For Alaskan Salmon, Go Bear Watching, Ride A Rainforest Zip-Wire Or Go Sea-Kayaking

Oceania Cruises returns to cruise in Alaska from May to mid-August 2013 after a year’s absence with a choice of seven itineraries and a range of exceptional and exciting optional shore excursions. The Alaska cruises are on board the 684-guest Regatta, acclaimed for its open-seating gourmet dining (no surcharges), luxurious public rooms and accommodations and warm and attentive service. Scenic highlights include cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage, the awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord. A 7 night Alaska sailing costs from £1584 per person, based on 2 sharing, including free flights, all meals, complimentary bottled water and soft drinks. Alaska excursions include:- Bear watching by float-plane, 3 hours, £250 Explore Alaska’s spectacular topography and come up close to its bear population and abundant wildlife on a guided tour with an experienced naturalist guide. This half day excursion to Neets Bay starts with an exhilarating floatplane ride to one of south east Alaska’s premier bear viewing locations. On arrival in the Bay a short walk along a wilderness road takes participants to the viewing area, where black bears can be seen congregating and fishing. The knowledgeable guide will explain the habitats of the bears, the lifecycle of their favourite food (salmon) and important work done to protect Alaska’s wild salmon population. Other wildlife sightings may include eagles, Sitka black-tailed deer, mink, marten and seals. Zip-wire through the rainforest, 4 hours, £144Speed through the upper canopies of a rich rainforest along a series of cables, suspended 135’ high between tall spruce, hamlock and cedar trees, on the edge of the magnificent Tongass National Forest. The zip-wire `flight’ takes place over seven zip-lines and 4,500’ of high tension cable, from a short 175’ span to the adrenalin-jumping 850’ Ben’s Revenge. Participants can stop to admire the view and watch the wildlife from tree platforms and sky bridges, from where hidden waterfalls and spectacular scenery can be seen. The final zip-wire takes guest over lush grassy wetland to a final viewing platform where each participant is given a custom-cast Alaska Canopy Adventures medal in recognition of their achievement. Wilderness sea-kayaking, 3 hours, £94 Experience the exceptional beauty and tranquility of Alaska’s pristine surroundings from the water, during a memorable sea kayaking adventure. Kit out in waterproofs before embarking a motorized inflatable Seahawk dinghy to transfer to the kayak base camp, tucked away in a picturesque cove. Join a small group of just four – six two-man kayaks for an exploration of the tranquil waterways, led by experienced guides, who will acquaint participants with the area’s spectacular marine environment. Helicopter sight seeing and guided glacier walk, 2 hours, £206 Get a birds-eye view of Alaska’s wild and rugged terrain during a helicopter sight-seeing tour, starting high above the wetland habitat, alpine ridges and lush rain forests, to approach the ice field and its many glaciers, to marvel at deep blue crevasses, carved peaks and spectacular icefalls that flow to form the Mendenhall Glacier. Landing on the slow moving river of ice, guests are taken on a glacier walk by an experienced mountaineering guide, who explains how glaciers form, flow and carve out the landscape, before the return helicopter flight back. Go gold panning and eat wild salmon beneath a rainforest canopy, 3 hours, £69 Relive Juneau’s gold rush history by panning for gold with a costumed prospector at historic Last Chance Basin. Retrace the route used by prospectors Joe Juneau and Richard Harris in their search for gold close to one of the world’s largest hard rock mining operations at Alaska-Juneau gold mine. Participants can pan for gold, see the remains of the mine and learn about how gold is mined. Lunch at Gold Creek Salmon Bake includes wild Alaskan caught salmon grilled over an open alderwood fire, beneath the canopy of the rainforest at Salmon Creek. Sea-fishing and a sea food al-fresco lunch, 5 hours, £219 Experience the beauty of Alaskan wilderness during a relaxing fishing excursion, followed by an al fresco seafood lunch. Participants board an open-air skiff for the harbour in Ketchikan to fish in secluded locations on Alaska’s south eastern coast, taking an intimate look at Alaska’s wildlife and pristine wilderness. Rock fish, red snapper, ling cod, halibut and salmon can all be caught for a lunchtime entrée, followed by a bouillabaisse style fish stew during a gourmet outdoor campsite meal that concludes with rhubarb-blueberry bread pudding. For more information on Oceania Cruises or to order a brochure, visit www.oceaniacruises.com or call on 0845 505 1920.