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The luxury cruise lines are your best bet if you're a couple and enjoy spacious suites, gourmet food, pampering (many luxe lines hire butlers to cater to every passenger) and the opportunity to meet other like-minded cruisers. The personalized service and all-inclusive nature of luxury voyages may also be attractive to anyone celebrating a milestone, such as an anniversary, big birthday or retirement. 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. We evaluated over a dozen Alaskan cruises before selecting the best in each category. We considered various elements like the cruise line’s reputation and quality of service, ship design and architecture, and notable ship amenities (e.g., swimming pools, entertainment, technology, access to nature experts, etc.).
Alaska Helicopter Tours
That’s substantial savings for choosing a one-way cruise on an older ship over a roundtrip itinerary. When taking the kids to a destination with so much to explore out in nature, you’ll want to give as much consideration to the onboard experience as you do to what you’ll do on land. Depending on age, some kids may have a shorter attention span than others.
Departure ports in Alaska
It’s a sub-10,000 gross ton vessel with a double capacity around 312 guests. Cunard, a Carnival Corporation owned line, currently only sails out of Vancouver for its Alaska focused cruises. The line offers 7-13 night round-trip itineraries with the longer journeys visiting both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier, two of the most popular visits. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers 7-14 night itineraries that are both immersive and all-inclusive, meaning you won’t have to worry about charges that keep getting added to your bill.
Coolest Things to Do in Alaska on Quantum of the Seas
When voyaging to Alaska with Oceania Cruises, you will sail on the Regatta, which has an occupancy of 670 passengers. Life on board this ship features a variety of dining venues, engaging talks from guest speakers, a cozy library and plenty of entertainment. For guests cruising with children, Oceania has an Alaska Explorer Youth Program that includes activities and games inspired by The Last Frontier. Celebrity boasts five ships that sail to Alaska including the Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice. Following days of exploration, you can unwind at the ship’s spa, whale watch from the deck or enjoy world-class dining. With over 50 cruise ships sailing to Alaska, selecting the perfect Alaska cruise can seem overwhelming.
Holland America Line’s Koningsdam offers everything long-time cruisers appreciate, from a comfortable size and price point to onboard activities and numerous dining options. Eleven days exploring the Inside Passage and Alaskan fjords with only 400-ish other passengers aboard a luxurious ship with plenty of onboard activities? Enjoy the magical moments spent exploring the far end of the Misty Fjords on Zodiac, learn more about the local wildlife and geology during lectures with the Expedition Team, and kayak along Hubbard Glacier. Say hello to our little friend, the 186-passenger Ocean Victory, from American Queen Voyages. And speaking of unlimited food, you’ll be treated to five-course dinners along with 180-degree panoramic views. All 98 cabins face out (no inside cabins), and 68 of those feature step-out balconies.
Sleeping on Seven Seas Explorer
Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dogsled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about native Alaskan culture. You can get a taste of the Gold Rush life by trying your hand at panning for gold, attending a salmon bake or visiting a dogsled camp. A hike on the Chilkoot Trail or ride on the White Pass Railway lets you follow in the footsteps of the miners who came to seek their fortunes. Hop a bus, kayak, boat or plane to look for bears, eagles, whales, sea otters and other wildlife.
About Alaska Cruises
If you're more interested in the Alaska Northern Lights, the earlier sunset in later summer will allow more contrast and better views of this natural wonder. Embark on an unforgettable Alaska adventure cruise and experience the ultimate vacation. Immerse yourself in the thrilling destinations that Alaska has to offer, each brimming with its own unique style and vibe. Discover the wonders of Alaska with the Best Cruise Line for 20 years running. The ship and her 84 guests will be the only cruise ship in Glacier Bay National Park.
10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts - Travel + Leisure
10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts.
Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
For gadget and entertainment fans: Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas
The advantage of small ships is that they're more nimble than big ships, putting destinations like the Alaska Native village of Kake, the Wrangell Narrows and other tiny inlets within reach. Cruises through Alaska's gulf also tend to pass through the Inside Passage, with typical stops including Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Some will also call on more off-the-beaten-path ports like Icy Strait Point and Haines. I could also put UnCruise Adventures in this category but I’m going to add it to the one below as it does something no one else offers. Royal Caribbean also has world-class entertainment on its ships and are a great option for families with diverse ages.
That's especially true of large ships, so consider a small ship for cruising to Alaska, like UnCruise or Silversea, if those glaciers are high on your must-see list. Conditions can sometimes prevent ships from reaching the glaciers, particularly in Tracy Arm Fjord. On either end of your sailing, you can tour on your own or book a cruise tour that combines a cruise and a land tour, which usually runs three to seven nights. Almost all Gulf of Alaska cruises visit to Hubbard Glacier and spend some time scenic cruising in College Fjord. Alternatively, Gulf of Alaska cruises are typically seven-night, one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, the gateway ports for Anchorage and northern destinations in the state.
When it comes to longevity, Holland America is the cruise line that tops everyone else. For over 75 years now, Holland America Line has been transporting passengers along Alaska’s coastline and has the awards to prove its commitment to its passengers. Two of the most well-known cruise lines to Alaska are Holland America and Princess Cruises, and we will start with these two lines first.
Don’t wait any longer, riding the world's longest zip line in Alaska will be an experience you'll never forget while on your next Alaskan mountain adventure. The best Alaska food to try on a cruise includes king crab, salmon, fry bread, birch syrup, wild berries and more. In some parts of the state, dog sledding is still the primary mode of transportation through the winter months. Visit Alaska and get the experience for yourself at the Skagway Yukon Discovery and Dog Sled Tour. Exploring the interior of Alaska will give you an entirely different perspective on this vast and rugged state. Take an Inside Passage cruise and gaze upward at the sky that is as blue as the lakes below.
