ROL Cruise has hailed the “increasing populatiry” of rail and sail holidays following the success of a 16-night Alaskan trip taken by the specialist’s ambassador, Sally Gunnel

The Olympic gold medallist combined a seven-night Celebrity Cruises sailing on Celebrity Solstice with a nine-night Rocky Mountaineer train ride, which she described as “one unforgettable journey instead of two separate holidays”.

She praised ROL Cruise for providing a personalised service when creating the itinerary, saying it gave her “confidence” when booking a more complex holiday.

In her ambassadorial role, Gunnel shares advice, experiences and inspiration with ROL Cruise customers, helping more people discover the rewards of Cruise Miles, the company’s loyalty scheme that lets customers earn points towards future holidays with every booking.

Gunnel said: “It was incredible – much more than we ever imagined. Alaska completely blew me away. You see photos of the glaciers and mountains, but experiencing them in real life is something else entirely.

“Pairing that with Rocky Mountaineer afterwards just made it feel like one huge adventure.”

“The cruise and rail combination worked perfectly because they gave completely different perspective of Alaska and Canada. From the sea, you experience the scale of it all, and from the train, you feel immersed in the mountains and the landscapes.”

Sarah Wikevand, ROL chief commercial officer, said: “Sally’s experience perfectly captures why cruise and rail holidays are becoming increasingly popular with travellers looking for something truly immersive and memorable.

“Alaska is one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations and combining it with Rocky Mountaineer creates an experience that’s incredibly difficult to replicate any other way.

“As specialists in tailor-made cruise and rail holidays, we’re passionate about creating journeys that feel seamless, personal and unforgettable from start to finish.”