Dog Sledding With Temsco Helicopters
Most folks identify Alaska with dog sledding. But since dog sledding is a winter activity, cruise ship visitors in the early days never had a chance to experience it. That all changed when helicopters became readily available to travelers. On this wildly popular tour with TEMSCO Helicopters, you travel to the Juneau Ice Field by helicopter and get a chance to travel by dog sled on a stretch of gorgeous glacier. Sure, its expensiveits also unforgettable.
Attend A North To Alaska Presentation
Princess Cruises offers many Alaska-themed activities as part of its award-winning North to Alaska programming. With enrichment opportunities on Alaskan culture, food, history, landscape, and wildlife, you must attend these North to Alaska presentations.
Led by local naturalists and other experts, these talks are informative and engaging providing guests with greater insight into the Alaskan Frontier and the ships ports of call. We even had Glacier Bay National Park rangers board our ship during our day of scenic cruising. The narrative from the rangers made this day even more memorable.
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Dont Look Down On The Seawalk
Well, actually, half the fun of the Seawalk is to look down, as long as you arent afraid of heights. The Seawalk on Princess Cruises is a first of its kind glass walkway suspended over the ocean. This 60 foot long walkway extends 28 feet off the edge of the ship offering unparalleled views of the ocean below.
The Seawalk provides ever-changing vistas to admire. You can stroll across this glass walkway once for the obligatory video or perhaps everyday for a whole new perspective as you sail between your exciting Alaskan ports of call.
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Dogsled & Glacier Adventure By Helicopter In Juneau
What could be more amazing than the chance to mush your own dogsled team across a snow-capped glacier? Your three-hour tour starts with a helicopter ride over the en route to an authentic Alaskan dog training camp on Norris Glacier that is accessible only by air. Your flight over dense forests, crisp mountain lakes, majestic mountains, and impressive icefalls takes about 20 minutes.
After you touch down, you’ll get a quick lesson from seasoned Iditarod racers about how to command your huskies before taking the reins yourself. Listen to the enthusiastic yips and howls of your sled dogs and feel the icy wind in your face as you speed through the awe-inspiring snowy landscape. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
Breathtaking Excursions Your Alaska Cruise Offers
Want to kayak along the banks of a glacier, see whales breach clear blue waters, or soar high above the tallest peaks in North America? On a Norwegian cruise to Alaska, you can do all that and so much more. From May through September each year, Norwegian Cruise Line sets sail through some of the most majestic natural landscapes on Earth, taking cruisers on the adventure of a lifetime.
While there’s plenty of opportunities to feast your eyes on icy fjords and abundant wildlife from the comfort of the cruise ship deck, you can also get up close and personal on one of the many exciting shore excursions available on your Norwegian cruise. At each port of call, Norwegian engages expert guides and experienced tour operators to bring you into the heart of the action. If you’re wondering what there is to do in the land of the ice and the snow, check out these five breathtaking excursions Norwegian offers on your Alaskan cruise.
Ready to start planning? Explore all Alaska cruise vacations.
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Ride A Dog Sled Through The Wilderness
Dog-sledding
As the original starting point for the famous Iditarod Trail, youd expect Seward to be the place to go for dog sledding. Sure enough, the Seavey family, whose kennels and homestead lie at the base of Resurrection Mountain, represent four generations of mushing champions and have won seven Iditarod races.
While winter is the racing season, you can visit the kennels in summer to cuddle adorable, fuzzy-haired puppies, and even take a sled ride out through the wilderness. The summer sleds are wheeled, of course, and the powerful team of dogs will pull you along forest-lined trails along the base of Resurrection Mountain and through Box Canyon Creek. These summer runs are an important part of race training and keep the dogs in peak fitness.
Alaskacruises Cruisetours Shore Excursions Rail & Lodging
Our Alaska Cruise Advisors help travelers plan the perfect vacation with the right answers, taking care of all the details, and helping you every step of the way. We share 20+ years of “been there…done that” hands-onexperience with Alaska destination focused content designedto get you inspired about Alaska.
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Best Luxury: Regent Seven Seas
Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas
- Ship Name: Seven Seas Mariner
- Itinerary: Sitka, Juneau Skagway, Ketchikan, Vancouver
For a luxury cruise experience though the Inside Passage, Regent Seven Seas has a few sailing dates on the Seven Seas Mariner, an all-suite ship. On Mariner, all staterooms have a private balcony perfect for watching the glaciers and fjords float past and a minimum of 300 feet of space. Onboard, guests can unwind in the award-winning Canyon Ranch spa, take in an evening show, and dine on gourmet cuisine. Being a smaller ship , its size allows the staff to anticipate guests needs and personalize the experience. On the Alaska voyage, the ship calls on many popular ports and also treats passengers to Sitka, a unique port steeped in Tlingit culture and Russian history, before concluding in Vancouver.
Cruise & Conservation Center Anchorage
Take a scenic drive along the Seward Highway to Portage Glacier, part of the Chugach National Forest, then an unforgettable one-hour cruise across iceberg-dotted Portage Lake. Stand just 300 yards from a relic of the Ice Age and stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to view wildlife up close.
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Best Modern Cruise: Celebrity
- Ship Name: Celebrity Solstice
- Itinerary: Seattle, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Alaska Inside Passage, Victoria
For an upscale Alaska cruise without the luxury price tag, Celebrity is a fantastic option. The award-winning, Celebrity Solstice is a dignified ship that focuses on modern well-being. Activities include culinary classes, silent discos, and educational lectures. Theres also a half-acre of fresh grass with hot glass demonstrations, private cabanas, and outdoor movies. The ship also has a fabulous fitness center and programs, and the Canyon Ranch Spa situated right next to the Aqua Class cabins. These cabins include access to a health-conscious restaurant as well as the relaxation room and other spa perks. This voyage includes a full day cruising Endicott Arm for fabulous views before concluding in Victoria.
Visit A Native American Community
Fifteen miles south of Ketchikan is Metlakatla, the only Native American reservation in Alaska. It’s located on Annette Island, 86,000 acres of dense rainforest and tranquil salmon streams that can be accessed via a 45-minute ferry ride from Ketchikan. Here, visitors get the opportunity to learn all about the Tsimshian culture and history by touring the local totem poles, embarking on a wildlife safari, or learning intertidal harvesting techniques from the natives. A side trip to Metlakatla provides a historical perspective of Alaska’s complex past.
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Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure
It’s true: You really can snorkel in Alaska. You’ll start out with a quick trip to the dive shop, where your guides will outfit you in head-to-toe wet suits thick enough to make even the most frigid waters comfortable .
Once you’re geared up, it’s onto the shallow tide pools of Mountain Point, where you’ll snorkel with your guides over kelp forests, through schools of fish and past sea stars and sea cucumbers — with ample time to ask questions. After about an hour in the water, you’ll head back to the dive shop, where a hot beverage caps a perfect day.
Take A Dip In The Pool
Even though you are traveling with Princess Cruises in Alaska, it doesnt mean that you cant take a dip in the pool. Yes, the weather in the region can be a bit unpredictable, but we recommend that you still pack a bathing suit.
We definitely had a few afternoons that were warm enough to make use of the outdoor pool. However, there is also an indoor pool that is covered from the elements and both indoor and outdoor hot tubs. Imagine sitting in a hot tub while admiring the Alaskan scenery. Sounds great, doesnt it?
If you want to splurge on your vacation, you can also purchase a pass to Princess Cruises version of a thermal suite, the Enclave in the Lotus Spa.
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Alaskas Wildest Kitchen Icy Strait Point
Discover what sets Alaska seafood apart, understand the local fishing industry, and pick up special cooking techniques. Watch a filleting demonstration, learn to handle an alder-wood grill, and receive recipe cards to re-create the experience at home. Walk past the historic Hoonah Packing Company Cannery built in 1912, now home to a museum and shops.
Exit Glacier Hike Seward
Enjoy the unique experience of exploring one of Alaska’s few walk-in glaciers the Exit Glacier.Take a scenic drive to the walking trail that leads to the Kenai Fjords National Parks Exit Glacier. This easy, flat trail stretches for 1.8 miles through an alder forest, and takes you straight to the awesome face of the glacier, where youll see the shimmering, dense, blue ice and hear its crackling noises.
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Float Plane Tour In Ketchikan Alaska
Known as the Salmon Capital of the World, Ketchikanis the southernmost city in Alaska. It is also another popular cruise ship destination. Ketchikan is home to the worlds largest collection of standing totem poles, the Misty Fjords National Monument, and plenty of RAIN.
During our first visit to Alaska, we opted for a more low-key and low-cost excursion, a Ketchikan Highlights and Totem Pole Park tour. This excursion included a lumberjack show and a visit to Potlach Totem Park.
However, the best way to see the Misty Fjords National Monument is by floatplane, so an excursion with Taquan Air was on the top of our list for our return trip in 2018. The Misty Fjords National Monument is approximately 2.4 million square acres of forest, lakes, and passageways. The impressive 3,000-foot tall granite walls of this protected area have been carved out by melting glacial ice over tens of millions of years. The result is awe-inspiring ledges and deep canals of fresh sea water of which you will get a birds eye view.
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Best Large Cruise: Royal Caribbean
Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
- Ship: Ovation of the Seas
- Duration: 7 nights
- Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage, Juneau, Skagway, Victoria
If youre looking for a cruise to Alaska with all the theme-park-like attractions, then the Ovation of the Seas will not disappoint. Built in 2016, Ovation is currently ranked as one of the 10 largest cruise ships in the world with onboard features like a skydiving simulator, a cocktail bar tended by robots, aerial performances in the theater, and the North Star, a moving observation pod with surreal views. The first two days of the voyage are spent at sea so theres plenty of time to explore the ship and try different activities. Or, dine at specialty restaurants like Chops Grille, Royal Caribbeans iconic steakhouse Wonderland, an eclectic array of dishes, or Giovannis table, a favorite Italian restaurant.
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Other Alaska Cruise Ports
The 7 cruise ports and terminals above are the ones youre most likely going to visit during your Alaska cruise. However, there are other less-common destinations you might see on your itinerary. Instead of a whole section on each, heres a quick breakdown of the activities and experiences I recommend in each:
Haines
Did you notice I mentioned Haines in the Skagway section? Haines is a perfect port for a cultural experience learning about Alaska Native heritage.
Dawes Glacier
The name says it all: the best cruise excursion at Dawes Glacier will have you board a dingy and get close to the glacier.
Petersburg
A tiny community serviced primarily by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system, Petersburg is a great spot to board a whale-watching vessel if you havent seen any yet.
Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert is a small British Columbian community known for close proximity to grizzly bear habitats. Book a coastal cruise or flightseeing to try and see the bears.
Seward
One of two northern cruise terminals, Seward is located in the heart of Kenai Fjords National Park. It might seem odd since youve been on a boat recently , but book a day-cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park .
Valdez
Famous as the terminal for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Valdez also has excellent access to glaciers. A glacier flightseeing or cruise tour is the best way to enjoy them.
Victoria
Whittier
Wrangell
Which Alaska cruise ports are on your itinerary? Let me know in the comments and any other questions tooor !
Atv Expedition And Ziprider In Icy Strait Point
If you’re a thrill seeker, this is the excursion for you. Start your adventure with a guided bus tour through nearby Hoonah, a Tlingit village. Learn about the culture and heritage of the local people before ascending high into the surrounding hills to climb aboard your four-wheel-drive Kawasaki ATV. From here, your expert guide will take you on a rip-roaring ride through the rugged forest.
After, you’ll return to the bus to continue the excitement at ZipRider, home of the world’s longest zip line. Once you’re strapped into your harness, take a moment to absorb the panoramic view of the surrounding islands before you take flight. Soar 300 feet above the thick forest at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. This once-in-a-lifetime experience takes only 90 seconds, but the memories last a lifetime.
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Best Alaska Cruise Line For Couples
Regent offers some of the best Alaska small ship cruises, with the intimate environment ideal for adventurous romance-seeking couples who want to enjoy a sophisticated setting. This line offers everything from unlimited offshore excursions so you can focus on actively experiencing each destination and soaking up the culture together, to intimate dinners in specialty restaurants, all included in your cruise fare. Look forward to onboard activities like theater performances and guest lectures as well.
Spa and wellness facilities offer even more ways to turn up the romance. Youll also get a welcome bottle of champagne and unlimited free beverages that include fine wines, premium spirits, and a daily replenished in-suite minibar.
Chilkoot Lake Wilderness Kayaking In Skagway
If you want a truly immersive experience, grab a paddle and head to Chilkoot Lake to kayak amid massive mountains and frosty glaciers. Your adventure beings with a 45-minute cruise on a high-speed catamaran to Haines. Take in the spectacular vistas and watch for wildlife as you sail along the deepest and longest fjord in North America. In Haines, your guide will take you on a tour of the town before outfitting you with everything you need for your kayaking experience.
You’ll have nearly two hours to explore the stunning scenery from the water as you paddle across Chilkoot Lake. In addition to mountains and glaciers, watch for bald eagles, whales, Pacific salmon, and a variety of waterfowl. The area is also known to have some of the highest concentrations of black bears in southeast Alaska. After you’ve experienced Alaska’s beauty at its best, you’ll enjoy a picnic-style lunch before embarking on a ferry back to the ship.
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When you set sail on a Norwegian cruise to Alaska, expect an experience like no other. From the stunning local scenery to the amazing array of outdoor activities, you’ll be blown away by everything Alaska has to offer. To make the most of your trip, be sure to check out these five breathtaking excursions offered on your Alaskan cruise, and visit the Norwegian website to sign up for emails to get the best cruise deals.
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Enjoy A Fountain Show
A signature attraction on Princess Royal-Class ships is the Watercolor Fountain Fantasy show. Watch as the Alaskan sky lights up with an illuminating water show set to music. Be awed by the choreographed and brightly colored water fountains dancing up to 33 feet in the air.
During our sailing on Majestic Princess, there were various themed shows set to music of Michael Jackson, James Bond, Frank Sinatra, and more. These shows typically occurred at 9:45 pm each evening, with a second show at 6:45 pm on some evenings.
Portage Glacier Scenic Cruise & Drive Seward
Embark on a cruise to Portage Glacier and enjoy a drive along one of Americas most scenic highways.Enjoy a narrated tour through Sewards historic downtown and the drive along Alaska’s Scenic Byway. Learn about glaciers, wildlife, and the Chugach National Forest at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Cruise across Portage Lake for incredible views.
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