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I spend an embarrassing amount of time looking through my binoculars on an Alaska cruise—I’m on whale watching duty, as I like to call it. Whether spotting whales or viewing glaciers close-up, binoculars undoubtedly make an Alaska cruise more immersive. Arriving a day early eases the stress of travel by ensuring I have enough wiggle room in the case of flight delays or cancellations. While you don’t have to book excursions in every port, we still recommend having a general idea of what to expect in each Alaska port.
Planning a Trip To Alaska: Land vs. Sea Royal Caribbean Cruises
If it’s an adventure you want, the world’s largest and highest ZipRider is located here, running 5,495 feet with a 1,300-foot drop and top speed of 65 mph. Luggage Valet transfers your suitcase directly from the ship to the airport and onto your plane. There’s no need to travel from the cruise terminal with the luggage yourself, and this is a huge time (and stress) saver for many passengers. The sailaway in Skagway, as an example, travels through the Inside Passage for several hours, passing massive glaciers and mountain ranges along the way. One of the unique aspects of cruising Alaska is sailing through the narrow inlets of the state’s Inside Passage.
ALASKA CRUISETOURS
Or extend your stay with one of our Alaska Cruisetours to explore Alaska’s interiors. Head deep into the wilderness of Denali, immerse yourself in the exciting contemporary culture of Anchorage, and spend time in quirky, arty Talkeetna. Another benefit of a Northbound Alaska cruise is the flexibility to fly into either Seattle or Vancouver to begin your cruise. Seattle is three and a half hours from Vancouver and there are a variety of transportation options including motorcoach and train to get you there. Both cities are so different, first time visitors could enjoy touring Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver before embarking on their cruise.
Alaska Northbound Glacier Cruises
While you should definitely still pack a few warm outfits, be sure to pack lightweight layers like t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and, yes, maybe even a pair of shorts. One mistake I see many first time Alaska cruisers make is packing clothes more suited for Antarctica than southeast Alaska. As shocking as it sounds, you can feel uncomfortably warm on an Alaska cruise in the middle of summer. As long as you wear and/or pack appropriate layers for each port day, everything should go smoothly. It’s important to remain flexible, nonetheless, and to mentally prepare yourself to feel uncomfortable—it’s unlikely you’ll encounter ideal weather conditions in every port.
Other itineraries begin in Fairbanks and, after the land journey, sail south from Seward to Vancouver. You’ll also see whales; the Inside Passage is a great place to spot humpbacks and orcas. Look out for bald eagles perched in the trees, steller sea lions spread out on rocks, and cute sea otters bobbing in the water. To search for the Big Five—grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, and moose—extend your vacation with a Cruisetour and a visit to Denali National Park.
Discover the best things to do in Alaska, where its vast landscapes, glaciers, wildlife, and rich history offer endless opportunities for adventure. 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 beauty of the land and its immense history; the thrill of seeing bears, moose and bald eagles; and the mysteries of the surrounding marine life will astound you. It's a trip worth taking the time to plan and doing right — because who knows if or when you'll make it back to the Last Frontier.
Start shopping for cold weather clothing now, as winter gear may be on sale
Generally, these one-way sailings travel from Seward or Whittier (the cruise ports closest to Anchorage) to Vancouver (or vice versa). Most itineraries are seven nights, but you'll find a handful that are longer. From the sweeping mountains of Juneau to the fish-bearing seas of Ketchikan, discover our Alaska cruise ports and set sail into the adventures that await you. Once the gateway to Alaska's Gold Rush, Skagway strikes a dramatic image nestled between the water's edge and mountains. Follow in the footsteps of miners with a ride on a scenic train along the famous White Pass route through coastal mountains.
Compare Alaska Cruisetour Features
THE 20 BEST 3 Day Cruises to Alaska (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 20 BEST 3 Day Cruises to Alaska (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 20:08:52 GMT [source]
Enjoy perks such as privileged access to Glacier Bay National Park and prime docking locations that give you a head start on sightseeing. Alaska's capital city is interesting because no road leads from here to the rest of the state. It's located at the base of Mount Juneau, and you can only get there via boat or small plane — even residents have to bring their cars to Juneau via ferry. Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. Active travelers can explore Alaska by sea kayak or canoe, hike on glaciers and through rainforests, zip line, bike, ride an ATV and even snorkel (you'll need a dry suit).
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.
6 best Alaska cruises for families - The Points Guy
6 best Alaska cruises for families.
Posted: Thu, 19 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This service enables passengers to bypass check-in and baggage drop at the airport by completing these steps on their cruise ship instead. On Glacier Bay National Park day, national park rangers will board the cruise ship by arriving on a small boat. 7-Day Canada Cruise from Boston – Board Norwegian Dawn for a week’s worth of sweeping views along a picturesque coastline. Your journey will take you along Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Saguenay, Quebec before concluding in Quebec City. Once there, you’ll want to make time to explore the fascinating history of Quebec’s legacy, the first French City in North America. 11-Day Canada Cruise from New York – Few things are as visually stunning as the turning of the leaves along the Canada and New England coastline.
Get to know wildlife, big and small, that call this wilderness home, like otters, eagles, bears, and whales. This is Last Frontier pioneering with the cruise line voted Best Overall by Travel Weekly readers for 20 years running. Even though booking shore excursions is popular on an Alaska cruise, you can still have a great time in port without an organized tour. If you’re on a budget (or would simply prefer to explore without a large group), research which activities are offered in each Alaskan town. You can see Alaska’s glacier-filled waters, the majestic Denali, and vast Yukon territory all in one trip. These unique 9- to-14-day Alaska cruises are optimized for adventure but also quite convenient with land transportation via motorcoaches and domed railcars and resort stays as part of the itinerary.
If you worry about seasickness, an Inside Passage trip is the best Alaska cruise itinerary versus a sailing where your ship transits rougher, open waters. Pioneer America’s Last Frontier onboard Ovation of the Seas®, one of the world's most groundbreaking ships and among the boldest ships to ever sail Alaska. Gaze at giant glaciers from the pool deck while you sail through Endicott Arm. Scan the surrounding waters on your way to Juneau for glimpses of wildlife from the North Star®, the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.
One of the key reasons to cruise Alaska versus taking a land tour is to visit destinations along the Inside Passage that you cannot reach by road. Alaska may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it's rugged and can be tricky to get around. Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to Gold Rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury. Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to glaciers or a shopping spree downtown, the towns along Alaska's inside passage provide a variety of adventurous activities. Alaska cruise ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state.
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