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The port is set on Chichagoff Island, which is known for its large bear population. Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. Hop a bus, kayak, boat or plane to look for bears, eagles, whales, sea otters and other wildlife. Note that moose don't regularly show up in the Inside Passage; you'll need to head farther north to find them. The luxury cruise lines are your best bet if you're a couple and enjoy spacious suites, gourmet food, pampering (many luxe lines hire butlers to cater to every passenger) and the opportunity to meet other like-minded cruisers.
Juneau
Culturally curious cruisers can visit a totem park or see a performance by native Alaskans. When it comes to planning shore excursions or time in port, you’ll find more things you must see or do on your Alaska cruise than you have time for. This type of cruise is best for travelers who want to spend their time hiking, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and visiting scenic destinations. These cruises typically visit several Inside Passage ports, but swap Victoria for a more northern Alaska stop, such as Sitka.
Longer sailings from the West Coast
On all of its Alaska cruises, a Huna Native Interpreter comes aboard Holland America Line ships to share the history of the Tlingit people. Alaska cruises first made their debut in 1881, when the Pacific Coast Steamship Company began cruising the Inside Passage aboard its two ships, the Ancon and the Idaho. Today, with over 20 cruise lines and small ships sailing Alaska’s waterways, there are plenty of options for travelers to choose from during the Alaska cruise season, which runs every year from April through October.
Seabourn Cruise Line
This year, the cruise line added five new Alaskan itineraries, including the adults-only Glaciers & Tranquility and Winter Sports Alaska, with a focus on downhill and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, whale watching and spotting the Northern Lights. Whichever itinerary you choose, you can be sure to have a plethora of adventurous excursions at your fingertips, right from the ship. One day could find you paddleboarding in the morning and hiking in the afternoon, or maybe kayaking and taking a skiff out later in the day to try and spot wildlife.
Alaska Cruise Tips for the Perfect Cruise Experience
They can be incredibly expensive when compared to experiences in the Caribbean or Mexico. September offers the best possibility for cruisers to catch the Northern Lights in Alaska. They are generally visible across the state, so any itinerary will likely do, though you'll have the best show in less populated areas like Denali National Park. You'd also do well to look at the moon cycles, as a full moon can drown out the Aurora Borealis. Also, depending on the cruise you are taking this gives you an opportunity to get ahead of the other guests and book yourself into your preferred restaurant or pick the excursions before everyone else does. My first timer’s tip for once you get on-board the boat is not to head straight to your cabin, but to take a tour of the entire boat and get yourself acquainted with everything on-board.
Comfortable walking shoes with good traction are essential for exploring ports of call and participating in shore excursions. Don't forget to bring accessories such as gloves, hats, and scarves for early morning glacier visits or chilly evenings on deck. It's also wise to pack a sturdy day backpack for carrying essentials during excursions, along with sunscreen, insect repellent, and a refillable water bottle.
Best luxury
A waterproof backpack with bug spray, bear spray, bottled water and snacks is practically a necessity in the State. Come prepared, and always check trail conditions with locals or tourist information centers first before setting out. Seas in Alaska are choppiest on Gulf of Alaska itineraries where waters are open.
Best Small Ship
The minimum age is 18, and the ship is designed for a luxurious and tranquil experience, so you can truly get away from it all. With its intimate size and maneuverability, world-class dining, social atmosphere, and high-end amenities, Seabourn Cruises is a luxurious way to explore America’s Last Frontier. The Millennium offers Edge series staterooms with Infinite Veranda—at the touch of a button, your entire living space becomes the veranda, which means you can walk right out to the water’s edge. And 99% of the staterooms on Celebrity Edge have king-size beds, featuring Celebrity eXhale bedding and Cashmere mattresses. The Celebrity Millennium, launched in 2000, has recently undergone complete modernization, which includes luxury staterooms, enhanced technology, and renovated restaurants and lounges.
The 9 best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler in 2024
For a truly authentic Alaskan experience, consider a dog sled adventure, where you can mush your own team of huskies across snow-covered trails. In Skagway, the historic White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is a popular excursion, taking you on a scenic journey through breathtaking landscapes and offering glimpses into the region's rich Gold Rush history. Additionally, a floatplane tour of the Misty Fjords National Park in Ketchikan provides an awe-inspiring perspective of the pristine wilderness and majestic fjords. These excursions offer an opportunity to create lasting memories and explore the unique facets of Alaska's natural beauty.
Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. The best Alaska cruise ports are also the most crowded because no matter which type of itinerary and cruise line you select, you'll likely visit a mix of the same ports. If you want to see nature at its finest, you must book a tour or venture farther afield.
What's the Best Cruise Line for Alaska? - Cruise Hive
What's the Best Cruise Line for Alaska?.
Posted: Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Most Alaska ports offer a mix of history, culture, scenery, and outdoor activities. If the best Alaska cruise ports are the most popular ones, then the top options are the main Inside Passage ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. Choose expedition cruise lines, such as UnCruise Adventures, American Cruise Line, or Alaskan Dream Cruises, for intimate, adventure-focused ships that sail off the beaten path. These options are ideal for travelers who want their entire itinerary planned out for them, rather than booking their own lodging, transportation, and activities pre- or post-cruise. The Inside Passage cruises are the most popular option and they sail roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver, perhaps with a stop in Victoria, B.C., and explore Southeast Alaska, never reaching Anchorage. If you're intent on a Gulf of Alaska cruise, book a northbound route so you'll cruise the Gulf at the end of the trip when you have your sea legs.
Unlike other cruise destinations, Alaskan ports aren’t separated by vast swaths of ocean. When you cruise the Inside Passage, the ship is constantly within site of land. Most sea days offer something to see, even if not an official scenic cruising day. It’s a different kind of cruise experience, and one many travelers are eager to pursue. Speaking of what to wear on the ship, people often ask me what people wear to the main dining room on formal nights on an Alaskan cruise. Freestyle Travelers is the ultimate resource for cruisers seeking to explore the seas.
We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year. You’ll never feel nickeled and dimed on American Queen Voyages because everything you want—from guided tours to drinks—is already included in the price. Built in 1998 but fully refurbished in 2019, Oceania Cruises’ Regatta dazzles guests with bejeweled chandeliers in the Grand Dining Room, fresh color palettes, and new furnishings in the public spaces, plus new everything in the suites and staterooms.
Royal Caribbean releases new 2025 Alaska cruises to book - Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean releases new 2025 Alaska cruises to book.
Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
I'd start with one possible trip and see what you can find from other people experiences, see if it's helpful. Is there a way to tell if sapphire definitely would / does take the inside passage route and that Royal Princess definitely doesn’t and wouldn’t based on size? Or could a sized ship such as royal princess take the inside passage route as well? Even if Royal Princess definitely doesn’t and sapphire may take that route, we’d likely give it a chance and go with sapphire if the possibility it may take this more scenic route. Southbound is also preferable as you’ll be cruising this mostly in the day/evening whereas going Northbound it will be at night.
Holland America Line (HAL) — which recently snapped up a 2023 World’s Best Award in the large-ship ocean cruise line category — has been cruising Alaska for over 75 years. HAL prides itself on having more permits for Glacier Bay National Park visits than any other cruise line. The cruise line also offers beloved live music programming, which I got to experience firsthand on a summer 2023 Alaska sailing. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard (a dueling piano bar), Lincoln Center Stage, and Rolling Stone Rock Room. After our shore excursions, we’d hop back on board the ship for drinks, dinner, and a nightcap at the dueling piano bar to jam out to hits from Billy Joel and Elton John.
