Alaska Awaits You

Imagine you’re standing on the ship’s wraparound teak deck, looking out at Alaska’s majestic Glacier Bay. You pull one of the complimentary blankets around your shoulders to shield against the crisp weather and take another sip of hot chocolate. Right in front of you, enormous glaciers are “calving,” breaking ice into the sea, while humpback whales, orcas and sea lions swim below. It’s the experience of a lifetime. And it’s just one of many moments you’ll take away from an Alaska cruise with AAA Preferred Partner Holland America Line.

By day, experience exceptional excursions, including fishing outings in which you catch your dinner to be cooked by one of the ship’s gourmet chefs, flight-seeing over glaciers or visiting musher camps. In the evening, savor sumptuous meals made from local ingredients and enjoy entertainment by world-class musicians performed in a cozy setting. Later, retire to your elegant stateroom—most are ocean-facing, and many have teak-lined balconies from which to better enjoy the views.

Celebrate 75 years of adventure.

As Holland America Line marks its 75th anniversary of sailing to Alaska this year, it has a lot to celebrate. When you set sail on a Holland America Line Alaska cruise, you’re embarking on a best-in-class journey that is exemplary on every level, beginning with grandfathered rights that allow unequaled access to places like spectacular Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and priority docking locations in Juneau and Ketchikan.

The six Holland America Line ships that cruise to Alaska were custom-built to do so—they are small enough to fit into Glacier Bay and other ports, with 360-degree decks and open bows, ideal for taking in the magnificent scenery and viewing wildlife.

Explore Glacier Bay.

The best way to see glaciers is from a cruise ship. Many cruises spend just a day in Glacier Bay, while Holland America Line takes its time, pausing to take in views of the inlets, fjords and incredible scenery; slowly floating past Johns Hopkins Glacier, mile-wide Margerie Glacier and many others. While cruising in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Holland America Line partners with local experts, park rangers and local Huna Tlingit guides who provide insight into both the nature and the culture of the area. These onboard presentations by local experts are part of Holland America Line’s wide-ranging Explorations Central™ (EXC®) activities. Talks about migrating whales, for example, add context to whalewatching from the ship, as well as to shore excursions in smaller boats with guaranteed whale sightings near Juneau.

Extend your experience: Denali.

For those who would like to add unforgettable inland Alaska adventures to their seven-day Alaska Explorer cruise, Holland America Line offers Alaska Cruisetours extensions to Denali National Park & Preserve and to the Yukon. While passengers on board the ship have the chance to see animals such as bears and moose, and sea life as well, to truly encounter the wildlife of Alaska you’ll want to reserve the Denali extension. You take the McKinley Explorer train from Whittier or Anchorage to the McKinley Chalet Resort at the gates of Denali National Park & Preserve and the foot of towering Denali, the highest peak in North America. The extension can be booked for one, two or three nights; the two- and three-night options include a Tundra Wilderness Tour.

In the park, you’ll find the most sought-after Alaskan wildlife: grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and even bald eagles. Park vehicles for excursions are outfitted with high-tech cameras so that if a mother bear is out with her cub, the cameras can zoom in, offering a close-up look.

Venture to the Yukon.

Holland America Line is the only major cruise line to include the Yukon in its itineraries. If you’re a history buff or just interested in exploring more incredible scenery, vast wilderness and fascinating towns, consider adding the Yukon Land + Sea Journey as an Alaska Cruisetours extension to your trip. Explore Dawson City, which is steeped in Klondike history, complete with some wooden sidewalks and a restored paddle wheeler.

Holland America Line ships travel to Alaska from April through the end of September or the beginning of October. In spring, everything is green, and baby animals come out for the first time. As summer arrives, wildflowers bloom, and you’ll experience the midnight sun. In autumn, you have beautiful fall colors, and you see the bears feeding and bulking up for winter, getting ready to hibernate. The best time to go is when you have the most time to spend. Because after finishing a Holland America Line Alaska cruise, you’ll wish you had more time to explore this vast and wondrous place. Don’t worry—you can always come back.

AAA exclusive amenities on Holland America Line.

Enjoy specially crafted cruisetour experiences for AAA Members with Holland America Line:

• The perfect end to each day. Upgrade to one of McKinley Chalet Resort’s Denali Suites at a 50% discount. Spread out with more space, take in stunning views from your private balcony and slip into crisp sheets for a well-earned rest.
• Ride the historic railroad. Enjoy free lunch on board the privately owned McKinley Explorer. Travel from Anchorage to the gates of Denali National Park & Preserve in the comfort of a custom-made domed railcar.

Combinable with AAA Vacations® amenities:

• A $50 onboard spending credit per person (maximum two per stateroom, select departures)
• $50 in Denali Dollars per person for Alaska Land + Sea Journeys (Verandah staterooms and above, for first two guests in stateroom)
• 24/7 Member Care and Best Price Guarantee

AAA Members also receive:

• An additional $50 onboard spending credit per person (maximum two per stateroom)

AAA Member Benefits and AAA Vacations® amenities may change at any time. Visit AAA.com/HollandAmerica for full details or contact your AAA Travel Advisor.