Press Release

SO CLOSE AND YET…WELL, SO CLOSE: 2006 CRUISE WEST ALASKA LAND TOURS BRING NATURE’S BEAUTY INTO FOCUS

Small-ship cruise operator brings Alaska up close, casual and personal

Oct 17 2005 12:00AM

Seattle, WA, October 17, 2005 – It was 280 years ago when Peter the Great sent Vitus Bering to explore the North Pacific, yet it took another 16 years before a member of a Bering expedition team sighted land and Europeans officially discovered Alaska. The good news for today’s travelers is that it won’t take nearly that long for discovering “The Great Land” as Cruise West, the small ship and Alaska cruise leader, will magnify the already-breathtaking Alaska experience in 2006 with a series of spectacular land tours available before or after the line’s cruise itineraries.

Cruise West enhances its annual cruise offering to “The Great Land” with the opportunity to explore the majestic Denali National Park and Preserve or find a distinctive wilderness experience in secluded lodges, hiking along pristine trails, kayaking or canoeing on still mountain lakes.

Denali National Park and Preserve – Land Tour “B”

Guests on Cruise West who choose the Denali National Park and Preserve land tour will experience a six million acre wonderland comprised of 650 species of flowering plants; 39 species of mammals, including grizzly bears, ptarmigan, moose and caribou; 167 species of birds; and 10 species of fish. Escorted by a Cruise West guide, guests will enjoy one of the top tourist attractions in Alaska, hopefully including a glimpse of 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America.

While touring Denali National Park and Preserve, guests can also explore attractions such as:

· the Alaska Native Heritage Center, representing Alaska’s 11 diverse cultural groups

· Alyeska Resort, with the Aerial Tramway ride up to the 2,300-foot level of Mt. Alyeska

· University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, internationally recognized for its extensive collections

· Riverboat Discovery Authentic Sternwheelers, the only remaining authentic sternwheelers left in Alaska

· Chena River, ideal for kayaking canoeing or fishing

· Tanana River, the largest tributary of the Yukon River

· Scenic Alaska Railroad, offering great views of Mt. McKinley, moose, bald eagles and bears, plus a jaw-dropping ride over Hurricane Gulch, almost 300 feet below

· Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city and former trading post for prospectors

· Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and the communication hub of Alaska

Guests can also choose tour “C” which includes an excursion along Prince William Sound, acclaimed as one of the most beautiful places on earth. This tour includes such highlights as Whittier, Turnagain Arm, the Chucach mountains, College Fjord, Esther Passage, Chenega Glacier and Knight Island.

Extraordinary Wilderness Lodges: Tour “D”

Cruise West “D” Tours allow guests to choose from five distinct wilderness lodges, each one offering a uniquely Alaskan experience. They include:

Camp Denali, an intimate, family-owned retreat featuring a hand-hewn lodge and private cabins with views of eight major snow-clad mountains

North Face Lodge, one of only two lodges offering views of Mt. McKinley

Kantishna Roadhouse, full of wildlife viewing opportunities and nestled along the banks of clear-running Moose Creek

Winterlake Lodge, situated along the historic Iditarod Trail and accessible only by floatplane

Redoubt Bay Lodge, sitting on five acres overlooking Big River Lakes with one of the densest bear populations in Alaska

Cruise West’s Alaska land tours complement the line’s cruise itineraries, and guests can save up to $1,800 through Cruise West’s Early Bookings Savings Program.

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 www.cruisewest.com or call (800) 203-7043. .

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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.