At 20,320 feet, Denali, also called Mt. McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America. Appropriately, its name means "the high one" in the language of the local Athabaskan people. Denali and its national park are a big draw for Alaska tourists, and some cruise lines offer multi-day excursions to the park.
Holland America line's selections include a Denali helicopter tour, heli-hiking, driving the Denali Highway and backcountry Jeep tours in the national park. Cruises depart from Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., and range in length from seven to 14 days.
Princess offers a special series called "Alaska Cruisetours" which include a seven-day cruise and at least two nights spent in lodges owned by Princess. The packages include train service between the ship and Denali. Princess offers numerous activities for participants at Denali, including hiking, fishing, river rafting and dog-sledding. The Cruisetours range in length from 10 to 15 nights; all depart from Vancouver, B.C.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers "Alaska Pre-Cruise Land Tours," which include two nights of lodging in Denali National Park and a wilderness tour. NCL's Alaska cruises depart from Vancouver, B.C., and Seattle.
Cruise West operates small ships that offer an alternative to what the company calls the "floating mall" that is the typical cruise ship. Its ships hold no more than 138 passengers, while larger cruise ships may carry up to 3,500 people. Cruise West offers three Denali excursions; lodging for the excursions includes the 15-room North Face Lodge or the remote log cabins at the Kantishna Roadhouse. The Denali excursions include tours and activities.
