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On my last Alaska cruise, I heard about two passenger emergencies. A kid broke an arm on the ship and needed surgery, so a family of five disembarked in Ketchikan — not exactly a cheap end to their vacation, I'm guessing. Later in the sailing, a sick passenger was airlifted directly off the ship by the Canadian Coast Guard before we made it to Victoria. You will encounter slippery slopes and rocky roads — and that's just walking through Alaska port towns. You might be participating in more daring activities than normal, such as flying in helicopters, hiking across glaciers, kayaking icy waters or zip lining through forests.
Best cruise lines for extended trips to Alaska
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 may also find one-way repositioning cruises between southern California ports (Los Angeles and San Diego) and Vancouver at the beginning or end of a ship's Alaska cruise season.
North America Travel Guide
But the tram wasn’t open for the season yet, so I wouldn’t have the option of taking it back down the mountain (which I don’t usually do anyway, but psychologically I like having the option). Curious about when to book your own Alaska cruise for optimal weather? Don’t miss our in-depth article on the best time for an Alaska cruise, where we break down the pros and cons of each season and month. In summary, Ketchikan is a multifaceted destination that offers a mix of nature, history, and adventure.
Best Luxury Alaska Cruise: Cunard, Queen Elizabeth
So, I’ve tried to cover the typical dining, entertainment and accommodation options for each ship to help you make up your mind. Regent Seven Seas’ ships are another option for the most luxurious in the world, and an excellent choice if you want to explore Alaska in style. As for those review scores, they’re an average of the customer reviews from Cruiseline.com, Cruise Critic, and TripAdvisor. This gives the widest range of opinions and means that none of these rankings are based on the biased viewpoint of just one person.
Cruise lines offer enticing deals for the summer during “wave" season from January through March. What looks like an endless buffet of choice can lead to analysis paralysis for many first-time Alaska visitors—even if they’re veteran cruisers who have already figured out big questions like their preferred cruise line or favorite ship class. This blog is by a travel guide writer, so she’s not selling these cruises, and she has a personable, easy-to-read style. She’s also just one person, but she has a page of links to other similar cruise blogs.
Princess Cruises
Holland America Line (HAL) — which recently snapped up a 2023 World’s Best Award in the large-ship ocean cruise line category — has been cruising Alaska for over 75 years. HAL prides itself on having more permits for Glacier Bay National Park visits than any other cruise line. The cruise line also offers beloved live music programming, which I got to experience firsthand on a summer 2023 Alaska sailing.
For your on-shore day excursions, be sure to pack layers of clothing and rain gear so that you can be comfortable. Base layers with a windbreaker and rain jacket are great options. Proper footwear is also important and be sure to bring hiking shoes if you plan to enjoy outdoor activities. Like almost any choice one makes when booking a cruise, it all comes down to personal taste.
Early and late-season cruises might be unable to access the glaciers on their itineraries due to ice floes. Most Alaska itineraries include some "scenic cruising," where your ship sails past incredible natural sights. The luxury cruise lines are your best bet if you're a couple and enjoy spacious suites, gourmet food, pampering (many luxe lines hire butlers to cater to every passenger) and the opportunity to meet other like-minded cruisers. The personalized service and all-inclusive nature of luxury voyages may also be attractive to anyone celebrating a milestone, such as an anniversary, big birthday or retirement. These cruise lines, especially on their newer ships, offer something for everyone — as well as a higher caliber of onboard dining than on the cheapest cruises.
Along with Vancouver, she offers some of the best cruises to Alaska from Seattle, Anchorage and even smaller ports like Fairbanks – flexibility is always a good thing when planning when and where you’re cruising. The landscape and views you’ll experience on an Alaska cruise will be unforgettable, so be sure to pack your binoculars and your best camera to capture the incredible sights to share with friends and family. For photo enthusiasts, an assortment of wide-angle lenses, x-factor lenses, multipurpose lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, and even a tripod can help you capture that perfect shot.
It won't cost a fortune and will serve a purpose for the rest of the cruise. Picture yourself cozy and warm in your fuzzy Alaska souvenir blanket, sipping hot chocolate while watching glaciers calving. Once home, you'll remember your epic vacation every time you snuggle up on the couch. Once you're on board your ship, it's time to put all the stress of planning and packing behind you. You've made it, and you don't want to let anything get in the way of enjoying your cruise.
Expert Review of the Ocean Victory Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic
Expert Review of the Ocean Victory Cruise Ship.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:08:46 GMT [source]
Instead of taking a long and expensive flight to Anchorage or Fairbanks, you can choose a cruise that sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver (note, you won't be able to tack on a post-cruise land trip to Denali if you do this). Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think. The gym is always my least favorite spot on any cruise ship, but I hated it even more on the Bliss, probably because I found it too hot and too small for the size of the ship and thought it opened too late in the morning (6am). For the size of the gym versus the size of the ship, it really should be been open 24/7 to have a prayer at accommodating everyone weird enough to exercise on vacation. And to make matters worse, as soon as I disembark tomorrow, I’m moving (20 feet across the hall, but still!)! Which reminds me, if someone local to Seattle wouldn’t mind me crashing on your couch for a few days while I pretend to be lost at sea so I don’t have to help, I’d be ever so grateful.
The fun continues the minute cruisers disembark in each port, with excursions ranging from dogsledding to private helicopter tours. Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this. While on board a Caribbean sailing with the cruise line, I had the chance to indulge in this chef- and sommelier-led multi-course food and wine pairing adventure. Four years later, I still find myself dreaming of the delicious circular-shaped dessert known as “The World” — the perfect combo of peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel gelato). Solo travelers don't always have to pay double to cruise Alaska on their own.
With thrilling water slides that shoot you out over the open ocean, laser tag, and Go-Karts, the Bliss is two parts ship and one part amusement park. Note that any outside activity is weather dependent and will be closed if it’s too cold and/or rainy. Anyway, if you need me I’m in bed crying into my mac ‘n cheese and working up the strength to venture out to Coco’s to spend my last $11 in onboard credit on a giant ice cream sundae to further eat my sorrows.
If you're flying into Alaska to board your ship, consider a night in Anchorage to explore such attractions as the 600 Alaska Native objects in the Smithsonian collection at the Anchorage Museum. Yes, you can grab your binoculars and head to the open decks of your ship to see snow-capped peaks, boreal forests, glaciers and everything else you imagine about the wilderness. Even as the number of ships in Alaska rises to pre-pandemic levels, with lots of available cabins, this is a market where waiting for a last-minute discount fare can be risky. You will, however, find some advantages to traveling early and late in the season.
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