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Discover the top tips for planning a cruise to Alaska and uncover the best times of the year to spot Alaskas wildlife, locate must-see attractions, find Alaskan cruise deals and more. Embark on a thrilling journey with young explorers through breathtaking landscapes. The best Alaska food to try on a cruise includes king crab, salmon, fry bread, birch syrup, wild berries and more. Complete your adventure with the best Alaska tours before or after your cruise.
Scenic cruising
Early and late-season cruises might be unable to access the glaciers on their itineraries due to ice floes. Misty Fjords National Monument is a Kethickan must-see, and on this flightseeing tour you view the magnificent scenery with a bird's-eye view from a seaplane. This pristine park encompasses nearly 2.3 million acres of sheer granite cliffs, imposing waterfalls, sparkling fjords and thick forests. The seaplane will also briefly land on water within the park to give you a taste of the serenity down below. Like Whittier (farther below), Seward is most often used as an embarkation and debarkation port.
Glacier Point Wilderness Safari - Skagway
Several Alaska cruises stop in Icy Strait Point, a remote area ideal for observing wildlife in their natural habitats. I should also be clear that the towns themselves aren't devoid of attractions. While I highly encourage Alaska-bound cruisers to get out into the wilderness, there are plenty of worthwhile things to do in each of the main port towns. You packed all those clothing layers — now's the time to use them.
Dog Sledding or Helicopter Flightseeing
In this untouched wilderness, you’ll find ancient glacial valleys, majestic river canyons and misty emerald forests. Journey into Denali National Park for a glimpse of roaming brown bears and moose. And learn more about the state's rich cultural past at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Nothing brings you closer to history and adventure than the best Alaska Cruise Tours with Royal Caribbean.
Viking: Scenic Train and Rafting
You then transfer to the glacially carved Chilkat River on a flat-bottom boat where you will traverse a remote section of the renowned Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. The goal of the guided boat ride is to spot as many bald eagles as you can (keep an eye out for nests in the trees) and -- if you're lucky -- bears, moose and other wildlife as well. Lunch is served in a heated pavilion, and staff also stoke a roaring campfire to help you beat the chill and relax.
This tour is perfect for adventurers who require or prefer little or no walking. The minimum age is 2 years old, making it accessible for most family members. The Wilderness River Adventure is a great Haines shore excursion for wildlife enthusiasts. The excursion begins with a narrated bus ride along the Haines Scenic Byway.
RELATED PORTS
You’ll need your rest between adventures, which is why Royal Caribbean® overnights in the best accommodations in the heart of every destination. Transportation by deluxe motor coach and in the luxury glass-domed railcars of the Wilderness Express is also included, so you can travel in comfort on your way to each new experience. Towering high in the center of the Alaska Range is the Denali, North America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet. Central to the cultural heritage of the native peoples who have lived here for thousands of years, the giant mountain is the ultimate symbol of the Alaskan wild. Denali National Park remains a wild kingdom, where animals large and small, roam free. View Dall sheep, wolves, caribou, moose and the mighty grizzly bear among many.
Top Alaska Shore Excursions
12 best Alaska cruises for an awe-inspiring trip - The Times
12 best Alaska cruises for an awe-inspiring trip.
Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
And come summer, they are joined by more than 160 species of migratory birds. Regardless of the ship, passengers can expect a wide range of entertainment offerings, an abundance of bars, restaurants, and lounges, and a handful of accommodation options. Now that we’ve covered the basics of all things Alaska cruising, keep reading to discover the best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler, featuring expert insight and award-winning picks.
The Dog Sledding and Glacier Adventure by Helicopter, created by an Iditarod musher (they lead huskies on annual 1,000-mile races over Alaska’s roughest terrain), combines two top-notch thrills. Don glacier overboots, board a helicopter, and fly over the Alaskan ice field as the pilot points out icefalls and rock formations. After landing on Norris Glacier, meet top Iditarod race veteran mushers and their dogs. Soon you’ll be whisked on a sled pulled by a team of exuberant huskies for the ride of a lifetime. Holland America Line (HAL) — which recently snapped up a 2023 World’s Best Award in the large-ship ocean cruise line category — has been cruising Alaska for over 75 years.
They vary in time and price, meaning there’s a glacier tour option for everyone. The goal is to have the Alaska cruise experience you and your travel companions long for. The array of things to try in Alaska can be as tame or as adventurous as you want — it's the joy of discovery that's key. I once kayaked in Ketchikan with a woman on her first solo cruise in Alaska. When our marine biologist guide pulled a sea cucumber from the crystal-clear waters to show us, she squealed with delight when he offered to let her hold it. I also find that Alaska cruises are ideal for ordering room service meals.
The tour begins at the cruise ship port where you’ll board a bus and take a 25-minute narrated ride to Auke Bay. Pack Creek Bear Tours offers fully guided adventures to Admiralty Island or Chichagof Island, each home to more than 1,500 brown bears! After a beautiful 20- or 25-minute floatplane ride, you’ll land on a remote beach. Take a short walk to the bear-viewing area, where you can watch these magnificent creatures for hours in their natural environment. Both Liquid Alaska and Above & Beyond Alaska offer the unforgettable experience of a canoe trip to the glacier, followed by a trek near the gorgeous blue ice.
Five must-do excursions on a Princess Alaska cruise - 9Honey Travel
Five must-do excursions on a Princess Alaska cruise.
Posted: Sat, 05 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Once you're on board your ship, it's time to put all the stress of planning and packing behind you. You've made it, and you don't want to let anything get in the way of enjoying your cruise. One question I get asked often is whether you can see whales and other wildlife from the ship. You can shed the jacket as temperatures allow, then lose the vest if it gets even warmer.
You don't want to screw it up because you might not get the chance for a do-over. Unfortunately, it's easier than you think to make Alaska cruise mistakes that can ruin a trip or prevent you from experiencing Alaska to the fullest. The Juneau zipline glides above the treetops on Douglas Island (accessed by a high-speed channel crossing from Juneau aboard an expedition craft, which is an adventure of its own).
Lumberjacks compete in a dozen events including sawing, chopping, axe throwing, and log rolling. Get a thrilling, bird’s-eye view of Alaska’s snow-capped peaks, mountain lakes, waterfalls, and more on an unforgettable helicopter flightseeing tour from Ketchikan. Through this UnCruise excursion, passengers can explore one of the most remote national parks in the US. But, also get ready for lovely views of glacier-carved fjords, cliffs and rock walls jutting thousands of feet out of the ocean. The whole thing is covered with temperate rainforests and features huge waterfalls (thanks to all that rain).
This exhilarating adventure offers a bird's-eye view of Alaska's stunning landscapes, including glaciers, mountains, and dense forests. It's an opportunity to witness the grandeur of Alaska from a unique perspective, making for unforgettable memories and spectacular photo opportunities. Safety is paramount, and operators ensure a comfortable and secure experience, even for those new to helicopter tours. Juneau shore excursions span a wide range on the wow-factor scale, but this combo glacier helicopter tour is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As if the ride in a helicopter over glaciers and landing on an actual glacier weren't exhilarating enough, you can also pretend you're in the Iditarod by getting on a real dogsled. And when you combine your seven-night sailing with Alaska CruiseTours, you’ll explore the best of the Last Frontier — on land and sea.
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