Press Release

CRUISE WEST ANNOUNCES 2006 ALASKA VOYAGES AND INCREASED GLACIER BAY ACCESS - CITING THE MOST ENTRIES FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS

Exploring the “Great Land” on Cruise West’s Small Ships the “Up-Close, Casual and Personal” Way

Jul 11 2005 12:00AM

Seattle, WA, July 11, 2005 – Cruise West, the largest American-owned cruise line and the most experienced line traveling Alaska, announces 2006 Alaska itineraries that offer the unprecedented benefit of 92 entries into Glacier Bay National Park for all of Cruise West’s vessels, the most entries allowed for one line. With a whale sighting guarantee on three of their cruises – offering a $250 refund if guests leave without enjoying a sighting – and boasting many routes that only small ships can venture, Cruise West provides guests with abundant wildlife viewing and unsurpassed voyages through majestic fjords and remote villages. Cruise West’s Alaska itineraries will provide guests with intimate experiences and memorable journeys in the “Great Land,” from May through September, 2006.

Glacier Bay Highlights – New Itinerary for 2006

Cruise West travels Glacier Bay with expertise rarely practiced on other cruises, as they are the longest operating line to sail Glacier Bay National Park and were recently awarded with a permit from the National Park Service (NPS) allowing the most entries into the Park for the next 10 years. Starting this year, the NPS implemented a new procedure for vessels requesting access to Glacier Bay National Park for 2006 and beyond. Cruise West applied, receiving a permit allowing entry for all of its ships, accounting for a total of one-third of all the entries and more than double the entries of any other operator for June, July and August – the height of the wildlife season in Glacier Bay.

Glacier Bay National Park, a renowned park and preserve of ice-capped glaciers and maritime wilderness, home to all five species of Pacific Salmon and 25 percent of the total number of bird species in all North America, requires strict enforcement of respect for the delicate environment and can only be explored by companies that follow this guideline. New Glacier Bay Highlights itineraries are 4- or 5-day round trip voyages from Juneau, beginning at $1,349 per person, double-occupancy.

Alaska’s Inside Passage

Venturing through Tracy Arm, Frederick Sound and Misty Fjords, guests onboard Cruise West’s small ships will gain an understanding of the value of Alaska’s pristine environment. On the Wilderness Inside Passage itinerary, Cruise West offers the whale sighting guarantee and up-close explorations using the inflatable excursion craft.

Along the Gold Rush Inside Passage, Cruise West traces the exciting path of the Gold Rush stampeders on the nearly 1,000-mile route. These Inside Passage cruises are available on five of the eight vessels, including Spirit of Alaska, Spirit of Columbia, Spirit of Discovery, Spirit of ’98 and Spirit of Endeavour, traveling between Seattle and Juneau, carrying between 78 and 102 guests, beginning at $3,599 per person, double-occupancy.

Grand Voyages

Cruise West offers three separate Grand Voyages including: In Harriman’s Wake, Coastal Odyssey and Voyage to the Bering Sea, aboard the Spirit of Oceanus – Cruise West’s 120-guest flagship. Guests have the chance to trace Edward Henry Harriman’s scientific expedition of 1899 and travel by inflatable excursion craft as Jacques Cousteau once did through Alaska’s wildlife wonderland with the option of 12- to 25-day cruises. The Grand Voyages start at $6,249 per person, double-occupancy.

Inside Passage Daylight Yacht Tour

Cruising by day on the Sheltered Seas yacht, a 70-guest ship, people will experience the outdoors in Alaska’s long daylight hours and step off into small-town inner harbors in the evening where visitors rarely get to explore. Whale sightings are also guaranteed on the Daylight Yacht Tours, available as 4- and 5-day itineraries, beginning at $1,849 per person, double-occupancy.

Glacier Wonderland

Most places Cruise West visits in the Glacier Wonderland voyage through Prince William Sound are only manageable by small boats, and will never be accessed by car, train or plane, making this one of the most intimate itineraries offered in 2006. Aboard the Spirit of Columbia, on a 4- or 5-day voyage, guests sail through giant cliffs and more than 2-dozen roaring glaciers, on a very rare overnight cruise in this region of Alaska. Cruises begin at $1,299 per person, double-occupancy.

Best of Both Worlds – New Itinerary for 2006

Cruise West added the Best of Both Worlds itinerary to the 2006 Alaska voyages, offering guests the opportunity to sail on both the Sheltered Seas and Spirit of Alaska from Juneau to Ketchikan, or reverse. This itinerary is how Dick West, chairman and CEO, initiated the small-ship concept, giving guests the best of both worlds aboard a day yacht and small ship. Cruises start at $3,349 per person, double-occupancy.

At Cruise West, taxes, port charges, fees, fuel surcharges and onboard services are all included in itinerary prices. Guests are neither expected nor required to tip for onboard services.

~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~

Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business – 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. The casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. To make reservations or request the 2006 Alaska Brochure, visit the brochure request page or call (800) 203-8306.

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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.