Alaska Cruises Out Of Seattle

When To Cruise Alaska

Discovery Princess Alaska Cruise – Sail Away From Seattle – Vlog Day 1

Alaska gets pretty chilly and snowy in the winter so the Alaskan cruise season doesnt open until the beginning of May and closes at the end of September. June, July, and August tend to be the most popular months for Alaska cruises due to the warmer weather. Alaska cruises in April or May and September are often cheaper and the crowds are lighter. Part of your cruise may include shore excursions in the states rainforests so be aware that you will experience rainy weather, if even just for a short amount of time. Be prepared and pack a rain hat, waterproof jacket, and even waterproof rain pants if you plan to hike often onshore.

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Seattle Vs Vancouver: Where Should You Start Your Alaska Cruise

Seattle and Vancouver are two of the most popular embarkation ports for Alaska cruises. Both are incredible cities with major airports and plenty to explore on pre- or post-cruise stays. So how do you decide which port is better for starting out on your Alaska cruise? Take a look at what’s offered from each homeport to help you decide.

What Cruise Ship Sails Roundtrip From Alaska To Seattle

When you book round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska, youll sail on Celebrity Solstice, the debut ship of Celebritys award-winning Solstice class.

The ships accommodations range from spacious veranda staterooms with 24-hour room service to luxuriously appointed suites. During your cruise, get pampered at the onboard spa and indulge in world-class cuisine designed by our Michelin-starred chef.

Spend your days at sea lounging at the adults-only Solarium pool or on the main pool deck. Pull up a chaise, drink in hand, and watch Alaskas gorgeous seascapes and landscapes glide by.

Play lawn sports like croquet, golf, or lawn bowling by day and listen to jazz concerts by night at the innovative Lawn Club. Play a pick-up basketball game on the outdoor court or take a turn or two around the jogging track. Take a dip in a hot tub to relax those well-used muscles.

Learn culinary tips and tricks on galley tours, during cooking demos, and while enjoying tastings from cheeses to bourbons. Speaking of learning, on Alaska cruises, an onboard naturalist conducts lectures on local wildlife and culture and has answers for any questions about Alaska that you might have.

Evenings on board Celebrity Solstice are equally active and exciting. Meet friends and make friends at the Martini Bar, one of the ships most popular spaces for drinks. See Broadway-worthy shows and entertainment in the state-of-the-art theatre.

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Find The Best Cruise From Seattle

What are the best cruises from Seattle?

Seattle is a popular cruise port and is surrounded by rugged natural beauty. Norwegian Encore offers one of the best cruises from Seattle. It ranks highly based on health ratings and reviews. The ship accommodates 3,998 guests and 1,735 crew members and is one of Norwegian’s newer additions to the industry. Other top-ranked cruise ships from Seattle are Ovation of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice, Princess Cruises, Royal Princess, Norwegian Bliss, and Eurodam.

How can I find a cheap Seattle cruise?

Expedia cruise experts can help you plan your next cruise vacation on a budget. If you want to save, set filters for any budget limitations you may have in your search. You can sort cruise deals from Seattle by price to automatically display the cheapest options at the top of your search results. We have several great deals for cruises from Seattle and expert advice for cheap Seattle cruises. A simplistic experience is generally cheaper. For example, booking a cruise from Seattle with a smaller cabin or no ocean view could be appropriate for a guest looking for a great value voyage.

What cruise lines operate from Seattle?

Several major cruise lines sail from Seattle. These include Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Holland American Line. No matter which itinerary you select, Seattle now offers an abundance of cruise experiences and options.

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Alaska Cruise Itinerary From Seattle

Alaska Cruises a New Favorite for Seattle Vacation Travel

All seven-day Alaska cruises out of Seattle sail round-trip. They can cruise as far as Hubbard Glacier, although most cruise lines sail to Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, and a select few to Glacier Bay National Park.

Cruises departing from Seattle have no option to add a land-based itinerary. Traditionally, all sailings from Seattle were seven days, but Norwegian and Oceania have recently added nine to eleven days options, although still round-trip.

Since Seattle is further south than Vancouver, it takes a half-day longer to get to its first stop in Alaska. If your first scheduled stop is Juneau, the capital, it will take 1-1/2 days to reach the Alaskan city.

So, instead of arriving at 9 am, vessels dock at noon or 1 pm instead. While this may not seem like a big deal, I have been to Juneau four times, and its a port that offers the most shore excursions.

Must-visit Mendenhall Glacier requires a shuttle to access it, and the last return bus leaves at 5:30 pm.

Other attractions like Roberts Tramway also close early. So, when arriving in Juneau later in the day, options for Alaska cruise excursions may be limited.

The first day and a half are sea days out of Seattle, and the last day generally ports in Victoria on Vancouver Island. Cruises leaving Seattle usually include one fjord or group of glaciers.

However, sometimes mega-ships may not include any glacier sightings since their size limits their itinerary options.

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Seattle Vs Vancouver: Size Of Ships

Cruise ships leaving from Vancouver sail under the Lionsgate Bridge, which has a clearance of 61 meters or 200 feet. Since Vancouver cannot accommodate a mega-ship, these vessels embark from Seattle, Washington. So, Alaska cruises from Vancouver are on either mid-sized or smaller ships.

I still remember leaving Canada Place on the Celebrity Eclipse, a 2850-passenger ship. It had to lower its mast to clear the Lionsgate Bridge. So, if you prefer a bigger ship with endless options for family entertainment, your best to pick an Alaska cruise from Seattle.

Alaskan Scenic Cruising And Ports Of Call

One thing thats special about Alaska cruises is the opportunity your ship has to offer scenic cruising past landmarks like Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, Hubbard Glacier, and Sawyer Glacier. You wont disembark the ship in these areas, but you will have plenty of time to sit on deck or on your private balcony. From there you can watch glaciers calving birds flying close to shore and whales, sea lions, dolphins, and harbor seals sharing the passageway with your ship.

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Cruise To Alaska Out Of Seattle In 2023 Varies Pp

Destinations: Alaska
Bookable Online

Alaska cruises are a specialty of AAA Travel. Set sail out of the beautiful backdrop of Seattle and Mt. Rainier on your Alaska adventure departing May September.

Explore the best of the Last Frontier, from the iconic glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park to the fascinating coastal port towns. Observe soaring eagles and breaching whales from the comfort of your ship. Throughout your journey, dine on fresh local seafood, dive into local culture and discover the Alaska of your dreams.

With multiple cruise lines to choose from, your on board experienced can be tailored to your tastesfrom high luxury to hiking on glaciers your AAA Travel Expert can help you choose your own Alaskan Adventure.

Each of our preferred cruise partners offer a variety of AAA Amenities and Member Benefits, such as shipboard credit to spend on board, specialty dining and more!

Ask a AAA Travel Expert for details.

AAA Travel works with a variety of cruise partners such as Holland America Line, Princess®, Oceania, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, American Queen Voyages and more. Each offering a different experience on board to fit your vacation dreams.

Explore the best of the Last Frontier, from the iconic glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park to the fascinating coastal port towns of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point and Sitka on your Alaska voyage.

Alaska Cruises From Seattle

Experience a Luxury Alaska Cruise From Seattle

Alaska cruises from Seattle sail roundtrip Inside Passage routes. They are popular for their ease of travel, especially for travelers connecting to Seattle from elsewhere in the continental U.S.

Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean all offer roundtrip Alaska cruises that sail from Seattle. The specific itineraries vary, but generally cruises on this route spend two days at sea traveling between Seattle and Alaska, and one full day sailing through places like the Endicott Arm, Tracy Arm, or Glacier Bay National Park. Ports of call vary, but often include Skagway, , and Ketchikan. These cruises wrap up with a final port call in the British Columbian capital of Victoria before returning to Seattle.

If you’d like to see more of Alaska, check out Alaska cruises from Vancouver. These voyages include one-way glacier route cruises to Whittier or Seward that pair perfectly with pre-cruise or post-cruise Alaska land packages.

And while you’re at it, visit our Cruise Finder. You can use this easy tool to search for specific cruises based on the routes you’re interested in, sailing dates, and even cruise line. Through the finder you can also quickly request a quote for the compelling cruises you find.

Alaska Cruise Itinerary From Vancouver

An Alaska cruise from Vancouver has many options. The seven-day itineraries sail either round-trip or one-way. One-way cruises to and from Whittier and Seward have the option to add on a land-based itinerary to Denali National Park.

Staying in a lodge at Denali increases the chance of seeing the big five. The big five include moose, grizzly bears, grey wolves, caribou, and Dall sheep.

These cruise and land itineraries end or start in either Anchorage or Fairbanks for easy access to an airport. The one-way itineraries, either northbound or southbound, include cruising through College Fjord.

Located in Prince William Sound, the fjord contains multiple tidewater and valley glaciers named for famous colleges. Booking a back-to-back gives the cruiser multiple glacier viewings.

Glacier Bay National Park

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge protected Glacier Bay by declaring it a national monument. Decades later, President Jimmy Carter expanded the protected area and created Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Today its a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a highlight of many Inside Passage cruises. No roads lead to the park, so you must arrive by boat or air.

Some cruise ships simply cruise the area while others, usually the smaller ships, visit the bay and stop for Zodiac tours and other adventures like kayaking, rafting, and fishing. The park is home to many animals like wolves and wolverines, American black bears and moose, mountain goats and coyote. In the water youll see humpback, Minke, and killer whales along with harbor seals and Dalls porpoises.

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Cruises From Seattle To Vancouver

Routes

Cruise Lines in Alaska

Canada & Alaska Tours

Alaska Cruise Ships & Highlights

Boarding The Norwegian Pearl Ship in Seattle for Our 7 Day Alaska ...

If you want to experience all the amenities of our newest ships, book an Alaska cruise vacation aboard Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Encore. Our Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships offer some of the best viewing spots for scenic cruising. Wander along The Waterfront, our quarter-mile oceanfront promenade, featuring specialty dining and bars. Its one of the best places onboard to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views.

Grab a mojito at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and watch the sun go down. Then head over for dinner at one of The Waterfronts specialty restaurants, such as Moderno Churrascaria, a Brazilian-style steakhouse, or Cagneys steakhouse. If you book a cruise on Norwegian Encore, youll find Onda by Scarpetta. Onda, the sister restaurant to the highly acclaimed Scarpetta, will transport you to the Tuscan countryside.

Head to Deck 15 to the Observation Lounge for some of the best views from indoors. Floor-to-ceiling windows let you experience the best Alaskan landscapes without being outdoors if you want to enjoy the glaciers, natural landscapes, and wildlife elements.

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Where To Stay The Night Before Your Cruise

Seattle is a dynamic city, combining urban life with picturesque scenery in every direction. While we always recommend arriving in your cruise departure port the day before your cruise, this is especially true in Seattle.

Arriving the day before your cruise provides ample time in case of any travel delays, but it also gives more time to visit Seattles attractions including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.

We recommend staying at a hotel in downtown Seattle before your cruise. Staying in the area between downtown and the Space Needle is convenient for sightseeing.

Royal Caribbean Blog readers have suggested the following hotels on our message boards:

Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center
The Edgewater Hotel

Seattle is currently the only cruise port to offer Luggage Valet. This is a service offered onboard Royal Caribbean ships in which guests can bypass the check-in process at Seattles airport.

Through the Luggage Valet program, guests receive the following benefits:

Check-in for flights onboard
Airline boarding passes and luggage tags delivered to stateroom
Luggage transported directly from stateroom to the airport and onto the flight

Through Luggage Valet, travelers can save time by avoiding long lines to check in at the airport.

How To Find The Cheapest Alaskan Cruise Deals

Sail Early in the SeasonThe Alaskan cruising season is short usually only five months long, although some trips are extending that season. Running from April through October, your opportunities to sail are limited, although there are a number of ships sailing at any given time.

If you want to save the most, look for cruises that sail April/May. These trips early in the season are before the busier summer travel season. That means the pool of available passengers is smaller. In order to fill the ships, cruise lines slash prices. A cruise departing in May can be hundreds of dollars less than the same trip leaving in July.

Sail Late in the SeasonDidnt we just say to sail early in the season to save? Well, the same logic applies to sailing late. If you can wait until September/October, cruise fares to Alaska are much cheaper. With school back in session, the summer season largely over, and the bulk of the sailing season already past, you can find deals that are hundreds of dollars less than sailing just a few weeks earlier.

Sail One-Way or from Different PortsMost cruises sail round-trip, departing ports like Vancouver or Seattle. But if you look around, you can find one-way trips or that that depart from one port and let passengers off in another . Since these cruises are less convenient for most passengers, they tend to be cheaper.

With all of these tips in mind, here are some of the cheapest Alaskan cruises for 2023. Note that prices may change depending on when you book.

Gulf Of Alaska Itineraries:

You can also pick an itinerary that cruises between Seattle or Vancouver and Seward/Whittier in Alaska. The ports of Seward and Whittier feed tours into Anchorage, an inland Alaskan city that you can reach by bus, car, or train. Youll most likely visit places like Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka. Its also possible to add in a few Inside Passage stops during the voyage.

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Rideshare Services & Taxis

Embarkation Day Seattle | What to expect boarding your Alaska Cruise | Royal Caribbean

Uber and Lyft are both accessible from the Seattle airport. Expect to pay around $60 each way for an Uber or Lyft from the airport to port. If youre traveling from the airport to downtown, fares should cost around $50 each way.

Taxi service is also available, with fares priced at $40 from Sea-Tac airport to downtown Seattle. If traveling directly from the airport to Pier 91, expect to pay around $60 one way.

Rideshare and taxi services are priced per ride, not per person, so they can be an economical way to travel to the Seattle cruise port if with a larger group.

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What Time Should I Schedule My Return Flight After The Cruise

We recommend booking flights from Seattles airport no earlier than 12 PM on disembarkation day. As the airport is located 30 minutes from the cruise port, youll want to provide extra wiggle room for traffic and other delays.

If youre driving to Pier 91, the most convenient parking option is at the terminals official parking lot. There are 1,000 spaces available at the lot for $27 per day. You can book a spot in advance here.

Because the ports are located right downtown, there are few other options available. You can choose to park at a lot near the airport for as low as $13-15 per day, but the cost of transportation from the airport to the cruise port may negate any savings.