Crystal Cruise Alaska
                                                                                                                 *Fully escorted from Australia
                                                                                 Guaranteed SINGLE room throughout
                                                                                          Departing Australia 05 July, 2011

San Francisco 3 nights then visiting, Victoria, Vancouver, cruising the Inside Passage, Sitka, cruising Glacier Bay, Skagway,
Juneau, Ketchikan, San Francisco

What can I say about Alaska that hasn't already been said? Mountains so tall they seem to touch the sky. Lush rainforests and narrow waterways. Towering glaciers and cascading waterfalls. This is a land of superlatives with more wildlife, wider landscapes and so spectacular it simply takes your breath away. This land will lift your spirits, the people will warm your hearts, and your life will never be the same again.

I would be truly amazed if this trip did not exceed your expectations and can almost guarantee that you will be planning your next cruise before you've even disembarked from this one.  As we say about every tour that involves a Crystal cruise ..
"this trip is all about the journey - the places we visit - even though magnificent -  are just an afterthought!"

From the moment you step on board, you will experience Crystal Cruises' dedication to making every guest feel special and at ease.  Every moment will be memorable, every detail exceptional.  Crystal's constant pursuit of excellence has consistently earned them the highest ratings in the cruise industry from premier publications like Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. 

For a record-breaking 15 years, Crystal Cruises "Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" by the discerning readers of  Condé Nast Traveler . 

Come and experience for yourself .  

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Day 1   05 July, 2011    Australia -  San Francisco, USA    We depart this morning and arrive into San Francisco on the same day.     Accommodation:  Villa Florence (or similar)  3 nights. The Villa Florence hotel features old world charm in an elegant setting in the heart of Union Square. The guestrooms are decorated with inviting plantation shutters, colourful bedspreads, and honey coloured furniture. All the guestrooms have high ceilings and windows that open, which is an unusual luxury for any San Francisco hotel. Walls and windows are also soundproofed.

Day 2  06 July, 2011   San Francisco, USA     Today See the city of San Francisco from atop an authentic English Double Decker Bus! Included is your ticket to Alcatraz Island, San Francisco's most famous attraction.    This is the ultimate San Francisco experience  : 48 hours to enjoy all City Sightseeing San Francisco tours at your own pace. All double-deckers are open tops, providing the very best unlimited views of San Francisco. This tour package includes all tour options including: Downtown Loop (Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Financial District, Lombard Street, Civic Centre, Union Square, Nob Hill) ;Golden Gate Loop (Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio, Marina, Pacific Heights, Palace of Fine Arts.); and the Night Loop (Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, South Beach, Bay Bridge). Plus Alcatraz Island "The Rock" San Francisco's most famous attraction. Alcatraz tickets usually sell out 1-2 weeks in advance so it is recommended to make your reservations early. Your Alcatraz Island tickets include the ferry service from centrally located Pier 33 in the heart of San Francisco and the award winning-audio walking tour of Alcatraz Island with the cell-block tour featuring recorded interviews with inmates and guards actually living on Alcatraz Island before the prison was closed in 1968.

Your ticket is valid for 48 hours on Downtown Loop, Golden Gate Loop, and Night Loop Double-Decker tours. Your Alcatraz Island tickets include the ferry service from centrally located Pier 33 in the heart of San Francisco. Tell us which day and approximately what time you'd like to visit Alcatraz and we'll make your ferry reservations accordingly.

Day 3  07 July, 2011   San Francisco, USA   Day is at leisure to continue using your hop on/hop off pass.   You will discover why this metropolis is one of the most diverse, dynamic and beautiful cities in the world. San Francisco is a melting pot of cultures and an important financial centre of the world. Hellenic in its setting and climate, European in its intellectual and cultural scope, American in its vigour and informality and Asian in its tranquillity, San Francisco is indeed one of the most exciting cities of the world. Opportunities for discovery abound. Stroll through Chinatown, shop at Union Square or browse through Fisherman's Wharf. Or perhaps, the attractions of North Beach will beckon. Sip cappuccino at a sidewalk café, feast on Italian food or browse through tempting specialty stores. Across the Golden Gate Bridge hide giant redwoods and artistic Sausalito which provide the perfect getaway from the city. Whatever your choice, San Francisco's distinctive charm engenders a special affection in the hearts of all who visit.

Day 4  08 July, 2011  San Francisco, USA   Morning at leisure before we join Crystal Symphony in time for a welcome lunch on board.   Ship sails at 4.45pm today.  Sailing under the famed Golden Gate Bridge is an unforgettable experience and is naturally a highlight of your visit to San Francisco.

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Day 5  09 July, 2011   Cruising the Pacific Ocean  Your Day at Sea   Enrich. Entertain. Escape.   Adjust the compass of your mood and design your day exactly as you wish: pamper yourself at the Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa, work-out at our state-of-the-art fitness centre or Walk-on-Water along our 360o Promenade Deck; teach yourself something new with complimentary language lessons by Berlitz or piano instruction with Yamaha; enhance your computer skills at our Computer University@Sea or learn about art, history and worldly destinations with our engaging lecture series; sneak away to watch recently-released movies in the Hollywood Theatre, shop our luxury boutiques, or simply relax by one of our tranquil pools. From Tai Chi and yoga to PGA golf instruction and paddle tennis on full-size courts, today is all about you. As evening arrives, dine on the inspired cuisines of Nobu Matsuhisa, Piero Selvaggio and Crystal’s own acclaimed chefs, enjoy special wine-makers dinners, lavish Broadway-style productions, intimate lounges, a pulsing dance club or our action-packed Crystal Casino. The choices are yours.

Day 6  10 July, 2011  Victoria, British Columbia, Canada   10 am -  12 midnight     Discovered by Captain Cook over two centuries ago, the lovely city of Victoria has successfully nurtured its English ambiance and heritage. Wonderful legacies are preserved with bright red double-decker buses and the delicious tradition of high tea.    Shops brim with tartans, china, silver and antiques. From the landmark Empress Hotel to the impressive Parliament Buildings, city streets are filled with gracious architecture. A glorious profusion of colourful flowers abounds within the hanging baskets on every lamppost and at the world-famous Butchart Gardens.   Victoria is an atmospheric city which brims with old-world charm.

Day 7  11 July, 2011  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada  8 am  -   5 pm    Prosperous and vibrant Vancouver is Canada's third-largest city and British Columbia's most cosmopolitan center. Enjoy exploring the restored Gastown district or discovering the intrigue of Chinatown. Seize this opportunity to sample delicacies from the sea, explore the North Shore and Stanley Park, the largest natural park of any city on the North American continent, and browse among shops and galleries in Granville Island. Blessed with an unsurpassed natural backdrop, Vancouver is set amid a gorgeous landscape of water and mountains. On a clear day, one can view rugged mountains, emerald-green parklands and the luminous sea from almost any vantage point.

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Day 8  12 July, 2011  Cruising the Inside Passage   Protected from the open sea by forested isles, sheltered from the windy mainland by the tallest coastal mountains in the world, this 1,000-mile waterway seems custom-made by nature for a cruise. The deep, calm waters of the passage meander between dense pine forests where wild game abounds, with occasional rustic towns along the way.

Day 9  13 July, 2011  Sitka, Alaska, USA   8 am - 5 pm    The symmetrical cone of Mount Edgecumbe and countless green-tufted islands welcome Crystal Harmony to picturesque Sitka. In its heyday, it was referred to as the "Paris of the Pacific" and knew great prosperity. Although founded by Alexander Baranof in 1799, it wasn't until 1867, when Alaska was purchased by the United States, that the Stars and Stripes replaced the Russian flag. As Russia's former capital in the New World, Sitka still retains its exotic heritage, boasting proud architecture and unique historical sites.

Day 10  14 July, 2011  Cruising Glacier Bay    This stunning amphitheatre of glaciers and granite peaks is best viewed from the sea. The ice in Glacier Bay fell as snow centuries ago on the mountains that ring the bay. Compressed by its own tremendous weight, it flows seaward, producing some of the fastest-moving glaciers known. In the summer, rare humpback whales come here to feed – with luck, you'll see one of these gentle giants.

Day 11  15 July, 2011  Skagway, Alaska, USA   7 am  -  9 pm      Discover the flavour of the gold rush era in Skagway. In its heyday, this atmospheric frontier town was the largest in Alaska. During the height of the gold boom, Skagway was known as the gateway to the goldfields, and its population went from 2 to 10,000 in a single year. At one time it boasted 80 saloons and was known as the "roughest town on earth." Although its population is now less than 1,000, its rip-roaring past will come alive as you stroll along Broadway or browse through the Trail of '98 Museum's outstanding collection of memorabilia.

Day 12  16 July, 2011  Juneau, Alaska, USA   8 am -  5 pm    Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is a town accessible only by air and sea. It was founded during the rush for gold in the 1880s and was named after Joe Juneau, the prospector who first discovered gold in this state. Today, much of its independent frontier atmosphere remains. The infamous and rowdy Red Dog Saloon coexists beside impressive modern office towers. It has a superb location, snuggled between the flanks of 3,600-foot Mt. Juneau and the picturesque Gastineau Channel. Mountains, glaciers and the sea are everywhere to be seen. Among its many attractions, Juneau is our gateway to the Mendenhall Glacier, a 12-mile river of ice that is Alaska's most accessible, and most photographed, glacier.

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Day 13  17 July, 2011 Ketchikan, Alaska, USA   8 am - 5 pm    Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world and a paradise for fishermen and nature-lovers alike. A quiet city, it hosts quaint restaurants perched on stilts above the water, scores of fascinating shops and spectacular views from every vantage point. Although Ketchikan's Indian name means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle," it is also known as "Alaska's First City," so coined as it is frequently the first stop along the Inside Passage. Venture ashore and discover Ketchikan's rich Indian heritage, visit the world's largest collection of authentic totem poles at Totem Bight and walk along the rustic boardwalk on Creek Street where stilt-buildings in the harbor preserve a distinct pioneer feel. Or, we welcome you to paddle a kayak on sheltered waters, take a floatplane to a remote mountain lake or try your hand at sportfishing.

Day 14 & 15  -  18 & 19 July, 2011  Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Day 16  20 July, 2011   San Francisco, California, USA  Ship docks at 8am and sadly we must disembark and commence the journey home.  Transfer to the airport for onward flights.

Day 17  21 July, 2011   En-route to Australia

Day 18  22 July, 2011   Arrive Australia

 

Tour will include:

Return economy class air travel from Sydney to San Francisco,   3 nights accommodation first class hotel San Francisco including return transfers and sightseeing, services of a group escort from Australia , luxury cruise accommodations in Category E stateroom with large window (view may be either partially obstructed or fully obstructed) , six-star cuisine, onboard entertainment and non-alcoholic beverages.

Your cruise will not include:
Optional business class or premium economy class upgrades, airport taxes, Port, security and handling charges, gratuities, shore excursions, spa/personal services, upgrade to stateroom without obstruction or veranda stateroom if required, and optional add-ons.