Group trip 2009 -- Option A, includes 7-night, 8-day cruise to Alaska Here are the details on the Beard Team USA group trip to Alaska for the World Beard and Moustache Championships. This is option A which includes the seven-day cruise through the Inside Passage.

Itinerary --

May 13, 2009	Depart Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on the Carnival Spirit. Passengers must check in by 4 pm. Ship departs at 5:30 pm.
May 13-20	Cruise the Inside Passage with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka via Prince William Sound and College Fjord. For all details about the cruise click here.
May 20	Arrive in Whittier, Alaska at 7 am. Bus to Anchorage for mid-morning arrival.
	Walking tour of downtown Anchorage. Visit to Anchorage Museum and to Alaska Native Heritage Center. Evening BBQ hosted by the South Central Alaska Beard Club and Anchorage Area Lions Clubs.
May 21	Alaskan adventures. Fishing, hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, etc. There are numerous options available for additional cost.
May 22	Afternoon beard parade through downtown. Evening opening party with entertainment by that Little Ol' Band from Adelaide, Australia -- the Beards -- featuring "songs about beards for people with beards."
May 23	World Beard and Moustache Championships.
May 24	Visit to Portage Glacier and Crow Creek Mine. Beer and brats at the mine.
May 25	Tour ends.

Accommodations --

There choices of accommodations on board the ship and also in Anchorage.

The most economical is an interior cabin. There are also staterooms that have their own private balconies.

In Anchorage there is a choice of two different hotels:

The Comfort Inn. A two-star property located on Ship Creek, approximately one mile from the competition venue at the Dena'ina Center. Breakfast is provided for all guests but there is no restaurant at the hotel. If we are lucky, the salmon will be running and it will be possible to fish for them right outside the hotel. If you are lucky you will catch one.

The Westmark Hotel. A three-star property just one block from the competition venue at the Dena'ina Center. All rooms have private balconies. Breakfast is not included in the room rate, but there is a full-service restaurant on the premises and room service is available.



Prices --

All prices are per person for the entire 13-day adventure and include all taxes, fees, etc. The cruise line will request a pre-paid gratuity of $70 per person but this is optional. All prices are subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed until payment is received.

If you chose an interior cabin . . .		If you chose a stateroom with balcony . . .
Single occ. Double occ. Triple occ. Quad occ. Comfort Inn (breakfast included) $1992 $1198 $1037 $924 Westmark Hotel (breakfast not included) $2107 $1251 $1061 $951		Single occ. Double occ. Triple occ. Quad occ. Comfort Inn (breakfast included) $2412 $1408 $1097 $1021 Westmark Hotel (breakfast not included) $2527 $1461 $1121 $1048

What's included in the price --

Seven nights accommodations on board the ship, all meals on board, five nights accommodations in Anchorage, transportation to the airport at the end of the tour.

City tour, museum entry fees, bus to Native Heritage Center, and BBQ on Wednesday, May 20

Welcoming party on Friday, May 22

Entry or admission to the WBMC on Saturday, May 23

Portage Glacier and Crow Creek Mine excursion on Sunday, May 24.

What's not included in the price --

Airfare

Transportation to the ship embarkation dock in Vancouver.

Transportation from Whittier to Anchorage on May 20. (Once I know how many people are in our group, I will look into making arrangements for us as a group.)

Food, except on the cruise ship, at the BBQ, and breakfast for those staying at the Comfort Inn

Shore excursions during the cruise.

Alaskan Adventures on Thursday.

Beer and other drinks.

Booking and payment --

You will pay the cruise portion of the price directly to Carnival Cruise lines and the balance to me. To book the tour, just contact me by phone (1-530-581-3940), email (phil@worldbeardchampionships.com) or snail mail (PO Box 800, Tahoe City, CA 96145), giving me the details of your plans (number of people, number of rooms, hotel choice, etc.). I will let you know the amount you must pay directly to the cruise line and the amount you will be paying me.

To reserve a cabin, call 1-866-721-3225. Tell them you want to book a cabin under group reservation no. 3ZB109, which is for Beard Team USA.

Because the prices stated here are subject to availability and because the room rates and cruise prices can now be raised without notice, I will not able to guarantee these prices until I receive your payment. If there is a price increase before I receive your payment, you will have the option of either a full refund or of paying any increase in price.