Join Us for an Adventure
August, 2005

The QCWA International Board of Directors has awarded the responsibility of holding the QCWA 2005 Convention to Chapter 162. The 2005 Convention will be a seven-day Alaskan cruise onboard Holland America's ms Veendam departing from Seward, Alaska on Sunday, August 21, 2005, cruising Glacier Bay Inside Passage with stops at Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska, departing the ship at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

For those interested, we will set up a DX-pedition on Fox Island (an hour's boat ride from Seward) in beautiful Resurrection Bay for a period of at least 48 hours prior to the cruise. The last DX-pedition from there was during the summer of 1996 and the island is classified as a rare IOTA. There is a lodge on the island that sleeps 18 and camping is available for the hearty DX-ers plus a few other amenities. If more than 18 individuals are interested in participating in this activity, the one-hour boat ride will be available for those not keen on camping out, to bring those individuals back and forth to the island from Seward.

We will also offer a six-day, pre-cruise Alaskan Adventure that begins in Fairbanks with a two-night stay. Then a tour of the historic Gold Dredge No.8, an enjoyable a riverboat trip on the sternwheeler Discovery III, before boarding the McKinley Explorer, for a luxury sightseeing journey to Denali National Park. Staying two-nights at the McKinley Chalet Resort, you can encounter the park's beauty and wildlife from beside the Nenana River. You will then re-board the McKinley Explorer Dome railcar, enjoying the sights on into Anchorage, check into your deluxe downtown hotel and take in the sites of the city. You depart the next afternoon by bus traveling the scenic Seward Highway to meet your ship.

The options offered at this time are:

1. The seven-day cruise only.
2. Being part of the DX-pedition - for all of it, one day or only a few hours and the cruise.
3. 13-day (12-Night) Fairbanks, Denali Park, and Glacier Bay cruise.

If there is an interest and/or need, we will offer other excursions prior to the cruise. We may have Hams interested in working the DX-pedition, but their families may wish to travel for the cruise only. We can and would plan several side trips for those folks - for example a tour of Kenja Fjords National Park.

I have selected White Travel Service in West Hartford, Connecticut as our booking agent for the cruise, and the six-day pre-cruise excursion, for those wanting the extended vacation.

White Travel Service can be reached at (800) 547-4790. For information on the QCWA 2005 Holland America cruise, and ask about Tour number 16 for information and reservations for the extended Fairbanks adventure.

The Holland America line was selected because they are a first class experienced Alaskan cruise line and we had a fine working relationship with them during our 2001 Caribbean outing on the Westerdam. It is because of that relationship, our travel agency was able to lock-in some great rates and several additional amenities. Our cruise ship, the Statendam or Veendam is 720 feet in length, has 10 passenger decks, 8 passenger elevators, two outdoor swimming pools, a health spa, casino, internet center and holds 1266 passengers.

We have been able to negotiate special pricing across five types of staterooms. We offer category NN, a minimum inside guarantee stateroom; category K, a midship inside stateroom; category HH, a minimum outside guarantee stateroom; category E, a midship outside stateroom; and category BB, a veranda suite, featuring a spacious private balcony (the veranda suite features other amenities, including refrigerator/mini-bar, VCR, personalized stationery, Jacuzzi tub and more).

OPTIONS
Category NN (inside stateroom)	$894 per person
Category K (midship inside stateroom)	$899 per person
Category HH (outside stateroom)	$999 per person
Category E (large outside stateroom)	$1079 per person
Category NN (veranda suite)	$1299 per person

These prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Single occupancy is available at the rate of 150% of categories NN thru E; and 190% of category BB. The third or fourth in a room, is only $480 per person.

Rates do not include air transportation to Alaska, but air is available from Holland America Cruises at special rates that include airfare from most U. S. and Canadian Cities to Anchorage and back from Vancouver (in some cases, air transportation is from Seattle, with ground transportation being provided between Vancouver and Seattle).

Rates do not include port charges, government taxes, fees and handling charges, which are currently scheduled to be approximately $198.42 per person. These fees are subject to change if governmental authorities impose additional costs.

White travel Service has arranged for our group to have two complimentary cocktail parties aboard ship, including hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Additionally, each passenger in our group will receive a shipboard credit of fifty dollars ($50) per person (first and second passengers in a room only).

We are looking to set-up eight to ten Ham stations on the ship, with around-the-clock operation and a portable two-meter repeater. With the Alaskan repeater linking system along the Western Alaskan Coast, and echo links currently available via the Internet, our passengers should be able to be in two-meter hand-held radio contact with anyone in the world that has Internet capability. I am hoping to invite as many of the Amateur Radio Manufacturers as I can to join us in our adventure. I have extended an invitation to Gordon West, WB6NOA to come and set up a floating upgrading class. Imagine taking your Ham License Test on the High Seas, we offered and had takers for this unique opportunity during the 2001 Caribbean cruise.

We are inviting several U.S. and foreign Astronauts to come along, with the hopes of establishing contacts between the ship and the International Space Station, with the possibility of including pre-arranged schedules with schools around the world. There are several well-known entertainers who hold Amateur Radio Calls. It is our hope to contact and entice them into joining us.

There are many QCWA members and Hams residing outside of North American, whom I believe would be attracted to an outing of this nature. A chance to see the great Alaskan wilderness, take part in a DX-pedition from a rare IOTA, and cruise Alaska's Glacier Bay, has a great appeal. With interest from a group in a particular country, charter arrangements could be made to keep the overall expenses manageable. We have a couple of years to explore overseas options and see if there is any genuine interest.

We have kicked off this endeavor during the great Dayton Hamvention, 2003. We will have flyers, posters, pictures and a great deal of gab at the QCWA Hamvention booth. Stop by and say hello, pick up a flyer and talk it up with your family, friends and fellow Hams in your local community.

White Travel Services, at (800) 547-4790, is ready to answer any of your cruise or travel questions. Booking deposits are $350 per person and are fully refundable anytime up to 76-days prior to sailing.

Questions about onboard activates, the Fox Island DX-pedition, and anything else can be directed to me:

Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO
5400 Six Mile Road
Racine, Wisconsin 53402-9741 USA

Telephone (262) 639-7327
FAX (262) 639-3320
wa9jmo@qsltravels.org