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Glacier Bay National Park, or another scenic cruising area like Tracy Arm Fjord, is normally part of the itinerary. Please take the time to learn more about experiencing Alaska's Native cultures and share in our acknowledgment of their histories before you visit Alaska. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Alaska, America's "Last Frontier," is home to craggy glaciers, raging rivers, snow-capped mountains and miles upon miles of wild, windblown tundra. The state shares a border and much of its topographical characteristics with western Canada -- specifically, the snowy provinces of British Columbia and the Yukon.
Featured Alaska Cruise Itineraries
Discover remote outposts and isolated towns as you cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage. If you’re a birder, an Alaska cruise to the Inside Passage is for you. Everyone loves a soaring raptor, but there are plenty of puffins, cormorants, and terns to watch too. Explore our Alaska Inside Passage cruises with convenient departures from Seattle and Vancouver. No matter which Alaska cruise vacation you choose, you’re guaranteed to see plenty of beautiful birds along the way.
ALASKAN DREAM CRUISES VS. UNCRUISE ALASKA
This protected waterway is one of the most scenic in the world and one of the few locations where deep-draft vessels can sail close to steep mountain walls. Massive tidewater glaciers, forest-clad islands, ice-carved fjords, and charming coastal towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Haines and Skagway await you here. In addition to enriching and entertaining experiences onboard the ship, Alaska cruises are known for the wide variety of shore excursions and opportunities to explore the scenic port towns visited along the way.
Further reading
Simply put, cruisers aboard these sailings witness some of the most astounding wildlife and scenery. These cruises usually sail northbound or southbound between either Vancouver or Seattle and Anchorage (via the port towns of Whittier or Seward). Itineraries include many of the same stops that a round-trip Inside Passage cruise does, plus extras such as Valdez, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord or another town in the gulf. It is generally accepted that the southernmost point of the Inside Passage is Olympia, Washington, which is also the southernmost point of Puget Sound. Moving north, the passage continues into the waters of the greater Salish Sea. It then passes through the Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait, between northeastern Vancouver Island and the coast of mainland British Columbia.
And you’ll likely see at least a dozen Humpback Whales and Killer Whales (a.k.a. Orcas) during a 7-day Alaska cruise. We spent several memorable evenings watching whole pods of Orcas swimming along the surface at sunset. The hike takes you through gorgeous maritime forest and pristine rainforest, which has thankfully been protected from deforestation. Along the way you’ll find stunning river reflections; wildlife such as birds, Sitka Deer, and Black Bears (during Salmon season); and several great fishing spots.
Unique Alaska Cruise Experiences
For Alaska's day-to-day weather, it’s best to plan for a bit of everything. Talon Lodge and Spa is No Ordinary Alaska Fishing Lodge Located on an exclusive private island, Talon Lodge & Spa is a haven for those seeking... Waterfall Resort Alaska is known the world over for the astounding number of king and silver salmon, halibut, lingcod, and other sport fish... When you travel to Alaska, you may want to find the best Alaska fishing, sightseeing...
I’m not a cruiser, but Alaska changed everything - Escape
I’m not a cruiser, but Alaska changed everything.
Posted: Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
But that only made hiking the Cascade Falls Trail that much more of an adventure. The roaring waterfalls created a crazy mist that gave the entire trek a haunting feel. And my daughter loved using the rope to climb a steep, slippery section as I stayed back to photograph the surreal scene. What started that day as a light drizzle gradually became a relentless drenching.
Where Is Alaska’s Inside Passage?
So when my daughter Allie began expressing interest in visiting Alaska, I decided to surprise her with an Alaska trip as a high school graduation present. Since we loved our previous voyage to the Galapagos Islands together, I started reading Alaska cruise reviews and planning our 2-week Alaska vacation. Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city. Seattle is known as "The Emerald City" thanks to its green forests and lush surroundings. Pike Place Market buzzes with merchants while coffee shops house locals drinking espresso in America's coffee capital.
Pack lots of sweaters, scarves, long-sleeve shirts, long underwear, a water-repellent jacket, and rainboots along with sunglasses, a swimsuit, and a few nights of formal wear. While viewing these artic-blue beauties, you may see icebergs plunge into the sea, a process called "calving." Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples.
Watch migrating humpback whales from the deck of a catamaran or Native craftsman carve a traditional totem pole, and expand your Alaska cruise experience. At first glance many mistake Victoria for an English coastal city or northern European town. Full of greenery, pubs and Victorian architecture, it's difficult to believe that this was a tent city full of rough and tumble miners just 150 years ago. On a cruise to Alaska, explore the Butchart Gardens, tour the pub scene and taste some of the local brews or sail the bay for a whale-watching adventure. Once the gateway to Alaska's Gold Rush, Skagway strikes a dramatic image nestled between the water's edge and mountains. Follow in the footsteps of miners with a ride on a scenic train along the famous White Pass route through coastal mountains.
Inside Passage Alaska cruises glide through a dreamscape—from white-capped peaks to calving glaciers and deep fjords to forest-blanketed land as far as the eye can see. Here’s everything you need to know about Alaska cruises to the famed Inside Passage, from where the passage is to how to pack for the weather. On the downside, winds and bad weather can make it feel frigid on a cruise ship deck. And some animals, particularly Grizzly Bears, may not be visible at this time of year. On the plus side, shoulder season crowds are smaller, and you may find deals on cheap Alaska cruises.
The Creek Street boardwalk is also intriguing and a great place to see swimming salmon when they’re in season. In the end, my daughter and I decided that Alaskan Dream Cruises’ 8-day Last Frontier Adventure had the best Alaska cruise itinerary for us. We’ve always preferred small ship cruises, and not just because smaller cruises are more eco-friendly. They also offer more personal space, better service, better shore excursions, and more exclusive experiences than mega cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises can. In May and early June, there’s still snow on the mountains, and cruising Glacier Bay is particularly spectacular. Summertime brings the Salmon run (and the Bears and Wolves that capitalize on it), but also larger crowds on shore excursions.
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. Elias and Kenai Fjords, a world of natural wonders awaits on an Alaska cruise or cruisetour.
Get an up-close view of Alaska’s wild seascapes, no matter which direction you look. Tongass National Park is filled with lofty spruce, hemlock and cedar trees, while giant calving glaciers pack Glacier Bay National Park. This roundtrip Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver delivers spellbinding scenery from narrow fjords to scattered islets and towering peaks.
These cross-gulf cruises hit some Inside Passage stops but also ports farther north. They're usually one-way trips starting or ending in Seward or Whittier, Alaska. These include historic Gold Rush-era Skagway, Ketchikan (the "Salmon Capital of the World" and home to a notable number of Native Alaskan totems) and Juneau, Alaska's capital city.
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