If fine dining is a prerogative,  I suggest checking out Oceania Cruises’ 2011 Alaska cruises where guests will dine on the finest Northwestern cuisine.   The 684-passenger Regatta will be provisioned locally to ensure that guests regularly dine on the finest delicacies like fresh halibut, Alaska King Crab and Alaska Salmon, prepared with other local ingredients.

Depending on the voyage and venue, appetizers might include Fresh Halibut Velouté – a creamy fish soup with saffron rice and julienne leeks – or Alaskan King Crab Legs, sure to be a guest favorite. Entrées may include Alaskan King Crab Risotto, Grilled Halibut with orange and red onion chutney and Thai-spice Encrusted Alaskan Halibut Filet.

From May 12 through August 26, 2011, Regatta will sail on 10- to 14-day voyages from Vancouver and San Francisco. Highlights include two full days of glacier cruising and a mix of marquee and off-the-beaten-path Inland Passage ports.  Fares for a ten-day voyage start at $3,499 per person, double occupancy and include round-trip airfare.

2011 Alaska Itineraries

  • Majestic Alaska – 14 days roundtrip from San Francisco, a maiden port for Oceania Cruises, visiting Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; Sitka, Hoonah, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Astoria, Ore. Departures: May 12, Aug. 26.

  • Alaskan Grandeur – 12 days between San Francisco and Vancouver. Ports include Astoria and Victoria, as well as Wrangell, Juneau, Hoonah, Sitka and Ketchikan. Departures: May 26, Aug. 14.

  • Frontiers and Glaciers – 10 days roundtrip from Vancouver, calling at Sitka, Hoonah, Kodiak, Wrangell and Ketchikan. Departures: June 7, Aug. 4.

  • Glacial Wilderness – 12 days between Vancouver and Anchorage, with visits to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Hoonah, Skagway, Sitka, Seward and Homer. Departures: June 17 and 29, July 11 and 23.

Visit Oceania Cruises’ website for additional information.