A seven-night cruise in Alaska’s spectacular Inside Passage on ms Volendam, a six-night rail-tour from Calgary to Vancouver aboard Canada’s famous Rocky Mountaineer train, one-night hotel stays in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, with a two-night stay in Vancouver.
Those choice attractions, complete with flights from Australia to Calgary and return from Vancouver, form the heart of ‘Canada Rail and Alaska Sail’, a new 13-night fly-cruise-and-tour holiday from Worldwide Cruise Centres (worldwidecruisecentres.com.au).
‘Canada Rail and Alaska Sail’ is available from A$7199 twin share per person, valid at that rate until 30 November 2015, unless sold out earlier.
The holiday begins on 28 April 2016 with a flight from Australia to Calgary and transfer to Banff, where local activities include canoeing, mountain hiking or just relaxing and taking in some of the world’s finest views.
Your Canadian tour begins with a half-day tour of Yoho National Park, the Spiral Tunnels (an engineering marvel), Emerald Lake and a natural rock bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River. At Lake Louise, much of the afternoon is free to enjoy this magnificent location. Your hotel: the celebrated Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Next day, a sightseeing tour of Banff and Jasper National Parks includes a visit to vast Columbia Icefield (nearly 325 square kilometres) to ride the Ice Explorer on the mighty Athabasca Glacier.
Overnight in Jasper, then all aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train for a scenic rail journey to Kamloops in the interior of British Columbia, through the river valleys of the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Travel is in SilverLeaf Service, with two breakfasts and two lunches served aboard.
After a night’s stay in Kamloops, founded as trading outpost, the rail journey continues past the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in Fraser Canyon and follows the mighty Thompson River, the route of early fur traders. The destination is Vancouver, where you’ll stay downtown at the Pinnacle Hotel, or similar.
A day at leisure in Vancouver (entry to Vancouver Lookout is included) gives time to explore this elegant and sophisticated city before next day’s embarkation on ms Volendam. The cruise heads through pristine waters, passing mountains, fjords and forested islands. This is Alaska’s Inside Passage at its finest.
In the Tracy Arm Fjord region, your first stop, black and brown bears, deer and wolves roam while birds such as arctic terns soar overhead. Humpbacks and Orcas are among the whales that frequent these seas. You’ll visit the historic town of Juneau, the Klondike gold-rush settlement of Skagway and the justly world-famous Glacier Bay, with 16 tidewater glaciers plunging into glittering fjords. The settlement of Ketchikan is a delight: totem poles proliferate and many houses have winding wooden staircases and are built on stilts out over the water.
Aboard ms Volendam, a bonus US$50 in free onboard credit applies, per twin cabin. The ship is known for flowers, fine dining and the artwork aboard, which runs from pre-Columbian sculptures to Renaissance-era Italian fountains. In the evening, when sightseeing is over, there’s time to explore the lounges, bars, Lido Pool and Frans Hals Show Lounge.
Dining aboard MS Volendam can involve five-course menus or you can opt for vegetarian or low-carb choices. Whatever you choose, it comes with impeccable service and an extensive wine list. All shipboard main meals (excluding speciality restaurants) are included.
Disembarking in Vancouver, one last look at Canada before jetting back home to Australia.
To find your local Worldwide Cruise Centres agent go to: www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au
SOURCE: Worldwide Cruise Centres