Alaska Native Voices Heritage Guides.
Experts and authors in Alaskan Native history; fishing and cooking; and ecosystems round out Cunard’s Insights Program when Queen Elizabeth sails to Alaska.
VALENCIA, CALIF. – Luxury cruise line Cunard announced culturally-rich onboard programming for 2019 voyages as the legendary brand returns to Alaska to offer its iconic experience in 'The Last Frontier.'
Queen Elizabeth will sail four 10-night roundtrip Alaska voyages out of Vancouver departing May 21, 31, June 10 and 20, 2019 with port calls in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Icy Strait Point and Victoria. Highlights include scenic cruising through the famous Inside Passage, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Hubbard Glacier.
"For our return to Alaska, Queen Elizabeth will bring Cunard's iconic luxury experience to one of the most magnificent places in the world," said Josh Leibowitz, SVP Cunard North America. "More than our signature Gala evenings and award-winning White Star Service, our team has curated some of the most interesting and engaging speakers to join our Insights program in Alaska. Our guests will have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding about Alaska and its breathtaking landscape, rich cultural heritage and local cuisine."
Cunard's new Alaska Insights programming will include:
- Dr. Rachel Cartwright, an award-winning naturalist with 20 years' experience in Alaska. Author of "Alaska Cruise Companion: A Naturalist's Guide to the Inside Passage" and renowned expert on the behaviors of humpback whale mothers and their calves, Dr. Cartwright will offer presentations on the Alaskan ecosystem including whales, marine life and glaciers. Dr. Cartwright will also offer expert commentary live from the bridge during scenic cruising throughout the Inside Passage on all 2019 Alaska itineraries.
- Alaska Native Voices along with members of the Huna Tinglet tribe, a group native to Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, will offer lectures and workshops about their history, culture, and storytelling while cruising the Alaskan coastline. On all 2019 Alaska voyage, guests will have more opportunity to learn about Alaska's indigenous people at an information center hosted by cultural heritage guides onboard Queen Elizabeth.
- LaDonna Rose Gundersen, commercial fisherwoman and cookbook author, will be sharing her experiences and expertise with guests onboard the May 20, 2019 Alaska voyage (Q915B). A fisherwoman in Alaska for more than two decades, Gundersen has made a career out of catching and cooking delicious salmon and other fish using simple ingredients while at sea. She will be joined by her husband Ole Gundersen, a fellow fisherman and accomplished photographer known for his images inspired by life in Alaska.
Other festivities onboard Queen Elizabeth during her time in Alaska will include:
- Live bridge commentary to narrate scenic cruising areas
- Dedicated Alaska in-room entertainment, including Emmy Award-winning documentary series "The Ketchikan Story"
- Complimentary blankets and hot cocoa on deck for taking in the beauty of the Alaska coastline
Cunard will also offer Rocky Mountaineer rail tours pre- and post- voyage in Alaska, which include either three- or five- nights' accommodation and two full days aboard the train. The expedition travels through a spectacular array of scenery including the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, winding river canyons, mountain passes and remarkable tunnels.
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