Cruise season in Alaska runs from late April to early October but within that time frame, is one time better than another to book your cruise? Spend seven days traveling from Vancouver, B.C. Best You'll also notice icebergs ranging from a few inches tall to three stories floating by your Princess Cruises ship. Cruises Snap those babies up just come prepared with a list of second and third choices of excursions, just in case. Alaska cruise Offering a variety of voyages that last 5, 6 or 7 You can unsubscribe at any time. Best Alaska Cruises for Glacier Viewing Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. For many, an Alaska cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Top everything with caps, knit hats, earmuffs and gloves. You can explore a section of it on a cruise with Royal Caribbean, which offer some of the cheapest Alaska cruise rates. But, if you are aiming to see the northern lights, September might be the perfect time as the nights are generally darker during this time, providing maximum chances to view the northern lights. She prefers shore excursions involving history, wine or wildlife. Begin your journey to the state's most amazing glacier formations as well as many other notable attractions along the way. Hubbard Glacier. Best Shore Excursions On An Alaskan Cruise, Best bear viewing mid-June through end of August. You asked your most pressing Alaska cruise questions, and today, were answering each and every one. Begin your journey to the state's most amazing glacier formations as well as many other notable attractions along the way! Age-old glaciers like Dawes or Mendenhall give way to meandering fjords all throughout Alaska. When is the best time to cruise to Alaska for maximum daylight? This means whales have to travel only about a quarter of the distance to be close to Seward compared to whittier (or a better way to say it is that our boats have to go about a quarter of the distance to reach more common whale waters). It is a 2.5-hour drive (or 4.25-hour train ride) from Anchorage. WebFeatured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- travel back to the Ice Ages with Alaska's original glacier helicopter tour! Read more in my Privacy Policy. 8 Reasons to Choose Princess Cruises to Alaska - Cruise Critic Here are eight reasons why Princess cruises to Alaska should be on everyone's bucket list. So don't be surprised if you find the Cape [], Top 5 Things to do in Aruba on Your Cruise, Book Cruises from Aruba The northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier Cruise goes beyond most Alaska cruises itineraries. northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier Cruise, Up to $400 OBC and EXCLUSIVE Savings + FREE Drinks, Tips, and WiFi, 75% Off 2nd Guest + Save Up to $800 + Up to $800 Onboard Credit + FREE Drinks, Tips, and WiFi. See enormous glaciers up close on Zodiac or kayak excursions, guided by expedition experts and launched directly from the ship. First of all, there are no day cruises in Whittier that focus specifically on whale watching. Glacier Early- and late-season cruises might be unable to access the glaciers on their itineraries due to ice floes. They have some the greatest Alaska cruise itineraries available. Even the bays can churn up quickly during summer storms. Norwegian Cruise Line's Haven Concierge Level Upgrade is beyond the best! Specifically, there are 38 glaciers in Kenai Fjords and over 100 in Prince William Sound. By continuing to browse the site you are From a massive glacier in Alaska to molten lava tubes in Hawaii and the most surreal canyons in Utah, read on to find the next best natural wonder that should be on your must-see bucket list. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Alaska Cruise in July: Alaska in July Is the Best Month to Spot Wildlife. An on-board expedition team consists of a marine biologist, bear biologist, photographer, historian and geologist, all of whom offer invaluable insights during kayak excursions or hiking trips. WebAlaska Cruises | Best Glaciers To See By Ship | ALASKA.ORG Expert Advice Alaska Cruise Tips Best Time To Cruise Alaska Alaska Shore Excursions Book your shore excursions independently. If youre flying in or out of Anchorage, know that all transportation options include several hours of travel from the ports of Seward and Whittier; you might consider overnighting in Anchorage either pre-or post-cruise to play it safe. Youll also notice that when comparing cruises between the two waterways, any of the Kenai Fjords cruises that mention glaciers do it as part of a wildlife viewing cruise, whereas the most common Prince William Sound cruise is literally called the 26 Glacier Cruise. Because of its sheer size, it offers all possible entertainment types and amenities you can expect on a cruise ship. The main difference between the two is that the NW tour focuses more on potential for sealife/whales while the Holgate/Aialik one will have more glacier time. This makes them a fantastic choice for 10-day sailings along most of West Coast of the USA and Canada. Your email address will not be published. Hiking on the Best Glaciers in Alaska: Take an Adventure Cruise By Robert Schrader | Published on March 26, 2022 As I walked on top the slick, white ice of one of the best glaciers in Alaska to tour , one thing surprised me in particular: how safe I felt. If you have decided to go on an Alaskan cruise, check out the best places to visit to make your trip memorable. If nature attracts you and you wish to experience it in its purest form, the beaches in Cape Town are what you need. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. I especially like puffy vests and jackets for Alaska. If this all sounds like fun to you, go ahead and check out the following best Alaska cruises on offer right now. Red Kayak Floating Among Icebergs ICY EXPEDITIONS Discover several options in the category of best cruise line for Alaska on a budget. Thanks. 5. Categories Outdoor Activities Extreme Sports In the Air Air Tours Helicopter Tours Seaplane Tours Nature and Wildlife Tours One question I get asked often is whether you can see whales and other wildlife from the ship. Many of the sailings to Alaska center on the states major ports of call, like Juneau and Sitka. For a luxury cruise to Alaska, it is hard to beat Seabourns offerings. After all, I saw glaciers all the time growing up in Alaska. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. For a lot of cruisers, mid-June through mid-July is the peak season, because of optimum weather and daylight. When is the best time to cruise to Alaska for salmon fishing? Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. How much time you spend on the water, on the ship or on land, however, is up to youtheres plenty to choose from. Seeing glaciers is one of the experiences I think most Alaskans overlook or underestimate how much visitors enjoy. Youll travel from Vancouver in British Columbia to Seward, Alaska, along a long stretch of stunning subarctic coastline. They are currently the only Alaska cruise line to offer their guests the opportunity to explore the Yukon wilderness. If youre looking to get pampered and spoiled during your cruise to Alaska, theres arguably no better cruise line than Seabourn, one of the worlds top luxury cruise lines. As such, youll see twice as much in the same time as 7-night return cruises to Alaska! Required fields are marked *. Numerous picturesque hiking trails make Sitka one of the best places to visit on an Alaska cruise. I grew up in Alaska, and though my family has since moved away, I try to visit at least once per year (twice in 2021!). Each summer, scads of ships cruise Alaskas coastal waterways, ranging from 12-person expedition-style sailings to mega-ships with passenger numbers into the thousands. Because theyre not hurrying to get to a port on time, their schedules are looser than those of large-scale ships, so if a pod of orcas is spotted, they can idle and watch them a little longer. Explore Further. That's the kind of joy you cruise to Alaska to experience. 26 Glacier Cruise Review: The Best Way to See Glaciers - Valerie This time is caribou and moose mating season, salmon runs are at their peak, fall foliage is glorious, and there are no more bugs. After a day at sea, the first stop is St. Matthew Island, in the Bering Sea, almost equidistant from mainland Alaska and Russia. Therefore, theres really no best side to stay on a cruise to Alaska. Ketchikan, Alaska. Achieve that by choosing an itinerary that gets you to the things you want to see and do, shopping early for excursions (especially the ones you have your heart set on), and packing gear and clothes that will keep you comfy during your Alaska adventure. Bailey Berg is the associate travel news editor at AFAR, where she covers breaking news, trends, tips, sustainability, the outdoors, and more. WebAlaska Cruises | Best Glaciers To See By Ship | ALASKA.ORG Expert Advice Alaska Cruise Tips Best Time To Cruise Alaska Alaska Shore Excursions Book your shore Its also one of the more family-friendly lines sailing in Alaska, considering there are kids clubs and programming specifically geared at youngsters. Most of their voyages start in Vancouver, British Columbia, but where they end depends on you. WebBest Glaciers On An Alaska Cruise. I've used these for years, with only one failure on a rather small ship. Tell us about the cruise or deal you are interested in. WebFar and away the most popular Alaska glacier tours are half-day wildlife and glacier cruises into either Prince William Sound from Whittier or Kenai Fjords from Seward. Going on a lavish cruise tour can be an incredibly exciting way to spend some time away. And because its so small, passengers can weigh in on the daily itinerary, perhaps opting to skip a hike in favor of more time photographing the face of a glacier or watching juvenile humpback whales learn to breach. Dont forget to taste local seafood, either, with Juneaus king crabs, salmon, and halibut among the best in the world. Having []. It's worse in mid-summer, but even on shoulder season sailings, you may not find space on the excursions you hoped to do if you wait until you're on the ship to book. In terms of destinations, this is one of the absolute best Alaska cruises you can do this season, taking in many Alaska cruise locations that other cruise lines dont visit. From camping to cruising, she's been writing about travel for 30-plus years. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Additionally, Celebritys Alaska cruisetours are amazing trips that combine a 7-night cruise and a land-based tour to remote inland lodges and parks. Alaska does. It is located at the head of Passage Canal in Prince William Sound, roughly 60 miles south of Anchorage. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. You can solve that problem with a pair of lightweight binoculars. Only select cruise Related: Can you use your cellphone on a cruise? On the other hand, Seward is much larger and home to roughly 2,773 people. That said, however, the average starting price of the best Alaska cruises discussed in this post is $1,565 per person. Secondly, Whittier is located much further inland, about 75 nautical miles from the ocean, where whales enter Prince William Sound. Day 4: Denali NP 9:34 pm. Privacy Policies You dont want to screw it up because you might not get the chance for a do-over. Best Alaska Cruises for Glacier Viewing If your Alaska travel plans include a cruise, you might find yourself wondering about the fact that some cruise companies start and end in Whittier (Princess & Holland America), while others have a terminal in Seward (Royal Caribbean, also Holland America, Celebrity, Silversea, and Regent Seven Seas). Youll want to book at the peak of the salmon fishing season, from mid-June to mid-August. Whether youre in that half of prospective visitors or not, youre likely doing research to try and see whales, glaciers, or both and might be getting confused about where Whittier or Seward to book the best cruise to do that. Roughly 1.5 million people visit Alaska on a cruise ship each season, according to the Cruise Line International Association Alaska. There are some glaciers you can drive to, but very few that you can stroll to. Inside Passage (Cruising) Vancouver, British Columbia. Which one will you visit first? These sailings take place on the 264-passenger LAustral, a high-end expedition-style ship that boasts a theater, gym, spa (with hammam), panoramic lounge, and pool. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. That includes hearing the white thunder of a glacier calving into the ocean and watching the joyful splash of a whale breaching above it plus so many others. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. 2023 AFAR Media.