in the sea of Cortez are home to major whale breeding grounds when migratory whales appear after their trips back from Arctic and Alaskan waters. The largest of these marine mammals, the blue whale, which reach up to about 110 feet and weigh more than 150 tons, are easiest to spot in the waters near Loreto.

If you can, you should go to Copper Canyon, the Mexican equivalent of the Grand Canyon. Excursions are available from both of the cruise lines discussed below.

How to Get There

The Holland America Ryndam combines 10 to 14 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera with a sojourn up into the Sea of Cortez. We have sold this cruise to one of our best clients and plan to take it within the next year ourselves.

Cruise West offers 8 day/7 night Round Trip from Cabo San Lucas and 12 Day/11 night Cabo San Lucas to Chihuahua cruises. These are aboard the Spirit of Yorktown and the Spirit of Endeavor.

If you might be interested in one of these cruises call us at 888.694.6475 or drop us an e-mail to AZCruisGuy@hotmail.com. Let's talk about possibilities!