Intimate Cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage

NEW Savings on Majestic America Line’s 2008 Alaska Cruises Aboard Empress of the North

Enjoy outstanding value and an extraordinary, intimate cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage

Majestic America Line is offering superior savings for guests on 2008 Alaska Cruises aboard the luxurious, 223-guest Empress of the North.

All 2008 itineraries which begin April 28, allow guests to enjoy even more scenic cruising, exploring breathtaking glaciers, natural wonders, the majestic grandeur of Alaska’s endless forests, plummeting waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and the rich culture of America’s last frontier.

A special Alaska cruise aboard the Empress of the North departing Juneau, May 24 will be hosted by distinguished sports leader and business entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth. Ueberroth currently serves on the board of directors for Ambassadors International, Inc., the parent company of Majestic America Line.

Guests cruising aboard Empress of the North enjoy modern five-star, award-winning comfort, service, convenience and a sense of adventure. With just 112 staterooms and suites, Empress of the North’s small ship experience provides intimate access to the scenic places, historical events and varied cultures that have shaped the great land and provides guests with a view of the vast wilderness and waterways of Alaska’s Inside Passage that most Alaska cruises miss. Guests will also be captivated by the workings of the ship’s three-story paddlewheel.

On the seven-night cruise, guests visit Alaska’s most colorful ports of call, embarking in Juneau, the capital of Alaska with its nearby Mendenhall Glacier; Sitka, once known as the capital of Russian America; Skagway, with its stories of the Klondike Gold Rush; Petersburg, a Scandinavian-influenced fishing village also called Little Norway; and Wrangell, a picturesque community featuring a wonderful Native Alaskan cultural site.

The cruise also transits Peril Strait, the 22-mile-long Wrangell Narrows and Lynn Canal, North America’s longest glacial fjord. Guests will also have the opportunity to take an unforgettable peek into the mouth of the Stikine River, considered one of the last truly wild rivers in North America. On the final day, the trip culminates with one of the most dramatic travel experiences in the world — Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier and a breathtaking journey through the 26-mile-long Tracy Arm featuring North and South Sawyer Glaciers.

The 12-night cruise from Seattle to Juneau on April 28 and Juneau to Seattle on September 20, include the same ports as the 7-night itinerary along with additional ports of call in Anacortes; Port Angeles, including a high-speed excursion boat to Victoria, British Columbia across the Straight of Juan de Fuca; and Ketchikan.

Empress of the North’s public rooms reflect a Russian Alaskan theme, decorated in royal jewel tones of red, green, gold and black. Expansive art collections throughout the ship display unique Native American artifacts and Russian antiquities such as beautiful and rare Faberge eggs. Every stateroom reveals Russian heritage with elegant furnishings including rich mahogany wardrobes and luxurious velvet draperies.

Staterooms are generously proportioned and public spaces are ample. Nearly 90 percent of these deluxe staterooms feature private verandahs from which guests can enjoy an up-close view of the landscape that has captivated travelers from lands far and wide for hundreds of years.

Exceptional live entertainment, fine dining and warm, attentive service from a friendly American crew are also offered on Empress of the North. Expert onboard naturalists and select shore excursions are included in the cruise price and enrich the Alaska experience.

With a fleet of six U.S.-flagged and built ships, Majestic America Line travels America’s great rivers and coastal waterways from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to the Heartland and the Lower Mississippi. The company’s specially designed ships deliver an unequalled boutique cruise experience that combines an unmatched attention to quality with deluxe comfort and warm, attentive service from an American crew.