All aboard for Alaska and ports beyond

Many Alaskan cruise itineraries include the Canadian ports of Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. Others include Seattle. This summer, cruise lines are offering a variety of excursions on ships ranging from superliners to small adventure craft:

Admiral Cruises' Stardancer allows passengers to take a car or recreation vehicle on board for a more thorough exploration of Alaska.

Cunard has several ships, including the ultra-luxurious Sea Goddess and the Sagafjord, which have a northern itinerary that includes Seward and Anchorage.

Exploration Cruise Lines has five ships in Alaska for 1987, including its luxurious Explorer Starship and the 70-passenger Great Rivers Explorer, which is small enough to get into inlets larger ships can't navigate.

Holland America has three ships in Alaska, including the legendary Rotterdam. The line's connection with Westours provides visitors with many tour options on land.

Princess Cruises, with the original television ``Love Boat,'' will operate two ships, including the Royal Princess, which offers picture windows and balconies from many cabins and will sail from Whittier/Anchorage and Vancouver.

Royal Cruise Lines' 400-passenger Golden Odyssey will sail on seven-day cruises from Whittier/Anchorage to such places as Yukutat Bay and Hubbard Glacier.

Royal Viking Line will include the Columbia Glacier on the Royal Viking Sky's itinerary of 11-day cruises from Vancouver.

Sitmar's Fairsea will sail from Seattle, and the 1,200-passenger Fairsky maintains the tradition of including a small port in each itinerary. This year it's Port Hardy, British Columbia.

Society Expeditions' small ship, the Society Explorer, offers a 14-day voyage from Nome that includes calls at Little Diomede Island, and the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Strait, Kodiak, and Lituya Bay.

For specific dates of cruises and to book passage on an Alaska Cruise, contact your local travel agent.