BudgetTravel

The Real Deal 14 nights aboard a cruise ship and all meals, from $1,479 per person—plus an estimated $167 in taxes.

When Sept. 12, 2008.

Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (MedioImages/Corbis)

The Fine Print 14 nights aboard a cruise ship, all meals, and 24/7 room service are included. Taxes are an additional $167 per person, plus $140 for fuel surcharges. Based on double occupancy; single supplement starts at $1,479. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By No deadline; based on availability.

Contact CruiseStar.com, 800/662-5450, cruisestar.com.

Why It's a Deal Although this cruise does not include airfare, all your meals, transportation, and entertainment will be provided when you get on the ship. The cost breaks down to about $106 per night. Plus, cruisestar.com is offering a $50 onboard credit for inside cabins and a $100 credit for oceanview cabins, good for any incidentals onboard and for the day excursions.

Trip Details The Ultimate Alaska Cruise includes 14 nights on the Radiance of the Seas, during which you can take advantage of the rock-climbing wall, full-size basketball court, swimming pools, and a solarium decorated with an African theme. The lowest-price cabins are interior staterooms—you'll have two twin beds that can convert into a queen, a sofa, TV, and private bathroom (total area is 165 square feet). Upgrade to an ocean view room for $120 or a deluxe ocean view with balcony for $670.

You'll depart from Vancouver, B.C., at 5 p.m., and sail north to Ketchikan, Alaska, the salmon capital of the world. You'll spend the day here and could choose to visit Totem Bight State Historical Park, which has a beautifully preserved clan house; or hike up Deer Mountain to take in the 360-degree views.

Farther north, you'll disembark in the Alaskan capital, Juneau. A few must-sees are the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, which houses artwork and artifacts dating back to the 1800s; Mendenhall Glacier is approximately 12 miles long and 1.5 miles wide and makes for a beautiful photo op. Plus, you can ride the Mount Roberts Tramway and make the six-minute trek to the top of Mount Roberts, 1,800 feet above Juneau.

You'll spend the next day in Skagway, known as the Gateway to the Klondike. Here you can hike the Chilkoot Trail, an important access route during the gold rush of the 1890s.

As you are cruising for the next two days, you'll pass by 75-mile-long Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America. You'll also see the Icy Strait, an important area for biodiversity in Alaska. Here you have a good chance of seeing endangered humpback whales.

The next port of call is Sitka, which has historic Russian cathedrals and buildings, hiking trails, and a national park. Sitka also boasts the 17-acre Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, which provides medical treatment to almost 200 birds a year, including bald eagles. You can watch the birds-in-residence or stay for an educational program.