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The waters are teeming with marine life, like king salmon, while the land is decorated by the colorful coats of Denali National Park’s “big five” – including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep and caribou. On an Alaska cruisetour, encounter wildlife in their natural habitats and experience their unique personalities for yourself. Pioneer America’s Last Frontier onboard Ovation of the Seas®, one of the world's most groundbreaking ships and among the boldest ships to ever sail Alaska. Gaze at giant glaciers from the pool deck while you sail through Endicott Arm. Scan the surrounding waters on your way to Juneau for glimpses of wildlife from the North Star®, the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.
Some Cruise Tours to Alaska Are Being Canceled Due to Staff Shortages: What Cruisers Need to Know - Cruise Critic
Some Cruise Tours to Alaska Are Being Canceled Due to Staff Shortages: What Cruisers Need to Know.
Posted: Tue, 07 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Seacor Tours Small-Group Wildlife & Glacier Tours
Take a small ship cruise to immerse yourself in your adventure and maximize your learning. Evening programs include naturalists and speakers who enlighten you about the wildlife, history and culture you’re exploring. During the day, instead of disembarking to, say, go shopping, you may take bikes or kayaks ashore. On the line's 10-day Alaska Supervoyage itineraries, Swell travels between Prince Rupert (British Columbia) and Sitka, and between Sitka and Ketchikan, with stops at Baranof, Kruzof and St. Lazaria islands. Maple Leaf has a permit to bring its cruisers to the Pack Creek bear-viewing area on Admiralty Island.
Discovery Voyages Brown Bear and Calving Glaciers
And while there’s plenty to do on the ship when sailing in Alaska, the atmosphere is decidedly more subdued. In other words, if you’ve ever wanted to experience the state, there is no better way to do it than by cruise ship. This veteran tour operator runs a a fleet of fast, modern boats in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. You’ll visit tidewater glaciers as you watch for puffins, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, and more. Some tours are designed to please birders or shutterbugs, while others are perfect for families.
Ports of Call on These Cruises
You can also book a narrated motorcoach tour to take you to Portage Glacier. Captain Dean not only piloted expertly, he was a fountain of information. Tori and Ashley were wonderful on all outings, sharing knowledge while still always making sure everyone of us were comfortable physically. The Captain and Crew of the Discovery made us feel special during the entire voyage. Their knowledge of the region, the hidden coves, the history, and the culture, all made for a magical experience.
The ship has two inflatable boats for shore excursions and wildlife-viewing. The shortest Alaska cruise is a 7-day cruise that departs from Seattle and returns to Seattle. As above, you’ll rise and shine early to catch the Alaska Railroad to Denali; the train leaves around 8am and arrives around 4pm – you can enjoy both breakfast and lunch aboard too!
Listen to Margerie Glacier’s signature crack and boom rumble across the waves. Bring binoculars and scan both the shore and the waves for wildlife like brown bears and migrating whales while Park Rangers teach you the history and geology of the park. The weather was less than desirable, but I don’t think we missed a thing. The adventures, included kayaking, photographing amazing wildlife, walking among the glaciers, and learning do much about Prince William Sound. We all got along great, chatted the entire time, and played a memorable game.
The fun continues the minute cruisers disembark in each port, with excursions ranging from dogsledding to private helicopter tours. Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this. While on board a Caribbean sailing with the cruise line, I had the chance to indulge in this chef- and sommelier-led multi-course food and wine pairing adventure. Four years later, I still find myself dreaming of the delicious circular-shaped dessert known as “The World” — the perfect combo of peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel gelato).
Best Vacation Spots in Alaska in the Summer
Depending on the month you visit, the sun can rise as early as 4 a.m. After a few days, don’t be surprised if the lack of rest catches up with you. If you’re short on time or have limited budget, take the MV Ptarmigan Cruise on Portage Lake. Just an hour’s drive from Anchorage, you’ll explore the icebergs and glacier feeding this crystalline lake.
Ashton Palmer is a Seattle-based T+L A-List travel advisor who specializes in expedition cruises. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. 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.
I’ve broken down how much it costs to visit Alaska on average, and that link also includes a bunch of tips to help you save if you want to visit Alaska and need to do it on a budget. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, the cost of travel to Alaska has gone up, and I predict that 2024 will continue the trend, especially with regard to hotel and rental car costs. In this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the Alutiiq (Sugpiaq), Dena’ina Ełnena, and Tanana peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands.
Ships have lots of open deck space for you to watch the mountains and water go by, so it’s not a huge loss if you don’t have your own private balcony. As well, with the long daylight hours, an interior cabin (which gets plenty dark) may help you sleep better. Dressing Can Be Hard (Layers Are a Must)Keeping in the theme of weather, you’ll likely find that it’s a little harder to dress for Alaska. When it’s warm and sunny, it is literally t-shirt and shorts weather. It’s well-known, but dressing in layers is a must when you head to Alaska. Be Ready for Long Daylight Hours (Messes With Your Sleep)Maybe you “know” that daylight hours during the summer in Alaska are long.
As you plan your Alaska vacation, you might be torn between traveling by cruise ship, plane or even car. Planes are plentiful in Alaska, where they're a common form of transportation across the state. Charter a helicopter or fixed-wing flightseeing tour at Juneau and get an unforgettable perspective of the mountains and glaciers of this vast landscape.
Visit Alaska and get the experience for yourself at the Skagway Yukon Discovery and Dog Sled Tour. The Siberian Huskies are sweet and energetic, and the ride is a thrill. We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.
In fact, there are many people who may not have any interest in cruising, but do consider taking a trip to Alaska. If you’re most interested in seeing tidewater glaciers, take a wildlife & glacier cruise out of the port of Whittier into Prince William Sound, 1.5 hours south of Anchorage by car or rail. Alaska Saltwater’s small-group whale watching, wildlife, and glacier tours offer daily excursions into the pristine Kenai Fjord National Park. This 30-mile waterway is surrounded by cliffs, valleys and dozens of waterfalls.
Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. And Major Marine’s vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. This family-owned tour operator has gone above and beyond to give guests an amazing day on the water since 1990. Get up close to the Alaskan glaciers and wildlife you came to experience by taking a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on a custom-built catamaran out of Seward. The difference from other cruises, is that you’ll then get off the boat and into a kayak, paddle around icebergs, and watch for wildlife from your own vessel. They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of "white thunder" — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below.
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