Cruising is the perfect way to see America's last frontier wildlife and wilderness abound along the state's breathtaking coastline, and are easily seen from the comfort of a deck chair or observation lounge. Thoroughly updated every year (unlike the rest of the competition), Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call is a compact guide that's on top of all the latest developments and offerings in the rapidly changing cruise industry. Our author, a leading cruise journalists with years of experience, has compiled candid, first-hand reviews of each cruise line and each ship. The easy-to-use ratings, detailed drawings of each ship, and honest evaluations make it easy for you to find the cruise that suits your budget and your personal style, whether you want a luxury liner with fine dining or a small-ship cruise led by serious naturalists. You'll also find a nature guide that helps you understand what you're seeing, complete with illustrations of glaciers and the various types of whales. We'll show you how to get the best deals and how to maximize your time in the ports of call all in one concise, pocket-sized volume.

Table of Contents

List of Maps. What's New in Alaska Cruising in 2005. 1. The Best of Alaska Cruising. 2. Choosing Your Ideal Cruise. 3. Booking Your Cruise & Getting the Best Price. 4. The Cruise Experience. 5. The Cruise Lines, Part 1: The Big Ships. 6. The Cruise Lines, Part 2: The Small Ships. 7. The Ports of Embarkation. 8. Ports & Wilderness Areas along the Inside Passage. 9. Ports & Wilderness Areas along the Gulf Route. 10. Cruisetour Destinations. Appendix A: Alaska in Depth by Charles Wohlforth. Appendix B: Alaska on the Wild Side by Charles Wohlforth. Index.

About the Author

Jerry Brown was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and worked as a reporter for Scottish newspapers before joining the news department of the London Daily Mail. Later, for 31 years, he was the West Coast Bureau Chief of a leading travel trade newspaper. He and Margaret, his wife and best editor, have two grown sons, a granddaughter, Victoria Rose, and a grandson, Mason Patrick. Fran Wenograd Golden is travel editor of the Boston Herald, and a well--established travel writer. She is also author of TV Vacations: A Fun Guide to the Sites, the Stars, and the Inside Stories Behind Your Favorite TV Shows, and co--author (with Jerry) of Cruise Vacations For Dummies and Frommer's European Cruises & Ports of Call. She lives north of Boston with her husband, Ed, and is the proud parent of Erin and Eli.