Alaska Cruise

An Alaskan cruise promises a spectacular front-row seat to some of the wildest maritime sights, interesting shore excursions, and natural beauty. So…should you take a cruise to Alaska? Read on for the many reasons why it very well may be the trip of a lifetime.

When Should You Go?

The Alaska cruise season runs from May through September. June, July and August are the warmest months, with daytime temperatures rising into the 70s.

Where Does the Cruise Go?

You can expect an Alaskan cruise to usually follow one of two routes—the Inside Passage itinerary runs round-trip from Vancouver or Seattle with possible stops in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Glacier Bay. The Gulf of Alaska route sails between Vancouver and Anchorage or vice versa. Ports of call might include Valdez and Seward as well as the Inside Passage ports of Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka and Skagway. Both routes attempt to maximize the scenery for passengers.

What about Shore Excursions?

While the at-sea experiences of an Alaskan cruise are awe-inspiring on their own, the shore excursions are equally (if not more) impressive.

Here are some possible shore excursion options depending on your route and those offered by each cruise line:

• The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage offers insight into the culture of Alaska’s native peoples.
• Denali National Park features Mt. Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), North America’s highest mountain.
• Glacier Bay national park is particularly notable for its myriad of wildlife.
• Pack your poncho for the port call in Ketchikan, where it frequently rains.
• If you enjoy fishing, take advantage of the visit to the “Salmon Capital of the World” and sign up for a fishing excursion.
• The Saxman Native Village is a real working village where hundreds of native people live.

• The Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is a research aquarium where you can view everything from sea otters to seals.
• If your trip includes a stop in Skagway, consider a trip on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway. You can take this historic narrow-gauge railway past some stunning scenery to White Pass Summit, along the US/Canada border.

• Vancouver is always a popular spot. Close to the pier, you’ll find Gastown, a neighborhood filled with historic buildings housing restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.
• Victoria revels in its British heritage. You can take a city tour via double-decker bus or check out Craigdarroch Castle just outside town.

Which Cruise Lines?

Holland America Line offers more Alaska cruise itineraries than any other cruise line. Many of their cruises offer two different glacier viewing experiences, and all include extra-long days in port with over 300 options ranging from mild to wild. Throughout your journey enjoy fresh, regional cuisine, spacious staterooms and award-winning service. Onboard amenities include enrichment programs with naturalists, park rangers, and Huna Totem native presentations.

Cruise options in 2018 include:

7-Day Alaskan Explorer from Seattle

Watch massive glaciers calve in Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm. Explore Sitka’s Russian legacy and Ketchikan’s Native Alaskan culture. Take an adventure tour in Juneau and visit Butchart Gardens in Victoria.

7-Day Glacier Discovery Vancouver/Seward

Watch the dramatic coastline of south-central Alaska and witness the serene beauty of the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. Northbound and southbound itineraries between Vancouver, B.C. and Seward (Anchorage) also make calls in Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway or Haines.

7-Day Inside Passage from Vancouver

Take in Glacier Bay National Park. Uncover adventure in Juneau, gold rush history in Skagway and totem poles and Misty Fjords National Monument. At sea, keep an eye out for whales, Dall porpoises, eagles and sea otters in the Inside Passage.

Denali Land and Sea Journeys

First in Alaska, Holland America Line has been showing guests this breathtaking region for nearly 70 years. Because they know this region so well, they’ve been able to create a fantastic selection of Land+Sea Journeys (your choice of one-, two- and three-day stays), combining an Alaska cruise with a more extensive adventure in the Great Land.

Land excursions include visits to Denali National Park and Preserve. At six million acres, the Park is home to moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, grizzly bears and North America’s highest peak, Mt. Denali.

Holland America Line’s newly renovated McKinley Chalet Resort offers guests an exclusive wilderness retreat at the gateway to Denali and all its spectacular sights. The Resort includes Karstens Public House, a grand two-story restaurant; the Gold Nugget Saloon with Music of Denali Dinner Theatre; and an amphitheater hosting guest speakers and evening campfires.

Princess Cruise Lines offers a wide range of enriching Alaska cruise vacation options to see the Great Land’s glaciers, wildlife and national parks from the perspective of spectacular ships, exclusive rail service and Princess Wilderness Lodges. With both roundtrip and one-way Alaska cruises you can experience stunning views of glaciers, explore beautiful port cities and trek through Alaska’s untamed beauty.

Explore Alaska’s Inside Passage on a 7-day roundtrip Alaska Cruise from Seattle

Princess Cruise Line’s seven-day cruise vacation is filled with glacier-carved fjords, forested islets and quaint ports along Alaska’s famed Inside Passage. Cruise to Alaska from Seattle; roundtrip cruises departing from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vancouver, B.C. are also available.

Alaska Cruisetours
The ultimate Alaska experience – an Alaska Cruisetours vacation combines a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with 3 or more nights exploring Alaska by land. Every Alaska Cruisetour includes the state’s top two attractions – pristine Glacier Bay National Park and picturesque Denali National Park. On land, you’ll stay at exclusive Princess Wilderness Lodges near legendary national parks and most Alaska Cruisetour itineraries include exclusive Princess Alaska rail service, giving you yet another way to see the wonders of the Great Land.

Options include:

Connoisseur (12-15 nights)

• Highest level of service
• Escorted by a Tour Director
• Most meals on land included
• Princess Alaska rail service
• At least two nights at Denali
• Options to Kenai and/or Wrangell-St. Elias National park
• Includes Fairbanks or Anchorage
• Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park

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Off the Beaten Path (13-14 nights)

• Go deeper into Alaska
• Princess Alaska rail service
• At least two nights in the Denali area
• Options to Kenai or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
• Includes Fairbanks and/or Anchorage
• Natural History Tour into Denali National Park

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Denali Explorer (10-13 nights)

• Most popular option
• Exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® Alaska rail service
• At least two nights in the Denali area on most options
• Includes Fairbanks and/or Anchorage
• Natural History Tour into Denali National Park

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On Your Own (10-11 nights)

• Most affordable option
• For independent travelers
• Princess Alaska rail service
• At least two nights in the Denali area on most options
• Includes Fairbanks or Anchorage

It almost goes without saying…for an unforgettable mix of outdoor adventure, rare wildlife, rejuvenating relaxation, social encounters, and modern comforts, an Alaskan cruise is both appealing and a great value.