Holland America Line is boosting its land-based options with the purchase of Alaska’s McKinley Chalets Hotel. IT’S part of what the cruise line is describing as “a fresh approach to the Alaska experience,” with the existing Holland America Alaska CruiseTour program to be rebranded as Land+Sea Journeys. The McKinley Chalets...
Holland America Line is
boosting its land-based options
with the purchase of Alaska’s
McKinley Chalets Hotel.
IT’S part of what the cruise line is describing
as “a fresh approach to the Alaska experience,”
with the existing Holland America Alaska
CruiseTour program to be rebranded as
Land+Sea Journeys.
The McKinley Chalets Hotel is located in
the stunning Denali National Park, with HAL
saying it will develop the property further for
inclusion in the Land+Seas Journeys programs
that combine an Alaska cruise with an
overland tour to the park.
The McKinley Chalets Resort features 345
rooms, fine and casual dining and an on-site
“dinner theatre” and encompasses more than
42 acres with walking trails and its own rafting
facilities.
Holland America already owns 26 acres
adjacent to the chalets, including 135 more
guest rooms which have been operated as part
of the hotel by current owner Aramark Sports
& Entertainment Services.
“Acquiring the McKinley Chalets Hotel
provides Holland America Line with great
potential for growth in Denali and enables
us to expand the appeal of our brand as a
leader in Alaska Travel,” said Holland America
president and ceo, Stein Kruse.
“This purchase will help us deliver the finest
destination resort and experience in Alaska at
the highlight on Land+Sea Journeys – Denali
National Park,” he added.
HAL has also announced renovations of its
existing hotels in Fairbanks, Whitehorse and
Skagway, with “extensive room updates” and
upgrades to soft goods and hotel decor.
The 2014 Land+Sea Journeys program will
offer more time in “marquee destinations”
with 12 options ranging from 10-20 days
including a 3-7 day cruise component.
A major enhancement is a new one-hour
flight between Fairbanks and Dawson City,
Yukon, replacing up to two days of coach travel
and a hotel overnight.
Revised departures for the McKinley Explorer
dome rail schedule between Anchorage
and Denali will maximise guest time in
both locations, while luxury coaches will be
introduced for travel between Denali and
Fairbanks, also extending time in each location.
