Rain Forests… glaciers… and white-capped
peaks…
Escape to Alaska in Luxury… for a Week
of Adventure, Camaraderie, and Some of
the World's Most Heart-Stopping Scenery
As the Agora Wealth Symposium comes
to a close, please join us for a
pleasure-filled week at sea on board…
Celebrity Cruise Lines' Luxurious
Summit Cruise Ship
July 29-August 5, 2006
Vancouver - Alaska's Inside Passage
-
Juneau - Skagway - Sitka - Icy Strait Point -
Hubbard Glacier - Seward - Anchorage
Plus add a 4-day inland safari to view goldmines,
grizzlies, moose, caribou, and more… in the Land of
the Midnight Sun - August 5-9, 2006
SAVE WHEN YOU BOOK BEFORE MARCH 15!
Dear Reader,
 Leaning against the deck rail a bit after nine, cocktail in hand, the sun
at last begins to slip behind the high peaks of an icy landscape. There's
a refreshing chill in the air. A crisp sea mist rises from below.
And as the fading light casts a lavender tint on the snow-capped peaks high
above, all at once you understand the awe-inspiring grandeur that has, for
generations, drawn adventurers to the edge of the arctic world.
While the Caribbean's seamless blue waters often yield little interest for
the eye… the same cannot be said of Alaska's formidable coast.
In fact, there's really no better — certainly no more astounding — way to
experience one of the last great expanses of wilderness… than by sea. Prepare
yourself for truly jaw-dropping beauty… and a trip you'll remember fondly
for years and years to come.
From brown bears foraging along the beaches… to humpback whales surfacing
for air… from moose riffling through shrubs… to bald eagles hunting for fish…
On board Celebrity's Summit, you'll benefit from the best of both worlds
— comfortable (indeed, luxurious pampering) and an extraordinary immersion
in a wild place where you'll have an opportunity to get up-close and revel
in the untamed energy of Alaska.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine
flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the
storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. — John
Muir
Our Guarantee: A Pleasure-Filled Trip
that Will Exceed Your Expectations
 My name is Barbara Perriello, Executive Director of Agora Travel, and from
July 29-August 5, 2006, I'd like to invite you to join me on a wonderful
Alaskan adventure. It's one I feel certain will exceed your expectations.
You see, we've done all the troublesome trip research for you.
That is, we've picked a ship that is at once tasteful, spacious, and luxurious
— one with a reputation for excellent service and fine dining.
We've chosen an itinerary that guarantees you a wholly satisfactory (and
diverse) experience in Alaska.
And we've arranged for a significantly discounted rate as well. But please
understand, to take advantage of the deepest discounts, you must reserve
your cabin by March 15, 2006.
I'll go over the how-to details in a moment. But first, let me tell you
a bit more about the wonderful program we have in store…
From Cosmopolitan Vancouver, B.C. —
North through the Inside Passage
We'll begin our adventure in Vancouver, B.C. — a cosmopolitan city with
a European flair. You'll find Vancouver vibrant and welcoming and heart-stoppingly
beautiful. Set as it is, waterside on the Burrard Inlet, the majestic North
Shore Mountains seem to rise up right out of the sea, and they'll draw your
eye again and again.
The city itself is a treasure-trove of distinctive neighborhoods, each begging
to be explored. From the cobblestone streets of the Gastown District to Little
Italy and China Town, you'll find great shopping, fine restaurants, and beguiling
sidewalk cafes. Vancouver is a splendidly walkable city, full of flowers,
and a perfect jumping-off point for our cruise.
We'll board the Summit in the early evening of July 29, and we'll set sail
north, en route to Alaska.
Pampering Alongside Adventure:
Celebrity's Summit
is a Sophisticated, Luxurious Ship
In Celebrity's Summit you'll be pleased to find enticingly
large cabins, each well-lit and elegantly decorated with tasteful fabrics.
Even the standard interior and exterior staterooms are generously sized.
And an ample seating area in each cabin ensures you'll never feel cramped.
Many of the staterooms also include floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
that open out to lovely private balconies.
And no matter which cabin you choose, you can expect all sorts of extras
not standard on most ships — like direct-dial phones, mini-refrigerators,
bathrobes, and even in-cabin internet access if you bring your own laptop.
You can opt to dine in your stateroom at night and order from the dinner
menu if the urge strikes, and you can enjoy extras like an in-cabin massage
as well.
Of course, the ship's public areas are so lovely, you're likely to find
yourself spending much of your time there.
Impossibly tall mahogany pillars compliment the grand foyer's white marble
floor and walls. Exterior glass elevators offer stunning sea views. Throughout,
the ship is accented with polished woods, glass walls bring the stunning
Alaskan vistas inside, and everywhere, the vessel is elegant, light… and
downright swank.
Designed with a sophisticated traveler in mind, the Summit offers such
Old World touches as a piano lounge, a martini and champagne bar, and a
card room. But you'll appreciate just as much the more modern amenities
like the internet café and an extensive shopping concourse.
The expansive spa offers pampering of the first degree. The gym facilities
are excellent — and provide such perks as yoga classes and aerobics — all
with an amazing view.
And as you'd expect, the entertainment is top-notch. There's even a "Taste
of Cirque de Soleil" with acrobats and animators sure to delight you.
Expect much by way of fine dining. Many other cruise companies will skimp
in this area — but on board the Summit, you'll dine well indeed.
The main dining room offers excellent fare (there are two formal evenings
during the week) and you'll be wowed by the incredible, two-story views.
If you'd like something even a bit more special, the Normandie Restaurant
offers a unique, three-hour dinner complete with waiters preparing meals
tableside and menu items not available elsewhere.
And for the perpetually health-conscious, there is, in fact, a fabulous
alternative to the usual fare at the Aqua Spa Café, which serves light
options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Our first full day will be spent at sea, cruising along one of the world's
most revered passageways — the inside passage through southeastern Alaska's
dramatic necklace of islands. Here we'll sail past rain forest terrain, alongside
glaciers, fjords, and white-capped peaks.
You'll want to tote your binoculars along as it's easy to loose hours on
end just gazing at the extraordinary views. You're bound to see whales surfacing…
eagles circling overhead… puffins and loons along the coast… sea lions, and
more…
By Helicopter, Train, Foot, or Bike,
Discover Rugged, Scenic Juneau and Skagway
 Then, on July 31st, we'll dock at our first port of call — Alaska's capital
city of Juneau. A rugged gold rush town, Juneau's hillside streets wind their
way down to the water and welcome you to what still feels like a pioneering
town.
There's plenty to do and see in the city itself — the Alaska State Museum,
a stunning collection of totem poles, a smattering of historic buildings,
plenty of shopping in small boutiques, and even a tram ride that takes you
2000 feet above the city.
Or, arrange for an excursion into the wilderness from here. Mendenhall Glacier
sits just 13 miles outside the city. By road you can reach the visitor's
center. But if you're feeling more adventuresome, you can take a helicopter
onto the glacier itself and visit three others while you're at it.
Or go fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking… take a train ride
inland or enjoy a gold mine tour… your options are nearly endless, and we're
just getting started.
At the end of the day, we'll sail once again — this time en route to Skagway,
arriving August 1st. You'll be looking at another day of extraordinary possibilities.
Like Juneau, Skagway maintains its distinctly frontier feel. You can walk
along its boardwalks, duck into a saloon or two, and occupy a full day exploring
town if you like. You'll find plenty of cafes and art galleries and shops.
But this is also an ideal jumping off point for all sorts of adventures…
You might, for instance, hop on the narrow gauge railroad that travels the
White Pass and Yukon Route to the boundary between Canada and the U.S.. Built
in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, it rounds cliff-hanging turns and
climbs to 2,865 feet. Along the way, you'll take in a panorama of mountains,
glaciers, gorges, and waterfalls — all from a comfortable, vintage-style
parlor car.
And if that strikes you as altogether too staid, Skagway is the perfect
place to go horseback riding into the hills, take a hike, rent a kayak, or
sign on for a bike tour.
Alaska's wildlife is among the most abundant
in the nation. Species that are threatened or endangered in the lower 48
states are thriving in Alaska. It is a place where caribou outnumber people,
and where vast stretches of wilderness remain pristine. — National
Parks Conservation Association
Spruce Forests, Jagged Mountains, Onion Domes, and Sea Birds:
Next Stop, Sitka… Alaska's Most Beautiful Seaside Town
 Our next stop will be the tranquil fishing village of Sitka, once part of
the Czarist Russian Empire. We'll spend August 2nd here on Baranof Island,
and you're bound to find it charming — perhaps even a bit surprising as well.
The onion-domed St. Michael's Cathedral dominates the skyline… and the mingling
of indigenous, Russian, and modern American cultures makes for a lively and
genuinely unique experience.
A truly diverse hub, Sitka's museums and local monuments are worth a visit,
and you can take a guided tour around the town that will introduce you to
the sites of historical and cultural significance.
Nestled as it is at the edge of Sitka Bay, amid a smattering of picture-perfect
islands, this is a wonderful place to take a smaller boat tour or even a
Kayak excursion in the protected waters. On nearby St. Lazaria Island, you'll
find hundreds of thousands of sea birds — including the colorful tufted puffin
and the rhinoceros auklet. And in these waters you're bound to see sea otters
and other marine life as well. Whatever you do, don't get off the ship without
your camera.
Approaching the Edge of the Earth… Northward to Glacier
Bay
From Sitka we'll sail next to Icy Strait Point and then on to Hubbard Glacier,
August 3rd and 4th. Here we'll be in truly rural Alaska… and while you'll
find it hard to imagine, the landscape becomes even more dramatic here.
Icy Strait Point at the mouth of Glacier Bay is a new development a mile
or so up the road from a long-standing native Tlingit settlement called Hoonah.
This is a smart place to learn a bit about the fisheries business (it's what
drives the local economy) and also to gain some insights into the local indigenous
culture — there's a small museum and cultural center worth stoopping into.
 Of course, the drama of Alaska's natural beauty won't take a back seat for
long. Here at Icy Strait Point, you're bound to see humpback whales, orcas,
Dall's porpoises, seals, sea otters, brown bears, and more. Bald eagles and
ravens all but swarm through the downtown.
Just when you think it can't get any better, we'll press on northward to
Hubbard Glacier, the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska, with an open calving
face over six miles wide. In other words, its scale is gargantuan. And it's
moving incredibly fast.
A word to the wise — you'll want to get up early this morning, grab a jacket,
and stake out a spot along the ship's rail so you'll get the best view. And
what a view it will be. A shimmering, astonishing shade of blue, the towering
walls of ice will dwarf the ship. And into the waters you'll see iceberg
slabs falling from the enormous face. It's one of those images you'll take
with you for the rest of your days.
…my mind was on the mountains, glaciers,
and forests. This was toward the end of July, in the very brightest and best
of Alaska summer weather, when the icy mountains towering in the pearly sky
were displayed in all their glory, and the islands at their feet seemed to
float and drowse on the shining mirror waters. — John Muir
Heading Home — or Continuing Inland — from Seward
Our cruise comes to a close in Seward on August 5th… a fishing village tucked
in among the glories of the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, the Alaska Maritime National
Refuge, the Chugach National Forest, and the Kenai Fords National Park. Suffice
it to say — you can't get any closer to nature and wildlife than you can
from here.
 Towering Mt. Marathon looks down upon this tidy and welcoming community…
and is bound to beckon you inland. (In fact, I'd encourage you to extend
your stay at this point and take advantage of our 4-day land safari, which
departs from here. More about it in a moment…)
If you opt to head home, however, this will be your departure point. Take
one last look at the soaring peaks, the deep green hillsides, and the eagles
circling above. If you're still in the market for souvenirs, Seward is a
great place to pop into a few galleries and boutiques.
From here, the cruise line will arrange your land transfer to the airport
in Anchorage (in and of itself a stunning ride, by the way), where you'll
arrive with at least two hours to spare before your flight back to the Lower
48.
If, however, you choose to stay on for another four days — and I hope you
do — you're in for a treat. It's a land safari we have in store… with the
same sort of pampering to which you've become accustomed shipside…
A 4-Day, Post-Cruise Safari in the Land of the Midnight
Sun
You've Come this Far… Don't Miss Denali!
You've come this far… I do hope you'll opt to stay a bit longer. Once we're
docked in Seward, you'll have the option of returning home or staying on
for a few days for an incredible land safari to Fairbanks and Denali… the
Land of the Midnight Sun.
On August 5th, from Seward, you'll take a luxury coach overland to Anchorage
where you'll meet your tour guide who will make sure you're well settled
for your flight north to Fairbanks. (Now, depending on when your flight takes
off, you'll either have time for a museum trip in Anchorage or in Fairbanks,
and that's included in your program.)
Once you fly into Fairbanks, we'll get you settled in for an overnight stay,
and you'll have a chance to explore the city for the evening. More cosmopolitan
than the fishing villages we'll have grown accustomed to on our cruise, here
you'll find big-city attractions, first class restaurants, and upscale shopping,
all waterside on the Chena River. Get a good night's sleep, however,
as the next morning our interior adventure begins.
On August 6th, we'll get back on the water — this time on board the Riverboat
Discovery Sternwheeler, which includes a stop at an Athabascan Indian Village.
Here you'll gain extraordinary insights into the near-subsistence culture
of the local indigenous peoples. Learn how they keep warm, hunt, eat, and
more…
In the afternoon, we'll board a deluxe motorcoach heading into the interior
to glorious Denali National Park, which features North America's highest
mountain — 20,320-foot tall Mt. McKinley.
Once there, you'll have the rest of the day to relax and unwind. There's
plenty to see and do from our home base, but you're also free to sign on
for any number of optional activities — like river rafting or "flightseeing." Remember,
the days are long here — the sun is up for 20 hours or more — and so you'll
find there's plenty of time to explore and enjoy.
In the morning of August 7th we'll head into Denali National Park on the
Denali Natural History Tour — an expertly guided excursion that will teach
you about the landscape, the wildlife, the local ecosystems, and more. All
the while, of course, you'll be treated to extraordinary views and, most
likely, lots of animal sightings as well.
Then, in the afternoon, sit back and relax as we take in the wonders
of Alaska in the comfort of a glass-domed train car aboard the Wilderness
Express, bound for Talkeetna.
Now, Talkeetna is renowned as the staging area where climbers begin their
ascent of Mt. McKinley. Here, three glacier-fed rivers meet, and it's where
you'll find some of the best trout and salmon fishing on the continent. We'll
settle in for the night at the luxurious Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, and you're
free to mooch around town or sign on for a river float, a hike, or a fishing
excursion.
August 8th is a day for you to do as you like. It's not until late in the
afternoon that we'll re-board the Wilderness Express for a scenic train ride
to Anchorage. Until then, enjoy the views, snap some photos, relax, and soak
up the sun and the fresh air.
As I said, in the late afternoon we'll head to Anchorage where we'll spend
the night. The next day, August 9th, we'll bid farewell to the fair state
of Alaska and fly home to the Lower 48.
It really would be a shame to come this far north and miss this 4-day adventure.
I highly encourage you to take advantage of this easy add-on to the cruise
itinerary and enjoy the sort of safari you only do once in a lifetime.
Special Discounted Rates… and Extra Savings if
You Attend the Agora Wealth Symposium, too
 Now, please understand, we've only been able to reserve a limited number
of cabins for this special cruise on board the Summit. And so, if you're
interested in exploring Alaska this summer in luxury -- to enjoy adventure,
camaraderie, and some of the world's most heart-stopping scenery -- I encourage
you to act now.
I suspect we'll not only quickly fill the cabins we've reserved at our deeply
discounted rate… but that the ship as a whole will fill up fast as well.
About the discounts…
No matter which type of cabin you decide on, you save when you sign up now
-- as much as 20% off the standard rates.
But these special prices, please understand, are only guaranteed until March
15, 2006. After that, the rates go up. Right now --
- Choose an interior stateroom, and you'll pay just $1,097 per-person,
including all taxes and port charges.
- For an outside stateroom (no balcony) the fee is $1,447 per-person, including
all taxes and port charges.
- And for an outside stateroom with a private balcony the fee is $1,927
per person, including all taxes and port charges.
These prices assume accommodation for two people per stateroom.
But, in fact, many staterooms can accommodate more. If you opt to bring
along the kids or maybe travel with a couple of friends and share a room,
then you can easily bring your per-person rate down even further.
Opt for the 4-day land safari add-on (7 days on the ship and 4 days on land
in lodges and hotels) and the rates are as follows -- still discounted significantly
on this 11-day adventure:
- Interior stateroom, you pay just $2,097 per-person, including all taxes
and port charges.
- Outside stateroom (no balcony), you pay just $2,447,per-person, including
all taxes and port charges.
- And for an outside stateroom with a private balcony, the fee is $2,877
per-person, including all taxes and port charges.
Again, please understand we can only guarantee these rates until March 15.
After that, they're likely to go up by hundreds of dollars per person. (And,
unfortunately, the discount on the 11-day cruise and land safari program
is guaranteed only through March 1. We may be able to arrange the same fare
after that, but we can't be certain.) The message is: Don't delay.
Sign Up for both the Agora Wealth Symposium
and the Cruise and Save More
When you opt to attend the Agora Wealth Symposium being held in Vancouver,
B.C. immediately prior to the cruise, you're eligible for additional discounts.
Sign on for both events before March 15, and we'll give you an additional
$75 per-person off the Agora Wealth Symposium, which means if you're traveling
as a couple, you save $150 in addition to any other discounts you're eligible
for.
For information about the Symposium, click here: http://www.awsymposium.com/
As Little as $1,097 Per Person for the Trip of a
Lifetime
You know, when you stop to consider the discounts we’ve been able to arrange,
you realize what an astonishingly good value this cruise represents.
For as little as $157 dollars a day, you can enjoy a full week in real luxury
on board Celebrity's lavish Summit cruise ship. That covers your overnight
stays, your meals, your entertainment, and access to a landscape you'd never
have an opportunity to experience otherwise…
From brown bears foraging along the beaches… to humpback whales surfacing
for air… from moose riffling through shrubs… to bald eagles hunting for fish…
I can't imagine a better way to enjoy comfortable (indeed, luxurious pampering)
and an extraordinary immersion in a wild place where you'll have an opportunity
to get up-close and revel in the glories of Alaska.
To reserve your place now, please click below or call my office today at
(800) 926-6575 or (561-243-6276.)
Sincerely,
Barbara Perriello
Executive Director, Agora Travel
P.S. Every summer, cruise ship companies send
their ships up north in droves, taking curious travelers to explore Alaska's
wilds. But the thing is — not all ships (and not all itineraries) are created
equal. In fact, you'll find a vast disparity in the level of service, the
amenities, and the routes. Figuring out your best course of action — and
where you'll find the smartest values — can prove befuddling, indeed.
But with this program, we've taken all the guesswork out. We've done all
the troublesome trip research for you.
And we've chosen a ship that is at once tasteful, spacious, and luxurious
— one with a reputation for excellent service and fine dining. And we've
picked an itinerary that guarantees you a wholly satisfactory (and diverse)
experience in Alaska.
I invite you to discover this glorious land in our company. You won't find
a more enjoyable (or affordable) way to do it. We look forward to sharing
this extraordinary trip with you. Click below now to reserve your place.
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