Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959, and is the largest state in the United States. Its major cities are Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. One of the most popular sites in Alaska is Denali National Park, where you will see Mt. McKinley and others of the continent's highest peaks. Most cruises to the region leave from the Pacific Northwest, Seattle or Vancouver. While airfairs are included in the final price but vary according to the travelers' home ports.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Cruise to Alaska aboard the Carnival Spirit, one of Carnival Cruise Lines floating resorts. The embarkation port is in Seattle, Washington. A relaxing seven-day cruise follows that includes stops in Alaska's Juneau ,Skagway and Ketchikan, a cruise down Glacier Bay and ends in Vancouver. The Carnival Spirit has four types of rooms: interior, ocean view, balcony, and suites. The ship has two on-deck pools, casino and gaming options, spa, and fitness centers. Among the multitude of dining options are 24-hour room service and pizzeria.

Carnival Cruise Lines 1050 SW 191st Avenue Pembroke Pines, FL 33029-6083 954-499-3676 carnival.com

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Sail the Alaskan Inside Passage aboard the Norwegian Star. Norwegian Cruise Line’s seven-day cruise embarks from Los Angeles. The cruise stops in Juneau and Ketchikan, cruises the Inside Passage and ends in Vancouver. Norwegian Star aims to keep you entertained while at sea with golf, basketball and volleyball court, a Havana club, library, video zone, theater, casino, Internet café, hot tubs, pool, hot tub, separate kids and teens areas, shopping, spas, and fitness center. Dining options include the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, which is open 24 hours.

Norwegian Cruise Lines 7665 Corporate Center Drive Miami, FL 33126 305-436-4000 ncl.com

Crystal Cruises

Take a 12-day journey to Alaska and back again aboard the Crystal Symphony. Crystal Cruises voyage is a round-trip from San Francisco. After cruising to Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, you pass through the Alaskan Inside Passage, stopping at Juneau and Skagway before crusing Glacier Bay and stopping at Sitka Ketchikan. Aboard the Crystal Symphony you can enjoy dancing lessons, tennis, golf, two swimming pools, a library, computer and university at sea, spa, shopping, card room, salon, theater, pool bar, casino, small piano bar, and even the children’s playroom. Dining includes the authentic Italian Prego Restaurant.

Crystal Cruises 2049 Century Park East Suite 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90067 310-785-9300 crystalcruises.com

About the Author

A New Orleans native, Yakiri Truth began writing in 1995 for "Excellence Magazine." In 2005 she accepted a position as a staff writer for SABLE, an online magazine for lesbian women of color. In 2006 her short story "Unspoken" appeared in “Longing, Lust, Love: Black Lesbian Stories,” an anthology published by Nghosi Books. She attended Loyola University, New Orleans and Penn Foster Career School.

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