An unlikely cruise - Luxury Cruise Holiday - By: Lulie Swanepoel

When people say that they are going on a luxury cruise holiday, you imagine it to be somewhere in the Mediterranean sea or another exotic location, but when I heard about going on a cruise in Alaska, I thought that although a bit untraditional, it is something you need to experience at least once in your lifetime!

Mercury
My friend Daniel joined me aboard the Mercury, a ten deck vessel extraordinaire and our home for the next seven nights. All the rooms were designed with a Celebrity signature and the one Daniel and I were sharing was a mix of sleek sophistication and an Art Deco style. It was glamour from top to bottom.

There were state-of-the-art theatres and we were informed that they have lavish Broadway and Las Vegas productions on regularly. There were six bars, four restaurants, four whirlpools, one indoor pool, a gym, beauty salon, disco and entertainment house. Basically everything luxurious you could think of to ensure that while you are on a ship, you never for one single minute are bored. But with all that said, Mercury was still a ship through and through, and although she had enough entertainment that some would classify as a big amusement park, I would have to say, far from it.

The experience
While sitting on deck, you slowly sail pass the miraculous splendour of the Alaskan wilderness. We saw humpback whales following us for awhile before changing their directions. Daniel and I were both very happy when we got the chance to see wolf pups playing around in the snow. As animal enthusiasts, it was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip. We sat there, taking photos and enjoying the animals’ play that was happening before us for as long as possible. They eventually moved more inland and the Mercury continued on her trip.

There were guides and naturalists on deck, explaining and answering any questions the tourists might have. With intimate detail they gave us some of the history and explanations of the geography of Alaska, a country that really deserves all the respect it receives.

A little cold
On the days when the weather was colder than usual, we spent it inside, spoiling ourselves at the beauty spa or simply enjoy a lazy day next to the indoor pool. Even then, I didn’t feel bored for one single moment. How could you when you are surrounded with tourists from around the world, a good friend and all the grandeur the Mercury had to offer.

We spent the evenings either seeing one of the theatre productions or trying our luck at the poker table. Daniel proved to be luckier in that department then me though. Every night we had dinner at one of the four restaurants, and as can be expected, the food was of the highest standards.

Just before Daniel and I left for our trip, somebody asked me why go on a cruise to Alaska? My answer was: “Why not”. Alaska is one of the world’s most magical places, with diverse nature. There are sparkling lakes, glaciers and majestic mountains. You experience what it really feels like to breath in fresh air. The Alaskan wilderness gives you the sense of true freedom and for this simple reason, Alaska is exactly the spot to enjoy a luxury cruise holiday!

About the Author

CompuTravel specializes in providing luxury cruise holidays for the South African market . CompuTravel serves as an online South African travel agent, boasting highly professional experts with years in the tourism and hospitality industries.

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