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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. One of the key reasons to cruise Alaska versus taking a land tour is to visit destinations along the Inside Passage that you cannot reach by road. Plus, many of the state's famous glaciers are best viewed from the sea. The ship sails seven-night cruises from Seattle, visiting Dawes Glacier, Sitka and Icy Strait Point, as well as Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia.
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The 9 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity - The Points Guy
The 9 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity.
Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Finally, in addition to classic ports like Juneau and Ketchikan, Viking Ocean Cruises’ Alaska itinerary also calls on Valdez, which is chock-full of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With an expedition heritage that dates back to 1896, it’s no wonder Hurtigruten Expeditions found its way to Alaska. The cruise line with a keen focus on exploration, adventure and science has two of its hybrid technology ships—MS Roald Amundsen, built in 2019, and MS Fridtjof Nansen, built in 2020—sailing the waters that surround The Great Land. Each of the ships features an observation deck, library, science center, hot tub, pool and Explorer lounge, as well as a bar with floor-to-ceiling windows so you never miss a thing.
Experience Luxury Small Ship Alaska Cruises
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. The Wilderness Discoverer offers the unusual opportunity to snorkel in Alaska, with 7mm wetsuits for the 55- to 65-degree seas. You’ll see an abundance of vibrantly colored intertidal marine life, including ochre sea stars, rockfish, sea anemones, giant barnacles, jellyfish, and kelp crabs. Arctic Cruise Around Svalbard By John Roberts The High Arctic is the land of the polar bears, walruses, and incredible ice floes and formations that encircle the top of the world. Heading to this remote region on an expedition cruise is one of the all-time travel...
Best Small Cruise Ship Lines: World's Best in 2021 - Travel + Leisure
Best Small Cruise Ship Lines: World's Best in 2021.
Posted: Wed, 08 Sep 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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The climate data listed above is for Anchorage, Alaska, but there are Southeast coastal and Arctic microclimates to consider depending on your small Alaska cruise itinerary. For even more detail on the best time to visit Alaska for your Alaska adventure cruise, view our month by month guide. Southcentral Alaska’s terrain ranges from volcanic landscapes in Katmai National Park, home to an impressive population of brown bears, to the windswept Aleutian Islands that make a 1,000-mile sweep toward Asia. In between lies a massive bay of blue ice, which can be experienced on a Prince William Sound glacier cruise. Take note when making your small Alaskan cruise comparison that there are a variety of ports where cruises begin and end including Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka and Anchorage.
What Should I Pack For My Small Alaskan Cruise?
Alaskan Dream Cruises operates a fleet of six small, expedition-style ships. Misty Fjord features a hull modeled after Alaskan commercial fishing boats, while Kruzof Explorer is a converted Bering Sea crab fishing vessel. The average cruise ship carries around 3,000 passengers — far from most people’s definition of intimate. A small cruise, on the other hand, may have closer to two or three hundred passengers aboard (though, technically speaking, small cruise ships may be able to carry up to 1,000 passengers).
This sleek 80-guest vessel features expansive viewing areas on the bow and aft promenade decks, and a commanding hull design, optimized for supreme comfort in Alaskan waters, regardless of weather. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Best Small Ship Alaska Cruises
Like the Southeast, Southcentral Alaska offers remote wilderness, but it is linked via roads and numerous communities that can serve as base camps for land adventures. In fact, this region is home to over half of Alaska’s population, so small Alaska cruises here embark from unique road-accessed port towns like Whittier and Homer, with the city of Anchorage being the hub for your travel. Numerous options to explore beyond your cruise on an Alaska land tour include world-class fishing on the Kenai Peninsula or further exploration inland to Denali National Park. If large ships with robust entertainment programs and extensive children's programs are more your cup of tea (or that of your traveling party), you can still enjoy a luxury Alaska cruise vacation -- in a luxury suite.
Best for megaresort fans: Ovation of the Seas
Lounging poolside plays second fiddle to shore excursions showcasing the state's spectacular natural wonders. Onboard experiences are uniquely Alaskan; viewing glaciers and wildlife from your ship's spacious decks and listening to fascinating lectures from passionate expert guests overshadow trivia games and wine tastings. This luxury cruise line offers classic and expedition-style cruising, the latter of which takes aboard the 274-passenger Silver Wind.
M.T. Schwartzman has been covering Alaska cruising and tourism since 1988. His articles have appeared in a wide range of consumer magazines, websites and travel industry publications. Some also include alcoholic drinks in the fares — American Cruise Lines and Lindblad Expeditions do, while Alaskan Dream Cruises offers a complimentary glass of wine or beer at dinner. All the lines covered in this story include daily guided tours in their fares, from hearty hikes to kayaking and skiff explorations.
Yet ironically, it takes a smaller Silversea ship to appreciate the immensity of it all. Each cruise to Alaska includes the following exclusive amenities and activities designed to enhance every moment. We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year. This is also the trip for a camera with good telephoto lenses and binoculars. For more on what to bring on an Alaska cruise, check out our Alaska cruise packing list.
Shore excursions range from adventures like zip lining, hiking and rafting to seaplane exploration, photo safaris and high teas. Adults can enjoy themselves on an Alaskan Disney Cruise, too, with adult-exclusive dining; an adult-only pool and hot tub; fitness center; and Senses Spa & Salon. Larger expedition-style Alaskan cruise ships in the 50 to 100 passenger range typically have larger cabins, many with view windows, more deck space for watching wildlife and more common areas. Not to mention additional adventure gear aboard and more guides to diversify your experience.
Embark on a luxury small ship Alaska cruise with us and discover the breathtaking beauty of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Our award-winning cruises offer a unique blend of adventure and unparalleled luxury. Since 1986, Maple Leaf has been operating sailing cruises in British Columbia, Haida Gwaii (the former Queen Charlotte Islands) and the Inside Passage. On Maple Leaf's fleet of three vessels, expect an even more intimate experience than on a regular small ship, and a program that is full of First Nations history. While on-shore excursions depend on the cruise that you book, many Alaskan cruises include the following types of excursions. Being a relatively small ship in comparison to the majority of cruise vessels enables passengers aboard the Silver Shadow to get the full, luxury experience.
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