Monday, April 1, 2024

First Time Cruisers

best alaska cruise for first timers

Fortunately, there are several space-saving hacks that can help optimize your cabin's layout. One useful tip is to store your luggage under the bed, freeing up valuable floor space. Most cruise cabins have ample space under the bed for suitcases or bags, allowing you to keep them out of sight while maximizing your living area.

Seabourn Cruises

Nearly every major cruise line has a presence in Alaska from May through mid-September, with some offering sailings as early as April or as late as October. Cold temperatures, icy waters and a long snowy season are not conducive to early spring and late fall cruises. Alaska may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it's rugged and can be tricky to get around. Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to Gold Rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury.

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If you've got active teens who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices. Check out our list of the 10 Must-Pack Items for an Alaska Cruise for more information on packing necessities on your Alaskan cruise. Dress in layers of clothing so that you can peel off (or add on) slowly as the thermometer dictates. You will want to pack a bathing suit and a very warm fleece jacket -- and you'll likely wear both at different times. Connect with other travel lovers, gain valuable travel advice, and make unforgettable memories through our events, meet-ups, and luxury getaways. If you have any questions about the destination, please leave these in the comments below.

The surprising takeaway from a recent study on the best time to cruise to Alaska - Cruise Blog

The surprising takeaway from a recent study on the best time to cruise to Alaska.

Posted: Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Best Private & Small Group Shore Excursions for Your Alaska Cruise

In fact, it's the gateway to the Klondike and Dawson's mining district in Canada's Yukon territory, where prospectors searched for gold in the late 1890s. 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. For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway.

North America Travel Guide

best alaska cruise for first timers

Royal Caribbean's 20-year-old ship Radiance of the Seas mainly sails weeklong, one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, with prices below $100 per person, per night, for inside and outside cabins on many departures. If you're traveling with young kids in Alaska and want an activity- and entertainment-packed experience, make a beeline for Disney Cruise Line and its Alaska-based Disney Wonder. The ship has an extensive children's program, high-quality entertainment, and such activities as water slides and play areas. If you want to see some of Alaska's most rustic and charming villages or stick to wild places, book a voyage with a line like Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise that visits destinations like Baranof Island, Chichagof Island, Petersburg and Wrangell. Gulf of Alaska sailings — especially those in late August and September — can encounter rough seas in the gulf portion of the voyage. For these itineraries, you'll need to fly into or out of Anchorage and take a train or bus to/from the cruise departure ports, which can take an hour or two.

A Cruise to the Exotic Southern Caribbean

Onboard the all-suite ships, there’s butler service in every suite, fine dining, and select shore excursions included. The largest Silversea ship sailing to Alaska also carries just under 600 guests, allowing for port calls at lesser-visited stops like Wrangell, Haines, and Valdez. One of the most magical ways to explore Alaska’s expansive coastline, stunning snow-capped mountains, mystic fjords, lush rainforests, awe-inspiring glaciers, and protected wildlife is by sea. Plus, it’s the best way to experience the iconic Inside Passage, the most popular route for cruise ships departing from Seattle and Vancouver from May through September.

best alaska cruise for first timers

The 1-item upgrade you need for a better cruise ship cabin experience (it’s already in your house)

If you get seasick easily, also think twice about round-trip cruises from Seattle that spend days cruising in the open ocean. If you're happy with a couple of historic tours and a guided hike, you could likely budget $500 or less per person for shore excursions in Alaska. But if once-in-a-lifetime Alaska experiences like helicopter rides and flightseeing in Ketchikan are more your speed, you'll need to triple that amount -- or more. Due to unpredictable weather, though, there’s a risk of shore excursions being cancelled -- especially boat and helicopter tours. When you go on holiday you probably don’t picture yourself sitting in a lecture theater, but on an Alaskan cruise you absolutely should!

Holland America Line

For your on-shore day excursions, be sure to pack layers of clothing and rain gear so that you can be comfortable. Proper footwear is also important and be sure to bring hiking shoes if you plan to enjoy outdoor activities. Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive multi-day Alaska cruise package or simply a day cruise to see wildlife and glaciers, there are many options to choose from. Closer afield, but no less secluded is the Prince William Sound Explorer from Uncruise, where guests will depart Whittier and wake up among the glaciers of little-visited Icy Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Much of the itinerary is “Captain’s choice” based on conditions and sealife movements, but the massive Columbia and Meares glaciers and the Sound communities of Cordova and Valdez—also off the big ship routes—hold prized spots on the itinerary.

The benefit of a roundtrip cruise is that it is much simpler -- and cheaper -- to get to the departure ports. You won’t have to bother with one-way flights and the longer transit time to/from Anchorage. It's much easier to plan roundtrip airfare to Seattle than a one-way flight into Anchorage and out of Vancouver. The best Alaska cruise itinerary for you depends on what you want to prioritize for your vacation. In general, most people want to try to see as much of Alaska as they can in one sailing. After all, it's a long distance to reach Alaska and not the cheapest cruise, either.

However, first-timers can easily become overwhelmed choosing the best Alaska cruise itinerary or picking the perfect cruise line or cruise tour. One-way Gulf of Alaska itineraries are the best option for Alaska touring, as they begin or end in Alaska. An Alaska cruise from Seattle will visit the Inside Passage but tends to favor the open (and frequently bumpier) Pacific Ocean. Sailings from Vancouver tend to traverse more of the Inside Passage and spend a full day sailing this scenic region.

We’ve gathered cruises in all size categories (from a couple of hundred passengers to nearly 5,000), as ship size is often one of the biggest factors when selecting a cruise. We’ve also called attention to cruise options that do an impressive job of showcasing nature, offering local experiences, providing endless onboard entertainment, or catering to foodies or luxury travelers. Holland America Line has offered Alaska cruises for 75 years and is clearly a market leader. The line tops the list in terms of cruises, as well as cruise tours, which combine time sailing with overnight stays on land. The company operates its own lodges, rail cars and motorcoaches for exploration of Alaska's interior and beyond.

Our room was on a corner in the middle of the ship where the next section of cabin rooms and balconies jutted out farther than ours to one side. This meant we had a large wall next to our balcony completely obscuring the view to the left and front of the boat so could not see anything ahead of us when we were sailing. The bottom line here is that your phone will probably work on land in towns and cities in Alaska, but won’t work at sea unless you purchase a special plan from your carrier.

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