Alaskan Explorer

Expect the unexpected on our Alaska glacier cruises and Alaska Inside Passage cruises - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. The only thing predictable about one of our premier, week-long Alaska cruises is exquisite service, exciting excursions and a magnificent transport through the last great wilderness.

This roundtrip cruise out of Seattle highlights the best of Southeast Alaska and also makes a stop in British Columbia's charming capital during the week-long voyage.

From the Pacific Northwest into an endless horizon of forested islands and sheltering mountain peaks to the glaciers of Ketchikan, Juneau and beyond, you'll return to Seattle with a new collection of memories and stories on one of our Alaska Inside Passage and Alaska glacier cruises.

All cruise prices are per person, cruise only, and based on double occupancy. Port charges may be included - click price for details. Additional government taxes and fees are not included. All prices are subject to change as often as daily and are based on availability at the time of the booking. Certain restrictions apply. Ship's registry: Netherlands

Holland America Line

All cruise lines in the world will tell you they're the best. That they offer the best food, the best entertainment, the best ships. But there is one cruise line that lives up to its boast: Holland America Line... recognized time and time again as the "best premium cruise line" and "best overall cruise value." What must a cruise line do to earn such acclaim? Big things you would expect of a great cruise line. And little things that make Holland America Line the Premium Cruise Line. Escape depends on leaving a world of routine, regiment and restrictions behind and entering a carefree, graceful world where everything seems to exist for you alone. Such is the world of Holland America Line, recognized time and time again as the "best premium cruise line" - and for seven years running, the "best overall cruise value." High praise, indeed. Yet, we earn every accolade with the kind of service you simply won't find on any other cruise line. When, for instance, was the last time a bartender poured your favorite beer into a tall glass, frosted as it should be? When a waiter dutifully noted that you prefer regular coffee with breakfast, decaf after dinner, and served both in a Rosenthal china cup? When someone brought fresh fruit to your room every day, and turned down your bed each night, placing a chocolate medallion on your pillow? In addition to the big things you would expect of a great cruise line, these are some of the little things that make Holland America Line the Premium Cruise Line.

Cycling Czech Republic

All bicycle tours follow a solid surface (tarmac), and are well suited for a hybrid bike. Only
a few short sections go over easy terrain with fine gravel surface. For this reason we
don’t recommend using a road bike. In the Czech Republic there is a dense network of
small 3rd class roads ideal for cycling. The surface is of good quality and there is little
traffic. If a cyclist should cross a busy road, the route guide will always warn you of the
situation.

Cycling Czech Republic - daily sections

The average riding distance per day is about 50 km / 32 miles. We don’t recommend
exceeding 70 km / 45 miles per day. There is not enough time then to see noteworthy sites, which would be a great shame. Our desire is to offer a balanced tour, with ample time for you to absorb what’s going on around you and to relax.

One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours in Europe

One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours in Europe

Travel with European bike tour companies and choose from more than 150 guided and self-guided tours in nearly 30 countries.

BikeToursDirect represents European bicycle tour companies, which means excellent variety, reasonable prices and frequent departures. We don't mark up their prices–the rates you see here are identical to those on their sites. We handle all bookings and payments.

Bike Tours in Italy!

Tuscany and Umbria

This tour has been carefully designed to capture the essence of the Tuscan and Umbrian experience (think of places such as Siena, Montalcino, Pienza, Spello and Assisi!). We have selected absolutely stunning accommodations, include superb meals, wine tastings, personalized walking tours of Siena and Assisi…and you will be led by talented, engaging and very experienced bilingual Italian guides, whose intimate knowledge and love of all things, places and people Italian will assure that your vacation is a visual, culinary, and cultural delight.

The hotels are exquisite. Each was carefully selected by us not only for their superior quality but also to ensure that you are always staying within the city walls so you can stroll the narrow cobbled streets, visit the shops, see the sights at your leisure, and truly immerse yourself in all the day-to-day Italian experiences that make this a true adventure. Il Chiostro del Carmine is one of the few small elite hotels within the walls of Siena; every room at Hotel Dei Capitani in Montalcino offers endless views over the Tuscan countryside; Hotel Relais Il Chiostro de Pienza, located in the heart of the Renaissance town of Pienza, is surely one of Italy’s finest; and La Bastiglia, in Spello enjoys fame as both a superb hotel and as one of Umbria’s most highly acclaimed restaurants.

We have taken great care to develop a tour that offers you the full pleasures of the sunny and enchanting Tuscan countryside as well as visits to a delightful collection of small villages and towns. We travel through vineyards; past olive groves; and along narrow ancient roads lined with cypress. We wander the narrow alleyways of tiny medieval villages like Murlo; Montisi; Castlemuzio and Bevagna; listen as the monks sing at Sant'Antimo; gaze in awe as we tour the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi; relive movie scenes from "The English Patient" as we stroll the grounds of Santa Anna in Camprena; lounge in the thermal pools of Bagno Vignoni; and delight in a visit to the elegant Castello Banfi estate and vineyards.

We are also the fortunate beneficiaries of the Italian obsession with all things culinary. Abundant regional produce, wild game, local mushrooms, olive oil, pecorino cheese, local truffles, and homemade pastas, all complemented with the finest local wines (and a superb wine tasting event!) assures that we will be treated to the finest regional cuisine imaginable.

We designed this route fully mindful of the need to accommodate the energy and desires of all types of riders. Montalcino and Pienza are both on hills and we will be encouraging some to ride in our carefully positioned van the 2-3 last miles into town. Likewise, on Day 3, there are a few challenging miles before arriving at the abbey at Sant'Antimo. Due to these exceptions (all avoidable with a short van ride), and despite the fact that the vast majority of the cycling is "Easier to Intermediate", we think the tour, as a whole, is appropriately rated "Intermediate."

Alaska Package Tours

Most Canada / Alaska package tours include various combinations of cruise ship, airline, motorcoach and rail transportation. Tours are escorted; that is, a tour guide accompanies the tour for its duration. Some companies offer independent tours with prearranged itineraries, transportation and accommodation for travelers who wish to travel independently of a guided tour group.
Reduced-rate air fares apply to several package tours, including Arctic tours to Barrow, Prudhoe Bay, Kotzebue and Nome. Check with a travel agent.
Package tours range from three days in length to three weeks, or longer. Itineraries and prices vary according to individual operators and tour options. Following is a list of major Canada/Alaska package tour operators. Color brochures explaining in detail the tour offerings will be sent upon request.

Alaska's Heritage Tours. 2525 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99509. An Alaskan owned and operated tour company is taking reservations for the 2000 season. Alaska Heritage Tours' offers packages that include coach and rail transportation, overnight accommodations and a selection of activities for the independent traveler. Experience Alaska's most spectacular destinations - Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound. Explore Alaska with comfort and convenience. One to seven-day tours are designed to make the most of your schedule and can be customized to fit your pace, style and budget. Let the experts show you the best of Alaska. Call today for your free brochure or more information. Toll free 1-877-258-6877.
www.ahtours.com

All Alaska Tours, is one of Alaska's premier tour companies with over
twenty years of tour operating experience in Alaska and Yukon, Canada. We offer a broad spectrum of tours which cover a vast area stretching from the Canadian Arctic to the Aleutian Islands and from Ketchikan to Barrow. we now bring this proud heritage of tour planning services online allowing you to book directly with our Anchorage office. Our reservation team is tops; they know Alaska inside out and will help you every step of the way during the booking process. You have direct access to one of the best teams in Alaska. Unlike other online booking agencies we are a "hands-on" tour operator and have personally visited every place listed on this website. The mission of Alaskatours.com is to bring the largest choice of holiday ideas online at the best possible cost.
www.alaskatours.com

Alaska Tour and Travel specializes in custom Alaska vacations to Alaska's most spectacular destinations. Featuring lodging, transportation, Gulf of Alaska cruises, RV rentals, fishing and activities in Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage, Girdwood, Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Fairbanks. They offer a great value, quality products and a convenient way to plan your Alaska Vacation. They are located in Alaska and consider themselves the Alaska travel experts! For reservations or additional information call 800-208-0200, or write to: PO Box 22-1011, Anchorage, AK 99522.
www.alaskatravel.com

Explore Tours 1415 East Tudor Road, Suite 102, Anchorage, AK 99507; 907-786-0192 or toll-free: 1-800-523-7405. We know Alaska. We're Alaskans! Explore Tours has more than 10 years experience customizing and packaging tours for groups and individuals travelling throughout Alaska and the Yukon. Our tours vary in length to accommodate the needs of any traveler. With more than 75 tour itineraries, we can highlight all the wonders of Alaska, ranging from spectacular scenery to fascinating native cultures. For a good introduction to the Last Frontier, we offer escorted vacations and both small and large cruise ship packages. If you prefer to explore Alaska on your own, try one of our motorhome vacations or fly-drive packages. For the outdoor enthusiast, our fishing trips, outdoor adventures, and wilderness lodge experiences are a must. Add some local flavor to your vacation experience with a cultural tour or special event package. Day tours are also available for those on a limited time schedule. Contact the friendly, knowledgeable staff today to help you plan your trip of a lifetime.
www.exploretours.com

Glacier Bay National Park is rated one of the top attractions in Alaska and should be included on any trip! No matter how you are planning to travel, Glacier Bay Cruiselines is the best way to visit this World Heritage Site, as they are the concessionaries for the park, operating the Glacier Bay Lodge and day cruise. The company offers Glacier Bay visitor packages of one-day, two-days and more originating in Juneau, Haines and Skagway, and also sells complete Alaska vacations, which include Glacier Bay. Call and they will be pleased to send you a complete cruise and tour catalog.
www.alaska-tour.com

Alaska Wildland Adventures PO Box 389 Girdwood, AK 99587. 800-334-8730, 907-783-2928 If you want to "experience Alaska" contact this well respected adventure travel company. Alaska Wildland Adventures operates wildlife safaris, sport fishing packages and wilderness vacation lodges. Their safaris feature premium itineraries combined with small group experiences. Active, independent travelers often choose a visit to one or more of their pristine wilderness lodges located in the heart of Alaska's most famous parks and refuges. For example, a visit to Denali Backcountry Lodge will take you to the very end of "park road" deep inside Denali National Park.
You'll have the opportunity to search out Denali's famed wildlife, view Mt. McKinley up close, and hike the wild regions of the park with naturalist guides or you can take mountain bikes and explore on your own. Visit their website or order their informative brochure.
www.alaskawildland.com/bells

Gray Line of Alaska 300 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119; 800-544-2206. Gray Line of Alaska is the largest motorcoach operator in the state. With single and multi-day tours throughout the state, we can show you the highlights such as Prince William Sound, Mt. McKinley, the Inside Passage, the Alaska Highway, the Arctic, Glacier Bay and Prudhoe Bay. We have offices statewide in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Our McKinley Explorer private railcars with full-length glass domes are pulled by the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage and Fairbanks daily with a stop at Denali, offering lounge seating upstairs for 60 with private bar, and an elegant dining room for 22 downstairs. Enjoy the sights of Mt. McKinley and Alaska as you travel in luxury.
www.graylineofalaska.com

Princess Tours. In 2002 Princess will continue its extensive cruisetour program in Alaska
"Our many years of experience in this destination, our fantastic custom-built wilderness lodges, and our great itineraries all add up to the best cruisetour experience in the state," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "Another key feature that sets Princess apart is the seamless vacation product we offer our passengers as they go from our ships to the land portion of the tour."
For those who can't choose between Princess' two Denali National Park lodges, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, the line now offers tours featuring stays at both properties. In addition, the company's popular three-day Heart of Alaska land segments have been enhanced to include sightseeing tours in both Anchorage and Fairbanks, helping visitors make the most of their brief time in the "Land of the Midnight Sun."
Princess' land programs are designed to flow seamlessly with the line's seven-day cruise itineraries, including the favorite "Voyage of the Glaciers" which takes in the beauty of the Inside Passage plus some of the state's most popular ports, with the added attraction of such spectacular destinations as Prince William Sound, College Fjord, the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage.
For more information about Princess Cruises cruisetours, contact the company's cruisetour reservations number, 1-800-426-0442.

Airline, Airport And Aviation Industry

	US Airlines Cancel More Flights Due To Storm April 16, 2007 US airlines canceled dozens of flights on Monday as they regrouped after heavy rain and gale-force winds battered the US Northeast.
	Delta Creditors Vote For Reorganization April 16, 2007 Delta Air Lines said on Monday that creditors overwhelmingly approved its reorganization plan, setting the stage for the airline to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy by early May.
	Embraer Delivers 25 Planes In Q1 April 16, 2007 Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer said on Monday it delivered 25 planes in the first quarter, down from 27 in the year-earlier period.
	Jet Sees Air Sahara Profitable In Year One April 16, 2007 India's Jet Airways said on Monday its takeover of Air Sahara would not strain its cash flows, and that it expected the loss-making Sahara to turn a profit in the first year of operations.
	Three Non-Binding Offers For Alitalia April 16, 2007 All three shortlisted bidders for loss-making Italian airline Alitalia presented their non-binding offers by Monday's deadline, the government said without revealing details of the bids.
	Lufthansa CEO Sees Little Chance For Takeover April 16, 2007 Lufthansa does not plan to team up with a partner to buy Iberia and sees the Spanish airline's share price as excessive, its Chief Executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber said on Monday.
	Frankfurt March Passengers Up 8.9 Percent April 16, 2007 Fraport said passenger numbers at Frankfurt Airport, its main hub, rose 8.9 percent in March to 4.4 million.
	Passengers Fume As Sleepy BA Crew Delays Flight April 16, 2007 Passengers on a British Airways flight from New Delhi to London faced a 13 hour delay as the pilot felt he was too sleepy after a noisy night in a New Delhi hotel, newspapers reported on Monday.
	Ex-Garuda Chief Arrested In Murder Probe April 15, 2007 A former head of Indonesian carrier Garuda and another airline official have been arrested in connection with the murder of a leading rights campaigner who was poisoned during a flight, an airline lawyer said.
	Court Rules Against Northwest Flight Attendants April 13, 2007 A New York bankruptcy judge denied a motion by Northwest Airlines' flight attendants on Friday to change a ruling that allowed the airline to void their work contract and impose heavy pay cuts last year.
	AirTran Not Planning To Increase Midwest Bid April 13, 2007 AirTran Holdings has no intention of increasing its offer for Midwest Air Group after Midwest's board advised shareholders to reject the hostile bid, AirTran's chief operating officer said on Friday.
	Brussels Airport Flights Resume As Strike Ends April 13, 2007 Flights resumed at Brussels Airport on Friday after rescue workers agreed to stop a strike, an employee of the airport said.
	Iberia Wants To Know If TPG Has Bid Partner April 13, 2007 Iberia said on Friday it required more information from suitor Texas Pacific Group regarding its EUR3.4 billion euro (USD$4.6 billion) bid for the airline, echoing comments it made on Thursday.
	Morgan Stanley To Buy ANA Hotels For USD$2.4 Bln April 13, 2007 Morgan Stanley will buy 13 hotels and two property management units from Japanese airline All Nippon Airways for USD$2.4 billion in the biggest hotel transaction in Asia.
	Lufthansa May Hit EUR1 Bln Profit This Year April 13, 2007 Lufthansa finance chief Stephan Gemkow said the airline may achieve its target of EUR1 billion euros (USD$1.35 billion) of operating profit a year early in 2007, Euro magazine reported.
	US Airline Recovery Intact Despite The Bumps April 12, 2007 Early 2007 has been marked by severe weather and public relations disasters at airlines such as JetBlue Airways and US Airways, but the string of bad luck and blunders does not threaten a longer-term industry recovery, experts say.
	Air France Denies Interest In US Partners April 12, 2007 Air France-KLM denied on Thursday a report it may acquire minority stakes in US partner carriers Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines.
	Ryanair Plans Low-Cost Transatlantic Airline April 12, 2007 Executives at Europe's biggest low-cost carrier Ryanair are working on launching a transatlantic airline with a fleet of 30 to 50 long-haul aircraft in the next three to four years.
	Fraport, Partner Win Antalya Airport Deal April 12, 2007 Germany's Fraport and partner IC Holding won a contract to operate Turkey's second-largest airport with a bid of EUR2.37 billion euros (USD$3.19 billion), the companies said on Thursday.
	Iberia Asks TPG For Bid Partner Details April 12, 2007 Iberia has not shown its books to Texas Pacific Group and will ask the private equity bidder to name its partners in the deal, the airline said on Thursday.
	Jet Airways To Buy Air Sahara For USD$340 Million April 12, 2007 India's Jet Airways said on Thursday it had agreed to buy Air Sahara for INR14.5 billion rupees (USD$340 million), about 34 percent cheaper than an earlier deal it had abandoned.
	Qantas Bidder Lowers Shareholder Acceptance Level April 12, 2007 A consortium bidding for Qantas Airways reduced its shareholder acceptance requirement to 70 percent from 90 percent on Thursday in a bid to salvage its AUD$11 billion (USD$9 billion) takeover of the Australian carrier.
	French Air Traffic Disruptions Likely On Thursday April 12, 2007 French air traffic is expected to be disrupted on Thursday because of strike action planned by some air traffic controllers, the Civil Aviation Authority said.
	Brazil Air Travel Safe But Lacks Controllers April 12, 2007 Brazil's air traffic control is understaffed and lacks modern equipment, but travel is still safe, aviation authorities told Congress on Wednesday.
	Rolls-Royce Wins Guggenheim A330 Freighter Deal April 11, 2007 Rolls-Royce said on Wednesday it had received its first order for engines to power the new Airbus A330 freighter plane.

welcome to ACI Europe

Airports Council International (ACI) ACI is the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. ACI, headquartered in Geneva, is a non-profit-making organisation representing over 1,530 airports in 175 countries and territories worldwide. We are organised into six geographical regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, North America and Pacific, each with its own board of elected airport leaders. In 2004, these airports welcomed some 3.9 billion passengers and handled 78.7 million tonnes of freight and 69.4 million aircraft movements.

The voice of Europe's airports ACI EUROPE, based in Brussels, Belgium, represents the interests of some 400 airports in 45 countries. Our members account for over 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe. In 2004, ACI EUROPE member airports welcomed 1.2 billion passengers and handled 15.6 million metric tonnes of cargo and 17.8 million aircraft movements. ACI EUROPE promotes the exchange of industry know-how through our internal committee structure and extensive schedule of conferences and exhibitions. By actively seeking the views of airport members, we generate comprehensive common policies that serve as a reference to the entire aviation industry. We work on a day-to-day basis with the institutions of the European Union, the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and the European Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL). Colleagues in ACI World Headquarters pursue the same mission with the International Civil Aviation Organisation of the United Nations (ICAO) and other world organisations. Getting the right message across Legislation affecting civil aviation is increasingly enacted at the European level. ACI EUROPE has privileged access to EU legislators, which no individual airport, however important, could hope to achieve. Airports are important national and regional assets: our mission is to work closely with policy makers and industry partners, thereby ensuring that European airports are fully integrated in decision making processes affecting our industry. Our intelligence network enables us to anticipate and influence, from the moment of conception, the development of legislative or regulatory initiatives impacting not only our members, but the entire aviation industry. We are currently engaged in important work on the environment, airport capacity, air passenger rights, airport charges, ground handling, slot allocation and airport competition. All research shows that airports contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the regions which they serve. By mobilising our in-house expertise, EU contacts and a range of communication tools, we aim to promote a wider understanding of the challenges facing civil aviation in Europe.