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Upon entering the terminal, we found ourselves in a spacious, well-lit hall equipped with rows of check-in counters. Staff were on hand to assist, contributing to an atmosphere of organized efficiency. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. A quick note on how I pulled this list together, because there are a couple of important things to clarify. Or try my favorite Alaska experience, snorkeling in the chilly waters of the Inside Passage, where the starfish and other creatures are unusually colorful.
Norwegian Bliss Dining Menus
Another of the best cruise ships to Alaska from Vancouver, Seabourn Quest also offers departures from Juneau heading in the opposite direction. Consider this carefully when choosing which side of the ship to book for your Alaska cruise. Viking’s luxury sailings are expensive enough to price out a lot of cruise passengers, but cruises are all-inclusive with a free excursion in every port too, so you have to weigh up the value against cruises where you’ll pay for a lot of extras.
Best value Alaska cruise: Radiance of the Seas
The MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen embark on 14- to 19-day Alaskan voyages between May and September. The storied Cunard cruise line, with more than 180 years of seafaring history, returned to Alaska after nearly 30 years when it arrived back in the Great Land in 2019. In addition to more than 140 shore experiences that immerse guests into this magical destination, Cunard invites explorers, travel writers and locals onboard to share their passions and knowledge.
Best Luxury Alaska Cruise: Cunard, Queen Elizabeth
While our review is based on a 10-day cruise, the insights we share can also help you choose a 7-day itinerary. We’ll tell you which ports are must-visits and what experiences you shouldn’t miss, ensuring you make the most of your time in Alaska. I've taken more than 20 trips to Alaska, all but two of those trips on cruise ships. I have even written books about cruising in Alaska and my favorite Alaska attractions.
Experts onboard these sailings include naturalists, biologists and other scientists who are members of the expedition team. They lead the outdoor activities and provide passengers with a deeper insight into Alaska. Once guests finish communing with nature, they can indulge in gourmet cuisine in multiple restaurants, enjoy a complimentary cocktail or relax in an upscale spa. 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.
You don't have to wait until retirement to tick off a bucket list cruise to Alaska - 9Honey Travel
You don't have to wait until retirement to tick off a bucket list cruise to Alaska.
Posted: Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Best Alaska cruises for families with kids
Our day began with a local whale-watching tour that set sail from Hoonah Harbor. The experience was magical, but what’s even more astonishing is that you can also spot these majestic creatures from the shores of Shaman Point Beach. For more tips on what to pack, check out our detailed Alaska cruise packing list and tips.
Choose this ship if you’re a younger traveller or couple who wants plenty of bars and evening entertainment while on your cruise to Alaska. One of the best features of Radiance of the Seas for a cruise to Alaska is the adults-only indoor pool in the Solarium. Most ships on this list only have outdoor pools, hardly suited to the colder temperatures of Alaska – so if you want to relax poolside, Radiance of the Seas could be the ideal choice.
Seven Seas Explorer is also one of the ‘larger’ small ships to Alaska, so it feels even more spacious – perfect if you want to sip a cocktail, soak up the view and feel like you’re on your own private yacht – albeit a big one. There’s one exception – Silverseas’ ship Silver Nova has the most Alaska itineraries, but she’s too new to have accumulated enough review scores, so I’ve gone with Silver Moon instead. 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. As part of the traveling-far-to-get-there necessity, you'll reduce concern about being on time — and toss away the potential stress from transportation delays — by arriving at your debarkation city a day or two before your cruise.
In summary, Skagway is a treasure trove of experiences, from its rich history to its modern-day charm. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we headed to the downtown Skagway, part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. You’ll see restored buildings and authentic artifacts and even get the chance to pan for gold. It’s a step back into the late 1800s, offering an immersive historical experience. Our 10-day Alaska cruise adventure began at Seattle’s Pier 66, a prime downtown location with easy access and panoramic views of Seattle’s iconic skyline.
But what truly simplified our transition was Seattle’s Port Valet Service. This service lets you check in and send your luggage directly from the ship to your flight, making the process as seamless as possible. A free gondola ride connects the Adventure Landing dock to the Historic Cannery, making exploring the port’s shopping and dining options easy.
Longer cruises, like the Holland America Alaska Arctic Solstice Cruise spans 28 days, and will take you from your port to the Arctic Circle. The course begins in Seattle and leads through the Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, and up to Anchorage. Then, you’ll travel over to Kodiak Island, out to the far stretches of the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbor, and around to Nome, and through the Arctic Circle. Some cruise lines offer pre or post-cruise fly-in opportunities to remote areas of Alaska, like leaving from Fairbanks to the visit the Arctic Circle.
The high point was when my waiter approached the table next to mine and called a clear “ma’am” a “sir.” I generously thought, “language barrier? ” but when he realized his mistake three courses later, he just busted up laughing and was like, “you’ve been a lady this whole time? ” Like maybe her gender identity changed between the antipasto and the risotto. I should mention that the bottle of wine I selected was called 19 Crimes, which I order every time because it’s the only one I can pronounce.
Any large group booking multiple cabins or needing more than a pair of spots on shore excursions should start thinking about booking Alaska cruises about a year in advance to secure the best availability for their group size. So too should travelers who have specific non-negotiables on things like stateroom category, ship, or itinerary. Say hello to our little friend, the 186-passenger Ocean Victory, from American Queen Voyages.
Your stateroom phone will ring, and you'll want to be prepared to get outside quickly, as the sight of the lights is often fleeting. Northern lights appear in the Alaska sky year-round, but under the summertime midnight sun, with few hours of darkness, it's too bright to have much chance of seeing them. Alaska weather is somehow, inevitably, both colder and warmer than you expect. One day in summer you may find yourself peeling off clothes on a sunny mountain hike.
You'll have four sea days (for example, two days from San Francisco to Juneau) plus a day of scenic cruising at a spot like Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Endicott Arm, Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park. The waters before you enter the Inside Passage can be calm, rough or anything in between, depending on when you go. 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.
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. You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations may include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. One nice thing about the Inside Passage is how calm the water is because you're sailing between land masses.
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