Monday, April 22, 2024

When To Take Alaska Cruise

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The Nadas Take Alaska Cruise

Alaska Cruise Excursions: Take a Fisherman’s Tour in Ketchikan | Celebrity Cruises

7-night Alaska from Seattle to Vancouver

  • 09 Sep, 2022 – 16 Sep, 2022

Look at what is included:

  • Seven nights accommodations
  • Pre-paid gratuities included…a $217 per cabin value!
  • Free wifi surf package…a $105pp value!
  • Free Classic Drinks package…a $413pp value!
  • Full range of shipboard activities and entertainment
  • All meals and some snacks featuring Celebrity’s fine dining
  • For suites or other categories, please call or email for current pricing
  • Briefings on the highlights of each port of call
  • Full gambling casino
  • Duty-free shopping on board

Special Features on cruise:

This is an exclusive program available only for passengers booked through Fan Club Cruises. If you book directly with the cruise line or another travel agent, you will NOT be able to attend these events.

  • Meet & Greet with The Nadas
  • Three private concerts with The Nadas
  • Q& A and Storytelling with The Nadas

Early booking BONUS: Book and deposit by November 8, 2021, and receive $200 per stateroom onboard credit for Veranda and above $100 per stateroom for oceanview and inside staterooms

Florida Seller of Travel #ST35825

Final payment is due June 30, 2022

Day
Seattle, Washington Meet and Greet with The Nadas 4:00 PM
Cruising Concert with The Nadas
Sun Ketchikan, Alaska Concert with The Nadas 7:00 AM
Endicott Arms and Dawes Glacier 5:30 AM
Cruising Q& A Session with The NadasConcert with The Nadas
Thu

Concierge Class

The Best Time For A Cruise To Alaska If You Want To See Whales

Luckily for whale watchers, various species can be seen in Alaskan waters during the entirety of cruise season. It truly is not uncommon for cruise passengers to spot whales right from the deck of the cruise ship, but booking a whale watching excursion will increase your chance of spotting some whales.

The tours smaller boat will allow you to get a closer look of the whales and get tidbits about the local whale pods from your guide.

Gray whales head north in April and May but return at the end of cruise season in September. Humpback whales can be spotted using their unique and fascinating bubble-netting feeding technique during June and July.

There are over 500 humpbacks who make Southeast Alaskas inside passage their home during the summer months between Homer and Kodiak in the Barren Islands.

Blue whales can be spotted in open water during July and August while killer whales are most frequently spotted in May and early June, although they can be seen at any time during the entire cruise season. Beluga whales may also be seen year round.

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A Guide To The Best Alaskan Cruise Vacation

Alaska is a beautiful and wild destination, popular with travelers looking for an extraordinary experience in the United States. With a coastline that’s longer than all the other U.S. states coastlines combined, a multi-day Alaskan cruise is an elegant and relaxing way to see the massive states stunning landscape. Sailing past the icy beauty of some of the world’s most impressive glaciers while enjoying a wide range of services and relaxing options is an experience unique to cruising. On land, Alaska cruise passengers have a variety of tour options in port cities, ranging from rail excursions to zip-line tours to wildlife viewing to sportfishing.

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Alaska Cruise Guide: Planning Tips And Best Cruise Itineraries

Most people equate cruising with tropical destinations. Why would anyone cruise to chilly, rainy Alaska, where you might be wearing fleece jackets and knit hats and gloves in July?

Look beyond the iffy weather, and youll find many reasons to cruise Alaska. Perhaps youre drawn to the gorgeous scenery, the areas cultural and historic riches, or its abundant wildlife. With a variety of itineraries, cruise ships, destinations, and activities to consider, no two cruises to Alaska will be the same. However, first-timers can easily become overwhelmed choosing the best Alaska cruise itinerary or picking the perfect cruise line or cruise tour.

In our definitive Alaska cruise, well take you through everything you need to know to choose and plan the Alaska cruise vacation of your dreams.

Best Things To See While Cruising In Alaska

The best time to take an Alaska cruise

Alaskan cruises are known for their beautiful, mountainous scenery. Cruises travel past the Kenai Peninsula, where travelers can enjoy the stunning views of Kachemak Bay and the volcanic peaks of Cook Inlet. Cruisers can also partake in an excursion in Alaskas “Golden Heart City,” where you can hike around a six-million-acre wildland provided by Denali National Park. This is also where North America’s tallest peak, Denali, resides. The Park also plays host exciting wildlife that can be observed by travelers. Bears, moose, wolves, caribou, and other animals have been found when hiking through the park. Many ships also visit destinations like Glacier Bay National Park and Prince William Sound, where guests watch glaciers calve into the ocean in breathtaking geologic displays.

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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 18-19 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.

Alaska State Fair. Photo by Matt Hage/State of Alaska.

What To Do On An Alaskan Cruise

When it comes to planning shore excursions or time in port, youll find more things you must see or do on your Alaska cruise than you have time for.

Flightseeing is a popular activity, either by a floatplane that will soar you over beautiful natural areas or a helicopter that will fly up to the top of a glacier. Dogslide rides or visiting a dogsled training center and playing with the huskies are quintessential Alaska activities. To get more of a glimpse of Alaska culture and lifestyle, get tickets to a lumberjack show, attend a salmon bake, or go on a crab fishing tour.

History buffs will want to explore the states Gold Rush history, either with a local tour of Skagway or a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. Culturally curious cruisers can visit a totem park or see a performance by native Alaskans.

Animal lovers can sign up for a whale watch, visit a bald eagle preserve, or take a tour to observe bears in their natural habitat or at a sanctuary. Active travelers can work up a sweat hiking, kayaking, biking, zip-lining, and even snorkeling in Alaskas wilderness. Gentle rafting and float trips are a less intense way to get outside and bond with nature in this cruise destination.

Dont want to book a tour? Alaskas cruise ports provide plenty of shopping opportunities for souvenirs and locally made crafts. Grab an Alaskan beer at a historic saloon, or try local seafood at any number of portside restaurants.

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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 4 out of 5 nights .

The Shore Excursions And Experiences Are Like No Other

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While the sea experiences are remarkable, the shore excursions are often the highlight for cruisers with an adventurous spirit. For adrenaline junkies, little beats bouncing over turbulent Class IV and V level white-water rapids at the three distinct canyons along Six Mile – or hiking the 8.4-mile-long Harding Icefield Trail through cottonwood, alder forests, and heather-filled meadows. Theres also whale-watching , fishing for trophy-size Chinook salmon along the Kenai River, and feeling the tug of the icy tundra as you hang on for dear life on a dog-sledding tour. For those who want to slow the pace down a bit, take a ride on the Skagway White Pass Railroad and travel along the original route to the 2,865-foot-high White Pass summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point, and Dead Horse Gulch – or board the peaceful Scenic River Float Tour to enjoy a smooth ride along the Taiya River. Alternatively, take a scenic flight from Ketchikan to the Misty Fjords National Monument on the Misty Fjord Floatplane – or book a helicopter ride to soar above Alaskas wilderness and take in jaw-droppingly beautiful views of the iconic lakes, glaciers, and mountain peaks.

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When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Alaska To See Whales

Watching a humpback or an orca arc gracefully out of Alaskas blue-green water is a sight youll never forget.

On an Alaska whale-watching cruise, youll have the chance to see some of the states eight magnificent species of whales that frequent its icy waters. As luck would have it, the entire Alaska cruise season is also prime whale-watching season.

Depending on which itinerary you sail and when you choose to cruise, you can increase your chances of seeing certain species, including humpbacks, orcas, and Minke whales. Dont forget to throw in a good pair of binoculars when planning your Alaska cruise packing list.

You can spot whales on Alaska shore excursions like a safari vessel whale-sighting tour in Stephens Passage, Juneau, to evening whale-quest cocktail cruises where sighting a whale is guaranteed.

You may even catch a glimpse of a whale swimming alongside your cruise ship as you sip morning coffee on your stateroom veranda its just one of the joys of cruising to Alaska.

Humpback whales start making their journey from the warm waters of Mexico and Hawaii in March and April, and by June and July theyre happily feeding in the waters of Alaskas Inside Passage.

Seeing a single whale, as they prefer to travel, or in small pods, as they like to feed, is highly likely. If humpbacks are your favorite, book an Inside Passage cruise during late June, July, or August.

Trek Glacier Point Or Mendenhall Glacier

Once youve spotted enough glaciers from afar, youre going to want to get up-close and personal. With Princess Cruises, youll find glacier trek options at both Skagway and Juneau, exploring the surfaces of Glacier Point and Mendenhall Glacier, respectively . Strap on your crampons and get ready to explore one of the most unique environments on the planet, from the icy blue deep crevasses to the otherworldly spires of ice.

INSIDER TIPMany of these excursions involve a plane or helicopter ride taking you to the glaciers. Its a very fun way to arrive, but temperamental Alaskan weather means they dont always go off as planned . To ensure you get your chance to walk on a glacier, either book an excursion that doesnt involve a flight or sign up for a trip later in the day, when its more likely the morning fog has lifted.

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Youll Have Access To Some Of The Most Incredible Wildlife

While theres no shortage of wildlife-viewing to be done from the comfort of your cruise ship, nothing beats getting up-close with Alaskas superstars at ground level. Most, if not all, Alaska itineraries will include ample time to whip out your binoculars or video camera and scale the horizon for animals big and small in prime locations . Arguably, one of the best places for spotting grizzly bears, shrews, wolves, caribou, moose, Dall’s sheep, arctic ground squirrels, red squirrels, foxes, and marmots include Denali National Park – the nature-rich wonderland named for the mountain that is known to most Alaskans and native Koyukon Athabascan people as Denali and to everyone else as Mount McKinley. Youll also find plenty more bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, the Pack Creek Viewing Area on Admiralty Island , and Steep Creek next to the Mendenhall Glacier. And then, of course, theres the 3,670-square-mile Kodiak Island where the bear watching is nothing short of spectacular especially at the Kodiak Brown Bear Centre located 40-minutes from Kodiak City. Led by an experienced guide, small groups of up to six people can enjoy a selection of three bear-viewing tours: Karluk River Outlet in the north, Thumb River towards the middle, or OMalley River at the southern end.

Should I Book An Outside Cabin Or Balcony

6 reasons to take an Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Joy ...

Thats a never-ending debate among veteran cruisers, but if theres any destination that seems tailor-made for balcony staterooms, its Alaska. A significant portion of the time spent cruising in Alaskan waters is incredibly scenic. Book on the starboard side of the ship for northbound itineraries, and on the port side of the ship for southbound itineraries.

Another benefit to balcony staterooms is that travelers can step outside to gauge the weather when dressing for their day. Alaskan weather patterns can be deceptiveviewed through a window, a crisp sunny day can appear warmer than it really is, or a stiff breeze requiring a windbreaker may not be readily apparent.

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Three Ports To Choose From

You can discover Alaska from three ports depending on what is more convenient and cost-effective for you: Seattle, Washington Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia. Plus, you can extend your stay in either of these cities with the help of a tripcentral.ca travel agent to make your vacation even more memorable.

Your Phone Might Work On The Ship

One issue with sailing on most cruises is that your phone doesnt work on the ship. If sailing to Alaska, there is at least a chance that youll have your normal cell service. Since Alaska is part of the United States, your cell service provider may also offer service in this area with any additional charges. Check with your provider for a current map, or see our article here.

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What To Pack For A Cruise To Alaska Faqs

You can bring as many suitcases as you like on to Queen Elizabeth for your Alaska cruise, although there is a 20 kg weight limit on all individual pieces of baggage checked.

Cunards on-board accommodation is among the most spacious at sea. Each stateroom is equipped with closet hanging space and a safe for your valuables, as well as drawers for your clothes and accessories. In addition, your staterooms bathroom has counter space beside the sink where you may wish to keep your toiletries, while select Grills Suites on board also feature dedicated in-suite dressing areas.

You are welcome to bring water, soft drinks and light snacks on board, although we encourage you to take full advantage of our dining options. These include indulgent fine dining, hearty gastro fare, an informal buffet, and 24-hour complimentary room service.

For all complimentary on-board activities, your equipment is included at no extra charge. Youll find an ever-changing program of classes and activities to try each day, including fencing, table tennis, paddle tennis, shuffleboard, quoits, golf , hoopla, darts, croquet and short mat bowls, to name but a few.

Irons are available in our laundry rooms, so you wont need to bring an iron with you. Please note, you are not permitted to bring irons on board with you.

No, we will provide fresh beach, pool and bathroom towels for you throughout your stay.

Youll find both self-service laundry rooms and specialist cleaning services on board.

Timing & Latitude In Alaska

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While this Alaska by Month guide is a valuable resource for planning when to go, wildlife and weather can never be fully predicted, especially in a land as powerful as Alaska. Life in Alaska is greatly affected by latitude variances, as slight latitude shifts can result in big seasonal and light changes. The nature of small ship cruising is to be flexible and nimble, and this ethos should be applied to any trip in Alaska, by land or sea. After all, the surprise in what you experience while in Alaska is a big part of the fun.

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The Best Time To See Wildlife On An Alaska Cruise

You will see plenty of wildlife during your Alaska cruise throughout the cruise season. The best months to catch a glimpse of the amazing fauna that call Alaska home are the months of June and July.

  • Moose: Moose give birth around June.
  • Caribou: June is the best month to see herds of caribou
  • Humpback Whales: June and July is when the humpback whales migrate through Alaska’s Inside Passage.
  • Black bears: Spring is ideal because the new vegetation lures back in sheep, mountain goats and black bears. July is also good because that is when salmon runs start to get busy.
  • King Salmon: King salmon runs start in late May.
  • Bird watching: June is when you have the best change to see unusual birds migrating.

How Far Off The Alaskan Coast Do Cruise Ships Sail

Most Alaskan cruises travel close to the land as sightseeing the spectacular landscape is a big part of the experience. However, check your itinerary in case of further travel out to sea. If concerned about seasickness, the Gulf of Alaska does get choppy at the end of the season, even being close to shore.

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