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With exclusive access to some of the most famous glaciers — including Glacier Bay National Park — Princess offers a close-up, undisturbed view to spectacular scenery and adored wildlife. Sail into sheer serenity amidst the Inside Passage on an Alaska cruise from Princess. The Inside Passage is one of the most scenic and popular cruise routes in Alaska. It stretches along the southeastern coast of Alaska, encompassing a network of protected waterways, islands, fjords, and forests.
Fishing
Feel the pioneer spirit of Alaska, from First Nations tribes to early Russian settlers to Gold Rush prospectors. These waters are also home to a huge population of whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises and puffins. Bald eagles and seabirds often fly overhead— and Admiralty Island is the best spot for glimpsing bears. From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess.
Cruises
The alternate cruise itinerary will take you past Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier and make an additional stop in Haines. From there, be whisked away into Victoria B.C. With fantasy-like gardens and storybook homes, you’ll experience first-hand the old-school charm of this historic port. Wrap up your adventure by stopping in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan for the best Alaska cruise experience. From the natural wonders of Glacier Bay National Park to the historic charm of each port, our best Alaska cruises have a lot to offer. Every turn awards unparalleled views of Alaska’s monumental glaciers, majestic wildlife and picturesque scenery.
Ideal for Adventurers
The terminals across the entire port feature relatively limited facilities, but you can find several public restrooms and vending machines. Unfortunately, the port does not offer free Wi-Fi as of yet, but due to the port’s proximity to downtown Skagway, you shouldn’t have any problem finding an Internet connection if you need it. With that said, if you do depart from Skagway, the most popular way to travel to the town is to take a roughly 45-minute commuter flight from Juneau, Alaska. Some will also choose to fly into Whitehorse, Canada, then drive the 110-mile journey along the Alaska Highway. Unlike those in Anchorage and Juneau, Alaska, the Skagway Airport does not have the runway facilities needed to deal with larger planes. This is one of the main reasons why most Alaskan cruises list Skagway Cruise Port as a port of call rather than their original departure point.
On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens. Enjoy an insider’s guide to discovering the best family cruises for your next vacation onboard Brilliance of the Seas. Sail into the Last Frontier from Seward or Vancouver onboard Radiance of the Seas®. With over three acres of windows and glass exterior viewing elevators, you can watch for whales along Alaska’s Inside Passage when you aren’t wandering wilderness paths from Ketchikan to Juneau. And for the ultimate outdoor adventure, take a CruiseTour into Alaska’s interior where you can hang with huskies in Denali, and scale glaciers in Alyeska. Head to Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward for a whale watching tour.
It's so far from the rest of the mainland U.S. that it's become a bucket list destination, especially for travelers looking to visit each of the 50 states. Alaska might be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it's rugged and can be tricky to get around. Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to gold rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury. Encompassed by tranquil waters, one moment you can be sailing a wide bay of barrier islands and the next you’re cruising through a narrow waterway flanked by towering forested walls. That’s the splendid spectacle of these serene landscapes — the scenery is constantly changing, from picturesque shores to friendly coastal towns. The park is home to remnants of ancient native cultures, historic mining sites, and early explorers’ trails.
Whether you're traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports won't disappoint. These ships often feature complimentary shore excursions, kayaks and bikes for guest use and onboard scientists and naturalists. Most big-ship and luxury cruise lines send at least one cruise ship to Alaska every summer. 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.
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.
Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Alaska Inside Passage Cruise Ports
Temperatures can range from 25° to 45°F, but you can also expect a mix of rain and snow. 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. As mentioned, Skagway Cruise Port features three distinct docks, each with several terminals.
Great experiences from the great land
That’s why we carefully crafted our Inside Passage roundtrip and one-way cruise itineraries so you can experience just that. Roundtrip voyages include one glacier viewing with four ports of call. One-way itineraries offer two glacier viewings and three ports of call.
The historic train can even pick up passengers at their cruise ship terminal. Each terminal and pier is also wheelchair accessible, so passengers with mobility needs will not encounter any issues navigating the port. Those needing assistance reaching the Skagway downtown area can take a round-trip shuttle service from the port’s drop-off and pick-up zone. The shuttle operates year-round and only costs five dollars for an all-day pass. They’re based on our extensive firsthand experiences exploring Alaska both by land and sea and researching the most promising Alaska cruise itineraries for the upcoming 2024 season. The most popular ports of departure for Alaska cruises are Seattle and Vancouver.
This 3-milelong village is known as Alaska’s First City for its location and outstanding natural beauty. Hike through ancient spruce forests, visit museums dedicated to the Native Tlingit heritage and keep an eye out for bald eagles soaring overhead in Haines. If you’re lucky, you might be blessed with a little extra time and perhaps a little extra money. If so, a more extended cruise can provide a memorable trip free of the compromise that shorter journeys often demand.
Each Alaska cruise route offers its own set of natural wonders and cultural highlights, ensuring that every traveler can find their perfect itinerary. From the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay, each route presents an opportunity to discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Alaska. The bridge takes about one hour to drive on the Klondike Highway, so most cruise passengers will visit by booking a tour excursion. These guided excursions are filled with other stops and offer plenty of opportunities to see Alaska’s iconic wildlife. Visiting Skagway offers cruise passengers a wide range of outdoor adventure and exploration opportunities. Beyond Skagway’s small-town charm and famed ties to the Gold Rush Era, the surrounding area offers breathtaking views of the rugged Alaskan wilderness.
You can also take a panoramic helicopter flight to land on Norris Glacier and mush with a dog sled team. Each experience is guaranteed to be a long-cherished family adventure. Whether you explore the unspoiled wilderness by ATV land cruiser, on a kayaking adventure, or a speedy ocean raft, you’re sure to come away with lifetime memories and Instagram-worthy photos. Sail through Endicott Arm Fjord’s deep blue glacial waters while watching icebergs drift by, and keep a lookout for Steller sea lions and their pups. At the 600-foot-tall Dawes Glacier, see and hear the spectacular calving, as huge chunks of the glacier shear off and land in the water with a thundering crash. Whether you're a history buff or a nature nut, there are numerous bucket list destinations to experience while traveling on your Alaska cruise vacation.
The Vancouver to Seward journey is a great way to take in as much of what Alaska has to offer in the shortest possible time. The Inside Passage is a coastal route that weaves between the islands of the Pacific North West. Steaming north from Vancouver or Seattle, the course takes you through some truly stunning scenery.
That’s why we tell you what to take into account and consider carefully before you press the “buy cruise” button on the website of the selected cruise line operator. As for viewing location hotspots, Anchorage offers the best odds of the ports we visit. A dark, clear night with no cloud cover provides the best viewing conditions, as does getting away from sources of man-made light.
Bears lumber from the forested coastline in search of berries, trout, and other tasty treats. Caribou, elk, and moose throw wary eyes at packs of roaming gray wolves. Dall sheep share the highlands with over 300 varieties of nesting birds. Fjords, dense with rainforest, tunnel their way inland towards sheets of ice as clear as glass. Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience.
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