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They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of "white thunder" — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below. On an Alaska cruise, let us show you Glacier Bay National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier. Don’t wait any longer, riding the world's longest zip line in Alaska will be an experience you'll never forget while on your next Alaskan mountain adventure.
Find Norwegian Bliss Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) - Cruise Critic
Find Norwegian Bliss Cruises to Alaska (with Prices).
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 21:45:11 GMT [source]
Discover Alaska with Princess in 2023-2024
With national parks and four of North America’s tallest mountains, Alaska’s wilderness has been preserved for generations. Denali National Park is larger than Vermont and home to the highest peak on the continent. Meanwhile, Glacier Bay National Park has over 2,000 square miles of glacial coverage.
Weekly Alaska Cruises May to September
The Inside Passage, which is the inner route that takes you all around the southeast of Alaska, takes you right next to the stunning landscape all day long. My Alaska cruise was significantly cheaper than most passengers will encounter due to the fact that it was at the very end of the season and that I was traveling solo. However, even if my cruise fare had been a more “normal” price, such as around $1500, my cruise still would have been relatively budget friendly. A more in-depth Cruise Tour is the “Fjords and Tundra National Parks Explorer”. This tour combines a 7-night sailing on Radiance of the Seas followed by a 4-night land-tour that visits Seward, Anchorage, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Fairbanks.
Night Alaska Experience CruiseDetails
Large cruise companies sail Alaska's Inside Passage from Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, and on through the Gulf of Alaska to Seward or Whittier. In between, passengers usually stop in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and then sail up College Fjord to see glaciers stretching their icy fingers into the sea. You'll see plenty of stunning scenery along the way but not up close – for most cruisers, it's more than enough to satisfy. Go back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush on cruises to Skagway, Alaska, once the primary gateway to the goldfields.
Balconies Are Worth It, But Don’t FretYes, if you’re going to get a balcony cabin, then Alaska is a great place to do it. There’s plenty to see the entire trip, and it’s nice to be able to simply step out on the balcony to take in the view. Dressing Can Be Hard (Layers Are a Must)Keeping in the theme of weather, you’ll likely find that it’s a little harder to dress for Alaska.
THE 25 BEST Holland America Line Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Holland America Line Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:31:17 GMT [source]
Alaskan Explorer Cruise Ships
Now that we’ve covered the basics of all things Alaska cruising, keep reading to discover the best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler, featuring expert insight and award-winning picks. Dawn Gabree is a travel advisor who specializes in Alaska cruises at Travels by Danielle. Ashton Palmer is a Seattle-based T+L A-List travel advisor who specializes in expedition cruises. Have a front-row seat to thunderous glaciers and crystalline fjords on this superb Vista-class ship. Our Alaska cruise departure ports have big personalities and loads of attractions. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises.
Humpback whales often follow schools of herring and other small fish during the summer and can be seen anytime between May and September before they migrate to Hawaii or Mexico. Taking a deep dive into Alaska’s coastal regions Book a small ship cruise between Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau for a week or longer in the nooks and crannies of southeast Alaska. You’ll hike where there are no trails, paddle without another human in sight, and get to know the traditional lands of Alaska’s Coastal Native tribes. We like Alaskan Dream Cruises, UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions for smaller, more sustainable cruises.
Because Alaska has such a short season with a limited number of ships and is a dream trip for many, cruises are in high demand and people plan early. 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. The immediate port area will be filled with tourist shops and eateries. If you want to see nature at its finest, you must book a tour or venture farther afield. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about Native Alaskan culture. You can get a taste of the gold rush life by trying your hand at panning for gold, attending a salmon bake or visiting a dog-sled camp.
Radiance of the Seas Is One of the Best Ships for One-Way Alaskan Cruise Itineraries
There's nothing like seeing these behemoths hurl themselves out of the water, to splash back into the sea. Don't pass up an opportunity to watch these giants feed and play in the water. One-way Gulf of Alaska itineraries are the best option for Alaska touring, as they begin or end in Alaska. If you'd like an assist with your outdoor adventures, the Mount Roberts Tramway climbs 1,800 feet above Juneau for gorgeous views. Those who'd prefer man-made experiences can check out honky-tonk at the raucous Red Dog Saloon or dip into any of the microbreweries and distilleries all over town. In other words, Alaska can be one of the more affordable bucket-list destinations to reach by ship, especially when compared to other remote cruise destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos.
Budgeting for excursions is important to ensure you will be able to do what interests you most. We recommend booking a cruise as soon as you decide you would like to sail to Alaska. Waiting for a lower price usually does not pay off, as cruise fares tend to get higher closer to the sale date. The price of an Alaska cruise can vary widely depending on the month you sail, stateroom you choose, and excursions you book.
Comparing a few dates for the Alaska Cruisetour, the per person costs for a couple is about $1300, close to double the cost of the cheapest roundtrip cruise. Like any vacation, you could rack up additional costs for things like souvenirs, meals and snacks ashore, or any other general shopping or gaming while onboard. How much to allocate for these additional purchases varies for all travel parties. Although, when cruising in Alaska you should check with your mobile provider.
Many people choose to arrive a day or two before the cruise departs or stay a few days after it ends to explore the departure or arrival city. Hotel costs can range from $100 to $300 per night, depending on the location and quality of the hotel. While these excursions can be pricey, they often offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are hard to replicate. For example, how often do you get the chance to kayak near a glacier or take a dog sled ride?
Look to shoulder season sailingsNot only will you often receive a significant discount, you’ll also be able to witness Alaska’s seasonal transitions and fewer crowds at ports of call. Explore Alaska’s most remote coastal areasConsider a luxury midsize (or smaller) cruise to places like Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands or to the northwestern city of Nome. Both combine a look at the rugged, raw coastlines with time spent on shore in towns with few frills. Weather can often be cold, rainy and windy, but if you want a unique adventure in Alaska, check out the itineraries from Hurtigruten. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise.
Holland America and Princess are the biggest mainstream lines for an Alaska cruise. But you'll also see Alaska itineraries from Carnival, Disney, Norwegian (NCL) and Royal Caribbean, which gives you an array of price points to consider. September offers the best possibility for cruisers to catch the Northern Lights in Alaska.
Essentially, the prices are very close, and vary from week to week and from cruise line to cruise line. Thus, there is no benefit to picking one departure point over the other when it comes to Alaska cruise prices. For instance, an inside cabin on a roundtrip cruise on Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess out of Seattle, WA leaving on April 30th starts at about $720 a person at double occupancy.
See how bald eagles and local bird populations receive first-class treatment at the Alaska Raptor Center. Encounter wildlife in their natural habitat at the Fortress of the Bear. Or experience the culture of Russian Alaska on a visit to St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church, and relive Native history at the Sheldon Jackson Museum. Rush across the snow on a dog sled with a professional musher, fly fish for salmon in fresh rivers and soar over miles of glacial tundra in a helicopter.
