Cruising Alaska by Ferry

For the do-it-yourself, independent traveler who is looking for a saltwater cruise with world-class scenery, authentic wildlife, varied ports and wide-ranging excursions --- without the pomp and circumstance of a traditional cruise – Alaska’s “marine highway” route of modern ferries is well worth considering. Here’s a brief overview of where the ships go and what you’ll see.

Here's an all-Alaskan suggestion for cruisers who would like to:
travel at their own pace
choose their own ports-of-call,
lay over in any port for as many days as they desire,
travel with Alaskan locals,
have the option to bring along the family RV or auto, and
cruise to Alaska one way and drive home by highway.
If this sounds good to you, Alaska's state-owned ferries may be just the ticket for one of life's most memorable cruise vacations. The Alaska Marine Highway System, as it is called, is composed of 11 modern ferryliners, all with motor vehicle decks, observation lounges, and food service. Most have cabins and cocktail bars. The ferries cruise Southeast Alaska's protected Inside Passage waterways in a region speckled with more than a thousand big and tiny islands, alpine and sea-level glaciers, imposing snow-capped mountains, lush forests, and picturesque towns and villages. They serve, as well, the glacier-rich waters of southcentral Alaska's Prince William Sound.
Passengers with or without vehicles may embark from Bellingham, Washington for Alaska's southernmost port, Ketchikan, or they can embark from Canada's Prince Rupert, which is British Columbia's northernmost port community. (Motorists can reach Prince Rupert via BC's modern highway network or by BC Ferries; see below.) Once they arrive in Southeast Alaska passengers can lay over along the way as long as they wish in the panhandle's major port cities -- Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway-- or they can connect via smaller off-line ferries to more remote towns and villages. Larger stateroom-equipped vessels of the fleet are the Columbia (931 passengers), Matanuska (745), Malaspina (701), Taku (370), and Kennicott (748) -- all of which serve the Southeast Alaska panhandle. Depending on the season, one or two ships extend their range on weekly schedules to/from Bellingham. The others turn around at Prince Rupert.
The Kennicott connects Southeast port cities to Southcentral Alaska destinations Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier via the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound. The 220-passenger Tustumena, another stateroom-equipped ferry, sails regularly from ports on the Kenai Peninsula to Kodiak and (less frequently) westward along the Aleutian Islands chain as far as Unalaska Dutch Harbor.
Smaller ships, operating "bush" routes from mainline ports to smaller towns and villages are Aurora (300), LeConte (300), and Lituya (149). Newest additions to the AMHS fleet are the Juneau-based sleek catamaran Fairweather (250) and a similar sized double-hulled sister ship, Chenega.
Here's another option: If you want to mix a little "foreign" travel into your plans you can book passage from highway-accessible Port Hardy on the northern end of British Columbia's Vancouver Island and sail BC Ferries' Queen of the North to Prince Rupert. More information and schedules at http://www.bcferries.com.
Family Travel by FerryIf you're interested in taking the whole family on a cruise through Inside Passage waters, the Alaska Marine Highway System is made-to-order. Depending on which vessel you're aboard youngsters will find onboard play areas, casual meals and snack bars for any age, movies, and nature talks by U.S. Forest Service naturalists plus expansive glass-enclosed solariums. These are ideal for spotting orcas (killer whales), humpback whales, playful porpoises and sea lions in the water plus mountain goats on towering cliffsides. The fortunate observer may well observe black and brown (grizzly) bears on passing beaches. Everywhere you'll see soaring eagles.
British Columbia's provincial ferry system, BC Ferries, demonstrates its kid-friendliness even before a family boards ship. Computer-savvy children or their parents have only to surf the web to http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/kidzone/establishing_shot.html and they will meet cartoon characters Samantha ("Call me Sam") and Cal, two seagoing canine characters who introduce young viewers to three online activities - an electronic coloring book, a "Match the Ferries" memory game, and a virtual bridge tour. Alaska ferry schedules are posted at the system's website (http://www.FerryAlaska.com). Printed schedules may be ordered from the website or by phone at the Reservations office 1-800-642-0066. Fares and schedules are posted on the internet and are usually available in mid-December of each year.
For a more comprehensive look at cruising by ferry in Alaska, plus information about all the cruiselines and cruiseships scheduled for the Alaska trade during 2006, visit www.AlaskaCruisingReport.com,
Copyright (c) Mike Miller 2006 - All rights reserved

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alaskan travel writer Mike Miller lives in Juneau where his current passion is publishing an information-packed website about Alaska cruising and ferry travel: http://www.AlaskaCruisingReport.com. Miller has authored a number of travel books (Fodors, Sierra Club Books, Globe Pequot, The Milepost and others), contributes to TravelAge West (for travel agents) and frequently writes for major newspapers and magazines.

Andalucia, a Wonderful Holiday Destination.

Andalucia is a vast, beautiful area of Southern Spain only now being discovered by tourists.If you want to experience the "Real Spain" then take a trip to this magnificent and varied area.

The Costa del Sol has long been one of the most popular holiday destinationsin southern Europe, and quite rightly so as it has much to offer in the formof reliable sunshine, beautiful safe beaches, good restaurants and nightlife,good quality and affordable accommodation along with plentiful and cheap flightsfrom a vast choice of airports. However The Costa del Sol is only a very smallpart of the wonderful Autonomous Region of Andalucia.
Rural tourism has opened up this superb area of southern europe and it isnow possible to rent a villa in many outstanding and remote areas hithertoo unexplored by the vast majority of tourists. To a large extent the countryside has been unspoilt by the recent developments along the Costasand there are still many out of the way and remote areas to explore. In recognition of this several new air routes have now been opened up with very reasonable flights into both Jerez and Granada airports.
The white villages, or "Pueblos Blancos" are a good starting point as in the mainlife goes on in them much as it has done for centuries. Casares, Gaucin, Benaojen,Estacion de Cortes, Cortes de la Frontera, to name but a few, are all delightful places to spend a few hours ambling around, marvelling at the architecture, the slow unchanging pace of life and sampling the various tapas bars. During the summer months every village holds a tradtionalferia with music and dancing in the streets all night long.
Andlaucia is of course the home of Flamenco dancing and bull fighting. The oldestbullring in Spain is to be found at Ronda, and whatever your feelings areon this rather emotive sport it is an interesting building to visit as is the adjacent museum. The old part of the town is also a lovely place to visitwith its amazing Tajo ( gorge) and wealth of old buildings. A train ridefrom one of the white villages further down country such as Jimena or Gaucin,is a lovely way to arrive at Ronda as the train passes through some beautifulcountryside not visable from the road.It also continues on uptoGranada which is a must for any visitor to Andalucia with its stunningAlhambra Palace, old gypsey quarter and many other places of interest.
The wildlife in Andalucia is amongst the best now left in Europe with an astonishing array of birds, both resident and migrant, it is particuarlywell blessed with birds of prey such as Griffon and Eygptian Vultures,Bonnelli's and Booted Eagles,Peregrine falcons, Red and Black Kites, to namebut a few. These magnificent birds are a common site soaring majestically above the mountain ranges of Andalucia. It is also home to wild boar, mongeese and genetsmost of which are not particuarly well appreciated by the local populationas they do alot of damage to gardens and live stock, however they are all now protected by law. In the spring the countryside puts on a stunning display of wild flowers, some of which are now quite rare in other parts ofEurope.
There is much unspoilt countryside where one is quite at liberty to walkand camp, just being careful with fires in the dry summer months. Whilst official footpaths and signposting are rather limited there are few real restrictions as to where you can wander as long as you just use common sensewith regard to rubbish, fires etc. However always take water with youas you can easily find yourself in the middle of nowhere with no naturalsource of water nearby.
So take a holiday away from all the hustle and bustle, rent a private villa,hire a car and just enjoy exploring this delightful region of Spain.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Article submitted by Ruth Polak the owner of http://www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com A web site specializing in holiday villas and apartments on the Costa del Sol and in Rural Andalucia. You will also find lots of information about Spain and Andalucia, in particular.