The lure of Alaska, both for North Americans and international visitors, lies in its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and colorful Native American culture, along with the state’s pioneering spirit. When you wake up in the middle of the night on a cruise and look out to see the light of a single cabin in miles of pitch-black darkness, you get a glimpse into the self-sufficiency of the Alaskan way of life today.

Cruise lines have been very skilled at getting their passengers access to the Alaskan way of life by bringing Alaskans onboard and taking guests into the Great Land to see its immense beauty in greater depth. Of the state’s regions, the most traveled to is the Inside Passage, variously measured from 800-1,300 miles in length. It consists of a series of passages along the coast, most of which are places sheltered by islands from the open Pacific Ocean, reaching into the fjords at its northern end. Most of the passage is in southeastern Alaskan Panhandle, some of it is located in British Columbia and a little part of it also lies in Washington.

The Alaska portion of the Inside Passage contains approximately 1,000 islands, thousands of coves and towns that bears strong traces of the state’s colorful history: Haines, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway and Wrangell.

List of cruise lines sailing Alaska for the 2011 season:

Disney Cruise Line

For the first time, Disney Cruise Line will enter the Alaska market with the 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder sailing seven-day cruises roundtrip from Vancouver and visiting Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan from $2,086 per person.

Holland America Line
Holland America Line’s 2011 Alaska season will continue the line’s new 14-day Alaskan Adventurer itinerary, introduced this year aboard the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam. The cruise is roundtrip from Seattle and includes Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park on most sailings, along with Tracy Arm, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka and Victoria, priced from $1,999 per person.

Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has announced that Glacier Bay National Park has been added to select 2011 sailings of the 2,600-passenger Golden Princess for the seven-day Inside Passage itinerary. The itinerary, which sails roundtrip from Seattle, calls in Juneau, Ketchikan, Tracy Arm and Victoria, and is priced from $649 per person.

Royal Caribbean International
Among Royal Caribbean International’s offerings are seven-night Alaska Northbound/Southbound cruises between Vancouver and Seward onboard the 2,500-passenger Radiance of the Seas. Priced from $635 per person, it visits Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway and the Hubbard Glacier.

Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises’ 382-passenger Silver Shadow will sail seven-day cruises between Seward and Vancouver from $3,558 per person, with visits to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka