5 exclusive luxury excursions in Alaska

California-based luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises offers its season’s first adventurous excursions beyond the shores. Right from a water safari on state’s waterways to flight-seeing by a seaplane or helicopter over glaciers, here’s a list of five offerings from the cruise line to explore Alaska in the United States:

1. Flight-seeing atop Glaciers

Alaska has a wide cover of glacier ice and about half of the world’s glaciers are present in Alaska, making it an ideal place to have expeditions. Crystal Cruises offers numerous helicopter flight-seeing excursions profiling the state's magnificent glaciers and spectacular wilderness.

2. Scenic Railway & Bike Ride

On luxury expeditions in Alaska, Crystal Cruises gives travelers chance to ride 100-year-old parlor cars through vertical granite cliffs before biking down the Klondike Summit. Families can pan for gold, create 24K gold glass-blown art, play golf, or scout for killer whales, bald eagles, or bears, claims Crystal Cruises.

3. Sitka Sound Science Center Volunteering

A new You Care, We Care excursion enables guests to assist with the operation and maintenance of a salmon hatchery or marine-life exhibits in this science center in Sitka, Alaska. Tourists seeking an ultra-intimate, individualized travel experiences can sail through the island-studded waters of Sitka Sound on a private sightseeing/wildlife expedition via deluxe catamaran with personal Captain and expert naturalist to guide them.

4. Canopy adventures

Crystal Cruises’ luxury excursion in Alaska also offers extreme adventurists an experience of rock climb, flyfish, or zipline over rainforest canopies. Amateur Ansel Adamses can shutterbug away on custom photography excursions. History buffs will love adventures profiling bordellos and shoot-outs, native traditions, Alaska's Russian past, and even Sarah Palin's childhood home.

5. Food for thought in Ketchikan

No travel can be complete without food and Crystal Cruises’ Alaska experience offers gourmet, local cuisine like alderwood-smoked salmon, fresh halibut chowder, and all-you-can-eat crab Crystal-style via cooking classes, wilderness camp dining, and a five-course, Alaskan Chef's Table in Ketchikan.

The 12-day sailing round-trip excursions begin from San Francisco in May through August to Victoria, Vancouver, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway/Haines, Ketchikan and either Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay.