Sunday, March 31, 2024

10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer

expedia alaska cruise

The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative. The waters are teeming with marine life, like king salmon, while the land is decorated by the colorful coats of Denali National Park’s “big five” – including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep and caribou. On an Alaska cruisetour, encounter wildlife in their natural habitats and experience their unique personalities for yourself. Extend your Alaska cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. Snuggle sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, or see the Northern Lights in the planetarium.

Alaska Mountains & National Parks

Strong Cruise Wave Season: Yields Up, Inventory Low - Cruise Industry News

Strong Cruise Wave Season: Yields Up, Inventory Low.

Posted: Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

As the salmon capital of the world, Ketchikan’s waters make for incredible fishing. With no roads connecting it to the rest of Alaska or North America, it is truly a protected destination. Founded as a gold mining town and now the state’s capital, Juneau has one foot in history and one in the future. Embark on a whale watching tour, or sail past Mendenhall Glacier on an Alaska cruise. When you cruise to Alaska with Princess, sail through one of the most iconic locations in the Great Land — Glacier Bay National Park. Listen to Margerie Glacier’s signature crack and boom rumble across the waves.

Alaska National Parks

No one does seafood quite like Alaska—which is why we brought the best of the Great Land on board, so you can experience it all with Princess. We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year.

Katmai National Park cruisetour

Cruise down the Chena River on a sternwheeler riverboat, pan for gold at Gold Dredge 8 or ride ATVs through surrounding forests underneath the midnight sun. 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. Sink into refreshed suites and a new lounge, plus dining and entertainment venues.

Real Alaska from local Alaskans

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. Two competing companies have staked out even larger claims in this modern-day, maritime Alaskan gold rush.

expedia alaska cruise

Canadian Rockies cruisetours

They are living laboratories that show what the Earth was like thousands of years ago and how it is changing today. Watch lumberjacks in action, learn from Glacier Bay National Park rangers and craft with a Native totem pole carver. Or listen to harrowing Tales from the Deadliest Catch fishermen and climbers who have summited Denali during your Alaska cruise. The Harriman Expedition discovered College Fjord in 1899 and named the towering glaciers after the great East Coast universities of the United States, like the Harvard Glacier.

Take in Alaska’s evergreen fjords and thunderous glaciers on this Vista-class Alaska cruise ship. Like everything else in Alaska, the Great Land’s national parks far exceed expectations. Read about Glacier Bay’s seven tidewater glaciers, Denali’s 6-million acres of undisturbed wilderness, Kenai Fjords' astonishing Exit Glacier and other national parks. From the sweeping mountains of Juneau to the fish-bearing seas of Ketchikan, discover our Alaska cruise ports and set sail into the adventures that await you.

Why Cruise Alaska with Holland America

Alaska Airlines Partners With Expedia To Create Alaska Vacations - TravelPulse

Alaska Airlines Partners With Expedia To Create Alaska Vacations.

Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Wildlife enthusiasts will be thrilled with the opportunities to observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitats. This 13-night cruisetour also features a visit to Alaska’s premier Wildlife Conservation Center. We have more Alaska cruise port departures featuring Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line. All Alaska cruises include one or more glacier-viewing days, and you’ll get closer to ‘the giants’ on ships perfectly sized for the Great Land.

Per the pro, travelers can “choose between a menu of included excursions such as kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, zodiac cruises, whale watching, and more.” All in all, UnCruise really does offer something for everyone. According to T+L A-List travel advisor Ashton Palmer, the Alaska cruise season is short (typically from May to September) and availability is limited, which is why travelers should plan their sailings six to eight months ahead of time. Several cruise lines also offer land extensions (sometimes called “cruisetours”) to make the experience as seamless as possible. 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 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. Named for the Northern compass point, Noordam is fitting for a cruise to Alaska.

With an abundance of landmarks and wildlife, take in the sights and sounds of the Inside Passage from the comfort of your ship or on a thrilling excursion ashore. Explore fjords, glaciers and Gold Rush-era towns on weekend voyages out of Seattle. Sail 500 miles deeper into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound on our top-rated Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise. Enjoy two glacier-viewing experiences on every itinerary — including Glacier Bay National Park, and Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord.

Alaska is a checkmark for about three-quarters of all passengers headed there, according to the Alaska Tourism Industry Association, and the same can be said for two ships this season. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises. Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city. 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.

Bring binoculars and scan both the shore and the waves for wildlife like brown bears and migrating whales while Park Rangers teach you the history and geology of the park. The fun continues the minute cruisers disembark in each port, with excursions ranging from dogsledding to private helicopter tours. Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this. While on board a Caribbean sailing with the cruise line, I had the chance to indulge in this chef- and sommelier-led multi-course food and wine pairing adventure. Four years later, I still find myself dreaming of the delicious circular-shaped dessert known as “The World” — the perfect combo of peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel gelato).

Shore excursions range from adventures like zip lining, hiking and rafting to seaplane exploration, photo safaris and high teas. Adults can enjoy themselves on an Alaskan Disney Cruise, too, with adult-exclusive dining; an adult-only pool and hot tub; fitness center; and Senses Spa & Salon. “If you are looking for a more casual and laid-back experience, Seattle-based UnCruise Adventures offers down-to-earth trips with enthusiastic naturalist guides, simple accommodations, and hearty local cuisine,” says Palmer.

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. Guests can extend their Alaska cruise with three- to 10-day day pre- and post-cruise tours. 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. The cruise line, which is celebrating its Silver Anniversary at Sea, offers 23 five-, seven-, eight- and 9-night round-trip Alaskan itineraries aboard the Disney Wonder, all of which depart from Vancouver. As on all Disney Cruise Line sailings around the world, its Alaska cruises feature spacious cabins with split bathrooms; kids clubs for ages three to 17; all meals, including snacks and room service; Broadway-quality stage shows and more.

With four mainstream-category ships homeported in either Seattle or Vancouver, Norwegian Cruise Line has nearly 100 more after that. Don’t just see the Great Land’s glaciers, feel them come alive on an Alaska cruisetour. Get up close to Mother Nature’s masterpieces and listen for the crash of “white thunder”. Visit wilderness playgrounds like Glacier Bay National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – along with even more natural wonderlands like Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier.

Alaska Cruises 2024-2025 Award-Winning Cruises to Alaska

expedia alaska cruise

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. This 30-mile waterway is surrounded by cliffs, valleys and dozens of waterfalls. Icebergs and harbor seals decorate the water below while Dawes Glacier soars into the sky above. Revel in the beauty of Mother Nature’s masterpiece and listen closely as the scenery whispers secrets of times long ago during your cruise to Alaska. 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.

Voyage of the glaciers

17 Best Websites To Book Cruises at the Cheapest Prices [2024] - Upgraded Points

17 Best Websites To Book Cruises at the Cheapest Prices .

Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

For nearly 30 years, UnCruise Adventures has embarked on voyages with a mission to provide its guests with an enriching adventure travel experience that inspires an appreciation of local cultures and the natural world. Founded in Alaska in 1996, the company has a strong pretense in The Great Land with seven-, 12- and 14-night itineraries that set sail April through September. This year, the cruise line added five new Alaskan itineraries, including the adults-only Glaciers & Tranquility and Winter Sports Alaska, with a focus on downhill and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, whale watching and spotting the Northern Lights. Whichever itinerary you choose, you can be sure to have a plethora of adventurous excursions at your fingertips, right from the ship. One day could find you paddleboarding in the morning and hiking in the afternoon, or maybe kayaking and taking a skiff out later in the day to try and spot wildlife. All excursions are led by experienced expedition teams, who provide all the equipment needed to make the most of your time in Alaska.

Alaska Glaciers

From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess. Icy Strait Point is home to the remote Tlingit village of Hoonah, home to fewer than 800 people and a deep Native history. The nearby Spasski River Valley holds one of the world’s largest populations of brown bears, who are often found hunting for salmon in the rivers. Zipline over the wilderness, watch a tribal dance or kayak in coastal waters to see the wildlife up close during your Alaska cruise vacation. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel.

Travel

As a traveler, I am just as comfortable bicycling through Italian olive groves and SCUBA diving the wall of sharks in French Polynesia as I am sipping bubbles in a Champagne house and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants. While pulling into port one day, I remember digging into a hearty lunch of fish and chips featuring fresh-caught Alaskan halibut. (HAL is the first cruise line to serve fresh, certified-sustainable Alaskan seafood.) As of September, acclaimed chef Masaharu Morimoto is the Fresh Fish Ambassador as part of the line’s Global Fresh Fish Program. Seabourn strives to offer a more tasteful Alaskan cruise and not only because it’s an ultra-luxury cruise line. Coinciding with Alaska’s 65th anniversary of statehood, the upcoming cruise season appears to be just as robust, with 19 cruise lines sending 43 ships to the Last Frontier. Kicking things off for the second straight year is the 4,008-passenger Norwegian Bliss, which docked in rustic Skagway last week.

Ultimate Wildlife Adventure cruisetour

Although Switzer recommends visits lasting several days instead of several hours, the city’s destination evangelist hopes that a partial day in Juneau and each major Alaskan cruise port will have 1.5 million passengers wanting more. Experience the breathtaking scenery of Banff National Park in the heart of the Rockies on our 14-night cruisetour with a 7-day Alaska cruise and luxury Rocky Mountaineer rail travel. At first glance many mistake Victoria for an English coastal city or northern European town. Full of greenery, pubs and Victorian architecture, it's difficult to believe that this was a tent city full of rough and tumble miners just 150 years ago. On a cruise to Alaska, explore the Butchart Gardens, tour the pub scene and taste some of the local brews or sail the bay for a whale-watching adventure.

Train Travel

Or experience the culture of Russian Alaska on a visit to St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church, and relive Native history at the Sheldon Jackson Museum. With its roaring glaciers, rugged mountains and deep fjords, Glacier Bay National Park feels like a dream. With 3.3 million acres to explore, cruise to this world-renowned landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and let the landscapes inspire your next adventure. I’m a Florida-based freelance travel and lifestyle journalist who has embarked on more than a dozen cruises, including several to Alaska.

Ideal for Adventurers

expedia alaska cruise

Only an hour and a half from the cruise port of Whittier lies the largest city in Alaska – Anchorage. 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. Situated within Denali State Park near the Chulitna River, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge® offers unparalleled views of Denali from the treehouse as well as the Great Room and expansive deck in the main lodge.

Convenient Alaska Cruise Departure Ports

expedia alaska cruise

“This magical corner of the world has so much to offer beyond being a checkmark on people’s bucket lists,” she said. Alaska is home to more than 30,000 grizzlies, but the state’s cruise industry is experiencing anything but a bear market as momentum of last year’s record-breaking season is expected to continue in 2024. Conveniently located an hour and a half from Anchorage, Whittier is a small town on the shore of the glacier-filled Prince William Sound. Visit its most popular attractions, such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.

Adventure through Chugach National Forest, cruise past Kenai Fjords National Parks’ glaciers or fish along the Kenai River. Take in the sights of this natural masterpiece at a leisurely pace only on an Alaska cruisetour. Embark on an unforgettable Alaska cruisetour to the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge®, where you can take in the beauty of Wrangell-St. Snow-covered mountains dominate the skyline while rivers feed the earth below. Explore your surroundings on a Copper River rafting trip, or fish for Alaska salmon in the mesmerizing waters. A Princess exclusive, this new cruisetour is curated to provide whales breaching in Glacier Bay National Park, bear viewing in Katmai National Park and observing Denali’s “Big 5” such as moose and caribou in Denali National Park.

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. Alaskan-owned and -operated Alaskan Dream Cruises dates back to 1970 when its parent company, Allen Marine, founded by Bob and Betty Allen, launched with the St. Michael. In those days, Bob ran the boat while Betty and her children served treats and tea to their guests. Today, Allen Marine operates 30 vessels, including the five ships that make up the Alaska Dream Cruises fleet, all of which accommodate between 12 and 76 cruise passengers. Knowledgeable expedition leaders serve as personal guides on every voyage, sharing their expertise in biology, geography and ecology, as well as sharing about the lifestyles and legends of Southeast Alaska’s local cultures.

Choose from a variety of Alaska cruise and cruisetour itineraries and connect with loved ones, locals and Alaska's wilderness with Princess®. Holland America Line (HAL) — which recently snapped up a 2023 World’s Best Award in the large-ship ocean cruise line category — has been cruising Alaska for over 75 years. HAL prides itself on having more permits for Glacier Bay National Park visits than any other cruise line. The cruise line also offers beloved live music programming, which I got to experience firsthand on a summer 2023 Alaska sailing.

Coming off of its 150th anniversary year, Holland America Line has been sailing to and around Alaska for more than half that time—75 years. Holland America Line’s “Alaska Up Close” deeply immerses guests in local cultures through onboard programs and activities, and shore excursions. On all of its Alaska cruises, a Huna Native Interpreter comes aboard Holland America Line ships to share the history of the Tlingit people. 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.

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