Cruise news for 2017: Alaska boom, more in-depth experiences (copy)

This June 26, 2014, file photo, shows a cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska, while a paraglider soars above. Alaska expects 1.06 million cruise passengers this year, breaking its 2008 record of 1.03 million visits. The Alaska Travel Industry Association says larger ships are bringing more visitors, and destinations like Sitka, Juneau and Icy Strait Point have built out piers to accommodate bigger vessels. Smaller ships are simultaneously expanding service, specializing in more remote destinations the bigger ships can’t reach.