Links to popular Alaska cruise ports, cruise calendars, and cruise line roundup.

Alaska-bound cruise ships in port.

Popular emabarkation ports

For more information, visit Experience Ketchikan

• Vancouver – 2011 Vancouver Cruise Ship Schedule
• Seattle – 2011 Seattle Cruise Calendar
• Seward – 2011 Seward Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Whittier – 2011 Whittier Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule

Popular cruise ports serving Alaska cruise visitors.

• Dutch Harbor – 2011 Dutch Harbor Cruise Ship Schedule
• Glacier Bay – 2011 Glacier Bay Cruise Ship Schedule
• Haines – 2011 Haines Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Hubbard Glacier – 2011 Hubbard Glacier Cruise Ship Schedule
• Juneau – 2011 Juneau Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Ketchikan – 2011 Ketchikan Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Sitka – 2011 Sitka Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Skagway – 2011 Skagway Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule
• Tracy Arm – 2011 Tracy Arm Cruise Ship Schedule
• Prince Rupert – 2011 Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Schedule
• Victoria – 2011 Victoria Cruise Ship Schedule

Cruise lines offering Alaska cruises

European waterways essential to life and trade

The Thames: London's river with a big history

The rivers and seas of Europe have always been essential to life and trade. But, until the mid-1800s, European boats and ships were only concerned with moving cargo or hauling in the day’s catch – not with passengers or their comfort.

In 1835, Arthur Anderson, a sailor from the Shetland Isles, wrote about his vision of providing passenger service from Scotland to Iceland in the summer months, and from Scotland to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) in winter. Two years later, he co-founded the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), which became a major operator of passenger liners.

The mail route and birth of the trans-Atlantic cruise

Other shipping lines, which got their start by carrying mail across the Atlantic, began to offer passenger service. More ships began to consider the comfort of passengers: in 1840 the Britannia, the first ship to sail under the Cunard Line name, reportedly took a cow on board to supply fresh milk on a trans-Atlantic crossing.

The emergence of elegance at sea – luxury cruising

By the early 1900s, European passenger ships had taken on the characteristics of elegant, floating hotels. However, World Wars I and II interrupted the building of new cruise ships, and many ships were pressed into service as troop transports.

Interest in trans-Atlantic cruising surged between the wars and again after World War II, but the introduction of trans-Atlantic flights put a damper on that era. During the 1960s and 70s, the European cruise industry slowly refocused on sailing the coasts and rivers of the continent.

Today, discover Europe all over again via cruise ship

Regent Seven Seas

Today, multiple cruise lines visit an amazing variety of European ports. Major cruise lines that sail Europe include the contemporary lines Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line; premium and deluxe lines Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises; and luxury lines Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, Uniworld and Viking River Cruises. Uniworld River Cruises and Viking River Cruises are noteworthy because they cruise the rivers of Europe – the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and more – providing access to inland cities and villages.

The big four – Northern Europe, British Isles, Western Med, Eastern Med

European cruises cover four regions: The Baltic and Northern Europe; the British Isles and Western Europe; the Western Mediterranean; and the Eastern Mediterranean. Some cruise itineraries focus on ports in one region, while longer cruises may include ports in two or more regions.

A cruise of Northern Europe might include the stunning fjords of Norway’s west coast. Or, choose a Baltic-based itinerary, enjoying Scandinavian capitals like Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki. Some cruises also visit Russia’s jewel of the Baltic, St. Petersburg.

Cruises of the British Isles and Western Europe often launch from London and may stop at Inverness and Edinburgh, Scotland; Dublin, Ireland; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Hamburg, Germany; and Le Havre (for Paris), France.

Western Mediterranean itineraries can stretch from Gibraltar and coastal Spain to the west coast of Italy. Ports of call might include Cannes and other cities on the French Riviera; and the Italian ports of Livorno (for Florence), Citavecchia (for Rome) and Naples. Some itineraries also call on the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Malta.

The Eastern Mediterranean includes a classic cruise destination– the Greek Isles. However, there is much more to see, including the ports of Croatia (Dubrovnik and Hvar); the gorgeous, watery city of Venice, Italy; and the exotic ports of Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir and Kusadasi).

With so many places to see, deciding on a European itinerary can be challenging. Luckily there are numerous resources available to help make a decision. Consider using  a travel agent to help get the best value for your time to match the right cruise to your lifestyle.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced its line-up of luminaries to be featured on the line’s 2011 World Cruise aboard the 700-guest Seven Seas Voyager.  The featured luminaries will present lectures, classes and workshops to offer guests fresh perspective and insights.

Regent Seven Seas

Pack your bags and enjoy the 162-night World Cruise, which departs Fort Lauderdale on December 27, 2010. Cruisers that take the entire voyage will arrive in London on June 7, 2011.

Among the world-renowned experts and award-winning luminaries are:

Jack Hanna

Jack Hanna – May 14-24: Recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper and author of 10 books. He will be available to share his “hands on” approach to wildlife conservation and his lifetime of travel experiences.

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno – February 23-March 12: One of only 10 performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award; she will entertain with a special musical performance and speak about her amazing life and career.

Morton Dean – March 29-April 13: Emmy Award-winning correspondent; one of the best known, most highly regarded and widely traveled newsmen in his profession. During his 14 years with ABC News and 20 years with CBS News, he covered many historic, headline-making stories around the world including presidential campaigns, Papal visits and the civil rights struggle.

Jim Nantz – February 23 – 29: Emmy award-winning sports personality and five-time National Sportscaster of the Year. He will be available to discuss some of his favorite play-by-plays throughout his career of over 25 years in sportscasting.

Alan Thicke – April 28-May 4: Known best as psychiatrist and father, Jason Seaver, from ABC’s “Growing Pains.” Thicke has earned a “Best Actor” Golden Globe nomination and seven Emmy Award nominations (five for writing and two for acting). On stage, he received rave reviews acting in the Neil Simon/Burt Bacharach musical “Promises, Promises,” as well as for his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in “Chicago.”

Charles Cook – May 4-24: Widely regarded as one of the United States’ leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends, Charlie has appeared on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening news programs, as well as on “Good Morning America,” the “Today Show,” “Nightline,” “Meet the Press with Tim Russert,” and “This Week….” He has also appeared many times on CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN and National Public Radio.

Jeff Greenberg – May 4-24: Emmy-Award winning casting director for the hit comedy Modern Family after having guided the casting chores for such other iconic shows such as Frasier and Cheers. Other television credits include Ugly Betty, Wings, My So-Called Life, NewsRadio and dozens of others. His feature credits include A Night at the Roxbury, Father of the Bride 2, Look Who’s Talking and Die Mommie Die!

Dr. Michael Leeden – May 4-24: the Freedom Scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Leeden is also a contributing editor at National Review Online. Previously, he served as a consultant to the National Security Council, the State Department, and the Defense Department and has taught at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Rome.

Jacki Lyden – May 4-24: Acclaimed journalist, author and radio host, Jacki Lyden can currently be heard on the weekend broadcasts of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Formerly NPR’s London correspondent, Lyden has covered the Gulf War from Baghdad, Iraq and has reported from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, and other countries.

Ari Shapiro – May 4-24: NPR’s award-winning White House correspondent, Shapiro reports for all of NPR’ s newsmagazines, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Based in Washington, D.C. He has received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize and a “laurel” for excellent reporting from the Columbia Journalism Review.

A highlight takes place when Seven Seas Voyager visits San Francisco on January 13, 2011. Full World Cruise guests will be entertained by legendary performers:

Norm Crosby – Crosby has been making audiences laugh and a crowd favorite since his days from “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Joel Grey – Best known for his role as the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway musical “Cabaret,” in which he earned an Academy Award for the film version.

In addition to the above headliners, the World Cruise will feature a variety of enrichment lecturers, arts & crafts workshops, ACBL-certified Bridge Masters, gentlemen social hosts and dance instructors.

Dinner and a Show – During the course of the voyage, guests will receive several opportunities to enjoy a special evening of fine dining followed by entertainment from some of the world’s most renowned performers such as David Campbell, Rhonda Burchmore, Gloria Loring and even the acclaimed Frank and Dean Show. Following a cocktail party, guests will dine on a specially created, music-inspired menu in Signatures restaurant before being entertained by legends of the entertainment world during an intimate, cabaret-style performance in the Horizon Lounge.

Sounds like of fun to me.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has just announced another perk when sailing on this luxury cruise line: a FREE Luxury Hotel Package.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Luxury Cruise

Regent Seven Seas Luxury Hotel Booking Incentive includes:

• FREE pre-cruise one-night hotel stay in nearly all our embarkation ports
• FREE transfers from airport to hotel (restrictions apply for cruise-only guests) and hotel to the ship
• FREE breakfast
• FREE porterage

Combine that offer with  2-for-1 Fares, FREE Roundtrip Air, FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions, Business Class Air upgrades and Bonus Savings and luxury cruisers will find great value.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering this value-added program towards new bookings only, effective October 20, 2010. Booked guests who wish to take advantage of the FREE Luxury Hotel Package may do so but may be subject to the higher cruise fare, if applicable, announced on October 1, 2010.

This offer begins with the following 2011 sailings: Seven Seas Navigator January 7, Seven Seas Mariner April 17 and Seven Seas Voyager June 7.