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Those private verandas are highly desirable, with everyone seeking views of the wilderness, snow-capped peaks and glaciers. Alaska's capital city is interesting because no road leads from here to the rest of the state. It's located at the base of Mount Juneau, and you can only get there via boat or small plane — even residents have to bring their cars to Juneau via ferry. Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. 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'll need a dry suit).
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Alaska Cruises Insider
Embark on a whale watching tour, or sail past Mendenhall Glacier on an Alaska cruise. Alaska cruisetours combine our top-rated Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with three to ten nights on land exploring Denali National Park. Travel aboard our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® train and unwind at Princess Wilderness Lodges®. Every year Princess introduces more people to Denali National Park than any other cruise line. There's nothing like an amazing adventure during an Alaskan vacation, and if you're looking for things to do then dog sledding is a bucket-list experience.
Best for off-the-beaten-path travel: National Geographic Quest
When you’re packing for an Alaska cruise, you’ll want to plan for any kind of weather, from hot sun to ethereal mist and rain showers—often in the same day. Layers, light waterproof jackets, good walking shoes, and a hat and gloves are the essentials; Alaska can be cold as well as warm and sunny. That's why Royal Caribbean overnights in the best accommodations in the heart of every destination. These lodges and hotels allow for easy access both to the great outdoors and the communities where you can get a taste of local life. Towering high in the center of the Alaska Range is the Denali, North America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet. Central to the cultural heritage of the native peoples who have lived here for thousands of years, the giant mountain is the ultimate symbol of the Alaskan wild.
Alaska Private Touring
Watch migrating humpback whales from the deck of a catamaran or Native craftsman carve a traditional totem pole, and expand your Alaska cruise experience. With national parks and four of North America’s tallest mountains, Alaska’s wilderness has been preserved for generations. Denali National Park is larger than Vermont and home to the highest peak on the continent. Meanwhile, Glacier Bay National Park has over 2,000 square miles of glacial coverage.
Best Places to Visit in Alaska
Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises. We have sent thousands of travel enthusiasts to ALASKA on cruise and cruise-tour vacations... Now that we’ve covered the basics of all things Alaska cruising, keep reading to discover the best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler, featuring expert insight and award-winning picks. Dawn Gabree is a travel advisor who specializes in Alaska cruises at Travels by Danielle. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.
Compare: 12 Cruise Ships in Alaska - Cruise Critic
Compare: 12 Cruise Ships in Alaska.
Posted: Sun, 26 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT [source]
In addition, specialty restaurants, minibars and even gratuities are part of the package. That’s what makes Seabourn perhaps the best Alaskan cruise line for all-inclusive luxury seekers. I’m a Florida-based freelance travel and lifestyle journalist who has embarked on more than a dozen cruises, including several to Alaska. As a traveler, I am just as comfortable bicycling through Italian olive groves and SCUBA diving the wall of sharks in French Polynesia as I am sipping bubbles in a Champagne house and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants. A highlight of every Cruisetour is a scenic ride on the Wilderness Express rail cars that travel on the Alaska railroad that extends from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Pioneer America’s Last Frontier onboard Ovation of the Seas®, one of the world's most groundbreaking ships and among the boldest ships to ever sail Alaska. Gaze at giant glaciers from the pool deck while you sail through Endicott Arm. Scan the surrounding waters on your way to Juneau for glimpses of wildlife from the North Star®, the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.
North to Alaska
Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. You’ll need your rest between adventures, which is why Royal Caribbean® overnights in the best accommodations in the heart of every destination.
Runner up: Princess Cruises
If you're the kind of person who wants to go flightseeing or take a helicopter to the top of a glacier followed by a crab feast, you're going to be paying extra for that excursion anyway. Generally, any tour that requires someone with extra professional certification for an airplane, helicopter or boat is going to be an additional charge, no matter what cruise line you're on. Inclusive tours, if there are any, are likely to be low-impact tours like walking and motorcoach sightseeing. Alternatively, a one-way cruise in June for two people in an inside cabin (including taxes and fees) on the 22-year-old Radiance of the Seas would come to $1,126.
Visit the Chugach National Forest, the second largest national forest in the United States. Or visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and see brown bears, moose and bison living in a protected habitat that perfectly emulates the wild. All of our Alaska cruisetours include a stay at our premier Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®, just one mile from the entrance of Denali National Park overlooking the Nenana River.
As on all Disney Cruise Line sailings around the world, its Alaska cruises feature spacious cabins with split bathrooms; kids clubs for ages three to 17; all meals, including snacks and room service; Broadway-quality stage shows and more. Shore excursions range from adventures like zip lining, hiking and rafting to seaplane exploration, photo safaris and high teas. Adults can enjoy themselves on an Alaskan Disney Cruise, too, with adult-exclusive dining; an adult-only pool and hot tub; fitness center; and Senses Spa & Salon. A trip to Alaska is at the top of many travelers’ bucket lists, and for good reason. They want to admire its rugged beauty, seek out wildlife (such as eagles, bears and whales) and learn about its Native cultures and gold rush history.
Embark on a thrilling journey with young explorers through breathtaking landscapes. The best Alaska food to try on a cruise includes king crab, salmon, fry bread, birch syrup, wild berries and more. Head to Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward for a whale watching tour. There's nothing like seeing these behemoths hurl themselves out of the water, to splash back into the sea. Don't pass up an opportunity to watch these giants feed and play in the water. Luxury cruise lines tend to have the most inclusions in their fares -- and those fares can be steep.
The sight of the turquoise water, rugged peaks and glaciers impresses like nothing you’ve ever seen. Late in the day, with the glowing sun setting behind Mount Victoria in Banff National Park, it is quiet and still. Soar into the alpine on a gondola for a birds-eye view of the sweeping vistas. Surrounded by a lifetime’s worth of jaw-dropping sights and adventures, Lake Louise is a rare place that must be experienced to be believed.
An up-close view is more than worth the expedition during your vacation. In Alaska, ancient rivers of ice wind between mountains and grind out of valleys. Towering walls of ice like the Hubbard Glacier, Endicott Arm Dawes and the twin Sawyer Glaciers thunder as they calve massive icebergs.
Ships in all price ranges sail a variety of itineraries, so don't let budget stop you from visiting. If luxury is what you're after, you can find lines that will go overboard pampering you on your journey north. If you want a more active trip in less touristed areas, a great choice would be a small-ship expedition line, including Alaska specialists such as Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures. Popular Inside Passage ports of call include Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Haines and Skagway. Many people trek to Alaska to commune with nature, but there's also history here that you shouldn't overlook.
All excursions are led by experienced expedition teams, who provide all the equipment needed to make the most of your time in Alaska. Along the way, Alaska cruise passengers are offered a dizzying range of tour options in Inside Passage port communities including Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka, and more. Excursions range from train trips through stunning mountain passes to zipline tours in temperate rainforests to wildlife viewing and sportfishing. Cultural opportunities abound with excursions to experience Alaska Native cultural tours, artwork, and dancing, visit museums and historical sites, and sample the local fare, including fresh Alaska seafood. Many cruise ships visit marine wonderlands like Glacier Bay National Park and Prince William Sound, where guests visit tidewater glaciers and watch them calve into the ocean.
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