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Activity highlights in Juneau include whale watching, exploring Mendenhall Glacier, and riding the Goldbelt Tramway up Mount Roberts. Don’t forget to taste local seafood, either, with Juneau’s king crabs, salmon, and halibut among the best in the world. Both ships make their required Canadian port of call at Victoria, sometimes mid-day, but often in the evening. Ovation's itineraries include as many as four sea days when you count the scenic cruising days.
GLACIERS WILL MOVE YOU
While at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, visitors can enjoy walking trails, the spectacular Nugget Waterfall, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Alaska’s weather conditions may lead to high seas, storms, and heavy winds, especially if you are traveling during the shoulder season in early May or late September. The day you planned in Sitka, as an example, could be replaced by a stop in Ketchikan.
Try local food
While there’s no right or wrong direction to book for a one-way cruise, a southbound itinerary may be more relaxing. The popular “train excursion” on an Alaska cruise is the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, and it’s located in Skagway, Alaska. If you’re wondering whether you really need to pack accessories like gloves and a hat, we’d recommend putting them into your suitcase. These items are small and you may be thankful to have them in your cabin during the sailing. Kids will still enjoy an Alaska cruise on a Radiance Class ship, but there is a far greater amount of kid-friendly activities on Quantum Class vessels. Ships departing Seattle first travel along the west coast of Vancouver Island in the open ocean instead of through the Inside Passage.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Alaska Cruises Insider
Be sure to consult the Royal Caribbean website or your travel professional for further assistance with itinerary options and booking. The two Radiance Class ships will offer cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to the best Alaska glaciers or a shopping spree downtown, all the towns provide a variety of adventurous activities. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as a helicopter tour over Alaska's sprawling landscapes.
If you want to see the most authentic and exotic views of Alaska, an open jaw sailing from Anchorage or Vancouver is what you want. Cruises from Seattle tend to visit the more common ports, such as Juneau and Skagway, whereas cruises that begin in Anchorage or Vancouver get to visit more remote ports. Be sure to consider where your cruise begins and ends the sailing before booking. If you have never cruised to Alaska before, you may find the decision of which ship, embarkation port, and itinerary a tough decision. There are many considerations when choosing an Alaska cruise, but ultimately the decision may come down to budget, convenience, and time.
Book shore excursions far in advance
I've spent over 100 nights on cruise ships, and these are my biggest cruising regrets to avoid making - Royal Caribbean Blog
I've spent over 100 nights on cruise ships, and these are my biggest cruising regrets to avoid making.
Posted: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Most people going on an Alaska cruise are most interested in the destinations, with the ship choice a secondary consideration. Given the long hours spent in port, having a ton of activities or whizz-bang features may not be as important. Like any cruise ship, there may be a better ship choice for your family depending on what you are looking to do and experience as part of your vacation. That being said, it’s possible (though not guaranteed) to see Alaska’s northern lights in September, which is a plus for those planning an Alaska cruise in the fall. As days become shorter and temperatures cool down, cruise crowds and prices tend to be lower.
Smaller ships tend to sail from Vancouver whereas larger ships sail out of Seattle. This is due to the fact that Quantum Class ships are unable to fit under Vancouver’s Lion Gate Bridge outside of a very low-tide. Therefore, ships like Radiance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas sail out of Vancouver instead.
BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS
Discover the top tips for planning a cruise to Alaska and uncover the best times of the year to spot Alaskas wildlife, locate must-see attractions, find Alaskan cruise deals and more. On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens. There's nothing like seeing these behemoths hurl themselves out of the water, to splash back into the sea. Don't pass up an opportunity to watch these giants feed and play in the water. While some travel guides recommend bringing a fancy camera on an Alaska cruise to capture the state’s scenery, this is not totally necessary.
What are good excursions to do that are not booked with the cruise line?
The cruise line will send four cruise ships to Alaska in 2023, matching the amount of ships it has been sending to the region in the years prior. You’ll need your rest between adventures, which is why Royal Caribbean® overnights in the best accommodations in the heart of every destination. Transportation by deluxe motor coach and in the luxury glass-domed railcars of the Wilderness Express is also included, so you can travel in comfort on your way to each new experience. Local connections are the difference between a good trip and a truly memorable one. And Royal Caribbean Cruise Tours are guided by a local Adventure Specialist who act as guides, historians and concierges. We’ve curated the ultimate guide to visiting some of the most romantic destinations to vacation for couples.
Visiting the Butchart Gardens is a popular destination in Victoria, where visitors can wander among 55 acres of floral display that date back to 1904. Getting close to nature and wildlife is recommended while in Icy Strait Point, with whale watching and ziplining popular activities to book. Cultural excursions are another option, where guests can learn more about the Huna Tlingit people through song and dance at Icy Strait Point’s Native Heritage Center Theater. Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas both sail 7-night round-trip cruises from Seattle. Though not Royal Caribbean's largest class of ships, both carry between 4,100 and 4,900 passengers, depending on how many berths are filled.
If your cruise ends in Seward, you’ll want to schedule even more time to catch your flight, as it takes several hours to get to Anchorage from Seward. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best free and low-cost activities to do in each Alaska cruise port, which should help give you some ideas. The 2024 Alaska cruise season is quickly approaching, and we’re sharing 24 of our most helpful Alaska cruise tips that you need to follow. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.
And when you combine your seven-night sailing with Alaska CruiseTours, you’ll explore the best of the Last Frontier — on land and sea. Like hiking through the rugged wilderness, dog sledding, and spotting whales in the wild. Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to glaciers or a shopping spree downtown, the towns along Alaska's inside passage provide a variety of adventurous activities. Alaska cruise ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state.
With over three acres of windows and glass exterior viewing lifts, 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. All Alaska cruises from Seattle must also include a port stop in a country outside of the United States.
One benefit of cruising to Alaska from Seattle is that Royal Caribbean sends its newer, bigger cruise ships to the city each summer season. Activities like bumper cars, indoor skydiving, surfing simulators, and the latest and greatest of entertainment, bars, and dining are available on these newer ships. Some cruise lines may offer longer sailings from Seattle, such as day cruises visiting more ports and glaciers, but this is not offered on Royal Caribbean. Quantum of the Seas® joins sister ship Ovation of the Seas® in Seattle for our biggest, boldest Alaska season ever.
Kayaking, hiking, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, and walking through downtown are all great options for a day in Ketchikan as well. It has far fewer dining options, relying on Chops Grille to satisfy the need for specialty dining. There are spaces that can feel crowded on smaller ships, even though they carry fewer passengers. The Radiance ships have ample scenery-watching space, plenty of it protected from the elements.
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