Alaska Cruises: Cruise to Alaska

Table Of Content

• Alaska Cruise Itineraries
• Complete Your Adventure
• Planning a Trip To Alaska: Land vs. Sea Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Alaska Cruise in July: Alaska in July Is the Best Month to Spot Wildlife
• RELATED PORTS
• Alaska Food: Where to Find the Best Food in Alaska Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Glacier Bay National Park
• WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Alaska Cruises Insider

If you're on a budget, stick to interior rooms and look for the big cruise ships, which tend to have more inventory. Summer Alaska cruises fill up quickly, so always book well in advance. You will find local asparagus on some menus in southeast towns later in the month, and fiddlehead season also begins in Alaska in May. However, most of Alaska's tastiest fruits and vegetables aren't on offer until later in the summer. Alaska has a deep, rich culture that blends North American pioneer traditions with those of its native peoples. You’ll find cultural iconography and influence from the Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, and other native tribes in different ports.

Alaska Cruise Itineraries

Gray whales and Humpback whales begin their migration to warmer waters in October and November, so you still have a chance to see them in Alaskan waters in September. There is a chance you will see some snow, so a winter coat, gloves, and a hat are a smart addition to your packing list. You might see bears that are continuing to fatten up before hibernation.

Complete Your Adventure

Near the very end of the Turnagain Arm Waterway, along the scenic Seward Highway, this center provides a sanctuary for native Alaskan animals in need. Here you can get up close to the orphaned, injured or displaced animals, all under expert care in their natural habitats so that they can be reintroduced into the wild. The resident population varies by the season but can include caribou and moose calves, fawns, porcupines, birds, lynx, and brown and black bears.

Planning a Trip To Alaska: Land vs. Sea Royal Caribbean Cruises

See the best of the Great Land’s glaciers, coastal towns and wildlife on board perfectly sized ships offering superior service and exclusive programming. For guaranteed bear viewing, head to the Fortress of the Bear near Sitka, which raises orphaned bears in a natural setting. Vast, creaking blue-white glaciers inch their way to the sea as jagged, snow-capped mountain peaks pierce the sky. Bears prowl rock-strewn beaches, while salmon-laden rivers rush through pristine, old-growth forest, bald eagles perched watchfully in the treetops.

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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. Once the gateway to Alaska's Gold Rush, Skagway strikes a dramatic image nestled between the water's edge and mountains. Follow in the footsteps of miners with a ride on a scenic train along the famous White Pass route through coastal mountains. During your Alaska cruise, explore the Yukon's pristine wilderness, pan for gold with professionals or meet sled dog puppies in training.

RELATED PORTS

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While home to just 32,000, Fairbanks is the big city of the interior and cultural hub for the sparsely populated region. You can still go for the gold in Fairbanks, panning just like the early prospectors did. Popular destinations include Denali National Park (for wildlife viewing) or Talkeetna (best place for Denali views and cool eats). Cruise tour land packages are also available to spots like Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula and Canada's Yukon Territory. On either end of your sailing, you can tour on your own or book a cruise tour that combines a cruise and a land tour, which usually runs three to seven nights. You’ll want to carefully consider Alaska cruise packages and itineraries as the scenery, price and length of time all vary considerably.

Alaska Food: Where to Find the Best Food in Alaska Royal Caribbean Cruises

Alternatively, Inside Passage cruises in Alaska tend to be calmer as the waters are protected. Temperatures in Alaska can change considerably from one destination to the next. That includes warm days, where even being near a glacier or a passing cloud (or socked-in rain) can make things chilly. 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. One-way Gulf of Alaska itineraries are the best option for Alaska touring, as they begin or end in Alaska.

Glacier Bay National Park

An Alaska Inside Passage cruise typically lasts seven nights, embarking and returning to Seattle or Vancouver. It's one of the most popular and common itineraries for Alaska cruising. An Alaska cruise costs anywhere from $500 to $8,000 or more during high season. Cheaper fares can be usually found on mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean and NCL, while Cunard, Disney and Seabourn will be more expensive. Ketchikan, Alaska is one of the best spots along Alaska's Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. Amble historic Creek Street, a boardwalk over a wide creek that fills with salmon during certain times of year.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Alaska Cruises Insider

But summer weather allows for outdoor activities without wearing heavy clothing. June is one of the best months for wildlife sightings, with caribou, black bears, mountain goats, moose calves, and even polar bears out and about. The warm weather makes it one of the best times to witness the calving of glaciers. May is one of the best times to visit Alaska for dry weather, fewer crowds, and lots of wildlife. We’ve put together this Alaska cruise weather guide to help you find the best time to cruise to Alaska. You’re not alone if you’re worried about how cold it gets in Alaska or which month is best to avoid the rain.

July and August are prime time for viewing glacier calving on an Alaskan cruise. In August, the wildlife can sense that winter is on its way, and activity picks up to prepare for the months of cold, snow, and darkness. That being said, the weather and wildlife in Alaska are notoriously unpredictable.

The best Alaska cruises manage to combine epic nature with local flavor, and the following options all offer that mix with some variation. If you're happy with a couple of historic tours and a guided hike, you could likely budget $500 or less per person for shore excursions in Alaska. But if once-in-a-lifetime Alaska experiences like helicopter rides and flightseeing in Ketchikan are more your speed, you'll need to triple that amount -- or more. Most of Celebrity’s Alaska cruises sail round-trip from either Vancouver or Seattle.

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. May is one of the driest months in the Inside Passage, but you may still find snow on the ground (which is great for scenic photos, but less ideal for hiking). Our Alaska cruise departure ports have big personalities and loads of attractions. An elegant and spacious Alaska cruise ship with fresh floral arrangements and garden-inspired décor.

They are quite an awe-inspiring sight to see as they travel in pods, breech, and feed. You’ve got about a 50/50 chance of getting rained or snowed on during excursions. You’ll be very happy if you purchase a quality raincoat and pack clothing you can add or remove in layers. On Winter Solstice (December 21 or 22), the state breaks out of its winter hibernation and begins gaining a few minutes of sunlight each day. By the time Summer Solstice occurs (June 20,21, or 22), travelers to Juneau, Alaska, a common port, will experience a day with 19 hours of sunlight.

Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer specializing in disabled adventure travel. She spent 15 years working for Central Florida theme parks and frequently travels with her disabled father. Fritscher's work can be found in both print and online mediums, including VisualTravelTours.com.

If you want to spot herds of caribou, book an Alaska cruise that puts you in range of Denali National Park. And with salmon runs in full force, you can catch fishing bears in the southeast. Even if you're a seasoned fisherman, we recommend using a local guide to help find you the best fishing spot. On dry land, bears are more common in May, though not as frequently spotted as they are in peak summer. Alternatively, birders might want to time their cruise with the Copper River Shorebird Festival, which takes place early in May in Cordova. Check ahead to make sure your itinerary will stop here, as it's usually only featured on longer 14-day cruises to Alaska.