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This was one of my favorite tours that I did during my 2 Alaska cruises. The thing about wildlife watching tours is that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed! Another whale watching tour company I’ve seen recommended a lot is Harv and Marv. Whale watching tours are one of the most popular types of tours during an Alaska cruise.
Best Short Hikes in Skagway
The trips last about four hours, including transfer time from your cruise ship to the whale-watching boat. To get the most out of an Alaska cruise, you'll want to sign up for a tour in most if not all of the ports you visit. You'll be looking for the best Alaska shore excursions that get you out into the Alaska backcountry. Disney offers the 5-Glacier Seaplane Exploration that explores the Juneau icefield and five of its glaciers. Your seaplane journey takes you over the Tongass National Forest before you soar over Norris, Hole-In-The-Wall, Taku, and the East and West Twin glaciers. Wildlife spotting is very likely; keep on the lookout for eagles, bears, and moose.
Explore Further
Going on an Alaska cruise – a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see one of the world’s beautiful natural destinations. It’s an unforgettable experience, and even tops my Alaska bucket list! Trust me that I know how popular Alaska cruising is – I get questions about it all the time! That’s why I started working on a series of posts about the best Alaska cruise excursions in each port. 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. Ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are each small cities with their own personalities.
Glacier View Sea Kayak
You might be participating in more daring activities than normal, such as flying in helicopters, hiking across glaciers, kayaking icy waters or zip lining through forests. Similarly, it's always best to book departing flights home for the afternoon in case the ship is delayed returning to port or is not cleared by authorities on time. Big ships often have more for kids to do on board, which might be more important than where the ship goes.
Mendenhall Glacier Tour - Juneau
Don’t wait any longer, riding the world's longest zip line in Alaska will be an experience you'll never forget while on your next Alaskan mountain adventure. For all the beer lovers planning an Alaskan cruise vacation, we’ve curated the ultimate zythophile guide to visiting 5 of the best craft breweries in Alaska. We’ve curated the ultimate guide to visiting some of the most romantic destinations to vacation for couples. Find the most Instagrammable places for your next vacation cruise to Alaska.
The nutrient-rich waters here are a haven for humpback whales, orcas, and a plethora of sea creatures. An excursion in these waters promises not just sightings but a full-on display of these majestic creatures breaching and playing. Alongside whales, keep an eye out for playful sea lions and other marine life. The experience is enhanced with knowledgeable guides sharing insights about the local ecosystem and wildlife.
The 10 Best Alaskan Shore Excursions
Take in Alaska's glaciers and ice fields from above during this Princess Cruises excursion. Experienced climbing guides will meet you at your ship and drive you up the Klondike Highway to an area of granite cliffs that's the perfect playground for beginner and more seasoned climbers alike. Upon arrival, the guides provide you with all the gear you need — climbing shoes, helmets and harnesses — for a safe scramble up a 70-foot-high wall. They'll also offer plenty of instruction (and encouragement) plus a snack of trail mix and hot chocolate.
27 First time Alaska cruise tips (2024) Cruise.Blog - Cruise Blog
27 First time Alaska cruise tips ( Cruise.Blog.
Posted: Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It is such a peaceful place and you’ll most likely only be sharing it with your small tour group. Our boys especially loved having a rock skipping contest at the lake. Ketchikan Creek which runs through Creek Street is one of the best places to see spawning salmon in the summer months. These locations provide different opportunities to admire beautifully carved totem poles and discover the fascinating world of Native American art and culture. To learn about the indigenous culture, take an excursion to Saxman Native Village, Totem Heritage Center, or Totem Bight State Park.
Don't be surprised if you feel seasick in Alaska's waters, even if no other cruise has made you feel that way. Cruising through the Inside Passage is generally calm, but the open waters of the Pacific Ocean can be choppy. The Sitka, Alaska Raptor Center is home to view birds of prey, including bald eagles, up close.
The Scenic Train and Rafting excursion delivers an inspired eight-hour shore tour, beginning with a train ride on the Alaskan Railroad through the vast wilderness. Gaze out windows, eying otherworldly views of the Placer River Valley and soaring peaks of Spencer Glacier, while enjoying a box lunch. Then meet guides to go rafting, paddling between dramatic icebergs and down the serene and scenic Placer River. People who know me know that I love talking about Alaska port towns. This isn't just because I spent more than two decades writing about Alaska and other cruise destinations for major newspapers.
Some past cruisers don’t love the tribal dance (saying it’s “not authentic” which I’ll come back to in a minute…) and some thought the meal was too casual for the price. You can read more about each of these in my guide for how to choose Alaska cruise excursions; then you’ll see why I picked each of the best Alaska cruise excursions in the cruise port below. One of the most popular excursions in Alaska from a cruise ship is the White Pass train. You can do a helicopter tour in Skagway to see the Juneau icefield, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. It’s important to emphasize the SNOW part, because there are also dog sledding tours in the summer that are not on snow. This once-in-a-lifetime wildlife expedition from the port of Ketchikan features the awe-inspiring black bears of southeast Alaska.
On a cruisetour, you'll sail a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska. Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park. When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and rain, and the price. Cruises at the beginning (April and May) and end (September and October) of Alaska's cruise season are generally a bit cheaper than those in June, July and August. The city of Victoria was named after Queen Victoria, and it is deeply rooted in its British colonial history.
It is named after Joe Juneau, one of the prospectors who made the initial discovery of gold. The first stop on this cruise will be in Juneau, the enchanting capital city of Alaska. Our mission is to craft new narratives around the world that are focused on the intersection of cruise travel and the upcoming generation. The Alaska Railroad is one of the most scenic train journeys in the US.
It definitely saves time before morning excursions and can provide a bit of downtime in your cabin for lunch or dinner on occasion. This is not a cruise you want to sleep through — and even if that's your plan, you may have difficulty accomplishing it. Long hours of daylight, excursions and glacier viewings that start early and even your own fear of missing out can have you out of bed early and staying up later than you might on any other cruise. You can solve that problem with a pair of lightweight binoculars. They're also useful for getting a close-up view of glaciers or spotting eagles in port.
The personalized service and all-inclusive nature of luxury voyages may also be attractive to anyone celebrating a milestone, such as an anniversary, big birthday or retirement. You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations may include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. In the morning, park rangers will board the cruise ship where they’ll spend the day providing insightful commentary and enriching your experience with their knowledge of the region’s ecology. Alaska might not be the first place that comes to mind for snorkeling, but it offers an unexpectedly mesmerizing underwater experience.
8 great vacations that combine a cruise and a train trip - The Points Guy
8 great vacations that combine a cruise and a train trip.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You can even experience a dog sledding tour on the Mendenhall Glacier, where you’ll take a helicopter to the glacier and then mush through the breathtaking Alaska wilderness. Juneau, Alaska's capital, offers a vibrant mix of nature and culture. A self-guided tour can take you through historic downtown, bustling with shops, galleries, and eateries. Highlights include a visit to the Alaskan Brewing Company, where you can sample locally crafted beers. Culinary adventurers should not miss the chance to try an oxtail or ox mual burger, a unique twist on American comfort food, perfectly paired with a cold local brew. Ketchikan, known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World,' provides a deep-sea fishing experience like no other.
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