July 31, 2015/ altair / Cruises & Ships

Admire snowcapped peaks, mighty glaciers, steep fjords and such wildlife as whales, black bears, brown bears, bald eagles, sea otters and seals from the perspective of spectacular ships this Alaska Cruise season!

In 1867, for $7.2 million (or about 2 cents an acre), Alaska was purchased from Russia, which viewed Alaska as a frozen wasteland, not realizing it would turn out to be one of the United States’ richest resources for gold and oil.

In recent years, Alaska cruises have gained in popularity big time. If you want to see America’s last unspoiled frontier and enjoy its stunning landscapes, then check this Alaska Cruise deal that Toronto travel agency Altair Travel can offer:

• Rates – from $498
• Duration – 7 Days
• Cruise Ship – Ms Oosterdam
• Cruise Line – Holland America Line

MS Oosterdam – your Alaska Cruise ship

Pronounced “OH-ster-dam”, the ship’s name is derived from the Dutch translation for the eastern compass point.

Built under license by Grandi Motori Trieste in Italy, MS Oosterdam is powered by a CODAG propulsion system encompassing five (three 16-cylinder and two 12-cylinder) Sulzer ZAV40S diesel engines and a GE LM2500 gas turbine, making it one of only a handful of merchant vessels that is powered by such an arrangement. The machinery spaces aboard Oosterdam are vast and extend along two of its lowest decks for the most part of the vessel. Its two engine rooms are separated by a watertight bulkhead division. Each engine room has its own fuel, lubricating, cooling and electrical distribution systems and is fully independent of the other. The ship’s potable water is produced by three large Alfa Laval multi-effect flash evaporating desalination plants.

Technical information

• Vista class cruise ship: The ships are equipped with a diesel-electric power plant and an Azipod propulsion system and designed so that 85% of the staterooms have ocean views and 67% have verandas; the extensive use of glass in the superstructure of Vista class ships is also reflected in the class name.
• Tonnage: 82,000 GT
• Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (maximum)
• Length: 290m
• Beam: 32.25 m
• Draught: 7.9 m
• Decks: 11 passenger decks
• Capacity: 1,848 passengers
• Crew: 812 crew

Holland America Line – Alaska Cruise Line

Holland America Line was a Dutch passenger, cargo and a cruise line operating primarily between the Netherlands and North America during 1873-1989. This shipping line brought many hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the Netherlands to North America. Today, Holland America Line is a British American owned cruise line based in Seattle. It has been owned by Carnival Corporation since 1989.

Itinerary

Restaurants :

• Canaletto: the award winning restaurant named after the famous 18th-century Venetian artist, serves classic Italian dinners
• Lido: features a variety of fresh, cooked-to-order specialties for all three meals.
• Pinnacle Grill and Bar: features premium hand-selected cuts of Sterling Silver beef, seafood and select wines. It is an elegant and sophisticated dining experience with Bvlgari china, Riedel stemware and Frette linens. Reservations-only
• Terrace Grill: serves hot dogs, hamburgers and other lunch favorites.
• Vista Dining Room: provides one of the finest dining experiences at sea. Once per cruise you can also enjoy a special Royal Dutch High Tea.
• Ocean Bar

Entertainment

• Casino: features the latest in Las Vegas-style casino games.
• Vista Show Lounge: vocalists, dancers, illusionists, comedians and variety acts.
• Meeting rooms – Hudson Room/Half Moon/Stuyvesant
• Northern Lights Nightclub: great music, dynamic lighting and friendly bartenders
• Explorations Café: coffee shop where you can browse the Internet, check your emails or read the morning paper or a book from an extensive library.
• Hydro Pool
• Lido Pool and Bar and Sea View Pool and Bar
• Photo Gallery
• Merabella Luxury Shop: exclusive jewelry
• The Loft: a lounge environment with music, internet access stations and video games for teens.
• Shopping Arcade
• Fitness Center
• The Greenhouse Spa and Salon
• Club HAL: supervised fun in colorful playrooms with art tables, games and big screen televisions for kids
• Piano Bar
• Sports Bar
• Neptune Lounge: exclusively for the Penthouse and Deluxe Verandah Suite guests
• Queen’s Lounge and Culinary Arts Center: Experience a culinary adventure, presented by Food & Wine magazine. Features include gourmet demonstrations, tasting events and hands-on cooking classes in a fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen.

Glacier Bay

It is best known for its massive glaciers. Snow-capped mountain, coastal beaches, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers, and sculpted peaks will make your Alaska Cruise unforgettable.

Glacier Bay was first surveyed in 1794 by a team captained by George Vancouver. At the survey’s time that massive glacier was more than 4,000 feet thick in places, up to 20 miles wide, and extended more than 100 miles to the St. Elias mountain range. In 1879, naturalist John Muir discovered that the ice had retreated more than 30 miles forming an actual bay. By 1916, the main glacier had melted back 60 miles to the head of what is now Tarr Inlet. Efforts for protection of Glacier Bay were made by many, and in 1992 Glacier Bay became part of an international World Heritage Site, along with neighboring Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve and Canada’s Kluane National Park.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a scenic town of approximately 14,000 people, located along the Tongass Narrows, at the foot of Deer Mountain, on Revillagigedo Island in Southeast Alaska. It is Alaska’s southernmost city and the first port in your unforgettable Alaska Cruise. Over 800,000 visitors come through Ketchikan each year by cruise ship.

Juneau

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and third largest state’s city with a population of about 30,000 people. One of the interesting things about Juneau and Alaska is the effect on public life of being such a geographically large state. The state legislature, for instance, takes telephone testimony during its committee hearings. They have a state-wide video conferencing system to facilitate government meetings and deliberations.

Book your Alaska Cruise with Altair Travel at 416-633-9404

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