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Cruisers of all ages will enjoy the scenery, wildlife, and once in a lifetime shore excursions available on many Alaskan cruises. For those voyagers seeking to sail from Southern California all the way up the Pacific coast to Alaska, try a new 16-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyage from Los Angeles. Our Alaska cruises are your ticket to adventure amidst the Great Land’s glaciers, wildlife and national parks. Voyage through the untamed beauty from the comfort of our world-class ships, exclusive rail service and Princess Wilderness Lodges near national parks. Choose from a variety of Alaska cruise and cruisetour itineraries and connect with loved ones, locals and Alaska's wilderness with Princess®. Disney Cruise Line set sail in 1998 with its first three- and four-night trips to the Bahamas and made its way to Alaska in the spring of 2011.
Where to See Northern Lights in Alaska: 13 Secret Destinations from a Local!
Radiance of the Seas will offer 7-10 night Alaska cruises that can also combine with Land Tours to offer immersive visits to Alaska, including in-land destinations such as Denali. It is also not uncommon for ships to encounter choppy waters when navigating around the more exposed areas of the coastline or near glacial fjords. However, modern cruise ships are well-equipped with stabilizers to minimize motion, ensuring a smoother experience for passengers.
Skagway, Alaska
On all of its Alaska cruises, a Huna Native Interpreter comes aboard Holland America Line ships to share the history of the Tlingit people. Alaska cruises first made their debut in 1881, when the Pacific Coast Steamship Company began cruising the Inside Passage aboard its two ships, the Ancon and the Idaho. Today, with over 20 cruise lines and small ships sailing Alaska’s waterways, there are plenty of options for travelers to choose from during the Alaska cruise season, which runs every year from April through October. If you’re planning a bucket list trip, we’ve selected the best Alaska cruises for every type of travel style in 2024, from the adventure-focused to the super luxurious. Below you can compare cruise itineraries for all ships sailing to Alaska for the next few years. With the Alaskan sailing season only six to seven months long, it’s a good idea to start planning now!
Find Grand Princess Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) - Cruise Critic
Find Grand Princess Cruises to Alaska (with Prices).
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 03:48:13 GMT [source]
Best Alaskan Cruises
Having packed only long sleeve shirts and pants for my Alaska cruise, I regretted not bringing more lightweight clothing. If you’re unsure what to pack for an Alaska cruise, check out our comprehensive packing list. One of my favorite aspects of cruising to Alaska is the pre-cruise stay in Seattle or Vancouver. Not only do both of these cities offer breathtaking natural scenery, but they boast an impressive amount of things to do within the city, too. The last thing you want to happen is have your dream excursion sell out, leaving you scrambling to find other plans.
Snuggle sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, or see the Northern Lights in the planetarium. At the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, explore our treehouse and enjoy unmatched views of Denali. Alaska's seafood is famous, and we bring the best to you with locally inspired dishes from the state’s best eateries. With Cook My Catch excursions, catch your own salmon or halibut with the help of a local expert, and in the evening our talented chefs will prepare your haul for your dinner — a Princess exclusive.
Standard cruises usually include accommodation, most meals, and a variety of entertainment options onboard. However, many cruises may not cover specialty dining, certain beverages, some onboard activities, and most shore excursions. It’s worth noting that sightings are never guaranteed as they depend on solar activity and weather conditions. Many cruise lines will offer itineraries that sail near the Arctic Circle to increase the chance of witnessing this natural phenomenon. As locals, we see tourists who have embarked on cruises to Alaska from the popular departure points of Seattle and Vancouver day in and day out.
One of the biggest reasons people visit
They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of "white thunder" — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below. On an Alaska cruise, let us show you Glacier Bay National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier. The largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier has been moving its mass towards the ocean at a rate faster than most of its kind. Towering above the water over 30 stories, the glacier often calves 100-foot chunks of ice into the ocean. What lies beneath the waves is almost as impressive, where ice plunges 1,200 feet beneath the surface.
Alaskan Explorer
Enjoy perks such as privileged access to Glacier Bay National Park and prime docking locations that give you a head start on sightseeing. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as a helicopter tour over Alaska's sprawling landscapes. Discover the top tips for planning a cruise to Alaska and uncover the best times of the year to spot Alaskas wildlife, locate must-see attractions, find Alaskan cruise deals and more. There's nothing like an amazing adventure during an Alaskan vacation, and if you're looking for things to do then dog sledding is a bucket-list experience. Plan your romantic Alaskan cruise with our adventurer’s guide to discovering the coziest vacation spots and most scenic restaurants for couples traveling in Alaska. As you plan your Alaska vacation, you might be torn between traveling by cruise ship, plane or even car.
Alaska Cruise Itineraries
It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, so there’s no harm in reading articles and watching YouTube videos to help you prepare for your Alaska cruise. If so, you can almost always expect warm temperatures and, aside from a chance of rain, pleasant weather conditions. When scheduling your return flights, don’t book a flight too early on disembarkation day. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. In addition to the Alaska cruises, Royal Caribbean also included Hawaii cruises in this new deployment.
Valdez is situated in Prince William Sound and serves as the gateway to the interior of Alaska. Often referred to as the "Little Switzerland", Valdez is known for its breathtaking panorama of snow-capped mountains and glaciers. It is also well-known for its role in the transportation of crude oil from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which ends in Valdez. Explore the charming waterfront area and take in the flavors of Valdez through culinary experiences at restaurants such as the Valdez Brewery and the Fat Mermaid. See how bald eagles and local bird populations receive first-class treatment at the Alaska Raptor Center.
The new Alaska 2022 cruises are available to book between April and September 2024. While you could roll the dice and hope for a better last-minute deal on an Alaska cruise, the cabin selections will be paltry at best. Emily and Sean Concannon are passionate travelers, photographers, and adventurers at heart. This intrepid duo is always on the move, exploring the wild corners of the world and stepping out of their comfort zone for the thrill of discovery and the majesty of nature. The temperatures on an Alaskan cruise can indeed be chilly, especially if you are cruising during the shoulder months of May or September. During peak summer months, which are June through August, you can typically expect milder temperatures ranging from 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C).
More often than not, flight prices will increase significantly as your travel date approaches. Waiting to see if the price drops almost always results in paying more for your flight, so it’s important to get your flights booked to avoid wasting money. Hopefully, if you have an Alaska cruise booked this summer, you’ve already booked your airfare to and from the cruise port. If you have not done so yet, we recommend booking flights as soon as possible.
Sourdough is such an important part of Alaskan culture that long-time Alaskans are actually called sourdoughs in local parlance. We’ve curated the ultimate guide to visiting some of the most romantic destinations to vacation for couples. Embark on a thrilling journey with young explorers through breathtaking landscapes. The sheer size of Alaska lends itself to a wide variety of terrain and travel experiences. This diversity means you need to be prepared for a lot of change while traveling. In some parts of the state, dog sledding is still the primary mode of transportation through the winter months.
