Press Release

CRUISE WEST ENHANCES 2007 ALASKA EXPERIENCE WITH NEW AND EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES, EXCURSIONS

~Small-Ship Cruise Line to Bring Guests on Overnight Stays in Glacier Bay National Park~

April 13, 2007

SEATTLE, April 13, 2007 – The small-ship cruise line Cruise West, with more than 60 years of providing tours in Alaska, will be adding even more adventure opportunities to explore the vast wilderness, geography and cultures of America’s last frontier for the 2007 season. Guests will now be able to spend two nights in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and choose from four new shore excursions added to the already long list of adventures on land.

Cruise West has the distinct advantage of possessing more permits than any other cruise line to enter Glacier Bay National Park, a 3.3-million-acre wonderland. Six of the line’s itineraries in Alaska visit this majestic gem, and this year guests can extend their stay in the park to two nights on the Wilderness Inside Passage itinerary. During this added time, guests will explore the birds and sea lions of South Marble Island, the 15,000-foot peak of Mt. Fairweather, and massive glaciers of all varieties, all while under the expert guidance of a National Park Ranger and Native Cultural Interpreter. Cruise West will also offer more departures on this itinerary with two ships rather than one: the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery and the 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour. Yet another advantage with this itinerary is the line’s steadfast Whale Sighting Guarantee; should whales not be spotted on a sailing, the line will refund $250 to each guest – a price that the line has never had to pay.

In addition to the included activity or excursion in all of the ports that Cruise West’s seven Alaska-sailing ships visit, guests can choose from an extensive array of add-on adventures. For the 2007 season, Cruise West has announced four new shore excursions:

• While spending two nights in Glacier Bay on the Wilderness Inside Passage itinerary, guests can also explore the park, on shore, with a guided hike through the vast terrain.
• In the capital city of Juneau, guests can take their adventures to new heights with the Rainforest Canopy and Zipline Adventure, an eco-tour combining the thrill of gliding above the treetops in a rich rainforest on more than 6,000 feet of dual zip lines, suspension bridges, and a ground-based trail network. Participants will cross the Gastineau Channel aboard an expedition craft, mountain ascent in an off-road vehicle, and explore hidden relics of a world-famous gold mine.

• A new component of the popular tour of Jewell Gardens in Skagway is a hands-on tour of the only public glass-blowing studio in Alaska. Visitors will observe professionals at work and have the opportunity to blow or mold their own piece as a special memento of their visit to southeast Alaska.
• Guests can visit the Saxman Native Village, known for its Totem poles, in Ketchikan and experience the rich living culture of Southeast Alaska’s Native Americans on an exclusive tour with Native Tlingit and Mayor of Saxman, Joe Williams. Stop at the carving shed to see totem poles in their making and visit a traditional Tribal House.

Cruise West travels in Alaska from May through early-September. The line’s flagship, the 120-guest Spirit of Oceanus, offers three Grand Voyages, which sail from Vancouver to the Russian Far East. Four itineraries are offered in Alaska’s Inside Passage, including a shorter getaway, Glacier Bay Highlights. An itinerary is also offered in Prince William Sound, a 3,500-mile shoreline filled with hidden islands and enfolded fjords that are only accessible by small ships.

~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~

Cruise West – the largest American-owned cruise line and a second-generation, family-owned business – offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations in the East and West Coasts, Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica & Panama, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for one-of-a-kind, personalized experiences not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine small ships range from 78-138 guests. The casual onboard atmosphere encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and lectures, and presentations by local experts from a wide variety of backgrounds. In addition, destination-specific materials and an assortment of books are provided in the onboard library. The forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space on all ships offer outstanding viewing and photography opportunities of the wildlife and scenery, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings.

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Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business based in Seattle – offers the opportunity to explore remote, worldwide locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Cruise West’s smaller ships – nine in all – hold between 78-138 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. The experience is personally enriching through expert Exploration Leaders providing onboard narrative and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel. All have forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space for viewing and photographing wildlife and scenery. All vessels are also equipped with inflatable landing boats for close-up exploration of remote areas and shore landings.

Destinations served include: Alaska and the Bering Sea, British Columbia, Columbia & Snake Rivers, California Wine Country, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, Costa Rica & Panama, Japan, the South Pacific, and the Kuril Islands.