Alaska Discovery

SJ
Stevie Jay Travel LLC
  • Email address verified
72 reviews
Jul 3 - 14, 2024
Group size: 1 - 13
Alaska Discovery
Fairbanks

Stevie Jay Travel LLC
  • Email address verified
72 reviews

Jul 3 - 14, 2024
Group size: 1 - 13

About this trip

Cruise the Sternwheeler Discovery and encounter Alaska’s diverse culture and rich history. Ride a luxury domed railcar from Denali to Talkeetna, and soak in views of the incredible landscapes from glass-ceiling railcars and open-air observation platforms as guides provide expert commentary. Travel into Denali National Park for the best opportunities to view the region’s wildlife. Traverse the Pacific coast by land and sea aboard one of Holland America Cruise Lines’ lovely ships on a breathtaking journey from Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia. Cruise through Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, taking in rugged natural wonders. Explore Alaska’s gorgeous capital, Juneau. Visit Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of the World.” This is Alaska, as you always imagined.


Unlike other tours, Collette includes some meals on the land portion plus all scrumptious meals aboard the ship. Likewise, Collette provides features that are optional extras with ordinary packages: a dinner show at Denali and the Wildlife Conservation Center at Girdwood on the Seward highway. The Collette tour manager is with you all the way: from Fairbanks to Vancouver.

Highlights

• Leave right Champaign • Collette tour manager • Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Discovery • Music of Denali Dinner Theater • Denali National Park • Tundra Wilderness Tour • Luxury Domed Rail • Anchorage • Hubbard Glacier • Glacier Bay • Skagway • Juneau • Ketchikan • Inside Passage • Collette Vacations' 105 years of experience

Details*

*All prices are per person based on double occupancy. Collette Vacations operates the cruise tour as a disclosed principal. The deposit is $739 per person. Tour balance is due 3/3/24—call with credit card information or mail a check to Stevie Jay Travel LLC, 4413 Trostshire Cir, Champaign, IL 61822. The document required is a  valid passport. Click for a printable flier about this Collette Vacation leaving from Champaign.

• Insurance coverage available is Collette Vacation's Travel Protection Plan for $599/person—click for coverage details, covering cancellation charges, etc. Other terms and conditions at steviejaytravel.com/terms are incorporated by reference. Travelers handle their baggage at airports. Collette handles baggage at all hotels and for the cruise. Price and details are subject to change. Acct#240703 062023 12:27

This cruise tour is Activity Level 1

You’re a leisurely traveler. You typically take it easy and discover the energy of a new place by people-watching or soaking in the atmosphere at a local café. You can climb at least one flight of stairs, board a coach and walk unassisted at a relaxed pace for up to 60 minutes without difficulty, covering up to one mile. You can easily handle altitudes up to 5,000 feet.

Travel Protection Plan

Get Your Money Back. Any Reason, Every Tour. No Blackout Dates or Restrictions. Make Your Travel Plans Confidently. Go ahead and book that dream trip because when you purchase our industry-leading Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and get your money back – up to 24 hours before your trip departs. We’ve offered this plan for decades to give our travelers assurance every step of the way – with no blackout windows or hidden restrictions.


In addition to covering you for pre-trip cancellation, our Travel Protection Plan also includes the following benefits: • Travel Delay Support (daily stipend) • Trip Interruption (if you need to end your trip early) • Baggage Loss or Delay • Missed Connections (if you purchased air) • Medical Expenses for Illness or Injury • Emergency Assistance 

Refund does not include the Travel Protection Plan cost of $599 per person. Click for details.

Departure Note

If Collette assigns an early flight from Chicago/O'Hare, that gives you more time in Fairbanks. But it would require a Champaign departure in the wee hours. We recommend going up the afternoon or evening before (6/11/24) to stay in an O'Hare airport hotel so you will be fresh when flying. That will be at your cost (estimated $110/room, not per person).

Dress Code

All days on the land tour are casual. On board the ship, there are five casual evenings and two formal evenings (or alternate dining is a free option if you do not want to dress for dinner those two nights). It is a tradition to dress up for the Captain's Welcome Aboard and Farewell Dinners.

Experience Denali National Park

In 1917, Alaska named its first national park Mount McKinley National Park, and nearly 70 years later, the park was expanded and renamed Denali National Park. This vast land has a fascinating ecosystem and is more than a park — it is a wildlife reserve. And perhaps its biggest claim to fame is the home to North America’s highest peak, Denali, ascending more than 20,000 feet. This massive park is now more than 6 million acres, an area that can be compared to the size of Massachusetts. The park is home to nearly forty varieties of mammals, but the most popular residents are moose, caribou, wolves, and brown and grizzly bears. Denali is Alaska’s heartland, bringing you close to its majestic beauty and natural wonders.

Accommodations (11) nights

Westmark Hotel (1) Fairbanks, AK

McKinley Chalet Resort (2) Denali National Park, AK

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Talkeetna, AK

Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam  (7) Cruise from Whittier, AK to Vancouver, BC, Canada

On some dates alternate hotels may be used. 

Book securely 24/7 online

Book securely 24/7 online by clicking the green "Select" button above. Or call Bill Owen 9-5 Mon-Sat 217 619-0202. If you wait too long and the trip sells out, you can join the Waiting List without obligation; click the green "Select" button.

What’s included

  • Round trip
    transportation from Champaign to Chicago
  • Round trip flights
    Chicago-Fairbanks & Vancouver-Chicago
  • Round trip
    transportation from airport to hotels & cruise ship
  • All current taxes & fees
    for flights, hotels, ports, and cruise (subject to change)
  • Accommodations
    Resorts & Holland America Line cruise ship
  • 26 Meals
    11 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches & 8 Dinners
  • Features
    Sternwheeler Discovery in Fairbanks, Tundra Wilderness Tour & Dinner Show, both in Denali, Luxury Domed Rail Car to Talkeenta, and Wildlife Conservation Center
  • Tour manager
    from Collette is with you from Fairbanks to Vancouver, taking care of baggage handling, transportation, sightseeing, and admissions per itinerary
  • Early bird discount
    of $100 per person is reflected in prices shown if booked by 1/3/24 and before our allotted cabins sell out.

What’s not included

  • Checked baggage fees
    $35 for each of the two flights
  • Optional excursions
    during free time on land tour and port visits on the cruise
  • Tips
    (suggested amounts) Collette tour manager $5-8 per day; Driver $3-5 per day; One local guide $2-3..
  • Cruise Staff Gratuities
    Holland America will put a $15.50 per traveler, per day charge on your shipboard account for the cruise staff members that serve you.
  • Travel Protection Plan
    $599

Available Packages

Interior Stateroom

Room for two people. On the cruise portion, the stateroom has no window.

An early bird discount of $100 per person is reflected in this price if booked by 1/3/24 and before our allotted cabins sell out.

$5,829
Deposit:$898
Oceanview Stateroom

Room for two people. On the cruise portion, the stateroom has a window.

An early bird discount of $100 per person is reflected in this price if booked by 1/3/24 and before our allotted cabins sell out.

$6,329
Deposit:$898
Veranda Stateroom

Room for two people. On the cruise portion, the stateroom has a sliding glass door to your own private veranda with a table and chairs where you can have coffee and take in the scenery.

An early bird discount of $100 per person is reflected in this price if booked by 1/3/24 and before our allotted cabins sell out.

$7,329
Deposit:$898

Available options

Travel Protection Plan
$599

Collette Vacations' TPP is described here and must be purchased with the deposit to be effective. If not purchased, you must sign a waiver.

Single Supplement, Interior Stateroom
$3,000

If wanting hotel rooms & the cruise stateroom to yourself, choose this option. But not if you are booking separately from your roommate.

Single Supplement, Oceanview Stateroom
$3,400

If wanting hotel rooms & the cruise stateroom to yourself, choose this option. But not if you are booking separately from your roommate.

Single Supplement, Veranda Stateroom
$4,000

If wanting hotel rooms & the cruise stateroom to yourself, choose this option. But not if you are booking separately from your roommate.



Itinerary

Day 1, Wednesday 7/3/24
Champaign-Chicago/O'Hare-Fairbanks

Board our Collette vehicle to Chicago/O'Hare and then fly to Fairbanks. Your Collette tour director welcomes you to the great state of Alaska, on an adventure that brings together the best of both land and sea.


Photo: Fairbanks' Trans Alaska Pipeline

Your Organizer


SJ
Stevie Jay Travel LLC
72 reviews
Stevie Jay has been leading tours and broadcasting in radio for decades now. He's crazy about his wife, Janet, and their four kids. Bill Owen has been designing custom tours for 51 years and lives in an olive grove. Stevie Jay 217 840 9913; Bill 217 619-0202. Our home page is at www.steviejaytravel.com.

Reviews

My mother and I went together on this trip and had a wonderful time. Our representative from Stevie Jay Travel was excellent - very responsive and a delight to work with. Our hosts were amazing (Alaina and Larry Kanfer). We enjoyed the group that we traveled with and the locations that were selected were perfect. On the Sail Croatia yacht, several of the crew members were exceptional and I really liked our guide. The food was very good and they were all very cognizant of my gluten restriction. I had a really nice time.
By Sarah G for Croatia Yacht on Oct 30, 2024
KW
One of the best trips ever! Everything was well-planned with a great balance of structured and free time. The group was great- really made the trip extra special. “Exceeded expectations”!
By Kathryn W for Croatia Yacht on Oct 30, 2024
This trip was exceptionally well planned. The initial stay at a lovely hotel gave additional opportunity for exploring and jetlag recovery. The time aboard ship was above and beyond what I expected. The perfect combination of time at leisure, excellent food, congenial companions (and crew) mixed with stops that included beautiful and fascinating sights and the chance to get a lot of exercise. We enjoyed it so much.
By Jeana M for Croatia Yacht on Oct 29, 2024
AE
I had another great experience with this travel agency. Our leaders, Larry and Alaina Kanfer were outstanding in every way. Especially liked the chocolate factory experience and the farm to table dinner in the vineyard. Croatia was incredibly beautiful and breathtaking! The small yacht and its crew were so accommodating and delightful. Would definitely recommend this trip!
By Alice E for Croatia Yacht on Oct 26, 2024
It was a fabulous trip, the yacht was fantastic, even better than I imagined, food was delicious, the crew was so polite, kept everything very clean and tidy, assisted us with so many things and knew English well. Everything about this trip was outstanding! I had a great time!
By Vicki T for Croatia Yacht on Oct 22, 2024
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