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The company operates its own lodges, rail cars and motorcoaches for exploration of Alaska's interior and beyond. The best Alaska cruises range from off-the-beaten-path voyages on vessels carrying fewer than 100 passengers to weeklong jaunts through the Inside Passage aboard megaships that hold thousands. Denali National Park boasts the continent’s highest peak, and Glacier Bay National Park is one of the world’s largest protected areas. You can discover even more magnificence during your Alaska cruisetour at Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks, where one of the four largest ice caps in the world invites guests to explore its terrain. Only an hour and a half from the cruise port of Whittier lies the largest city in Alaska – Anchorage.
Best for off-the-beaten-path travel: National Geographic Quest
Travel back in time and pan for gold like a prospector during the Gold Rush. Snuggle sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, or see the Northern Lights in the planetarium. At the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, explore our treehouse and enjoy unmatched views of Denali.
Best Inside Passage Alaska Cruise: Hurtigruten Expeditions, MS Roald Amundsen
Layers, light waterproof jackets, good walking shoes, and a hat and gloves are the essentials; Alaska can be cold as well as warm and sunny. Many of our itineraries spend a day cruising the beautiful Endicott Arm Fjord, the end of which is dominated by the mighty Dawes Glacier. Sail from Vancouver to North America’s biggest glacier, seven miles wide and the height of a 30-story building. Ports along this Alaska cruise include Ketchikan; Juneau, the perfect spot for whale-watching; and Icy Strait Point, where you can search for bears and eagles. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises. They are living laboratories that show what the Earth was like thousands of years ago and how it is changing today.
Off Season Cruises in Alaska?
Once again, Holland America is at the top of the most popular list, along with Princess Cruises. Both operate a suite of services for those wanting to explore on land, including lodges, trains, motorcoaches, and the popular Denali National Park. If you would like to learn from experts during your voyage to Alaska, the top cruise line for a smaller ship experience is often Viking Ocean Cruises. There are ships with all the bells and whistles bedecked with glitz and glam, and others offer just the basics with a surprise (see our insider tip in the Final Note below!). The ship's captain has the flexibility to seek out the best remote islands and bays for beachcombing, tide pooling, hiking and kayaking adventures.
day Alaska cruises
Regardless of your choice of the best cruise line for Alaska, the entire experience of scenery, food, culture and adventure are sure to make memories to last a lifetime. Our final note today is an insider tip from this writer’s experience living in the state – the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). Rather than a traditional cruise, it is a way to cruise 3,500 miles of coastlines from Bellingham, Washington to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands. It will come as no surprise that one of the top-rated cruise lines for families is…wait for it…Disney! Options include Denali (the tallest peak in North America), Glacier Bay (3.3 million acres of mountain, rainforests…and, and glaciers!), Kenai Fjords (home to 40 glaciers), and Wrangell-St.
Voyage through the untamed beauty from the comfort of our world-class ships, exclusive rail service and Princess Wilderness Lodges near national parks. Choose from a variety of Alaska cruise and cruisetour itineraries and connect with loved ones, locals and Alaska's wilderness with Princess®. Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities.
Best Shore Excursions On An Alaska Cruise
This national park is a dream destination for any serious Alaska traveler. With some of the most stunning wilderness in existence and famous wildlife, it’s part of the definitive experience of traveling to the Great Land’s wild interior. Upgrade your cruise to a Cruisetour and explore the Last Frontier on land either at the beginning or end of your northern getaway.
Night Alaska ExplorerDetails
With less than 1,000 passengers (adults only), small does not translate to lacking of amenities. Spas, distinctive design elements, and even bathrooms with heated floors are included on a Viking cruise. Departures are typically out of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. There are also fewer departures out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and even Alaska homeports of Ketchikan, Juneau, and Anchorage. So, the good news is that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers when booking your next Alaskan cruise adventure.
Holland America Line Touts 'Glacier Day' Perks on Alaska Voyages - Cruise Hive
Holland America Line Touts 'Glacier Day' Perks on Alaska Voyages.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:29:21 GMT [source]
Crowne Plaza Seattle
You can still go for the gold in Fairbanks, panning just like the early prospectors did. The landscape and views you’ll experience on an Alaska cruise will be unforgettable, so be sure to pack your binoculars and your best camera to capture the incredible sights to share with friends and family. For photo enthusiasts, an assortment of wide-angle lenses, x-factor lenses, multipurpose lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, and even a tripod can help you capture that perfect shot.
Here you can get up close to the orphaned, injured or displaced animals, all under expert care in their natural habitats so that they can be reintroduced into the wild. The resident population varies by the season but can include caribou and moose calves, fawns, porcupines, birds, lynx, and brown and black bears. Local connections are the difference between a good trip and a truly memorable one. And Royal Caribbean Cruise Tours are guided by a local Adventure Specialist who act as guides, historians and concierges. They are by your side for the entirety of the land tour, providing insider tips and local perspective.
Finally, in addition to classic ports like Juneau and Ketchikan, Viking Ocean Cruises’ Alaska itinerary also calls on Valdez, which is chock-full of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. And when you combine your seven-night sailing with Alaska CruiseTours, you’ll explore the best of the Last Frontier — on land and sea. Like hiking through the rugged wilderness, dog sledding, and spotting whales in the wild. Explore the best Alaska cruises available with a range of departure ports including Vancouver, Seward, and Seattle, and a choice of thrilling round-trip or one-way itineraries.
Travel aboard our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® train and unwind at Princess Wilderness Lodges®. Every year Princess introduces more people to Denali National Park than any other cruise line. As you plan your Alaska vacation, you might be torn between traveling by cruise ship, plane or even car. On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens. Embark on an unforgettable Alaska adventure cruise and experience the ultimate vacation.
Immerse yourself in the wildlife, scenery, and culture ashore and return to aboard our contemporary, design-led ships. After enjoying the untamed beauty, return to your Alaska cruise and rejuvenate your spirit in The Spa. Watch for whales and dolphins from the privacy of your Infinite Veranda stateroom, where the touch of a button brings the outside in. Like everything else in Alaska, the Great Land’s national parks far exceed expectations. Read about Glacier Bay’s seven tidewater glaciers, Denali’s 6-million acres of undisturbed wilderness, Kenai Fjords' astonishing Exit Glacier and other national parks. The cost of an Alaskan cruise can vary greatly depending on your itinerary, length of trip, cruise line, and a number of other factors.
Ferns carpet the forest floor while Sitka spruce trees tower over the terrain. Traverse rivers by way of wooden boardwalks and descend hills with the help of man-made stairs that blend perfectly into the environment. Weave your way through these lands and keep an eye out for grizzly bears scouring the waters for fresh catch or eagles soaring above. 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. With nearly endless summer days and coastal breezes, you’ll want to make sure to dress with flexibility in mind.
Lindblad has special permits to bring passengers into the wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the Tongass National Forest, beyond what the big ships can offer. A hike on Chichagof Island is the perfect opportunity to spot bald eagles in the wild. A day aboard the 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy might start out with a hike to a glacial lake followed by an early-evening kayak adventure in Thomas Bay. Or, you might enjoy a bit of scenic cruising by LeConte Glacier (where the big ships don't go) then continue the fun with hiking and biking the trails of Ideal Cove. Guided skiff tours will take guests in search of Alaskan wildlife in remote bays and secret coves.
When you cruise with Norwegian, the awe of Alaska stays with you throughout your vacation. Nicknamed “The Love Boat,” Princess Cruises has been sailing to Alaska for more than 50 years, and is a terrific choice for couples looking to get away from it all. While onboard, Princess immerses its guests into the sites, sounds, tastes and history of the 49th state through its award-winning North to Alaska programming.
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