Alaska
An cruise to Alaska is one of the only way to visit this part of the world. Do you think Alaskan cruises are only for seniors? Make no mistake, there are also many activities that require impeccable physical fitness.
Nature is the center of attraction of this destination. You can take a helicopter tour of the glaciers, a sea excursion to learn more about the life of fishermen and marine species, hikes in the forest to see the beautiful flora and fauna.
When to cruise in Alaska?
The Alaskan cruise season runs from May to September. The high season is from June to August. However, the best time to go is rather subjective, depending on your interests.
June, July and August are the warmest months (don’t expect heatwaves), but they can also be very rainy. To increase the chances of seeing wild animals on excursions, it is better to leave later in the summer.
May is the driest month, but there may be snow on the ground, which is not ideal for those who want to make expeditions to the forest. May and September are the cheapest months, but the offer of shore excursions may be more limited.
One thing is certain, you have to dress in layers and bring clothes to be comfortable exploring in rainy conditions.
Departure ports for Alaska cruises
There are two main itineraries for Alaskan cruises, the Inland Passage and the Gulf of Alaska.
Inland Passage: The routes for the inland passage are round trip from Seattle or Vancouver and have a duration of 7 nights. The inland passage is protected from the sea as the name suggests. So you’ll enjoy a peaceful cruise. In addition, this route is more economical because airfares to Seattle or Vancouver are usually cheaper.
Gulf of Alaska: The Gulf itinerary usually are seven nights one-way cruise between Seattle/Vancouver and Seward/Whittier (ports of entry for Anchorage) and generally visit Hubbard Glacier. These routes also include the ports of the inland passage.
Ports of call
In the inland passage, the main ports of call are Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, but some ships stop at Icy Strait, Haines, Victoria or Vancouver.
In the golf cruises, the ports of Whittier or Seward (Anchorage) and Glacier Bay will also be visited.
Cruise lines in Alaska
Princess, Celebrity and Holland America are the cruise lines that offer the most departures for Alaskan cruises. Norwegian is also present all season with different itineraries.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and luxury cruise lines (Crystal, Oceania, Silversea, Regent) also offer some departures.
More information about Alaska on Wikipedia.