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Norwegian Bliss, Encore, and Joy are all mega ships with Norwegian and each have a go-kart track on board. This in addition to a ropes course, an impressive virtual reality arcade, laser tag and more. Another veteran of Alaskan sailings, Princess Cruises has been navigating these waters for over 50 years. But one of the biggest perks of cruising with Princess is the Alaska Lodges they provide with their land tours.
Alaska Cruises
Partner of National Geographic, Lindblad Expeditions is the pioneer in expedition ecotourism cruises. Landscapes, water encounters and wildlife are front and center here – with little to no signal for electronic devices most of the time. While Viking falls in the (self-declared) upper premium category, most cruisers see the line's ships as luxury. Sailing in Alaska, the 930-passenger adults-only Viking Orion offers an elegant and spacious modern Nordic design.
Dining Highlights on Oceania Regatta
But for adventure seekers curious to see as much of Alaska as possible, you’ll find tons of extended itineraries including a robust 28-day voyage that crosses the Arctic Circle. Holland America has a well-earned reputation for bringing guests to new destinations for more than 150 years. Its ships tend to be mid-sized — larger than Lindblad's offerings but smaller than the Quantum ships from Royal Caribbean. While Holland attracts an older demographic, its Alaskan cruises are often filled with multi-generational families.
Celebrity Cruises
Active travelers can explore Alaska by sea kayak or canoe, hike on glaciers and through rainforests, zip line, bike, ride an ATV and even snorkel (you'll need a dry suit). Ships in all price ranges sail a variety of itineraries, so don't let budget stop you from visiting. If luxury is what you're after, you can find lines that will go overboard pampering you on your journey north.
One nice thing about the Inside Passage is how calm the water is because you're sailing between land masses. If you worry about seasickness, an Inside Passage trip is the best Alaska cruise itinerary versus a sailing where your ship transits rougher, open waters. Nearly every major cruise line has a presence in Alaska from May through mid-September, with some offering sailings as early as April or as late as October. Cold temperatures, icy waters and a long snowy season are not conducive to early spring and late fall cruises. 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.
Alaska Dream Cruise’s “Glacier Bay & Island Adventures”
She added that Norwegian sails to Alaska until late October — about a month longer than most cruise lines. While some travelers dream of lounging on a beach in the Caribbean, others might be itching to put on hiking shoes and explore the great outdoors. 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. Oceania Cruises is one company that makes our list of best cruise lines for Alaska in the midsized ship category.
Best Alaska cruise lines for families with teenagers
Also, book in the shoulder parts of the sailing season for additional discounts and sign up for loyalty programs to enjoy some inexpensive (or free) perks. And, if you would like one of the popular balcony cabins (there is a continuous view of stunning scenery on an Alaskan cruise), book those early. They tend to have fewer families – a bonus for a romantic getaway – and a loyal following of regular passengers – a great way to make new friends.
What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise
Whichever ship you sail on, your time in this rugged corner of the world will be anything but rugged on board. Unwind in stylish accommodations designed to leave you relaxed and renewed. Windstar is able to launch Zodiacs right from the ship and get you close to the shorelines for your best shot at spotting wildlife.
Here are the current cruise ports sailing on Alaskan itineraries over the next couple seasons and which cruise lines sail from them. The number next to each cruise line indicates how many sailings they offer from that port. Viking Ocean offers many one-way 10-night sailings that allow passengers to spend more time in ports. Some begin in Seward and head south and some start in Vancouver and head northward. A major advantage of these one-way trips is that you can experience more Alaskan ports. So these types of itineraries are best if you want a destination heavy journey.
If living large is your goal, you're not going to find anything better than this — other than with a cruise on a similar Norwegian vessel that also cruises to Alaska from Seattle. Norwegian Bliss, also based in Washington during the summer, is part of the same Norwegian Breakaway-Plus class of vessels and has a similar Haven enclave. The pool area, a true stunner, comes with comfortable padded loungers, a pool and whirlpools.
And, Holland America has cabins with full-size beds and picture windows for solo travelers. A third excellent option is the destination-focused itineraries aboard select Celebrity Cruises ships. Again, this option is based less on the ship-based entertainment and more on the ‘learn about and experience Alaska’ approach. Princess Cruises (operating in the state for over 50 years) has an incredible train tour into the interior. They also offer visits to four national parks as a combo with your cruise.
After a few more days in the Inside Passage communities of Skagway, Kake, and Petersburg, the sailing culminates in Vancouver. Nicknamed “The Love Boat,” Princess Cruises has been sailing to Alaska for more than 50 years, and is a terrific choice for couples looking to get away from it all. 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.
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler - Condé Nast Traveler
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler.
Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Instead of taking a long and expensive flight to Anchorage or Fairbanks, you can choose a cruise that sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver (note, you won't be able to tack on a post-cruise land trip to Denali if you do this). Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think. If you want to see landlocked areas, such as Denali National Park, you can tack a cruise line-operated tour onto the beginning or end of your sailing for a seamless land and sea vacation. It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own.
Stopping along many ports of call through the Inside Passage, their itineraries offer a detailed view of this area of the state, including up-close Zodiac/kayak trips to glaciers. Our final smallest ship recommendation is to experience a truly unique sailing. They also offer itineraries for a catamaran and a converted tugboat – for a one-of-a-kind Alaska cruise.
Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. The happy answer to whether there are off-season cruises in Alaska is “yes”!
In fact, many love to cruise with this line just because of the excellent service and food. The crew are trained to practically read your mind and can usually remember your favorite drink order before you even tell them. And if you want a smaller ship with Norwegian you can check out the 11-nighter on Norwegian Sun that also sails out of Seattle. Royal Caribbean also has world-class entertainment on its ships and are a great option for families with diverse ages.
