Table Of Content
If you’ve never visited before, you’re probably wondering when is the best time to cruise to Alaska. As your ship sails away from each port of call in Alaska, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Inside Passage, and you won’t want to miss sailaway each evening. However, sailaway times often overlap with the early dining time, meaning you’ll miss these scenic sailings if you're in the Main Dining Room.
Juneau had a record-breaking cruise season last year. This year should be about the same. - Alaska Public Media News
Juneau had a record-breaking cruise season last year. This year should be about the same..
Posted: Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Best Shore Excursions On An Alaskan Cruise
Embarking and disembarking in Seattle or Vancouver can make air travel easier and cheaper than one-way Alaska cruises, which require flights to smaller, more expensive airports in Alaska. Luxury cruises to Alaska on smaller ships can be a great option for those looking to pair remote wilderness with a bit of pampering. Your best high-end bets are Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar. September offers the best possibility for cruisers to catch the Northern Lights in Alaska.
Order essentials ahead of time, like binoculars and motion-sickness remedies
The tour portion can be anywhere from two to six nights long and take you deep into the Alaskan wilderness, where you’ll explore small mountain towns and Denali National Park and Preserve. To explore even more of the natural wonders of Alaska, consider a cruisetour. A cruisetour is a vacation that combines a full-length cruise (seven nights or longer) with an escorted tour on land before or after the cruise. Schools are still in session in May and September, so fewer families are traveling. Also, many cruise passengers prefer to travel to Alaska in the warmer weather, so crowds on both sea and land tend to thin out.
When is the best time to see Alaska’s glaciers?
The fun continues the minute cruisers disembark in each port, with excursions ranging from dogsledding to private helicopter tours. Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this. While on board a Caribbean sailing with the cruise line, I had the chance to indulge in this chef- and sommelier-led multi-course food and wine pairing adventure. Four years later, I still find myself dreaming of the delicious circular-shaped dessert known as “The World” — the perfect combo of peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel gelato).
The cruise season beefs up in June, with the number of ships growing and the season in full swing by the end of the month. The midnight sun means many hours of daylight, especially on June 20, the longest day of the year — when you'll have to stay up late to see any darkness at all. After a long winter, Alaska begins to wake up in April, and that includes the wildlife. Small-ship cruise lines such as Lindblad Expeditions and UnCruise Adventures have sailings into the wilderness, where you might spot bears emerging from their slumber and admire huge waterfalls fueled by the snowmelt. A few big ships, such as the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss out of Seattle, begin their season this month with discounted early season pricing.
Travellers are going wild for these new Alaska cruises - Escape
Travellers are going wild for these new Alaska cruises.
Posted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It's located at the base of Mount Juneau, and you can only get there via boat or small plane — even residents have to bring their cars to Juneau via ferry. Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. Gulf of Alaska sailings — especially those in late August and September — can encounter rough seas in the gulf portion of the voyage.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska
Some of the shore excursions you can experience when going on an Alaska cruise with kids include hiking the Tongass forest, whale-watching tours, kayaking, and learning about Tlingit culture. For these peak season Alaska cruise routes, it’s advisable to book early so you get the best stateroom. Booking a veranda stateroom ensures that you’ll have your own private space to see glaciers during your cruise. Look for reduced fares when booking a cruise to Alaska in late shoulder season (September) with the same travel benefits of still fine but changing weather. During May cruises to Alaska, it’s still on the cold side (40 to 53 degrees), so you may find the state’s wildlife just emerging. The weather may also play a role in your cruise ship’s route, as some areas may still be unpassable with ice.
Alaskan Cruise Month-By-Month Guide
You also might see fuzzy harbor seal pups and sea lion pups (born in June and July) warming themselves on rocks with their mothers. Add high-powered binoculars to your Alaska packing list to ensure that you get to see all of the wildlife possible. Humpback whales have yet to begin their migration to warmer waters, so you will still be able to see them, especially in early August. In August, the wildlife can sense that winter is on its way, and activity picks up to prepare for the months of cold, snow, and darkness. By the end of August, the sunrise and sunset times in Alaska are pretty close to “normal” times for most states in the USA. You might feel like you aren’t getting the true Alaskan “Midnight Sun” experience this month.
More Royal Caribbean
Both have fantastic itineraries that take passengers not only to the Inside Passage, but also Anchorage, Denali National Park, the Yukon, Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Some lines also offer Alaska cruisetours that venture into Canada's Yukon, including a few Holland America tours that combine half a cruise with a cruisetour that starts or ends in Skagway. 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.
For these itineraries, you'll need to fly into or out of Anchorage and take a train or bus to/from the cruise departure ports, which can take an hour or two. Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think. You can also look for a last-minute Alaska cruise deal, though keep in mind that with Alaska's cruise season growing longer, interest in Alaska September cruises is rising. You will find local asparagus on some menus in southeast towns later in the month, and fiddlehead season also begins in Alaska in May.
The captain of the ship nimbly repositioned us, giving both the port and starboard sides prime viewing, at a safe and respectful distance from the animals. With binoculars, cameras, and phones at the ready, the passengers and crew aboard UnCruise Adventures' 86-guest S.S. Legacy settled in for what turned out to be an hour-long private show by a juvenile humpback who had migrated from Hawaii to spend the summer in the nutrient-rich Alaskan waters.
Alaska cruises offer a wide range of activities in port, with options for active travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and shoppers. Whether you're traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports won't disappoint. Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean all have extensive kids clubs aboard their ships that cater to all ages, from babies to teens. Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival.
No comments:
Post a Comment