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Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. 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. 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. You need to weigh up the typical cruise experience of each ship alongside the reviews.
Deciding Which Cruise Line: Why Princess Cruises
Guided skiff tours will take guests in search of Alaskan wildlife in remote bays and secret coves. 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. Note that the ship is departing the cruise line after its Alaska season, so this is your last chance to sail on the elegant cruise ship.
10 of 66 American Alaska Cruise Reviews
Holland America Line Zuiderdam Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Ratings of Holland America Line Zuiderdam - Cruise Critic
Holland America Line Zuiderdam Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Ratings of Holland America Line Zuiderdam.
Posted: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:49:25 GMT [source]
We’ve gathered cruises in all size categories (from a couple of hundred passengers to nearly 5,000), as ship size is often one of the biggest factors when selecting a cruise. We’ve also called attention to cruise options that do an impressive job of showcasing nature, offering local experiences, providing endless onboard entertainment, or catering to foodies or luxury travelers. Those craving a luxury Alaska cruise need not look further than Silversea, says Goldring. The line’s Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares cover private airport transfers, economy flights, business-class upgrades or air credits, and shore excursions. With an expedition heritage that dates back to 1896, it’s no wonder Hurtigruten Expeditions found its way to Alaska. The cruise line with a keen focus on exploration, adventure and science has two of its hybrid technology ships—MS Roald Amundsen, built in 2019, and MS Fridtjof Nansen, built in 2020—sailing the waters that surround The Great Land.
How I Picked the Best-Rated Cruise Ships to Alaska
For $35 per adult, you hop onboard a big golf cart-type vehicle that can seat 18. (The tour doesn’t require walking.) You wind your way up the mountain while your tour guide shares information about the garden, the plants, the history of the area, and more. It gives you enough time to cruise to Alaska and then see several different places in the Inside Passage. I hopped online and was knee-deep in Alaska cruise research when I learned that babies have to be at least 6 months old to cruise. Oof- mine would be almost five months old at the very end of Alaska cruise season. In the summer of 2021, I tried to plan a trip to Juneau with ferry stops and flights to and from various cities and towns in the area.
Budget for shore excursions and tours
This is not nearly as boring as you might think since you'll see incredible sights like Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve or Hubbard Glacier. You'll find magnificent mountains (often snow-capped, even in the summertime), lush forests, waterfalls, fjords and calving glaciers. If it's marine life you've come to see, you'll find it in abundance, from whales and dolphins to sea lions and harbor seals. On land, you'll likely spy bears and Dall sheep while eagles, puffins and a host of seabirds circle above. Glacial ice carved this passageway long ago, and today, cruise ships and fishing vessels thread their way through the islets and channels to see some of the most spectacular natural sights in the world.
Older kids will love the rock climbing walls, video game stations, sports courts, go-karts and laser tag on Royal Caribbean and NCL ships. Finally, you'll find some San Francisco round-trip itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. This is also an ultra-luxury cruise ship, renowned for the outstanding service offered onboard – and the fact it scores so highly with customers shows that this isn’t just an empty promise. Choose Seabourn Quest if you want fine dining, opulent accommodations, and an all-inclusive fare as you explore. There may be other ships for these cruise lines that visit Alaska and have a better average review score – but that score might be based on cruises to other destinations.
Find Royal Princess Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) - Cruise Critic
Find Royal Princess Cruises to Alaska (with Prices).
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:51:33 GMT [source]
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. The cruise line takes inspiration from Alaska with special local dishes served in its onboard restaurants, and the return of the Ice White Ball, a formal gala affair with a glacial twist. 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.
Plus, it’s the best way to experience the iconic Inside Passage, the most popular route for cruise ships departing from Seattle and Vancouver from May through September. The key to planning the perfect adventure is finding the right cruise for your personality, budget, and preferences. Viking Ocean Cruises recently nabbed a 2023 World’s Best Award in the midsize-ship ocean cruise lines category, coming in at first place for the second year in a row.
Because of their small, yacht-like size, Windstar Cruises ships grant unparalleled access to Alaska’s glaciers and fjords; other ships can’t squeeze into some of these special places. Now that we’ve covered the basics of all things Alaska cruising, keep reading to discover the best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler, featuring expert insight and award-winning picks. Dawn Gabree is a travel advisor who specializes in Alaska cruises at Travels by Danielle.
This “best of” 7-night itinerary is focused on the region’s iconic Inside Passage, which gives passengers an efficient taste of all the area’s most photographed and talked about sights. Plus, Holland America offers more access to Glacier Bay National Park and has more departures featuring Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line. Oceania cruises introduce Alaska to guests by offering local experiences in partnership with native tribes for a more meaningful connection to the area beyond sightseeing. When it comes to experiencing the splendor of Alaska, your cruise is only as good as the direct access it offers to this region’s beauty—and Windstar Cruises delivers access like no other.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is operating roundtrip Vancouver sailings, bringing onboard topflight lecturers ranging from adventure traveler Bear Grylls to undersea archaeologist Mensun Bound on select voyages. On every voyage, guests will find guides from Alaska Native Voices, sharing the cultural history and lore of the local Huna people to Sit’ Eeti Gheeyi (Glacier Bay National Park), and guest speakers from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Cruisers who are veterans at Inside Passage itineraries on the big ships have really only seen a preview of the nooks and crannies of the region. Indigenous-owned Alaskan Dream Cruises operates small-ship sailings from Sitka, getting into the straits and narrows that the big ships won’t fit, and oftentimes determining itineraries by reports of sea life migrations and weather conditions. Whittier is closer to Anchorage, and some itineraries even take disembarking passengers directly to Denali or Talkeetna the same day.
We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. Each cruise line has their preferred port—Holland America Line and Princess Cruises berth at Whittier. Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas—currently berthing at Seward—will move operations to Whittier upon completion of berths currently under construction. What looks like an endless buffet of choice can lead to analysis paralysis for many first-time Alaska visitors—even if they’re veteran cruisers who have already figured out big questions like their preferred cruise line or favorite ship class. Interior staterooms are budget-friendly options with plenty of space and thoughtful touches, or you can upgrade to ocean view, balcony, or suite categories for some extra perks (like marble bathrooms with a tub and two sinks).
