To the Land of Ice and Snow

Alaska has blossomed into a major destination with four new cruise lines heading north for the first time this summer and three others returning after a few years. All in all, 34 cruise vessels from 16 lines are scheduled to sail in Alaska this summer, a record for the number of ships sailing there.

First-timers in Alaska in 1996 are Celebrity Cruises with its Horizon, Seabourn Cruise Line with the Seabourn Pride, Marine Expeditions with its Marine Adventurer, and Carnival with its Tropicale.

In addition, the venerable Universe from World Explorer has been replaced with the slightly newer, somewhat larger Enchanted Seas from Commodore. This was scheduled to be the last year in Alaska--and in service--for Cunard’s elegant Sagafjord, the vessel that pioneered the glacier route itineraries a decade ago. But after a fire broke out last month in its generator room, leaving the ship stranded between Hong Kong and Malaysia during a world cruise, the Sagafjord was retired. Holland America’s vintage liner, Rotterdam, is also slated to be retired at the end of its 1997 Alaska season.

Norwegian Cruise Line will deploy the Royal Odyssey, which cruised Alaska often as the Royal Viking Sea, and the Windward, returning for its third sojourn.

The popularity of small ships--those carrying fewer than 150 passengers--also continues to grow in Alaska, with Alaska Sightseeing’s Spirit of ‘98, Spirit of Alaska, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Glacier Bay; Cunard’s Sea Goddess II; Clipper’s Yorktown Clipper; Glacier Bay’s Executive Explorer; Marine Expeditions’ Marine Adventurer; Society Expeditions’ World Discoverer; and Special Expeditions’ Sea Lion and Sea Bird.

For its first Alaska season, Canada’s Marine Expeditions offers a seven-night sailing on a Russian oceanographic research vessel that will sail into Queen Charlotte Sound, Misty Fjords, Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay.

Society Expeditions’ World Discoverer has some unusual itineraries this summer, with two sailings between Nome and Homer that visit the Russian Far East and the islands in the Bering Sea and two cruises between Prince Rupert and Seward that sail the Inside Passage.

As usual, the giants in Alaska are Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, each with six ships positioned there. Princess is sending its new, huge Sun Princess to sail the Inside Passage.

For brochures, see a travel agent or call the lines toll free: Alaska Sightseeing, (800) 426-7702; Carnival, (800) 327-9501; Celebrity, (800) 437-3111; Clipper, (800) 325-0010; Crystal, (800) 446-6620; Cunard, (800) 221-4770; Glacier Bay Tours and Cruises, (800) 451-5952; Holland America, (800) 426-0327; Marine Expeditions, (800) 263-9147; Norwegian Cruise Ltd., (800) 327-7030; Princess, (800) LOVEBOAT; Royal Caribbean, (800) 327-6700; Seabourn, (800) 929-4747; Society Expeditions, (800) 548-8669; Special Expeditions, (800) 348-2358; World Explorer, (800) 854-3835.

Slater and Basch travel as guests of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears the first and third week of every month.