An amazing one-off opportunity to cruise in Alaska without flying is being made available by P&O Cruises through Gill’s Cruise Centre. The epic journey to and from the US state known as the Last Frontier will run from Southampton in spring 2011.

It will be the first time in more than 40 years that the line has sailed to Alaska. The 72-night Grand Alaska Voyage will be undertaken by the adults-only ship Arcadia. The 2,016-passenger vessel is to depart from the UK on April 12, 2011 and will visit 29 ports of call before returning on June 23.

Arcadia’s voyage, the only Alaskan cruise departing from the UK, can also be split down into two holiday options. These are offered as a 44-night cruise sailing from Southampton to Los Angeles or a 45-night cruise from San Francisco to Southampton.

Alaska – the largest state in America by area – is one of the world’s last true wildernesses and is renowned for its incredible scenery and wildlife. A cruise to Alaska is described by P&O Cruises as a ‘must-do’ trip and is really the only way to view the spectacular landscape with its striking glaciers and extraordinary night skies.

The voyage takes you through mountains and ice fields, glaciers, fjords and forests. It’s not unusual to have eagles circling overhead while humpback whales dive into the sea alongside the ship.

Uniquely, travelling on the Grand Alaska Voyage gives passengers the bonus of spending time in the Caribbean and Mexico, transiting the awe-inspiring Panama Canal in both directions and having extended stops in iconic cities such as San Francisco, Vancouver and New York.

The cruise allows for full days in the Alaskan towns of Juneau and Skagway as well as sailing through magnificent fjords and getting close to gigantic glaciers.

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “Alaska is one of life's ‘must see’ destinations and extensive research with our past passengers confirms this demand. “Arcadia will not only be visiting the ‘classic’ Alaskan ports but also some lesser known ports for our passengers to explore.

“This cruise combines the excitement and vibrancy of the greatest US cities such as New York, LA and Vancouver, with the vast wilderness and unexplored landscapes of Alaska. “One day they could be shopping on Rodeo Drive and on another they could be seeing the world's greatest glaciers from a helicopter.”