Courier January Courier | Page 44

COMPASS WEST U.S. Cruises, trains hit Alaskan highlights One of the best ways to experience Alaska’s majestic natural beauty is on sightseeing cruises and rail tours. Here is a look at the six NTA members in the state that take travelers deep into wildlife-rich forests, through rugged mountains and out on pris- tine, glacially fed waters. Alaska Railroad Corporation Phillips Cruises & Tours Alaska Railroad’s packages are the ticket to memorable day trips and longer tours. The company’s excursions connect the state’s most popular cities and provide access to a range of activities. Passengers can experience Alaska’s spectacular tidewater glaciers, abundant wildlife and stunning scenery on board a speedy cata- maran on one of the company’s signature sightseeing excursions. NTA contact: Heather Dudick | [email protected] alaskarailroad.com Lisa Kruse | [email protected] 26glaciers.com Mahay’s Jet Boat Adventures Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruises From its base in Talkeetna in Denali country, Mahay’s offers nature- based tours including the Three Rivers Tour, the Wilderness Jet Boat Adventure and the Devil’s Canyon Adventure. The family-owned company, which started in 1971, features the glaciers of Prince William Sound as the focal point of its tours. Cruises depart from Valdez, Whittier and Cordova. Sharon Heim Mahay | [email protected] mahaysjetboat.com Colleen Stephens | [email protected] stanstephenscruises.com Major Marine Tours & Harbor 360 Hotel White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad Cruise tours range in length from 3.5 hours to 8.5 hours and cover the pristine beauty of either Kenai Fjords National Park’s Resurrection Bay or the Prince William Sound. Passengers can learn about the famous gold rush that gripped southern Alaska and Yukon and take in sweeping views as they ride the rails on one of the company’s tours. Jara Haas | [email protected] majormarine.com Jacqueline Taylor-Rose | [email protected] wpyr.com 42 January 2018