An Alaska whale-watching cruise is one of the best ways to see the world’s largest mammals in their natural habitat. If you’re about to embark on your dream vacation and don't know what to pack for an Alaska cruise, here is the ultimate Alaska cruise packing list. Prepare for a thrill as you approach the head of the 30-mile Endicott Arm fjord to face Dawes Glacier, a 600-foot-tall wall of ice. Other Alaska cruise highlights include Juneau; remote Ketchikan, and historic Skagway.
Booking shore excursions in every port
There’s no doubt these excursions lead to an unforgettable day, but it’s not necessary to book an excursion in every port. For those voyagers seeking to sail from Southern California all the way up the Pacific coast to Alaska, try a new 16-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyage from Los Angeles. Get closer to awe-inspiring wildlife, charming coastal towns and magnificent glaciers on Alaska cruises from Vancouver. Find one-way and roundtrip cruises to Alaska with convenient weekend departures from Vancouver’s dazzling waterfront. Explore Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier on our Inside Passage cruises.
Don’t forget to pack short sleeve shirts and sunscreen
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Vancouver to Alaska (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Vancouver to Alaska (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:18:30 GMT [source]
Don't pass up an opportunity to watch these giants feed and play in the water. In Alaska, ancient rivers of ice wind between mountains and grind out of valleys. Towering walls of ice like the Hubbard Glacier, Endicott Arm Dawes and the twin Sawyer Glaciers thunder as they calve massive icebergs.
Travel Is Our Tradition
Immerse yourself in the thrilling destinations that Alaska has to offer, each brimming with its own unique style and vibe. Discover the wonders of Alaska with the Best Cruise Line for 20 years running. Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled. Choose a one-way cruise to Alaska if you want to see as much as possible, you want to do a pre- or post-cruise tour, you're not on a tight budget and/or you enjoy scenic cruising. While most mainstream lines -- like Disney, Carnival, Royal and Norwegian -- offer round-trip sailings, not all offer one-ways.
Best Dishes to Try on Your Alaska Cruise
Likewise, you could take a shuttle bus to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau for $45 roundtrip, which is much cheaper than excursions booked through the cruise line. Of course, you’ll want to look at the terms and conditions of each tour operator before booking. Check the tour’s cancellation policies—and whether or not they provide a guaranteed arrival back to port before your ship's departure—before booking. Due to the popularity of excursions on an Alaska cruise, they can fill up quickly, so it’s important to book excursions well ahead of time. If you have not yet booked excursions for your 2024 Alaska cruise, book them as soon as possible.
In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather. It’s challenging to predict whether your cruise will encounter sunny skies and 70 degrees, or seven days of straight rain. Sure, booking your cruise in June usually results in better weather compared to one in September, but weather conditions are never guaranteed. Watching a ship tour will help make your first few days onboard stress-free, as you will already have a general understanding of what is offered onboard, as well as the location of popular venues. While you can purchase packages once onboard, the cost may be significantly higher than what you could have booked ahead of time.
Longer sailings from the West Coast
Bears prowl rock-strewn beaches, while salmon-laden rivers rush through pristine, old-growth forest, bald eagles perched watchfully in the treetops. The Alaska Cruise season begins in late April and continues through September. Whether you cruise when the Inside Passage is blanketed with spring wildflowers or ablaze with fall foliage, you'll be awed at Alaska's natural wonders. Spring whale migrations, fall bald eagle gatherings, winter trumpeter swans - exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities and substantial savings can be found during spring and fall. Go back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush on cruises to Skagway, Alaska, once the primary gateway to the goldfields. Because Alaska has such a short season with a limited number of ships and is a dream trip for many, cruises are in high demand and people plan early.
Often referred to as the "Little Switzerland", Valdez is known for its breathtaking panorama of snow-capped mountains and glaciers. It is also well-known for its role in the transportation of crude oil from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which ends in Valdez. Explore the charming waterfront area and take in the flavors of Valdez through culinary experiences at restaurants such as the Valdez Brewery and the Fat Mermaid. Alaska cruisetours combine the iconic Alaska cruise with a voyage into Denali National Park and the Yukon Territory. We offer a fully comprehensive and unforgettable Denali experience based on our 75-year history in the Great Land. Our Alaska cruisetours feature transportation, accommodations and more to make your wildest Denali dreams come true.
National treasures
From ship to shore, the best is at your fingertips on our Alaska cruises. Canada's third largest city feels like a North American metropolis mixed with a small European town. — Stanley Park — and visit the continent's second largest Chinatown during your Alaska cruise vacation. Soar above the city's lush natural environment in a sky gondola for panoramic views, or get up close to the local sea life at the Vancouver Aquarium.
They are living laboratories that show what the Earth was like thousands of years ago and how it is changing today. Top scenic cruising destinations in Alaska include Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm and College Fjord. 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 takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time. Hopefully, if you have an Alaska cruise booked this summer, you’ve already booked your airfare to and from the cruise port. If you have not done so yet, we recommend booking flights as soon as possible. Speaking of excursions, it isn’t necessary to book excursions through Royal Caribbean.
Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine. She loves to get active while at port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea. If your flight doesn’t arrive until 11PM the night before your cruise, it probably isn’t worth it to travel to the city center. Instead, consider a hotel near the airport so you can simply land and head straight to bed.
Travel aboard our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® train and unwind at Princess Wilderness Lodges®. Every year Princess introduces more people to Denali National Park than any other cruise line. Settle in for up to three nights and truly connect to North America’s tallest mountain and ragged ridgelines. 15-Day Transatlantic Cruise from Miami – Explore Miami’s exciting nightlife and colorful Art-Deco architecture before embarking on this transatlantic cruise to Spain.
As Alaska cruises have grown in popularity, the crowds have grown as well. It’s not uncommon for there to be three, four, or even five cruise ships docked in Alaska's ports at once. To ensure you don’t miss out, consider booking a later dinner time, or simply eat dinner elsewhere on the nights the sailaway overlaps with your dining time. The Windjammer buffet can be an excellent place to enjoy dinner in Alaska, as the buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the venue, in addition to outdoor seating on select ships. One of the best ways to become acquainted with Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships is to watch a full tour of the ship on YouTube.
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