Table Of Content
The native interpreters there gave us an excellent overview of Tlingit culture, which we’ll talk about in more depth in a future post. While cruising the Inside Passage, you’ll be forgiven if you see so many spectacular glaciers, you start having trouble telling them apart. So our trip through the Inside Passage really boiled down to a choice between two small Alaska cruise companies, Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures. Each of these companies offered quite a few different Alaska cruise routes to choose from. Another factor to consider when choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is what you want to see while you’re there. Top scenic cruising destinations in Alaska include Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm and College Fjord.
Best Alaska Glaciers
The historic district still has a Wild West feel, though that's been a bit commercialized for the modern era. This port can get crowded in summer when several ships can call on the same day. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about native Alaskan culture. You can get a taste of the Gold Rush life by trying your hand at panning for gold, attending a salmon bake or visiting a dogsled camp. A hike on the Chilkoot Trail or ride on the White Pass Railway lets you follow in the footsteps of the miners who came to seek their fortunes.
How much do Alaska cruises cost?
While the kids enjoy Discovery Princess' spacious children's and teens' clubs, the adults might linger over a craft cocktail or enjoy a massage in the onboard spa. The family can come together for meals in a variety of casual and fine dining restaurants, and enjoy original production shows as the ship sails between ports. If adventure is what you crave on an Alaska cruise, you should seek out the small ships of UnCruise Adventures.
Type of Experience
Everyone can come back together for dinner and evening entertainment or onboard activities suitable for all ages. Weeklong itineraries generally embark in either Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia — though some itineraries originate in Juneau. With Agnes and Chris, you're not just reading another travel blog; you're tapping into a treasure trove of insider tips, curated itineraries, and invaluable insights to make your Alaskan journey truly unforgettable.
Expedition Cruises
Here you’ll find remote islands dappled with stately spruce trees, dreamy fields of pink fireweed, and long stretches of undisturbed, rocky beaches. But if you motor a bit further, there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted by electric-blue icebergs, dizzying fjords, and dramatic, millennia-old glaciers. What’s appealing about this Maple Leaf Adventures itinerary is that it’s a good mix of Alaska’s natural landscapes and coastal cityscapes.
Plan ahead and book your cruise of the Inside Passage for the relevant months that best fit the things you are most interested in seeing and doing. The best time to visit both Alaska’s Inside Passage and Canada’s Inside Passage is from spring to the end of summer. The temperatures are pleasant, especially in the summer; the days can be sunny and bright.
Finally, you'll find some San Francisco round-trip itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. Each port of call of Inside Passage offers a unique blend of natural beauty, adventure, and cultural richness that you won’t find anywhere else. Plus, cruising is often more budget-friendly than planning an independent journey. So, if you’re wondering whether the Alaska Inside Passage cruise is worth it, our answer is a resounding yes—it’s an experience you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Having experienced the Inside Passage ourselves, we highly recommend taking advantage of the diverse shore excursions available. Whether it’s hiking through verdant forests, kayaking alongside glaciers, or immersing yourself in local culture, each excursion offers a unique way to connect with this incredible region.
Book flights that depart and arrive in time for Mediterranean cruises with Holland America Line Flight Ease®. Find low prices, loads of options, and enjoy flexibility and support should plans change. The 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey throws a dash of adventure into its luxurious surroundings.
UnCruise Alaska Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise
THE 23 BEST Viking Ocean Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 23 BEST Viking Ocean Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) 2024 & 2025 on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:43:14 GMT [source]
The waters before you enter the Inside Passage can be calm, rough or anything in between, depending on when you go. If you want to see landlocked areas, such as Denali National Park, you can tack a cruise line-operated tour onto the beginning or end of your sailing for a seamless land and sea vacation. It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own.
After a phone call with one of their personalized adventure planners, we had the rough outline for what ultimately became the daddy/daughter trip of a lifetime. I’ve been dreaming of taking an Alaska Inside Passage cruise ever since my first visit to the state in 1999. During that trip I took a half-day Kenai Fjords National Park cruise, saw all sorts of glaciers and wildlife, and vowed to myself that I’d return one day to explore more of America’s last frontier. The beauty of the land and its immense history; the thrill of seeing bears, moose and bald eagles; and the mysteries of the surrounding marine life will astound you.
Don’t forget the chance to explore Juneau, Alaska’s scenic capital, where you can hike to the Mendenhall Glacier or go on a whale-watching tour. Add the iconic railway journey on the White Pass & Yukon Route in Skagway, which takes you through stunning mountainous landscapes. Expedition cruises are for the adventurous at heart, usually accommodating around 50 to 200 passengers. Operated by smaller vessels equipped with Zodiac boats for closer exploration, companies like National Geographic and AdventureSmith Explorations offer these cruises. For adrenaline junkies, ziplining through the Alaskan rainforest is a must.
Excursions in Alaska can be pricey, but they are worth every penny as you’ll likely experience things you’ve never seen in your life. What’s particularly convenient about this sailing is that it ends in Seward, making it easy to continue your Alaska vacation (a visit to Denali National Park and Preserve, anyone?) by road or rail. If you're looking to get away from the mega-cruise-ship crowds, the best Alaska cruise for you might be with Lindblad Expeditions. The 100-passenger National Geographic Quest (and its twin, National Geographic Venture) frequents off-the-beaten-path destinations in Alaska on weeklong itineraries between Juneau and Sitka. Once you’re at sea, keep your eyes peeled for the penguin-like Common Murre, Pelagic Cormorants (which nest on coastal cliffs), and four different types of Gulls. And you shouldn’t have any trouble spotting the popular puffins, including the Horned Puffins and Tufted Puffins.
Still, if you add a connection, reaching the cruise departure points from almost anywhere in the USA is incredibly easy. Alternatively, you can also take an Alaska cruise from Seattle, removing the need to get to Alaska before your cruise adventure begins. Alaska's Inside Passage is a renowned cruising route through a protected network of waterways, featuring glacier-cut fjords, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife. Stops along the route showcase Alaska's rich history, including Native Alaskan culture in Ketchikan and Skagway's Gold Rush era legacy.
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Seward, AK 2024 (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Seward, AK 2024 (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:59:17 GMT [source]
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. Some activities are included in the cost of the cruisetour; other outings can be booked like shore excursions depending on your interest and budget. If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations may include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.
No comments:
Post a Comment