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Skagway’s Lower Dewey Lake Trail offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and is perfect for a half-day hike. In Ketchikan, the Deer Mountain Trail takes you through the lush Tongass National Forest, offering breathtaking vistas of the town and ocean below. The forests and meadows along the Inside Passage are home to various land mammals.
Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer
It covers everything from choosing the best time time to go and how to decide between the best cruise lines to the best Alaska cruise excursions and the wondrous array of wildlife you might see along the way. I’m a Florida-based freelance travel and lifestyle journalist who has embarked on more than a dozen cruises, including several to Alaska. As a traveler, I am just as comfortable bicycling through Italian olive groves and SCUBA diving the wall of sharks in French Polynesia as I am sipping bubbles in a Champagne house and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants. 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.
Best Of Sitka: Otters, Raptors & Bears
Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the idea of a special area for solo travelers on its ships with pricing designed for one. Norwegian Bliss is one of their ships with these studio cabins meant for one person and a lounge where they can mingle with other single travelers. Most ships in the region have activities for kids, but Disney excels in this regard. Other fun activities include Carnival’s Seuss at Sea program with Dr. Seuss characters on the Carnival Miracle, the Carnival Legend and the Carnival Splendor. There is also Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, with surf sessions using the FlowRider on the deck and a skydiving simulation. This sailing will also take travelers to the Hubbard Glacier or Stikine Icecap, among other places.
Featured Alaska Cruise Itineraries
And you’ll likely see at least a dozen Humpback Whales and Killer Whales (a.k.a. Orcas) during a 7-day Alaska cruise. We spent several memorable evenings watching whole pods of Orcas swimming along the surface at sunset. Marine life has been a highlight of all the Alaska cruises I’ve ever taken. From Kenai Fjords and Glacier Bay National Park to the many Sounds and Straits of the Inside Passage, watching wildlife in the waters of Alaska has always proven rewarding. If you really want to see lots of land animals during your vacation, you may want to consider taking a combination Alaska cruise and land tour, as we did.
This protected waterway is one of the most scenic in the world and one of the few locations where deep-draft vessels can sail close to steep mountain walls. Massive tidewater glaciers, forest-clad islands, ice-carved fjords, and charming coastal towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Haines and Skagway await you here. Higher-end cruise lines including Crystal Cruises, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar offer Inside Passage itineraries on their mid-size ships or luxury yachts. These appeal to passengers with larger budgets who prefer a quieter atmosphere, smaller crowds, more personal service and plush accommodations. Their all-inclusive package options tend to have a comprehensive range of inclusions.
From capturing the state's breathtaking landscapes through her lens to hiking its rugged trails or observing bears and whales in their natural habitat, her firsthand experiences are your compass to all things Alaska. For a more relaxed and luxurious experience, seniors often prefer Princess Cruises. Known for its excellent service and comfortable amenities, Princess offers a range of activities tailored for an older demographic. These cruises often feature exclusive excursions and personalized service, making them ideal for travelers looking for a lavish vacation.
UnCruise Alaska Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise
Both the National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture make the sailing. The sister ships were purpose built to sail the North American coast and feature 50 rooms each, all with windows or portholes, private bathrooms, climate controls, and a TV, plus Wi-Fi connection. The vast majority of sailings, particularly those along the Inside Passage (the island-filled coastal waterway in the southeast portion of the state), occur somewhere between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That being said, there are some shoulder-season departures in April, May, September, and October.
5 best luxury Alaska cruises for 2024 - The Points Guy
5 best luxury Alaska cruises for 2024.
Posted: Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Best for megaresort fans: Ovation of the Seas
Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. We were also featured in the 2017 National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two, for which we contributed a chapter on our adventures in Rwanda. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast.
The population of Haines remains less than 2,000, according to the United Status Census Bureau, and it isn't yet as touristy as some of the other Alaskan ports, such as nearby Skagway. It's known for great fishing (salmon, halibut and trout) and an eagle preserve — because eagles know where the best fish can be found. 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. The Alaska Inside Passage is a must-visit destination offering unparalleled value.
Perhaps as interesting as the itinerary is the fact that the vessel, the 528-passenger MS Roald Amundsen, is battery hybrid-powered. In addition to being a model for cruising sustainably, the MS Roald Amundsen features an observation deck, science center, three Nordic-style restaurants, an infinity pool, and hot tubs. In other words, it’s definitely a place you wouldn’t mind spending 19 days. Many pods to view and captain did a great jump keeping them in fairly close view for our enjoyment.
Some of the best Alaska cruise lines are Holland America and Princess because they have especially long histories in the region and offer cruises, as well as cruise and land tour combinations, on multiple ships each season. All of the major cruise lines sailing to Alaska have family-friendly amenities, but Disney and Carnival both stand out as exceptional for families cruising to Alaska, especially those with younger children. This is also a factor to consider if you hope to avoid sharing a cruise ship with a lot of children. Disney, of course, presents Alaska alongside its world-famous characters, infusing its signature theme-park style into every aspect of its voyages.
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. Seabourn Odyssey sails both one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Juneau and round-trip itineraries from Vancouver. It visits popular Alaska ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, as well as less-touristed destinations like Wrangell, Prince Rupert (a port city in Canada) and Rudyerd Bay.
The Inside Passage is renowned for its glaciers, each offering its own unique spectacle. Glacier Bay National Park is home to several tidewater glaciers, including the Margerie and Johns Hopkins glaciers, which are known for their dramatic calving events. Known as “Little Norway,” Petersburg is famous for its Scandinavian heritage. Highlights include the LeConte Glacier, one of Alaska’s most active glaciers, and excellent whale-watching opportunities.
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. Life onboard is made easy, too, with the cruise line’s revolutionary Medallion technology that not only keeps people traveling together connected, but makes buying gifts in ports a snap by charging purchases back to your cabin. The cruise line’s Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary offers two glacier viewing experiences, as well as a voyage across the Gulf of Alaska to see Prince William Sound, known for its abundance of marine and coastal life. Guests can extend their Alaska cruise with three- to 10-day day pre- and post-cruise tours. Roughly 1.5 million people visit Alaska on a cruise ship each year, according to the Cruise Line International Association Alaska.
King's Blues Club, play a game of pickleball on the outer deck or enjoy fine dining at numerous restaurants serving sushi and Asian cuisine, steak, seafood, Italian fare and Dutch treats. Royal Caribbean is known for its floating megaresorts, which carry thousands and are big on amenities, glitz and a certain amount of glamor — think flashy casinos, high-tech shows and lavish spas. Dining and drinking venues number in the dozens, while amusement park features thrill the kids and adrenaline-seekers.
You can watch migrating animals returning in the springtime and wildflowers bursting into bloom in the forests. Summer is several local species' main mating and birthing season; watch as seal pups drift on large blocks of ice and birds teach their offspring to fly and swim. The best time for hiking in the Inner Passages is from mid-summer onwards when the terrain has thawed. Wildlife Encounters - A cruise of the Inner Passages offers wildlife encounters galore.
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