ALASKA FROM 5-STAR CRUISE TO WILDERNESS LODGE

An out-of-the-ordinary 12-night package to Alaska on a range of dates from May to September next year includes a week aboard the 5-star mega-liner Diamond Princess, three nights in national park wilderness lodge accommodation, another in Anchorage, and a day train-trip in an Ultradome car of Alaska’s scenic Midnight Sun Express.

And including return air and taxes from Sydney, all meals and entertainment during the week aboard Diamond Princess, it’s priced through ecruising.travel from as low as $4289pp twin-share* – almost half the original $8249pp.

There are eight departures between May 28 and September 3 2011* with Diamond Princess sailing out of Vancouver for Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, a cruise of Glacier Bay and another of College Fjord, and Anchorage.

The Midnight Sun Express then takes guests into the Denali National Park for two nights at the Princess Wilderness Lodge that includes a Natural History Tour of the Park, a visit to Mt McKinley National Park and another night back at the Wilderness Lodge, then by luxury coach on day-11 back to Anchorage for a night there before the flight back to Sydney.

For full details phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel.  *The $4289pp twin-share package departs on May 28 2011; prices vary slightly on other dates.

FURTHER SHIPBOARD INFORMATION: The 116,000-tonne Diamond Princess offers a choice of Traditional Dining, Anytime Dining, Speciality or Casual Dining, a 24-hour buffet and 24-hour complimentary room service.

There’s a range of bars and lounges, a live-stage theatre, late-release movies, casino, internet café and Kids and Teens Clubs. She also has two pools, hot tubs, swim-against-the-current lap pool, jogging track, spa, gym and fitness area, 9-hole putting course and a library.