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Top scenic cruising destinations in Alaska include Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm and College Fjord. Sitka's Russian heritage also sets it apart from other Alaskan ports on your cruise itinerary. See St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral with its onion dome and the Russian Bishop's House. For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway.
Gulf of Alaska Cruises: Denali National Park, Kenai Peninsula and More Beautiful Scenery
While luxury can certainly be enjoyed on many of the lines mentioned here, these are often considered the top-of-the-line for creature comforts. So, the good news is that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers when booking your next Alaskan cruise adventure. So, I’ve tried to cover the typical dining, entertainment and accommodation options for each ship to help you make up your mind.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska: Crowds, Weather and Cost Are All Factors
Click here to jump straight to the comparisons of the best cruise lines for Alaska. Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night. However, if it's a sunny summer day, temperatures can shoot into the 70s and even low 80s. It also rains a lot in Alaska; it's drier in the spring than in the summer. While you might not be sunning yourself to a stunning shade of bronze on an Alaska cruise, you and everyone on board will want to take in the scenery.
What are the best cruise ships and cruise lines of 2024? USA TODAY 10Best seeks your vote - USA TODAY
What are the best cruise ships and cruise lines of 2024? USA TODAY 10Best seeks your vote.
Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Top Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska
Just remember that since you’re sailing out of California you will have at least a couple sea days before reaching Alaska. Even the largest Silversea cruise ships only carry 596 passengers, offering another great passenger to crew ratio. Seven Seas Explorer is currently the cruise ship dedicated to Alaskan itineraries.
Alaska Cruises: Everything You Need to Know for a Perfect Bucket-List Adventure
"We saw grandparents and grandkids on the dance floor, at the shows, on the excursions — bonding moments were everywhere," Cicero said. Rounding out our Alaska fleet, Celebrity Solstice® has something you won’t find on any other ship there. The Lawn Club, featuring real, live grass, is an incredible spot to enjoy a hot chocolate while you soak up the views.
The 11 Best Cruise Ships For Alaska (According to Real Reviews)
Below are the best Alaska cruises and cruise lines for every type of traveler. Your cruise ship will spend 9-10 hours in Glacier Bay, during which a park ranger will be onboard to offer insights and answer question along the way. In general, waiting until the last minute is not the best idea, unless you live in Seattle or Vancouver and don't need to book flights.
Dining on Discovery Princess
The 930 passenger ships are 47,500 in gross tonnage and are the perfect size for an Alaskan sailing. For about $400 per person you can find sailings on Volendam and Noordam for 7-night voyages. Even the 2016 Koningsdam has some September itineraries for just over $400 per person for an interior stateroom. It’s yet another reason that Holland America drives a pretty hard bargain when it comes to amazing Alaskan cruises. Even though Holland America and Celebrity consider themselves to be premium cruise lines some of their older ships offer some of the lowest rates you can find.
12 best Alaska cruises for an awe-inspiring trip - The Times
12 best Alaska cruises for an awe-inspiring trip.
Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
And if you’re traveling with a family of various ages you might want to consider a cruise on one of the mega ships that can keep everyone entertained, even teenagers. Holland America Line has offered Alaska cruises for 75 years and is clearly a market leader. The line tops the list in terms of cruises, as well as cruise tours, which combine time sailing with overnight stays on land. The company operates its own lodges, rail cars and motorcoaches for exploration of Alaska's interior and beyond. The line always stations one or two Quantum-class ships in Alaska for the season.
Alaska is another very popular destination thanks to its incredible sights – the magnificent glaciers, the historic towns, and the varied wildlife, including whales and dolphins. Ashton Palmer is a Seattle-based T+L A-List travel advisor who specializes in expedition cruises. Dry docked in 2021 for a routine refurbishment, this Quantum Class ship holds 4,905 passengers and truly offers something for everyone. The Discovery Princess had her naming ceremony in April of 2022, so she’s a brand-new addition to the line’s fleet.
Other cruises might be best for solo travelers or travelers on a tight budget. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as a helicopter tour over Alaska's sprawling landscapes. Plan your romantic Alaskan cruise with our adventurer’s guide to discovering the coziest vacation spots and most scenic restaurants for couples traveling in Alaska. Embark on a thrilling journey with young explorers through breathtaking landscapes. Planes are plentiful in Alaska, where they're a common form of transportation across the state.
After traveling somewhere new, you want to bring something back with you to remember all of your fun adventures. 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. In the center of the state, Denali National Park is blanketed in wildflowers punctuated with mountains, raging rivers and serene lakes.
If you envision sipping Champagne as you watch a glacier thunderously calve into the sea, consider booking an all-inclusive luxury cruise on a Seabourn ship. Big ships can only offer deckside viewing of the marvels of Glacier Bay, but UnCruise Adventures sends its ships to the rarely visited outback. In Fern Harbor, Dundas Bay or No Name Cove, passengers can get up close to the natural wonders with birding expeditions, paddleboarding, beach walks, and more hiking and kayaking. If adventure is what you crave on an Alaska cruise, you should seek out the small ships of UnCruise Adventures. All of the line's itineraries boast an active component, but its "Wild, Woolly and Wow" itinerary claims to be "the most active back country itinerary" of UnCruise's 2024 Alaska cruises. That'll depend on your personal interests and travel style because there are cruises from Seattle that appeal to everyone, including family travelers, budget travelers and retirees.
For your on-shore day excursions, be sure to pack layers of clothing and rain gear so that you can be comfortable. Proper footwear is also important and be sure to bring hiking shoes if you plan to enjoy outdoor activities. Norwegian Cruise Line also sails some of its 169,00 gross ton Breakaway-class vessels to Alaska. Norwegian Bliss, Encore, and Joy are all mega ships with Norwegian and each have a go-kart track on board. This in addition to a ropes course, an impressive virtual reality arcade, laser tag and more. Another veteran of Alaskan sailings, Princess Cruises has been navigating these waters for over 50 years.
If you’d like a small ship cruise to Alaska, but crave a bit more adventure, expedition cruises might be more your speed. Check out lines like Alaskan Dream Cruises, Lindblad and UnCruise Adventures, which focus on immersive nature and wildlife experiences. The vibe onboard these ships is also more personalized due to their limited capacity. Viking Orion guests will feel the line’s drive to explore upon stepping aboard this 930-passenger ship that treats adventurous-minded travelers to global cuisine with several Norwegian delicacies (a nod to the line's Nordic roots).
Nearly every major cruise line has a presence in Alaska from May through mid-September, with some offering sailings as early as April or as late as October. Cold temperatures, icy waters and a long snowy season are not conducive to early spring and late fall cruises. They want to admire its rugged beauty, seek out wildlife (such as eagles, bears and whales) and learn about its Native cultures and gold rush history. It's so far from the rest of the mainland U.S. that it's become a bucket list destination, especially for travelers looking to visit each of the 50 states. Silver Muse in Alaska will feel more like they're on a five-star hotel than a cruise ship. Marble bathrooms come with full-sized bathtubs and separate showers, while passengers can choose from Bulgari or Ortigia amenities.
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