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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. The population of Haines remains less than 2,000, according to the United Status Census Bureau, and it isn't yet as touristy as some of the other Alaskan ports, such as nearby Skagway. It's known for great fishing (salmon, halibut and trout) and an eagle preserve — because eagles know where the best fish can be found. Kids can hang out in the youth lounges while parents hit the spa or try a wine-tasting class.
Explore Further
It's yet one more stylish and upscale area for cruisers looking for an upgraded experience to retreat. On Norwegian Encore, there's a much bigger version of the exclusive, extra-charge Vibe Beach Club sunning area that's on Norwegian Bliss. Home to a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs, the version of the Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Encore sprawls across both sides of the ship (instead of just one side on Norwegian Bliss) and extends upward to a partial deck above.
Cruises for families
Cicero added, "Disney has the best kids' and teen clubs of any cruise line. They're enormous, filled with epic activities like superhero training and are a great place for kids and teens to make friends." Passengers are loyal to Norwegian for its beautiful ships, top-notch service and innovative amenities. Entry-level cabins offer a generous minimum of 270 square feet, including a private veranda. These cushy digs include a king bed, spacious bath with heated floor and anti-fog mirror, plush robes, turndown service and complimentary soft drink, water and snack minibar. Bigger, costlier accommodations come with complimentary welcome Champagne, a coffee maker and priority booking for shore excursions and restaurants. Note that this itinerary is longer than most (and Seabourn also offers weeklong sailings), delivering a far deeper immersion into the state's pristine and less-visited allures.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska: Crowds, Weather and Cost Are All Factors
For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dogsled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. Alaska's capital city is interesting because no road leads from here to the rest of the state.
Types of Cruises
Sailings from Vancouver tend to traverse more of the Inside Passage and spend a full day sailing this scenic region. You’ll want to carefully consider Alaska cruise packages and itineraries as the scenery, price and length of time all vary considerably. The best Alaska cruises manage to combine epic nature with local flavor, and the following options all offer that mix with some variation. Due to unpredictable weather, though, there’s a risk of shore excursions being cancelled -- especially boat and helicopter tours.
In Search of Calm, I Went on an Alaskan Cruise by Myself - Shondaland.com
In Search of Calm, I Went on an Alaskan Cruise by Myself.
Posted: Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Alaska Cruises: Everything You Need to Know for a Perfect Bucket-List Adventure
The ship offers eight complimentary dining venues plus 24-hour in-suite dining. If you like, enjoy the latter for dinner after a day of adventurous excursions; dishes will be served course-by-course. Passengers love the Club, the hangout for afternoon tea and nighttime dancing. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.
Best Inside Passage Alaska Cruise: Hurtigruten Expeditions, MS Roald Amundsen
With its intimate size and maneuverability, world-class dining, social atmosphere, and high-end amenities, Seabourn Cruises is a luxurious way to explore America’s Last Frontier. You’ll never feel nickeled and dimed on American Queen Voyages because everything you want—from guided tours to drinks—is already included in the price. Built in 1998 but fully refurbished in 2019, Oceania Cruises’ Regatta dazzles guests with bejeweled chandeliers in the Grand Dining Room, fresh color palettes, and new furnishings in the public spaces, plus new everything in the suites and staterooms. Between the gentle rocking of the ship and the Ultra Tranquility Bed, you’re sure to sleep like a baby. The Millennium offers Edge series staterooms with Infinite Veranda—at the touch of a button, your entire living space becomes the veranda, which means you can walk right out to the water’s edge.
Oceania Cruises
And, Holland America has cabins with full-size beds and picture windows for solo travelers. Stopping along many ports of call through the Inside Passage, their itineraries offer a detailed view of this area of the state, including up-close Zodiac/kayak trips to glaciers. A third excellent option is the destination-focused itineraries aboard select Celebrity Cruises ships. Again, this option is based less on the ship-based entertainment and more on the ‘learn about and experience Alaska’ approach.
25 BEST Alaska Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Alaska on Cruise Critic - CruiseCritic.co.uk
25 BEST Alaska Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Alaska on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:08:06 GMT [source]
There are ships with all the bells and whistles bedecked with glitz and glam, and others offer just the basics with a surprise (see our insider tip in the Final Note below!). UnCruise Adventures is a favorite among TravelAwaits readers and writers alike. Recently, writers have raved about their UnCruise experiences in Mexico and the Pacific Northwest (and shared photos you have to see to believe!).
"Royal Caribbean had the first rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rink on a cruise ship," said Cicero. "Since then, they've brought so many other epic activities to sea." For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class, which includes Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, offers skydiving, a surf simulator and a robot bar. "This line is an especially good fit for families with tweens, teens and young adults," said Cicero, who sailed on Royal Caribbean with her teen daughter. A top choice for multi-generational families and larger groups seeking on-board experiences for a wide age range, Princess will sail seven ships to Alaska in 2024 — more than any other line.
While you might not be sunning yourself to a stunning shade of bronze on an Alaska cruise, you and everyone on board will want to take in the scenery. That makes having your own balcony a prime piece of real estate, especially near Denali National Park, portions of the Inside Passage or Tracy Arm Fjord. Holland America and Princess are the biggest mainstream lines for an Alaska cruise. But you'll also see Alaska itineraries from Carnival, Disney, Norwegian (NCL) and Royal Caribbean, which gives you an array of price points to consider.
Once guests finish communing with nature, they can indulge in gourmet cuisine in multiple restaurants, enjoy a complimentary cocktail or relax in an upscale spa. The storied Cunard cruise line, with more than 180 years of seafaring history, returned to Alaska after nearly 30 years when it arrived back in the Great Land in 2019. In addition to more than 140 shore experiences that immerse guests into this magical destination, Cunard invites explorers, travel writers and locals onboard to share their passions and knowledge. The cruise line takes inspiration from Alaska with special local dishes served in its onboard restaurants, and the return of the Ice White Ball, a formal gala affair with a glacial twist.
The Encore's most luxurious accommodations feature spacious rooms — the bathrooms are nearly double the size of those in standard staterooms — a private sundeck and a concierge. Viking Orion is offering 10-night 2024 Alaskan voyages between Vancouver and Seward from May until early September 2024. Fares for this July 3, 2024, Vancouver to Seward 10-night sail start at $6,999 per person.
