Spotlight on Denali National Park

Alaska - Nature's Air Conditioner

This week, we’re taking a look at Alaska and Grand voyages but we’ll get to the Grand Voyage a little further down this article.

Now if you’re anything like my father…a resident of the frozen north, you are probably thinking “why would I waste precious hot summer sun to go somewhere that will feel like hanging out in my refrigerator?”

Goodness gracious, it’s for the views! It’s the breathtaking type of beauty that everyone should experience at least once. Oh, and by the way, it does warm up in Alaska; Juneau’s typical weather for the summer months sits at an average of 63 degrees Fahrenheit, that’s 17.2 degrees for the Celsius folk.

Now, you will still want to bring a nice vest or jacket to keep you warm. You’ll want to be warm and comfortable when cruising Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord, after all, you will be surrounded by ice. Let’s call it nature’s air conditioner!

The general rule of thumb for packing for a Denali Alaska CruiseTour is to dress in layers. When it comes to Alaska, it is most definitely function over style, which mean if you have those convertible cargo pants/shorts, wear them! As you travel inland from the coastal glaciers, you may face some warmer weather so wear a t-shirt along with something with long sleeves to keep you warm. Compared to Juneau on the coast, Denali can warm up to 77 degrees F (or 25 degrees C). Remember it’s always easier to shed a few layers versus enviously watching other members of your group who dressed more accordingly.

Denali National Park is the perfect tour to compliment your cruise. The journey getting to Denali is often just as wonderful as the park, with cruise lines offering a scenic ride by train or motor coach.  Denali’s star attraction is the mighty Mount McKinley. It is the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet high. The national park is also a wilderness preserve which means you’ll see more trees than you can shake a stick at (pun always intended!) and many opportunities for spotting some caribou, Dall sheep, moose and many other species of animals and birds, including the majestic bald eagle.

Escape the urban sprawl and take time to visit Denali National Park to truly appreciate the beauty of nature and all of its creatures. Its quiet enough out there you’ll actually be able to hear yourself think!

Already been to Alaska? Looking for something a little more GRAND?

WORLD CRUISES AND GRAND VOYAGES are not just about longer sailings.  They are aptly named when Holland America Line describes them as ‘Grand’ - some of the synonyms of the word ‘grand’ are:  all encompassing; entire; fine; impressive; splendid; luxurious; and a world cruise or grand voyage is all of these things.  Whether on a premium or luxury Cruise Line, the service and amenities are bumped up a notch from the Cruise Line’s normal superior service.

Some of the additional benefits you can expect on a world or grand voyage:

• Prominent Exploration Speakers and Entertainment
• Theme Balls and Dinners
• Commemorative gifts of your voyage
• Welcoming entertainment at ports
• Superior menus
• Extraordinary service
• Upscale ambience

World and Grand Voyages can be over 100 days, but usually comprise several shorter segments, which combined make the grand total.  So even if your lifestyle does not allow you to cruise for 100+ days you can still experience the benefits of a World Cruise by booking one of the individual segments. 

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