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Norwegian Jewel is another mid-sized mainstream cruise ship offering cruises to Alaska. Similar to Princess, there are actually a number of ships you can choose from for an Alaskan NCL cruise, but Jewel is one of the highest-ranked NCL ships overall too. Grand Princess is a good choice for all passengers – solo, couples and families. There’s plenty to do onboard, and the service is very good, but it’s not a party ship and has quite a relaxed vibe onboard. While these cruises lack the standard amenities such as restaurants, gift shops, entertainment shows and kids clubs, they make up for it in experiences you cannot match elsewhere and the lack of crowds found on larger vessels. Consider sailing during the shoulder season if looking for the best deals.
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Cruises
This can commonly be found at the beginning and end of the cruise season during April, May and September. The summer months make it more expensive due to higher demand since kids are out of school. Most ships in the region have activities for kids, but Disney excels in this regard. Other fun activities include Carnival’s Seuss at Sea program with Dr. Seuss characters on the Carnival Miracle, the Carnival Legend and the Carnival Splendor.
A “day at sea” on the Viking Mississippi!
Silver Moon falls down a little on things to do while sailing, and the food quality isn’t rated as highly as other luxury ships – but guests on the ship have high expectations, so the food is still very good. Expect a premium experience onboard – not quite ultra-luxury cruising, but a step above mainstream cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Nieuw Amsterdam is best suited to solo travellers and couples, with more of a focus on relaxation and exploration than ‘fun’ during the cruise itself. Another great advantage of the ship is the choice of destination ports. Along with Vancouver, she offers some of the best cruises to Alaska from Seattle, Anchorage and even smaller ports like Fairbanks – flexibility is always a good thing when planning when and where you’re cruising. A Carnival Miracle cruise to Alaska is perfect for families or for those who want to balance the amazing experience of the destination with a fun-packed sailing.
Seward
Per the pro, travelers can “choose between a menu of included excursions such as kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, zodiac cruises, whale watching, and more.” All in all, UnCruise really does offer something for everyone. According to T+L A-List travel advisor Ashton Palmer, the Alaska cruise season is short (typically from May to September) and availability is limited, which is why travelers should plan their sailings six to eight months ahead of time. Several cruise lines also offer land extensions (sometimes called “cruisetours”) to make the experience as seamless as possible. Significantly larger than the ultra-luxury cruise ships in the region, this can also have its benefits. You’ll get better views of the glaciers and scenery from higher decks, and more space onboard to unwind. Viking Ocean Cruises recently nabbed a 2023 World’s Best Award in the midsize-ship ocean cruise lines category, coming in at first place for the second year in a row.
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The best Alaskan cruise line for every type of traveler recapped
The tradeoff between lots of fun activities is sharing them with nearly 5,000 other people. The weather had been unseasonably warm in Alaska but there was still snow on the mountains and we were generally lucky (I think) with the weather throughout the cruise. Probably more expensive than other cruises but almost everything is included in the price and there is no “nickel and diming” that is common with other companies. This article is a summary of the cruise and links to all the separate stories I have written to describe and illustrate the voyage. I’ve enjoyed going through my images (and my memories) to put these stories together. I hope you will enjoy reading them, and, if you do, please comment and let me know what you think.
Day by Day
True, it’s a high price you pay, but this is a ship aimed at people who want to feel truly special. This is also an ultra-luxury cruise ship, renowned for the outstanding service offered onboard – and the fact it scores so highly with customers shows that this isn’t just an empty promise. Choose Seabourn Quest if you want fine dining, opulent accommodations, and an all-inclusive fare as you explore. Immerse yourself in Tlingit culture and experience the outpost atmosphere that prevails in charming, mountain-ringed seaside towns. Refer to the Dates & Pricing itinerary for specific details by departure date. The six-star service is exceptional and the excursions are well put together, giving guests incredible insights into Alaska.
While the most popular cruise regions in the world will likely always remain the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, there are some amazing destinations beyond those regions, including Alaska. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations. • Get American Express Cruise Privileges Program benefits when you book at least five nights with eligible cruise lines. • Book with your card to get trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage and other travel assistance services.
Vicksburg and the Civil War National Park
The service is outstanding too, but what really stands out is the quality of the excursions. Viking is fantastic for planning unique tours and bringing experts onto the ships to bring each destination to life, which for Alaska is perfect. Alternatively, a one-way cruise in June for two people in an inside cabin (including taxes and fees) on the 22-year-old Radiance of the Seas would come to $1,126. That’s substantial savings for choosing a one-way cruise on an older ship over a roundtrip itinerary. Another great option for finding a good cruise deal is to book an open-jaw cruise. These sailings start in one city but end in another and can lead to better deals, even during summer.
But Icy Strait Point now has two cable car/gondolas as well as a very fast zip line from the top of the mountain to the waterfront. I’ve written two stories about this day – one about the historic pier and salmon canning building, now a museum and shop and one about the cable car gondola ride up the mountain. This luxury cruise line offers classic and expedition-style cruising, the latter of which takes aboard the 274-passenger Silver Wind. (Classic cruises, on the other hand, take place on board Silver Muse, Silver Nova, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, or Silver Moon). Nova and Moon offer the Sea and Land Taste program (S.A.L.T), offering culinary connoisseurs the incredible opportunity to experience the local food scene and culture both on and off the ship. Last but not least, keep in mind that Silversea sails between Vancouver and Seward (with the exception of one September 2024 itinerary, which sails from Nome to Vancouver).
The best time for an Alaska cruise is from late spring to early fall, and you’ll find lots of itineraries to choose from sailing from May to September. You’re going to want to start planning early, though, as these adventures are popular — the sooner you book, the better the cruise deals. Whether you’re traveling with kids or looking for an unforgettable couple’s adventure, a vacation like this delivers on every level.
She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. Choose this ship if you’re a younger traveller or couple who wants plenty of bars and evening entertainment while on your cruise to Alaska. Seven Seas Explorer is also one of the ‘larger’ small ships to Alaska, so it feels even more spacious – perfect if you want to sip a cocktail, soak up the view and feel like you’re on your own private yacht – albeit a big one. Alaska is another very popular destination thanks to its incredible sights – the magnificent glaciers, the historic towns, and the varied wildlife, including whales and dolphins.
Princess offers a “direct-to-the-wilderness” rail service, which means passengers can step off the ship and onto the train to head to their next adventure. Sailings include seven- to 14-day itineraries and a host of land tours that can be added to the experience. In addition to Denali National Park, this is the only cruise line to take passengers into Canada’s Yukon Territory. If you’re looking for the most adventure, these cruise lines take things up a notch as part of their excursion programs. Many cruisers tack on a land portion option, allowing travelers to head into Denali National Park or stay in local land resorts to learn more about the culture.
Pick the side of the ship facing inland but honestly it didn't make a big deal of difference to us. Take advantage of more active excursions than usually offered by Viking. Regardless of the ship, passengers can expect a wide range of entertainment offerings, an abundance of bars, restaurants, and lounges, and a handful of accommodation options. Dawn Gabree is a travel advisor who specializes in Alaska cruises at Travels by Danielle. Ashton Palmer is a Seattle-based T+L A-List travel advisor who specializes in expedition cruises. Eric Goldring is a T+L A-List travel advisor specializing in expedition, small-ship, and medium-ship cruises.
However, it was raining when we arrived and so we chose to stroll around the town instead, checking out the historic buildings that still remain. Friends who went on the train ride were pretty impressed though, so perhaps this was a mistake! Day 3 was marked by the arrival in Valdez, which enjoys a breathtaking setting at the head of the fjord in Prince William Sound.
There may be other ships for these cruise lines that visit Alaska and have a better average review score – but that score might be based on cruises to other destinations. The fairest method was to stick to the ships sailing to Alaska most frequently. With so many unusual onboard amenities, you may find it hard to get off the ship.
We decided to take the Highlights of Valdez tour, which included the old town, the salmon hatchery and then a drive through Keystone Canyon to the Thompson Pass and Richardson Glacier. As a result, we didn’t get to walk around the town itself, although we could probably have fitted it in. I wrote a separate story about the waterfalls in Keystone Canyon which can be found here. Because of timing and other factors, we are considering switching our existing booking to Alaska this summer.
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