Longer Sailings From The West Coast
Finally, youll find some San Francisco round-trip itineraries usually 10 nights long as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. These cruises are best suited to travelers who love days at sea.
Youll have four sea days plus a day of scenic cruising at a spot like Tracy Arm , Endicott Arm, Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park. The waters before you enter the Inside Passage can be calm, rough or anything in between, depending on when you go.
Ports on these longer sailings may include Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point and Victoria, British Columbia.
You may also find one-way repositioning cruises between southern California ports and Vancouver at the beginning or end of a ships Alaska cruise season.
Expedition Cruise Line: Lindblad
This fleet of 15 vesselswith passenger capacities ranging from just 28 to 148sails to rugged, far-flung destinations, including Arctic Svalbard, Antarctica, Indonesia, and the Galápagos. A Lindblad cruise typically prioritizes adventure over luxury. On most ships, expect small, simple cabins, but plenty of memorable excursions, like snorkeling in Borneo or hiking an ice field in Patagonia. But some of its recent fleet additions are truly luxe, from its two polar-sailing expedition ships, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution, to the elegant National Geographic Islander II, which started sailing the Galápagos this year. Each sailing has an expedition team made up of experts in fields like marine biology and photography.
Getting To Your Alaska Cruise
There are a variety of ports where Alaska cruises begin and end including Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka and Anchorage. A cruise from Vancouver to Alaska by small ship can also be arranged. Flights to Juneau and Anchorage are common while smaller ports of call may require a bit more planning. Travelers connecting from the west coast of North America will have little difficulty getting to Alaska and embarking their ship the same day . Travelers east of the Rockies will require a pre-cruise overnight in order to safely embark their ship on time. Many major airlines offer flights to Anchorage Alaska Airlines services Juneau and the small ports of Southeast Alaska. Flights to this region will route through Seattle, Washington.
At AdventureSmith, we are small ship cruise experts not airfare experts, and as such we do not book flights for our clients. But our Adventure Specialists will work closely with you to make sure your flights are scheduled to seamlessly coincide with your Alaska vacation. We advise travelers to purchase flights only after their Alaska trip is confirmed.
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Advantages Of Visiting Alaska In September
- Pack warm clothes and enjoy Septembers cool temperatures that vary between 35-55 degrees. If youre on an arctic tour, pack winter coats, as youll experience daytime temperatures of 28 to 33 degrees.
- Looking for a bargain? September increases your odds of finding low-cost tours and other Alaska cruise deals.
- Elk, caribou, bears, moose and deer can be spotted across the wilderness. Above, raptors and gulls migrate south and bald eagles hunt for prey. Below, harbor seals and sea lions dot the beach, and pods of gray whales pass your cruise ship.
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Caribbean And The Bahamas
You usually wont find a single Princess ship in the Caribbean and the Bahamas over the summer, when the line turns its focus to sailings in Europe and Alaska. But come winter, itll reposition quite a few of its vessels to the Caribbean and Bahamas sailings.
For the coming winter, for instance, it currently has six of its 14 vessels scheduled to sail in the regions including its two newest and biggest ships, the 3,660-passenger Sky Princess and 3,660-passenger Enchanted Princess.
Princess offers a broad range of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from two main home ports Fort Lauderdales Port Everglades and New York City.
If youre looking for something short, the line has you covered in the form of quick, four- and five-night trips to the Bahamas or Mexico. But its best known for longer sailings. These include lots of seven-night itineraries to the Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean but also a large number of even longer, 10- to 14-nights Caribbean voyages.
The latter trips offer the chance to see a broader mix of Caribbean islands than is typical on Caribbean sailings.
A 14-day Circle Caribbean itinerary out of Port Everglades, for instance, brings calls at the islands of St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Martinique, St. Vincent, Barbados, Trinidad, Grenada, and Aruba.
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Best Alaskan Cruise For Teenagers
While you might be heading to Alaska for its incredible scenery and jaw-dropping glaciers, your teenagers might expect something different. To keep them entertained, select a vessel with lots of onboard amenities.
Indoor pools and ping pong tables might not cut it. Instead, plan to book with Norwegians Bliss or Encore, or Royal Caribbeans Ovation of the Seas.
Both the Bliss and Encore are Breakaway-Plus class vessels. Youll forget youre cruising with teenagers with laser tag, video arcade, Aqua Racer, Ocean Loops water slide, and a Race Car Track to keep them busy.
Royal Caribbeans mega-ship has just as many bells and whistles. Sea days have become a lot more fun with a climbing wall, bumper cars, video arcade, iFly, North Star, and Flow Rider.
On land, the fun continues with a ZipRider shore excursion in Icy Strait Point, dog sledding in Juneau, or a canoe adventure to Mendenhall Glacier. Youre only limited by what youre prepared to spend.
Medium Ship Line: Celebrity Cruises
Celebritys Millennium-class shipsCelebrity Millennium, Infinity, Summit, and Constellationare the smallest in the fleet, each with a capacity between 2,100 and 2,200 passengers. The vessels just got a bevy of both new and upgraded staterooms as part of Celebrity’s fleet-wide modernization, and when they launched in the early aughts, they were some of the first ships to use more eco-friendly engines that combined gas and steam power. The four ships sail from home ports around the world, from Europe to North America to Asia.
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Mega Ship Line: Msc Cruises
Though MSC is headquartered in landlocked Switzerland, this cruise line has mastered the art of mega-ships, building five of the 15 largest in the world: MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima, MSC Meraviglia,MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Seashore. Each can hold between 5,300 and 6,300 passengers at maximum capacity. MSC Seashore, a New York Citythemed ship, is the newest of the five. It’s the longest vessel in the fleet at 1,100 feet, allowing for more than 140,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus 7,500 square feet of dedicated space for kids, including the Pirates Cove Aquapark. MSC has some plans for mega-growth, too: it has four World-class mega-ships in the pipeline, each with a capacity between 5,800 and 6,850 passengers, as well as the 5,100-passenger MSC Seascape and the 4,800-passenger MSC Euribia.
You Dont Have To Book Excursions To See Wildlife
Its sometimes possible to spot a bear along the coastline from your cruise ship or during an excursion that takes you out of the main port cities . Bring good binoculars. But if youre hell-bent on seeing bears in the wild, youll need to pay good money for an inland excursion. Whales, orcas, dolphins and sea lions abound in Alaskan waters, so youre guaranteed to spot some if you keep an eye out. That said, youll get much closer on a small boat excursion.
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What To Pack For An Alaska Cruise
Your packing list for an Alaska cruise will look very different from your Caribbean one. Youll want to include the following items, as well as all the typical cruise essentials:
- Rain jacket and other rain gear
- Warm layers, hats, and gloves for chilly days and glacier viewing
- Binoculars for wildlife spotting
- Bug spray for those pesky mosquitos
- Hiking boots if you plan on getting out into nature
- Swimsuit and sunscreen because sometimes its warm and sunny
- Camera with wide angle and telephoto lenses
- Day pack for carrying extra layers, souvenirs, etc.
- Waterproof bags for kayaking or rafting trips
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises Of 2021
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Airport transfers, shore excursions, meals, wine and spirits, and park admission is bundled into the price.
Best for Adventure: Alaskan Dream Cruises See Rates
Excursions focus on local culture such as totem carvings, folk dances, and other Tlingit cultural presentations.
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Balconies Are Not Airproof Or Soundproof
Also, if the person adjacent to your cabin smokes and you dont, it can spell disaster. You may have to endure the smell when you decide to spend time on your balcony.
The sounds of the occupants in the other balcony can also be heard from yours, as the wind carries sound. You may not see them, but you can still hear them. Not so much privacy, dont you think so?
Best Cabin For A Budget Traveler: Interior
Cruising to Alaska on a budget? An interior cabin may be your best bet. While some cruisers may swear by a balcony cabin on an Alaska cruise, an interior cabin will give you the most bang for your buck.
Interior cabins have no window or balcony, and theyre often smaller than most other cruise ship cabins. These cabins are usually several hundred dollars cheaper than balcony rooms, making them an excellent value on a cruise to Alaska.
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Ponants Alaska And Its Fur Traders
- Cost: From $12,340 per person
Another itinerary that focuses on lesser-visited ports is French line Ponants 15-day sailing starting in Nome, Alaskas erstwhile gold-rush outpost on the sparsely populated western coast. As the boat pulls out of the harbor, guests are invited to bring their binoculars to the deck to check the landscape for reindeer . After a day at sea, the first stop is St. Matthew Island, in the Bering Sea, almost equidistant from mainland Alaska and Russia. Next is St. Paul Island, where volcanoes and crater lakes are on the agenda, followed by Dutch Harbor, an Aleutian Islands community known for its prodigious number of bald eagles. Unga and Chankliut Islands wrap up the western islands. Next up will be Tsaa Fjord in the captivating Icy Bay for icebergs and glaciers. Then Sitka, a former Russian colony, and Kake, a little-visited Indigenous community known for having the tallest totem pole in the world. After a few more days in the Inside Passage, the sailing culminates in Vancouver.
These sailings take place on the 264-passenger LAustral, a high-end expedition-style ship that boasts a theater, gym, spa , panoramic lounge, and pool.
Its all about those top deck views.
Courtesy of Silversea
Best For Luxury Lovers
If you envision sipping Champagne as you watch a glacier thunderously calve into the sea, consider booking one of the all-inclusive luxury cruise lines in Alaska: Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Silversea.
All these lines include ships that are experts at delivering gourmet cuisine and the other finer things in life in intimate, cushy floating environments. Additionally, all the lines are big on featuring lectures by experts, which provides passengers with a deeper insight into Alaska.
Itineraries tend to include the popular ports and beyond. You might, for instance, visit Wrangell and Prince Rupert, a port city in Canada, and linger in places such as the Misty Fjords and Prince William Sound. Seven- to 14-night sailings embark from ports such as Vancouver, Seward and Sitka.
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Big Ship Or Small Ship
One of the first things youll need to decide when looking at itineraries and best Alaska cruise ports is whether you are going to travel on a big ship or a small ship. This question is worth considering because they are very different experiences. Your budget is an important first consideration as small ship cruises are generally about triple the cost of big ship cruising. This varies based on the length of the trip and the choices you make as well as the specific cruise company you plan to travel with.
What Is The Best Month To Cruise Alaska
The best month to visit Alaska depends on what you hope to experience during your trip.
- Do you want as much sun and daylight as possible? Then book a June or July cruise.
- Would you like to see lots of wildlife? Then purchase a May, August or September cruise as these months feature young animal families and migrations.
- Do you want to get into the interior and see Denali National Park or the Yukon? Then select July or August.
- Are you chasing bright tree foliage? Then book a cruise at the end of August or in September.
- Would you like to avoid mosquitoes? Then May and September are the best months for your cruise.
- Are northern lights on the itinerary? Then your trip will be in September or October. Would you like to fish for salmon? Then select any summer or shoulder month.
The good news is that no matter which month you choose, your Alaskan cruise will reward you with incredible experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
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Celebrity Alaska Cruise Sea Days
The Eclipse offers some unique features that are only available on the Solstice-class ships. The Lawn Club allows for lawn bowling, croquet, and picnics. Next to the Lawn Club, passengers can sign up to create a piece of blown glass at the Hot Glass Class.
Celebrity ships cruise along the inside passage, which offers calm seas and picturesque views of islands, and forests for as far as the eyes can see. However, once my ship cleared the tip of Vancouver Island, the waters became rough and caused a lot of seasickness. Whether you suffer from seasickness or not, be prepared by packing motion sickness patches.
Since all ships have solarium pools, cruise-goers can enjoy a dip or a soak in a hot tub, regardless of the weather outside. One of my favorite places onboard was the eye-catching library.
Two stories high with large windows looking out to the Lido, the space was always filled with natural sunlight. There was no time for boredom on a sea day with a games room, Canyon Ranch Spa, and activities galore. Celebrity also offered many enrichment programs to learn about Alaskas glaciers, wildlife, and landscape.
Since the sun didnt set until 11 pm in the summer, I found myself busy, making use of the daylight hours. In ports, I usually stayed on shore until I was required to be back on the ship.
Things To Do In Alaska
Alaska cruises offer a wide range of activities in port, with options for active travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and shoppers. Whether youre traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports wont disappoint.
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Wildlife tours are available in every port. Hop a bus, kayak, boat or plane to look for bears, eagles, whales, sea otters and other wildlife. Note that moose dont regularly show up in the Inside Passage youll need to head more north to find them.
Book a fishing trip to try your hand at catching salmon or halibut, or go out crab fishing for a glimpse into that type of work.
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 can even opt for a round of golf at the course in Haines.
In Alaska, sightseeing doesnt only take place on the ground. Floatplane and helicopter tours take you around scenic areas like Misty Fjords or land you on a glacier, perhaps for a dogsledding or hiking adventure on the ice. If you prefer to stay grounded, you can find informative trolley tours of ports like Skagway.
Shopping abounds, and you can buy everything from diamond jewelry to T-shirts and other souvenirs. Youll need to look carefully for Alaskan-owned stores selling local handicrafts, but theyre worth seeking out.
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Regent Seven Seas Mariner
Fresh from a refurbishment, the 700-passenger Regent Seven Seas Marineroffers a luxurious base from which to experience the Alaskan wilderness. The ship has a clubby elegance with updated traditional decor in neutral beiges and soothing blues along with seven restaurants and evening entertainment that includes five lounges, a theater, and a casino. From $6,399 per person for seven-night itineraries from Vancouver and Anchorage.
Large Ship Line: Disney Cruise Line
If theres one thing Disney Cruise Line does well, its hospitality. The company has taken every lesson its learned from its parks and resort operations and implemented that into its five cruise ships, including the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish, which launched in 2022. The ships are designed for families through and throughthere are numerous themed activities every day, from meet-and-greets to full-blown parties with Disney charactersbut there are plenty of adults-only areas that provide a respite from little ones. The fleet currently sails the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Bahamas , as well as Alaska, Canada, Europe, the Pacific Coast, and the Panama Canal. The next ship in the fleet will be Disney Treasure, set to launch in 2024.
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What To Pack For An Alaskan Cruise
I have a whole post about what to pack for Alaska, including if youre taking a cruise! Head over there for all the details, but the MOST important things to have and bring from home are an excellent rain jacket and waterproof comfortable walking shoesor boots!
If you are coming from a hot climate, make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes. Temperatures in Southeast Alaska and along the Inside Passage are generally in the 50s and 60s in the summer. It is possible to have much hotter days but definitely be ready for some chilly and damp days, even in the middle of summer!
Youll also want to make sure you have sunscreen because when the sun does come out its INTENSE during Alaskas long summer days. You can find sunscreen everywhere, but if you like a particular brand definitely bring it with you.
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