Best New Ship: Princess Cruises
Princess has been sailing Alaska for over 50 years, and with six ships, five wilderness lodges, and its own domed rail car, this cruise line knows the region well.
Cook My Catch dining program for guests on select fishing excursions, puppies in the Piazza brings sled dog puppies onboard for guests to cuddle, adults-only wellness and relaxation deck
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Ship just launched in March 2022
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Princess ships feature Ocean Medallion wearable technology for a seamless, contact-free cruise experience
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One of the most affordable Alaskan cruise options
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Gratuities and specialty restaurants not included
The Discovery Princess had her naming ceremony in April of 2022, so shes a brand-new addition to the lines fleet. As such, technology is a big part of the experience. Cruise guests will receive a free Medallion device with a complimentary lanyard, which allows you to do things like open your cabin door, track onboard purchases, find family and friends, locate venues, and check daily activities.
We Used Our Phones A Lot More Than I Expected
Passengers could book dining reservations, check the daily itinerary, and even look at dinner menus in advance through Celebritys app.
The general cruise fare included a basic Wi-Fi package, which pretty much only worked for the app.
We used the messaging feature to stay connected, setting up a group chat to let each other know where on the boat to meet and send reminders about dinner reservations or excursion times.
It was important to keep my phone charged to stay connected with my family and easily know what was happening around the ship.
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Things You Need To Pack For Your Cruise
When you’re cruising in the middle of the open sea, it can be hard to replace the necessities you forgot at home. Leaving behind a great pair of walking shoes, important prescription medicines or your ID can put a serious damper on your vacation. Remember to pack these 14 things so your cruise is headache free.
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Cons Of A Balcony Cabin On An Alaska Cruise
Balcony cabins are more expensive than interior or ocean view cabins, and youll often find the price difference between these categories more pronounced on an Alaska cruise due to high demand for balcony cabins.
To put this into perspective, I priced out the cost for two adults to sail in either an interior, ocean view, or balcony cabin on a July 2024 Alaska cruise on Ovation of the Seas. Here were the results:
- Interior: $2,647
- Ocean View: $2,809
- Balcony: $3,699
As you can see, a balcony is around $1000 more than an interior and $900 more than an ocean view cabin in this case. And while prices can change from day to day, you can usually expect to pay significantly more for the comforts of a balcony cabin.
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Another con of a balcony cabin on an Alaska cruise is that the weather will usually be quite chilly outside, even in the summer months. You may find it too cold to relax on the balcony and stick to watching scenery from indoor spaces instead, thus lessening the value of the balcony.
Pros Of An Interior Cabin On An Alaska Cruise
Many passengers who book inside cabins do so because they dont plan on spending much time in their cabin. With so many activities and entertainment options around the ship, its possible that youll only visit your cabin to sleep, shower, and change.
Therefore, saving money on cruise fare allows for more wiggle room in your budget to spend on extras like shore excursions, dining packages, and other pre-cruise add-ons.
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Many of Alaskas excursions are truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences, whether a helicopter ride to a glacier or traveling on the famous White Pass & Yukon Railway in Skagway. These excursions can cost hundreds of dollars, so you may want to put your vacation budget toward these experiences instead of an upgraded cabin.
One other plus of cruising in an interior cabin is that youll find it easier to fall asleep. You may experience 18 or more hours of daylight in Alaska during the summer months. Trying to keep to a normal sleep schedule when its still light outside at 10 PM can be difficult, but you wont have to worry about this in a pitch-black interior cabin!
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Get Our Best Value Fare With Drinks Wi
+ Premier Beverage Package with service charge: Enjoy everything from cocktails, beer and wine to specialty coffees, smoothies and bottled water.
+ Unlimited Wi-Fi: With our best internet package, you can video chat and text with family back home, stream your favorite shows and check email .
+ Full crew appreciation paid to our crew on your behalf: Dont worry we make sure the crew who takes care of you is taken care of too.
*Fares are per guest and apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares are non-air, cruise- or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom. Fares and other values quoted in USD. A refundable deposit is required for all stateroom guests and amount varies according to the cruise length, stateroom type and number of stateroom guests.
Any advertised offer may be changed or revoked at any time.
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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Advantages Of Visiting Alaska In May
- May is part of the spring shoulder season and sees fewer visitors than later in the year, so you should be able to find better travel deals and lower cruise prices.
- For wildlife spotters, May offers migratory songbirds, pods of gray whales and herds of moose. Bring a pair of binoculars and you may even spot a wolf or lynx on the prowl.
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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Advantages Of Visiting Alaska In July
- Looking for warm weather? July is Alaskas hottest month, with daytime temperatures ranging between 50-70 degrees and 18 to 19 hours of daylight.
- If youre planning an arctic cruise, prepare for cooler weather, as the temperature up north dips down to 33-45 degrees. Also pack an eye mask for sleeping, as arctic cruises enjoy nearly 24 hours of daylight.
- Grizzlies, black bears and mountain goats dot the landscape. In the sea, humpback whales and otters splash about, and overhead you can spot millions of migrating shorebirds.
- For the anglers, July is spawning season for salmon, making it perfect for fishing trips.
Pros Of A Balcony Cabin On An Alaska Cruise
Alaskas scenery is breathtaking, and youll find gorgeous mountain views outside nearly the entire sailing. Having a private balcony to enjoy the views is, undoubtedly, a marvelous addition to your Alaska cruise vacation.
Imagine sipping warm hot chocolate while watching glaciers pass by from the privacy of your balcony. Or perhaps enjoying a cocktail in the evening as the sun sets behind Alaskas mountains. You can experience all of thisand morein a balcony cabin to Alaska.
Another plus is the extra space a balcony provides. Whether youre traveling with your spouse or with kids, its beneficial to have extra room to spread out, even if it is a bit chilly!
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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.
Best Cabin Overall: Balcony Cabin
The best option for most passengers cruising to Alaska is a balcony cabin, as it gives you the chance to enjoy Alaskas nature from the comfort of your own private outdoor space.
Balcony cabins are usually around 180 square feet , which is a comfortable size for most passengers. The balcony has a set of chairs along with a small table, making it the perfect place to relax with a view.
Related: Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean
Some cruisers are adamant that a balcony cabin is a necessity on an Alaska cruise, but others are unsure of whether they should pay extra to upgrade from an interior or ocean view cabin to a balcony. Lets take a look at the pros and cons.
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Cruising To Alaska With Hurtigruten
A land framed by vast forestland and towering mountain ranges, Alaska is truly a place of breath-taking beauty. Keep an eye out for eagles and bears while exploring the varied landscape in a kayak or on a hike, and experience Alaskas unique culture through town walks. Hurtigruten is the ideal choiceto actively explore the wild nature of Alaska. Oursmall expedition ships make itpossible to truly discover placesoff the beaten track, as well ascolourful historic towns andindigenous communities allalong this rugged and diverseshoreline. With our small Zodiac boats, youll exploremajestic fjords, bays, rainforests and glaciers accompanied by our Expedition Team, who will share their knowledge about the history and wildlife of the places you visit. Ourincluded activities and optional shoreexcursions make sure youll getmemorable experiences of Alaskasdiverse nature, cultures, historyand people.
Best Cabin For Families: 2 Connecting Rooms
If youre traveling with kids on an Alaska cruise, we recommend booking two connecting rooms instead of one room. Connecting rooms are two cruise cabins with a door in between, which can be opened to connect the rooms together. Connecting rooms are available for interior, ocean view, and balcony cabins.
One of the biggest perks of connecting rooms is extra living space. Cramming into one room with a sofa bed or pullman bunk beds is not necessary with connecting rooms. Plus, youll also have an extra bathroom which is helpful when traveling with kids and teenagers.
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More often than not, the price difference between two connecting rooms versus staying in one room is quite reasonable. Sometimes, in fact, the price for two connecting rooms is actually cheaper than booking four guests in one cabin.
Lets take a look at a Quantum of the Seas sailing to Alaska in September 2024. I priced out the cost for one room versus two connecting rooms for two adults and two kids in an interior cabin:
- 2 connecting rooms: $2,146
In this example, the cost of two connecting rooms is around $500 cheaper than staying in one room! While this type of deal does not always occur, theres no doubt that booking two connecting rooms in this example offers a much better value.
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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.
Bars On The Celebrity Solstice
There are several places to grab a cocktail on the Celebrity Solstice. One place that stood out for us was The World Class Bar. The bartenders were fabulous and made delicious custom cocktails. This is also one of the only places on board to get smoked cocktails like a smoked Old Fashion.
Cellar Masters was another favorite since they had a larger selection of wines than most other bars. Thanks to the friendly bartender, I was introduced to a new favorite, Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc. Once I found this wine, I was also able to request it in the main dining room.
The Martini Bar was also excellent. The bartenders put on quite a show and the entire bar top is covered in ice to keep drinks cold.
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Alaska Dawes Glacier Cruisedetails
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See The Wilds Of A Great Frontier
Immerse yourself in a world of Tlingit heritage and experience the outpost atmosphere that prevails in charming, mountain-ringed seaside towns. As you cruise this pristine wilderness of misty fjords, lush forests and gleaming walls of ice, pan for gold like prospectors of old, meet local Tlingit who have fished these waters for centuries, and hear tales both tall and true of a region where a Wild West spirit still feels very much alive.
Immerse yourself in a world of Tlingit heritage and experience the outpost atmosphere that prevails in charming, mountain-ringed seaside towns. As you cruise this pristine wilderness of misty fjords, lush forests and gleaming walls of ice, pan for gold like prospectors of old, meet local Tlingit who have fished these waters for centuries, and hear tales both tall and true of a region where a Wild West spirit still feels very much alive.
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Whens The Best Time To See The Northern Lights On An Alaska Cruise
Seeing the northern lights from the cruise ship is a rare occurrence, but if youd like to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis from the balcony on your stateroom, then you need to book a trip in late September or early October.
To maximize your chance of witnessing the northern lights, get off the boat and join a land excursion to Fairbanks. The aurora season in Fairbanks lasts from the end of August to April and the lights can be seen four out of five nights if the sky is clear.