WHY CRUISE ALASKA WITH MARC HOROVITZ, EDITOR OF GARDEN RAILWAYS MAGAZINE?
Traveling with Marc will offer you some of the best clinics and lectures on garden railroads. His guest instructors are Jack Verducci and Vance Bass, no strangers to the world of garden railways! They invite you to join them and other fellow garden railroad enthusiasts on this exciting cruise!
There are
many different ways to see Alaska and
Princess does it best on their Voyage of the Glaciers.
Wind through sheltered inlets, coves and forest-covered islands to frontier
ports dusted with gold rush lore. Then trace the rugged, mountainous south
central coast. Where others turn back, you’ll cruise onward to marvels you
really should see – Prince
William Sound and the
mighty Gulf of Alaska. You’ll enjoy a full day of scenic
cruising in Glacier Bay National Park. Linger in the footprint of shimmering ice sculptures three
stories high. Margerie, Pacific and Johns Hopkins carve massive icebergs right
before your eyes. And College Fjord takes center stage with 16 performers held
over from the Pleistocene Age….all with the narration of the Glacier Bay Ranger
Naturalist!
Have your binoculars and cameras ready!
MARC
HOROVITZ
Marc Horovitz has had an interest in model trains
for over 50 years and in garden railroading for about 30. He has traveled
extensively in the US and abroad, viewing and
photographing all types of garden railways. He has produced three videotapes
and co-authored two books on the subject. Marc
is the founder and editor of GARDEN RAILWAYS magazine and will give lectures on
garden railroading history and garden railways today. He will also give a
presentation on the building of miniature stone walls and conduct a hands-on
workshop on building an outhouse.
VANCE BASS
Vance Bass has been a columnist and technical editor for Garden Railways since
2000. He had O and HO trains as a child, then began building and customizing
car models as a teen. After discovering pre-WWII tinplate in college, he began
collecting streamlined model trains from the 1930s. About the time his son was
born, Garden Railways began publication and he soon got his first garden scale
trains. He taught his son the skills of scratchbuilding - drawing plans,
tools, working with wood and metal - and they have attended many live steam
gatherings together with their locos. His recent interest has been researching
the history of American-made locomotives in countries around the world. He
will give a visual presentation of jewels from his hundreds of antique
locomotive photographs from Baldwin, Alco, Lima
and others. He will lead a hands-on workshop on using expanded styrene board
and corrugated aluminum to make lineside buildings, from sheds to grain
elevators.
JACK VERDUCCI
Jack Verducci
has been building models since childhood. In the 1970s he became interested in
model railroading and built several small-scale layouts over the years. In 1987
Jack became interested in garden railroading. In 1988 he started building his
Crystal Springs Railroad and has since developed his own style of garden
railroading. In 1992, after selling his manufacturing business, Jack started
building garden railroads professionally. He has designed and built over 60
railroads since then. Jack is a hands-on builder and has a wealth of experience
to share. Building outdoor structures, surveying, track ballasting, maintaining
the grade, trestles on the garden railway and live steam operations will be the
topics for Jacks lectures, along with conducting an interactive general panel
discussion with Marc and Vance on garden railroading.
Sapphire Princess At 113,000 tons, she debuted in May 2004 as a sister ship to the elegant Diamond Princess. This jewel of a ship is filled with innovative features and luxurious amenities, the kind you'd expect from a first class hotel: from 24-hour room service to chocolates on your pillow at night. Swim in one of four sparkling pools, shop the boutiques or get a massage in the Lotus Spa. Dine casually on pizza and burgers or more elegantly in one of the many formal dining rooms and specialty restaurants. Visit www.PrincessCruises.com for all of the details regarding this voyage!
NORTHBOUND VOYAGE OF THE GLACIERS ITINERARY
|
Sat 08/23 |
Relax and enjoy the luxury of shipboard living as the Sapphire Princess sails from VANCOUVER, British Columbia. Need to be on board ship by 2:30pm for 4:30pm sailing. |
|
Sun 08/24 |
At SEA with clinics and lectures presented by Marc, Jack & Vance |
|
Mon 08/25 |
Arrive KETCHIKAN, a bustling town with wooden sidewalks, rustic buildings, and cabins nestled high in the forested hills. As you stroll through the “First City” make sure you visit the former red-light district called Creek Street, now known for its collection of unique shops and galleries. |
|
Tue 08/26 |
Welcome to JUNEAU, the enchanting capital of Alaska. Although this friendly community is a gateway to innumerable natural attractions, the town itself is interesting in its own right. Founded on the promise of gold in the latter part of the 19th century, Juneau eventually yielded immense profit before the last gold mine closed during World War II. |
|
Wed 08/27 |
Arrive SKAGWAY, gateway to the great Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. JOIN MARC, JACK & VANCE as they board the WHITE PASS & YUKON RR and head for the White Pass summit! No other railroad is quite like the White Pass & Yukon Route. Against all odds, the iron trail was carved through some of the North’s most rugged terrain in 1898. This engineering railroad wonder climbs nearly 3,000 feet over 20 miles of steep grades and cliff-hanging turns. Relax in the train’s old-fashioned parlor cars as you retrace the original route to the White Pass summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. Enjoy a breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, train trestles and historic sites. See the original Klondike Trail of ‘98 worn into the rocks, a permanent tribute to the thousands of souls who passed this way in search of fortune. A special visit to the train yards in Skagway is being arranged just for our group, along with a visit to Jewell Gardens and their G-Scale model garden railroad that incorporates the town of Skagway as it looked 100 years ago and even has a tent city! |
|
Thu 08/28 |
At SEA with clinics and lectures presented by Marc, Jack & Vance, while cruising scenic GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK |
|
Fri 08/29 |
At SEA with clinics and lectures presented by Marc, Jack & Vance, while cruising scenic COLLEGE FJORD. |
|
Sat 08/30 |
Arrive at the port of Whittier. Approximate 1 to 1 1/2 hr. drive to Anchorage Airport. Scheduled airline departures should be no earlier than 1:30pm. |
Please
note:
All balcony cabins on the Fall 2006 Garden Railway Cruise were sold-out in
January 2006 and the entire ship was sold out a month later…so don’t delay
if you’d like to join Marc, Jack and Vance on this exciting Alaska adventure!
YOUR CRUISE PRICE INCLUDES:
Stateroom on the Sapphire Princess
All meals and entertainment on board
All ports of call & fjord cruising
All Port charges and government fees
All clinics and workshops with Marc Horovitz, Jack Verducci & Vance Bass
All supplies
for the workshops
Ride on the Whitepass & Yukon RR, visits to Jewell Gardens and train yards in Skagway
Private cocktail party
Professional tour escort
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CLINICS AND GROUP ACTIVITES,
THIS CRUISE MUST BE BOOKED WITH TRAVELING TOGETHER, INC.
|
Category |
An initial deposit of $700 per person is required for the cruise.
Description |
Cost Per Person Double Occ |
Cost Per Person Single Occ |
|
JJ |
Inside cabin, 2 lower beds or queen |
$1872 |
$2341 |
|
I |
Inside cabin, 2 lower beds or queen |
$1899 |
$2397 |
|
FF |
Oceanview (obstructed view), 2 lower beds or queen |
$2219 |
$2893 |
|
E |
Oceanview (partially obstructed view), 2 lower beds or queen |
$2292 |
$2998 |
|
EE |
Oceanview, 2 lower beds or queen |
$2363 |
$3097 |
|
D |
Oceanview, 2 lower beds or queen |
$2454 |
$3257 |
|
BC |
Balcony cabin, 2 lower beds or queen |
$2553 |
$3954 |
|
BB |
Balcony cabin, 2 lower beds or queen |
$2583 |
$3989 |
|
BA |
Balcony cabin, 2 lower beds or queen |
$2597 |
$4083 |
The prices of the cruise and the optional Inland Alaska Train Tour do not include airfare.
Please call Northwood Travel at 1-800-780-0571 for a quote, only. Once you have booked your trip, you will be notified when it is time to book your airfare. PLEASE NOTE THE CRUISE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Princess Transfer costs:
CRUISE ONLY: Princess offers a transfer from Vancouver Airport to the ship when your flight arrives no later than 1:30pm on August 23, for $20.00 pp. The cost of the Princess bus transfer from the port of Whittier to Anchorage Airport (approx. 1 to 1 ½ hour drive) on the morning the ship arrives in Whittier, may be purchased for $55.00 pp and your scheduled flight departure should be no earlier than 1:30pm.
CRUISE AND INLAND TRAIN EXTENSION: Princess offers a transfer from Vancouver Airport to the ship when your flight arrives no later than 1:30pm on the day the ship departs, for $20.00 pp. Your transfer from the ship to the Anchorage hotel is included in the price of the train tour.
Since you are already going to be in Anchorage, Alaska at the end of the cruise,
consider joining us for the
Optional Inland Alaska Train Tour to Denali & Fairbanks, Aug 30 to Sep 03, 2008
TRANSFER DAY, SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 We disembark the Sapphire Princess in Whittier and transfer to the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in downtown Anchorage. Recognized as a four-time All-America City, Anchorage is a modern city surrounded by spectacular wildnerness and six mountain ranges. Our hotel is centrally located, within walking distance of the many Alaskan arts and crafts galleries and the Anchorage Museum.
DAY 1, SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 This morning we journey between the mountains of the spectacular Alaska and Talkeetna ranges on an incomparable sightseeing experience aboard the McKinley Explorer railcars. Luxurious glass-domed observation cars carry you along the rails of the historic Alaska Railroad. Take in the wide-open scenery as you travel through the Matanuska Valley, a farming region known for mammoth vegetables, past colorful towns like Wasilla, billed as the "Home of the Iditarod", along scenic rivers like the Susitna, which means "Mother River", and across Hurricane Gulch, where the train slows to 5 miles per hour to cross over the trestle built over the creek 296 feet below. During the trip, relax with a cocktail in the observation lounge or enjoy leisurely dining service for breakfast or lunch. Weather permitting; Mt. McKinley will be visible in all its glory! By late afternoon the train arrives in Denali National Park. The sun sets late this time of year in Alaska and you can choose from a wide range of optional activities like river rafting, helicopter flight seeing, or horseback riding. For an entertaining way to top off the day, enjoy the optional Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre.
DAY 2, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 01 There will be many optional tours and activities available to you while at Denali. One of the most popular options is a natural history tour of the park. The tour is fully narrated and travels to Primrose Ridge at Mile 17 within Denali National Park and Preserve. With a focus on the rich, cultural history of the park, your driver/naturalist will provide a great introduction to the landscape, geology and history of Denali National Park. This afternoon we re-board the train and travel deeper into Alaska's interior. This portion of the route includes many scenic highlights including the town of Nenana, where Nenana Ice Classic competitors attempt to predict the date of ice breakup on the river, and the Mears Memorial Bridge, which is one of the largest single span railroad bridges in the United States. There's time for dinner in the elegant dining car before arriving in Fairbanks and transferring to the Bridgewater Hotel in downtown Fairbanks.
DAY 3, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 02 This morning we board the Riverboat Discovery, an authenic Alaskan sternwheeler, for a three-and-a-half hour cruise that will take us into the heart of Alaska and the heart of a family who has made the rivers of Alaska a way of life for four generations. You will see a bush plane taking off from a "bush" style runway, stop at the home and kennels of four time Iditarod winner Susan Butcher, witness the "wedding of the rivers," and gain insight into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture. Alaskan Native guides who have worked and lived in Alaska will take you on a personalized tour of the Chena Indian Village. Our next stop is the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North, where you will be introduced to Alaska’s five major geographic regions in highlights of the objects and artifacts, people, wildlife, geography and history of each region. A visit to Alaska would not be complete without a stop at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, with an informative talk about this amazing 800-mile-long pipeline system that has successfully transported over 15 billion barrels of oil since it’s startup in 1977. Then it’s time to enjoy an Alaskan Salmon Bake with all the trimmin’s, before returning to the hotel.
DAY 4, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 03 Transportation will be provided to the Fairbanks airport for your flights back to the lower 48.
$1,286 per person, double occupancy
$ 438 single supplement
(A deposit of $300 per person is required for the train tour)
Included in the post-cruise tour:
YOUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
*All hotels
*All transfers
*All group activities
*Domed train
*Alaska Salmon Bake
Avoid disappointment!
BOOK EARLY, Space is limited!
Be sure to visit:
Garden
Railways at www.gardenrailways.com
Sidestreet Bannerworks at www.Sidestreetbannerworks.com