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Most cruise tours give you a choice of one-, two- or three-night stays here; you need at least two to get the most out of your experience. Hop on a Park Service bus to seek out bears, moose and caribou, splurge on a flightseeing trip around Denali, or take a rafting trip on the Nenana River. Sitka offers a quintessential Alaska experience, as the town allows visitors to easily explore nature, spot wildlife, and stroll through the charming downtown area. Unfortunately, while accessing the glacier area comes at a low cost, getting to the glacier is another story.
Kayak near glaciers
Your budget for an Alaska cruise can affect your ship choice, sailing date, stateroom category, excursion options, and onboard add-ons. Knowing how much Alaska cruises cost in advance is helpful to ensure you can budget and save for such an incredible vacation. They also feature RipCord by iFLY, an indoor skydiving simulator, and the North Star, a 360 degree observation pod taking guests 300 feet above sea level. Being flexible on an Alaska cruise is important, especially when it comes to your cruise itinerary. You may end up enjoying the replacement port even more than you would have enjoyed the original itinerary.
Disembark your ship early on each port day to avoid crowds
25 BEST Alaska Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Alaska on Cruise Critic - CruiseCritic.co.uk
25 BEST Alaska Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Alaska on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:08:06 GMT [source]
Be prepared to walk, though golf carts might be provided for those with mobility issues. In Seward, you might walk along wooded trails to get from your room to the restaurant or lobby, and in Denali, there's a bit of a hike through some properties in order to get to the shuttle bus stop. The first free attraction to visit is the Russian Bishop’s House, a National Park Service building that was once the center of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska.
What to do in port
One of my favorite Alaska cruise “hacks” is to utilize Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s luggage valet service. Dinner in the Main Dining Room is a traditional part of any cruise experience, but think twice before selecting your dining time. Instead of getting upset over a cold, rainy day in port, maintain a positive attitude. Find a cozy saloon to enjoy a warm Irish coffee, or bundle up in your rain gear and make the most of the day. Whether you’re cruising with an elaborate mirrorless camera or just your cell phone, it’s hard to take a bad photo of somewhere as beautiful as Alaska. Alaska’s landscapes are spectacular, so you’ll want to brush up on your photography skills before your cruise.
Sport and Salmon Fishing
Outdoorsy cruisers will love the access to both beginner and challenging hiking trails near downtown Juneau. Aside from the excellent trails at the top of the Goldbelt Tramway and Mendenhall Glacier are other day hikes to consider. At the top of the tram, passengers can view downtown Juneau, the Chilkat Mountains, Gastineau Channel, Douglas Island, and Admiralty Island. Tour operators will often give a $100 cash refund (or partial refund) to guests on the chance that no whales are spotted on a tour. During the summer months, though, spotting whales on a tour is very common so a refund is rare. Canada does not permit entry to any visitors with criminal records, regardless of how long ago the crime occurred.
Figure out your transportation logistics to and from the airport, hotel, and cruise port
Luckily, the Red Dog Saloon is located only a few blocks away from the ship, so if you happen to have a few too many drinks, it won’t take very long to get back onboard.
Skagway
Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review - Cruise Critic
Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:15:21 GMT [source]
One of our favorite “tricks” when planning an Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbean is to take advantage of cheap last-minute sailings. Browse a local outdoor consignment shop or search for used clothing on websites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay to find the best deals. 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. Exploring the interior of Alaska will give you an entirely different perspective on this vast and rugged state.
Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure
Starting your cruise in Seward is recommended for those who plan to travel in the interior of Alaska ahead of time, whether independently or on one of Royal Caribbean’s organized Cruisetours. One-way Alaska itineraries tend to be more port-heavy, as well, as there is less distance to cover than on a round trip sailing. The deep, narrow passage of the Tracy Arm Fjord travels over 30 miles alongside the Tongass National Forest, with the twin Sawyer Glaciers at the end of the passage. To ensure you don’t miss out, consider booking a later dinner time, or simply eat dinner elsewhere on the nights the sailaway overlaps with your dining time. The Windjammer buffet can be an excellent place to enjoy dinner in Alaska, as the buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the venue, in addition to outdoor seating on select ships. 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.
If you opt for the longer itineraries (at least seven days on land), you'll have more time to build upon the classic Denali circuit, with perhaps a longer stay in the Denali area. The biggest attraction is a gondola ride to the top of 2,300-foot Mt. Alyeska, where you can get stunning views of Turnagain Arm. Other excursions include hiking, mountain biking, dog mushing or glacier trekking.
The best way to see Alaska’s cruise ports on a budget is to explore on your own instead of booking a tour. Many cruisers to Alaska dream of seeing the northern lights while visiting the state, but the northern lights viewing season does not coordinate well with the summer cruise season. The shortest cruise and land tour combinations offered by Royal Caribbean are 9 nights, and they include a 7-night cruise and 2 nights in Alaska’s interior, during which you will visit Denali.
Most Alaska cruises depart from either Seattle or Vancouver on round-trip 7-night sailings. Some cruises to Alaska are one-way only, though, starting in Vancouver and ending in Seward, Alaska or vice versa. This is to allow for pre and post-Cruisetours to Alaska or Canada, allowing guests to experience more inland destinations like Denali National Park and Preserve and Banff National Park. While in Canada and not Alaska, Victoria still offers an array of landscapes and culture to explore.
For those cruising to the 49th state on a budget, it can be challenging to figure out what to do in port without breaking the bank. 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. As noted above, my biggest message to anyone planning an Alaska cruise is to get out of the towns. Sign up for something — a hike, a rafting trip, a train ride, a fishing outing — that gets you out into Alaska's spectacular outdoor settings.
While home to just 32,000, Fairbanks is the big city of the interior and cultural hub for the sparsely populated region. You can still go for the gold in Fairbanks, panning just like the early prospectors did. Complete your adventure with the best Alaska tours before or after your cruise. Packing a warm hat and gloves is also recommended, particularly if you’re cruising to Alaska in the shoulder season months of May and September. Packing for an Alaska cruise excursion is a bit more complicated than bringing a beach towel and flip flops. You’ll want to make sure you are prepared for any weather conditions you may face so you remain comfortable and warm throughout the day.
Because the fish migrate, excursions are limited to mid-June through mid-September sailings. Halibut fishing trips last from three-and-a-half to six hours and begin with a short boat ride to the fishing grounds, where a charter boat with an experienced guide provides guests with instruction. Other marine life is abundant, providing photography opportunities and a chance to catch other fish, like rockfish and Pacific cod. Each of the guided fishing excursions offered by Royal Caribbean in Alaska is part of a seven-day cruise.
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