Have a Whale Of a Time Of Cruise Holidays to Alaska

If you love wildlife then cruise holidays in Vancouver and Alaska are definitely perfect for you. Keep your eyes to the starboard and you’ll probably see a number of incredible mammals, like playful orcas and stupendous humpbacks. One whale that you may have had trouble spotting until recently was the < a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/18/AR2011011806649.html"/>Pacific grey whale but reports state that this rare Russian whale is now making an appearance in the Pacific.



Vancouver



The unofficial symbol of Vancouver is the leaping Orca whale and while many holidaymakers choose to join one of Vancouver’s famous whale-watching expeditions, you’re equally likely to spot one from the deck of your cruise ship. Nether the less, Wild Whales run great whale watching tours taking holidaymakers into the gulf of Georgia, to take a closer look at one of the resident orca pods in the area. Another company, the Vancouver Whale Watch tour takes visitors around the spectacular San Juan Islands where Dall’s porpoises can eagles can often be spotted, as well as seals and sea lions. If you’d prefer to leave the whale watching to the deck of your cruise ship, then you’ll find there’s plenty else to keep you entertained in Vancouver. Take an old-fashion carriage ride through Stanley Park and listen to your guide talk you through some of the top attractions, from the S.S Empress of Japan Figurehead to the Lion’s Gate Bridge, or take a hair-raising trip by tram through the Fraser Canyon and pan for gold.



Victoria BC



In British Columbia, Victoria is the home to the best in-land harbour in Canada so it’s not surprising that many of its popular attractions are located around the area. The Maritime Museum of British Columbia gives you a real feel for the history of the town, with exhibits featuring pirates, shipwrecks and treasure maps. Strangely, one of the museums most famous exhibits is its ornamental iron elevator, which is also the oldest operating elevator in the country. The petting zoo and the butterfly garden are a great place to visit if you’re travelling with children, while the Galloping Goose Trail stretches all the way down to the old mining town of Sooke, featuring scenic parks and rock-pools en-route.



Alaska



Alaska is one of the most popular destinations for cruise holidays. The natural beauty and perfect stillness of the region means that it’s the best place in the world to spot wildlife. Travelling through Tracy Arm, one of the most incredible fjords in the world, cruise ship passengers are often available to spot a whole array of animals from bears using their paws to fish for salmon to Sitka black-tailed deer, bald-headed eagles, orca whales and sea otter. Once your cruise ship arrives in the port of Juneau, you’ll be spoiled for choice when picking which on-shore excursions you want to choose. There’s something for everyone, with helicopter and dog-sledding tours to the more unusual excursion operator who can arrange a wedding for you on top of a glacier.