Table Of Content
- For gadget and entertainment fans: Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas
- Gulf of Alaska Cruises: Denali National Park, Kenai Peninsula and More Beautiful Scenery
- Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
- Best for megaresort fans: Ovation of the Seas
- The best Alaskan cruise line for every type of traveler recapped
- Runner up: Princess Cruises
Mountains with waterfalls are everywhere along the cruise. Wildlife is abundant and can be spotted at possibly any moment, including whales and seals. If you want to get out of your comfort zone and try something entirely new, several cruise lines will send you on the adventure of your dreams in Alaska.
For gadget and entertainment fans: Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas
Prices for Alaskan cruises are lower in April, May and September. Due to unpredictable weather, though, there’s a risk of shore excursions being cancelled -- especially boat and helicopter tours. Wet weather aside, late summer months bring the best chances of seeing wildlife on expeditions. These months are also your best bet if you want active fishing trips on a shore excursion. Be Selective on the Ship You Sail (Indoor Areas Are Important)Perhaps nowhere is it more important to pick the right ship for your cruise than when cruising Alaska. Days can range from 75 degrees and sunny to 45 degrees and rainy.
Gulf of Alaska Cruises: Denali National Park, Kenai Peninsula and More Beautiful Scenery
One of the really helpful things on the cruise was the Carnival App which details everything you need to know about what’s happening on board, the daily activities, ship port times, etc. We found this app really helpful to plan what we wanted to do on board. In terms of clothing for an Alaska Cruise, definitely bring warm items and most importantly a windbreaker jacket. Even when the sun is shining and warm (which we were lucky enough to have through the week), the wind on the upper decks can be chilly. One of the best parts of an Alaskan cruise is that there is usually a beautiful landscape to enjoy as you sail so you will want to be on deck for most of it.
Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
I would lean towards the late summer cruise in September when the weather is more likely to be welcoming. I understand that’s all a matter of opinion and it’s easy enough to put on sweaters and jackets. I suppose if you’re interested in views of mountains still covered in snow and that sort of thing... Coming from Ottawa, seeing a lot of snow and ice in early May is not something that particularly excites me. Some ships will have naturalists onboard, particularly in Glacier Bay. Conditions can sometimes prevent ships from reaching the glaciers, particularly in Tracy Arm Fjord.
And because you are at sea level, you get to experience the size of the landscape towering over you. Solo travelers don't always have to pay double to cruise Alaska on their own. The majority of cruise ships cruising to or throughout Alaska depart from Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, Canada; Whittier, Alaska; or Seward, Alaska. Our best weather ones have been in late August and early September. The early May one we went on was actually surprisingly nice.
Other larger luxury ships with all-inclusive rates in Alaska include the 375-cabin Regent Seven Seas Explorer and Silversea’s 298-cabin Silver Muse. These solo cabins get our vote because they're located in a complex where a private lounge encourages mingling. Lone travelers can also meet their shipmates while waiting to hop into a race care on the ship's go-kart track, at a showing of "Jersey Boys" or over a muddled drink at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar.
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Bring some hats, gloves, good walking shoes or boots, and other warm weather gear for your day trips. A rain jacket and umbrella is also advised as Alaska weather can often be overcast and rainy so be prepared for that. I would consider two consecutive 7 days, or the addition of the Land Tour, on a newer ship.
And there is no easier way to experience the area than on a cruise ship. In fact, we have yet to hear anyone that has sailed Alaska say it wasn’t a fantastic experience. Finding a trip for a few hundred dollars like you can to the Caribbean isn’t going to happen. There are some major ways to save money on your cruise to bring the budget down.
Runner up: Princess Cruises
Many cruise lines also travel to additional locations such as Sitka, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, and Haines. Programs like Princess Cruises' Cruisetours take the stress out of planning on-shore excursions and curate incredible itineraries for extensive, luxurious travel across the state. We did the first Alaska cruise of the season, early May, in 2015 and it was wonderful.
That’s why we suggest a larger ship with more covered spaces, such as indoor pools and covered recreation areas. These provide more areas to enjoy instead of feeling “stuck” inside the ship while you’re sailing. Airfare is notoriously volatile, but you can expect the price tag to be high. For now at least, the days of cheap plane tickets seem to be over.
First things first, before you even start thinking about what items to pack for your Alaska cruise you probably are wondering if you can take a suitcase, or if you should have a soft bag for a cruise. Cruise cabins are not huge, but they are well designed to maximise the space and provide large wardrobes, plenty of drawers and usually space to store your hard shell suitcases. The only down side is that some of your Glacier days may be hampered by too much ice. We love to cruise to Alaska in May for all of the reasons people have mentioned (weather, price, crowds, etc). You will miss some things (such as salmon runs) but IMO it is worth it.
The vibe onboard these ships is also more personalized due to their limited capacity. 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.
• Book with your card to get automatic travel protections for your cruise. Receive 60,000 online bonus points - a $600 value - after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Like Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess is among the few companies with permission to sail in Glacier Bay. Here are some of the best Alaska cruises based on what interests you most. King's Blues Club, play a game of pickleball on the outer deck or enjoy fine dining at numerous restaurants serving sushi and Asian cuisine, steak, seafood, Italian fare and Dutch treats.
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. Almost all Gulf of Alaska cruises visit to Hubbard Glacier and spend some time scenic cruising in College Fjord. An Alaska cruise from Seattle will visit the Inside Passage but tends to favor the open (and frequently bumpier) Pacific Ocean.
If you’ve taken a cruise to the Caribbean, then you know that once a ship leaves port, there isn’t much to see except open water. On a cruise to Alaska, apart from the day at sea to get there and the day at sea to return home, there is always something spectacular waiting. On Holland America Koningsdam, which sails in Alaska, you will find a subset of solo cabins with pricing for one, too. Also, this is the only cruise line to allow passengers to share a cabin with someone of the same sex they do not know and still pay the solo cabin rate. Another great option for finding a good cruise deal is to book an open-jaw cruise.
That’s because no matter how many photos or videos you see, it simply doesn’t do it justice. And even if you flew into the state to visit, you’d be relatively constricted in getting around. Put simply, sailing to Alaska gives an experience that you don’t get anywhere else. • Redeem miles as a statement credit to cover spending on cruises.
