| Alaska is one of those rare destinations
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| | negotiated with Russia.
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| that never succumbs to the "been there,
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| | Early in its American history, Alaska
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| done that" syndrome. People who cruise
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| | became the sight of a gold stampede as
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| once to Alaska usually go there again. It
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| | lots of miners headed north to make their
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| is not unusual for first-time cruise
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| | fortunes. A few even planned to pan for
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| visitors to Alaska to plan or even book
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| | gold.
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| their next cruise before they get off the
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| | Today, Alaska is more concerned with
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| ship. What's so great about an Alaskan
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| | "black gold," or its native oil reserves.
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| cruise, anyway?
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| | Despite abundant natural wealth and
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| The largest state in a very large
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| | beauty, life and even tourism in Alaska
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| country, Alaska is probably not the place
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| | isn't always easy. Many products and
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| you think it is. First, it is a vast
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| | services in Alaska are expensive, at
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| land where civilization exists in
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| | least by lower-48 standards. The climate
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| outposts against a wilderness background.
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| | is cold and can be hostile, so travel
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| There are many parts of Alaska where
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| | requires a lot of advanced preparation
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| animals outnumber people.
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| | and some physical hardiness.
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| The wilderness theme crops up where you
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| | That's why an Alaskan cruise makes sense,
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| would least expect it. Try to get in and
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| | particularly for those modern-day
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| out of the state's capital city, Juneau,
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| | adventurers who aren't so sure they want
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| and you find that you need to do it by
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| | to climb a mountain of ice to see a
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| boat or plane. The place is not
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| | glacier or struggle along an unpaved road
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| accessible by car.
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| | in an off-road vehicle in the snow to get
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| Flying is altogether a normal way of
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| | to the next town.
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| going from point A to point B in Alaska.
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| | When shopping for an Alaskan cruise, look
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| The state has made flight-seeing popular
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| | at the excursions that are offered. Most
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| since so many great natural attractions
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| | cruise ships offer plenty of time for you
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| were best accessed from the air.
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| | to soak up on-board activities, so you
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| Alaska also has a railroad system that
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| | should take advantage of whatever shore
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| was built specifically to show off the
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| | excursions best match your interests.
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| state's enthralling natural beauty.
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| | Want to see polar bears? Go whale
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| Though not extensive, you can travel by
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| | watching? Go fly fishing? Flight-see
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| rail in Alaska in dome-topped luxury club
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| | around a glacier? Shop for native art?
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| cars and see the mountains, valleys, and
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| | Drive a dog sled? Most Alaskan cruises
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| wildlife from the comfort of a luxury
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| | offer great excursions like these.
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| vehicle.
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| | Some cruise shoppers penny pinch for
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| That's not such a very different concept
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| | excursions, but it is usually a better
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| from cruising, where you can sail by
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| | deal to penny pinch on a stateroom.
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| glaciers, mountains, wildlife, and
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| | Here's why. The biggest part of your bill
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| postcard-perfect scenery all without
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| | in seeing Alaska is getting there. That's
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| leaving the comfort of the balcony of
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| | your cruise fare. Once you're there, you
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| your stateroom. (If you like to travel
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| | may be able to flight-see or whale watch
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| inside stateroom to save money, you can
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| | or do other once-in-a-lifetime thing for
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| watch this from the many public rooms on
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| | a few hundred dollars.
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| the ship.)
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| | Think of it this way. If you wanted to go
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| If you cruise to Alaska, expect to find
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| | fishing for Alaskan king salmon, right
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| chilly temperatures, even in summer.
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| | this minute, you'd have to get to Alaska
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| Factor in the breeze off the water and
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| | and then charter a fishing trip.
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| the chill when the sun sets and you can
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| | If you wanted to whale watch today, you'd
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| see why a cruise to Alaska requires you
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| | have to get to Alaska and then book
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| to take what passes for winter wear in
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| | passage on a whale-watching expedition.
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| some of our more southern states.
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| | On the cruise, you're already there.
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| Of course, that has never stopped
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| | You're just paying a supplement or
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| adventurous souls from appreciating
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| | upcharge for these incredible
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| Alaska. The state has a very diverse
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| | experiences. If you have to economize,
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| history. First, it's the only part of the
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| | you're better off making do with a
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| United States that was ever once part of
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| | smaller or inside stateroom and getting
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| Russia. You may find Russian artifacts,
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| | the excursions.
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| habits, and even souvenirs in some
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| | Years from now, you won't remember your
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| places. When Seward bought Alaska for the
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| | cruise so much from what your room was
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| U.S. in the 19th century, the deal was
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| | like but rather the excursions you had.
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