Dear cruising friend,

    Greetings from FREEDOM CRUISES!  As the new year begins and
the rush of the Holiday Season eases, I hope your thoughts of summer
help you cope with any "winter blues".  I am very excited about our 13th
Annual Freedom Cruise.  We have 37 people already holding a reserved
stateroom on the Zaandam and many others still hoping to join us.

    In this update, I'll share some information about our Alaska Cruise,
the Seattle hotels and discuss flight considerations.  I'll be sending separate,
more detailed updates to just those who have reserved a stateroom as
the final payment date of March 21 approaches.  To get on board now,
please reply to this email with notice of your interest.  I will answer
any questions you may have and send you a booking form to assist in
selecting the best stateroom for you.

    The coastal cities of Alaska come alive in June.  The whales have
returned for the summer.  The huge brown bears are active and hungry
after the long dark winter.  The Bald Eagles are everywhere!  In every
port, the locals are happy to see cruise ship visitors once again after their
lonely winter.  I selected this itinerary to provide all the best cruise ports
in Alaska and to keep it very economical.  Air fares round trip to Seattle
save over the long haul, open jaw flights to or from Anchorage.  2010 is
the perfect time to join our merry band of cruisers!

    As you consider your plans, consider flying into Seattle a day or two
early.  It is a fun city to explore and you can get relaxed and rested before
boarding the Zaandam.  Ellen and I will be staying at the
 
Comfort Suites Downtown/Seattle Center (WA089)
601 Roy St. , Seattle, WA, US, 98109-3160
Phone: (206) 282-2600

    This Comfort Suites Hotel is near the space needle and has a shuttle to
other Seattle sites.  Rates are very reasonable there.  Of course, for a bit
higher rate you can find a number of very nice Hotels right in the heart of
Seattle near the Pike Place Market.  If you decide to stay at any hotel in
the Choice Hotel group, as we have done, I would be happy to secure your
reservation.  (The Choice Hotel group allows cruise agents to use their
reservation system.)

    It is best to fly to Seattle a day early in case a flight delay occurs or a
piece of checked luggage gets "misplaced".  If, however, you fly to Seattle on
June 4th, I'd advise using a non-stop flight which arrives by noon.  Such an
arrangement reduces the chance that any delay might cause you to miss the
ship.  Your departing flights, if you leave Seattle June 11 should be scheduled
to depart after noon to allow time for disembarkation and travel to SEA-TAC
airport.  It is a 30 - 40 minute trip between the pier and the airport.  Holland
America uses Pier 91 which is about 10 minutes from the space needle on
Seattle's north shore.

    I look forward to hearing from you soon to assist you in planning your
Alaska cruise adventure.  To check out the group cruise fares we have,
go to:

http://www.freedomcruises.biz/Info2010.html

Happy Cruising!

Ken