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Don’t wait any longer, riding the world's longest zip line in Alaska will be an experience you'll never forget while on your next Alaskan mountain adventure. After traveling somewhere new, you want to bring something back with you to remember all of your fun adventures. The sheer size of Alaska lends itself to a wide variety of terrain and travel experiences. This diversity means you need to be prepared for a lot of change while traveling. In some parts of the state, dog sledding is still the primary mode of transportation through the winter months.
Cruise Lines and Terminals in Skagway
Cruise ship passengers can also walk along the historic Creek Street, with plenty of traditional-looking wooden venues. The USA’s fourth-largest island, Prince of Wales Island is home to the biggest cave in Alaska – El Capitan Cave. Take a guided-hike through the expansive cave system and you’ll be marveling at impressive rock formations and learning about the cave’s history.
Enjoy the Freedom to Cruise Alaska the Way You Like
These Fall Cruises Are Going to Alaska, Mexico, and More—And There's Still Time to Book - Condé Nast Traveler
These Fall Cruises Are Going to Alaska, Mexico, and More—And There's Still Time to Book.
Posted: Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The city’s endearing downtown transports visitors to a small English village, with streets of colorful Victorian buildings and a plethora of pubs. Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), all foreign-flagged ships must visit at least one foreign country on a roundtrip cruise from the United States. Because of this, Alaska cruises from Seattle include a port stop in Victoria, British Columbia, the most easily accessible foreign port en route to Alaska. Many visitors opt to visit the nearby town of Hoonah while docked at Icy Strait Point. Only 1.5 miles from the port, Hoonah is home to less than 1,000 people and offers an authentic, small town Alaska experience. Icy Strait Point is also one of the best ports in Alaska for whale watching.
Trip Planning Essentials
On a cruisetour, you'll sail a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska. Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park. Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think.
Ketchikan also has lots of opportunity to learn about and experience Alaska Native Culture, including the many totem poles around town and nearby. Some activities are included in the cost of the cruisetour; other outings can be booked like shore excursions depending on your interest and budget. If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. Located in Alaska’s largest Native Tlingit Village of Hoonah, Icy Strait Point is home to only 750 residents and proudly preserves the ancestral importance of simplicity throughout the community. In these tranquil lands, you won’t find a streetlight or paved road in sight.
Best Alaska Glaciers To Visit
They are generally visible across the state, so any itinerary will likely do, though you'll have the best show in less populated areas like Denali National Park. You'd also do well to look at the moon cycles, as a full moon can drown out the Aurora Borealis. Enjoy fine dining, carry-out options, coffee shops, food trucks and some of the best burgers at Old Town Diner. Then, visit the Crooked Creek Information Site for naturalists’ recommendations on outdoor activities. Arriving at this deep-water fjord, the world’s tallest coastal mountains greet passengers.
2024 Member Choice Awards Best Cruise Ports and Private Destinations - Cruiseline.com
2024 Member Choice Awards Best Cruise Ports and Private Destinations.
Posted: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 02:13:09 GMT [source]
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT Alaska Cruises
You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations may include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. You'll find magnificent mountains (often snow-capped, even in the summertime), lush forests, waterfalls, fjords and calving glaciers. If it's marine life you've come to see, you'll find it in abundance, from whales and dolphins to sea lions and harbor seals.
Many visitors flock to downtown Sitka, where you'll find shops, restaurants, and the famous St. Michael Orthodox Cathedral–the first Orthodox cathedral in the United States. Sitka, the former capital of Russian Alaska, was originally founded by the Tlingit people over 10,000 years ago. Now part of the United States, Sitka is home to 10,000 year-round residents and is a popular port on any Alaska cruise itinerary. If you’ve never been to Skagway before, consider a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, a scenic railway climbing 2,885 feet to the summit of the White Pass. Complete with stunning views of the mountains and the breathtaking Bridal Veil Falls waterfall, it’s hard to beat booking an excursion on the train.
Seward, Whittier, and Vancouver are the beginning and ending ports for most Glacier Route Alaska cruises. The town of Seward sits on the southern side of the Kenai Peninsula near beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park. It's nestled between bay waters and mountainsides, an environment that's rich in wildlife and best enjoyed by day cruise or kayak. Passengers do not disembark the ship on glacier viewing days, but there may be excursions to book in which you can disembark your cruise ship for a smaller expedition vessel to view the glacier more up close.
While this time of year brings the great thaw and a rise in wildlife activity and wildflower blooms, you still need to pack appropriately. Expect daytime temperatures between 40° and 55°F, as well as fairly frequent showers and fog. Don’t forget waterproof clothing if you plan on spending most of your time outdoors.
Luxury cruises to Alaska on smaller ships can be a great option for those looking to pair remote wilderness with a bit of pampering. Your best high-end bets are Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar. If you are cruising in Alaska during the Northern Lights season, note that the Gulf of Alaska is choppiest in September and not recommended for travelers who get seasick. Also, certain sections of the access road to Denali National Park may close in September due to snow, so check your itinerary if that's your preferred Northern Lights viewing spot. There are numerous factors you need to consider for a cruise to Alaska, including the best time of year, costs, itineraries, which line to choose and which destinations matter most to you.
Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night. However, if it's a sunny summer day, temperatures can shoot into the 70s and even low 80s. It also rains a lot in Alaska; it's drier in the spring than in the summer. With over 27,000 glaciers, Alaska is one of the best places to see these majestic pieces of nature up close. Join an adventure of a lifetime aboard the Aleutian Ballad, as seen on Discovery Channel’s - The Deadliest Catch. Discover the rich culture of Southeast Alaska’s Native Americans and witness a rip roaring lumberjack competition on this comprehensive tour of Ketchikan.
There are glaciers, fjords, streams, rivers, and animals enjoying it all. Holland America Line is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay and has more options for cruising Glacier Bay than any other cruise line. We have won Best in Alaska Awards from Cruise Critic, TravelAge West, AFAR Traveler's choice and many more because we know the region so well and our ships are perfectly sized for a more personal experience. You can also try fishing yourself, with plenty of ports of call offering excursions that put you on the open sea. Ketchikan is known as the sportfishing capital of Alaska, with some of the best salmon fishing in the entire world.
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