Alaska cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
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Charter a helicopter or fixed-wing flightseeing tour at Juneau and get an unforgettable perspective of the mountains and glaciers of this vast landscape. In Alaska, ancient rivers of ice wind between mountains and grind out of valleys. Towering walls of ice like the Hubbard Glacier, Endicott Arm Dawes and the twin Sawyer Glaciers thunder as they calve massive icebergs. Some shore excursions allow up close interaction with these natural wonders. As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Best Time to Take a Cruise to Alaska
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. If you’re looking for the most adventure, these cruise lines take things up a notch as part of their excursion programs. Other larger luxury ships with all-inclusive rates in Alaska include the 375-cabin Regent Seven Seas Explorer and Silversea’s 298-cabin Silver Muse.
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Best for multigenerational groups: Discovery Princess
The largest Silversea ship sailing to Alaska also carries just under 600 guests, allowing for port calls at lesser-visited stops like Wrangell, Haines, and Valdez. These include a crab fishermen tour aboard a ship featured on the hit TV show Deadliest Catch, a visit to a native village, and a dog-sledding and glacier-viewing adventure via helicopter. Whether your travel goals include learning about the local culture, immersing yourself in the Alaskan wilderness, or going on thrilling adventures, there are excursion options available for every type of traveler. Our Alaska cruises are your ticket to adventure amidst the Great Land’s glaciers, wildlife and national parks.
Alaska Cruises from Vancouver
Princess also offers the most departure cities, potentially saving you money on airfare. Alaska sailings range from 4 to 22 days, though a week is the sweet spot. The line is also only one of seven permitted to enter the magnificent Glacier Bay National Park (shown); check out the tips at the end of the story for details. Many cruise lines also travel to additional locations such as Sitka, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, and Haines.
One of the most magical ways to explore Alaska’s expansive coastline, stunning snow-capped mountains, mystic fjords, lush rainforests, awe-inspiring glaciers, and protected wildlife is by sea. And that’s precisely why so many people who visit Alaska do so via a cruise. 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.
These cruises offer the benefits of a wider range of itineraries, shore excursions, departure dates, and availability and take you to all of the must-see stops along the way. They feature a wide range of amenities including multiple dining options, on-board entertainment, fitness centers, pools, different room types to choose from, and plenty of room to spread out and explore. Princess Cruises offers a wide variety of Alaska itineraries and this one in particular stands out as one of the best Alaska cruise lines for couples.
Disney Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises allows you to sail on a small ship like Celebrity Xpedition or a huge one like Celebrity Edge. The former transport 48 passengers, while the latter carry 2,918 passengers. Regardless of the ship you choose, a crew member will be assigned for every two passengers. The main activities on the cruise include glassblowing classes and wine workshops. During your cruise with this cruise line, you will see the Hubbard Glacier, North America’s largest tidewater glacier.
Visit the Chugach National Forest, the second largest national forest in the United States. Or visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and see brown bears, moose and bison living in a protected habitat that perfectly emulates the wild. On the banks of the Chena River lies the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge®. With riverside dining and frontier décor, the Fairbanks Lodge is the perfect excuse to extend your Alaska cruise vacation and dive deeper into your surroundings.
or 11-day Alaska cruises
While Princess Cruises welcomes all passengers, it’s nicknamed “The Love Boat,” offering amenities and excursions geared toward couples. Popular Alaskan excursions for couples include two-person kayaking with scenic views of glaciers, dog sledding and whale watching on a yacht. On board, you can purchase honeymoon, wedding and anniversary packages to make your Alaskan adventure extra special.
Though it’s the second-largest island in the entire United States, it’s rare that cruise ships visit, mainly because it lacks the infrastructure for big ships. Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities. Smaller ships can reach ports of call and destinations that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships, allowing you to explore more remote settings and communities. For an even more customized experience, consider a private cruise on smaller ships like yachts and sailboats. Silversea has “Door-to-Door” pricing on many of its Alaska cruises, meaning the cruise fare includes airfare, hotels, and all transfers—including transfers from home to the departure airport. Onboard the all-suite ships, there’s butler service in every suite, fine dining, and select shore excursions included.
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. Because of its dainty size, guests are treated to unique experiences, like anchoring right in Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords, which is something you’d have to do on a shore excursion if you were on a larger ship with another cruise line. For an even closer look at Mother Nature’s impressive work, from icebergs to whales, book a kayak or Zodiac Signature Expedition with their incredibly knowledgeable guides. The two-year-old Discovery Princess sails round trip to Alaska from Seattle, a convenient U.S. home port for families to fly or drive to. Its "North to Alaska" program will delight kids with sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, and lure their parents and grandparents with local seafood on restaurant menus and onboard cultural programming with Alaska residents.
With glass-domed railcars, our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® rail service takes you into the heart of Alaska without juggling multiple tickets or confusing transfers. Enjoy convenience and comfort from ship to train and then directly to your Princess Wilderness Lodge in the Denali-area. We’ve taken care of everything on your Alaska cruisetour, so you can spend less time worrying and more time exploring. Go back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush on cruises to Skagway, Alaska, once the primary gateway to the goldfields. Take a trip on the scenic railroad and still have time to dine and shop. Cruise lines offer enticing deals for the summer during “wave" season from January through March.
If glaciers, wildlife and picturesque coastline have long been on your bucket list, consider booking a cruise to Alaska. The northernmost American state offers an activity for everyone's interest and level of adventure. You can take a thrilling helicopter flight to explore a glacier on foot or observe miles of Alaska’s lush scenery and spy whales from a comfortable seat on a boat.
From there, guests are flown back to Vancouver, where their itinerary ends. Between the natural masterpieces and the animate personalities, every part of Alaska tells an extraordinary story. On an Alaska cruisetour with Princess, discover what makes the Great Land so special, and craft your own tales of your time on land and sea. Only an hour and a half from the cruise port of Whittier lies the largest city in Alaska – Anchorage.
As you explore the state, you get to learn about its wildlife, culture, and history. Exploring Alaska is important since it may change any preconceived notions you have of it. So, if you have been longing to go to Alaska but did not know which cruises to take, you are lucky to have these ten to get you started. According to Alaska Sports Hall, he has won prestigious dog mushing events four times.
Our Alaska cruise departure ports have big personalities and loads of attractions. An elegant and spacious Alaska cruise ship with fresh floral arrangements and garden-inspired décor. Choose from seven refreshingly uncrowded ships for a front-row seat to Alaska's splendor. Many flock to Alaska every year for a chance to witness the aurora borealis.
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