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The bridge takes about one hour to drive on the Klondike Highway, so most cruise passengers will visit by booking a tour excursion. These guided excursions are filled with other stops and offer plenty of opportunities to see Alaska’s iconic wildlife. Starting in 2024, Uncruise Adventures will be offering a winter cruise, where winter sports and northern lights viewings are all part of the package! Running February through March, this is a great option for travelers looking to experience Alaska during the winter months.
Best Alaska Glaciers To Visit
Because Alaska has such a short season with a limited number of ships and is a dream trip for many, cruises are in high demand and people plan early. Most Alaska itineraries include some "scenic cruising," where your ship sails past incredible natural sights. Sitka's Russian heritage also sets it apart from other Alaskan ports on your cruise itinerary.
WHERE ARE THE WHALES AT?
Whittier is featured as one of the top Alaska cruise ports for a few reasons. Second, it’s a popular place for a cruise line to either embark or disembark from. There are Native American totem poles throughout the city, which is what many of the shore excursions focus on. With plenty of Alaska cruise stops, there’s no reason why you can’t get the ultimate experience.
What's New for the 2024 Alaska Cruise Season - Cruise Critic
What's New for the 2024 Alaska Cruise Season.
Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Reserve a Balcony Room So You Can Take in Yakutat Bay and Glacier Bay
If you want to see nature at its finest, you must book a tour or venture farther afield. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about native Alaskan culture. You can get a taste of the Gold Rush life by trying your hand at panning for gold, attending a salmon bake or visiting a dogsled camp. A hike on the Chilkoot Trail or ride on the White Pass Railway lets you follow in the footsteps of the miners who came to seek their fortunes.
The port is set on Chichagoff Island, which is known for its large bear population. Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. These ships often feature complimentary shore excursions, kayaks and bikes for guest use and onboard scientists and naturalists. Many of North America’s top cruise lines include a port of call stop in Skagway as part of their Alaskan itineraries. Since the town has so much to offer and travel to and from the cruise port is so scenic, it is an incredibly popular cruise destination. Many cruise lines also travel to additional locations such as Sitka, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, and Haines.
Experience The Majestic Beauty Of Skagway, Alaska
Please take the time to learn more about experiencing Alaska's Native cultures and share in our acknowledgment of their histories before you visit Alaska. Explore five distinct regions and varied travel routes and modes of transportation as you plan your Alaska getaway. Alaska's ultimate small ship cruise adventures in beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound! The vibrant British Columbian city adds a touch of the cosmopolitan to a lineup of quainter ports of call. At 300 feet tall above the waterline and a half mile wide, Dawes Glacier is another of Alaska’s most spectacular glaciers. If you’re lucky, you may witness the glacier calving as your ship approaches.
Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
These months are also your best bet if you want active fishing trips on a shore excursion. This cruise port makes our list because of the vibrant arts community, delicious dining, and welcoming atmosphere. The town boasts numerous local art galleries, theatre productions, live music, and the opportunity to take classes in painting, sculpting, and writing while onshore.
RELATED PORTS
From cozy cafés that serve warm beverages and comfort food to more upscale restaurants that take advantage of Alaskan seafood and other locally sourced ingredients, you will have plenty of options. Helicopters depart right along Skagway’s waterfront, so, depending on which of the three piers your cruise ship docks at, reaching the heliport will only involve a 5-to-15-minute walk from Skagway cruise port. No matter which dock your cruise ship stops at, all three are just a short walk to Skagway’s shopping, dining, and the town’s Gold Rush Era historic sites. If you prefer to get off-the-beaten-track and travel with smaller groups, a wide array of small ship cruise companies offer more intimate cruises catering to adventure and luxury travelers. Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive multi-day Alaska cruise package or simply a day cruise to see wildlife and glaciers, there are many options to choose from. Just be sure to book your excursions in advance, as many of the more unique experiences will sell out quickly in the bigger ports.
Ketchikan (below) is a very, very close second, but Juneau’s many hiking trails that you can get to easily from the cruise ship dock edge it into the number one spot for me. When you’re booking the Alaskan cruise of your dreams, it’s important to look for the best Alaska cruise ports. You’ll want to focus on the itinerary that offers the best shore excursions and sights for the kind of adventure you wish to have.
However, it’s worth noting that July and August can also be quite rainy, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and gear. Ketchikan is known as the Totem Pole Capital of the World, so a visit here wouldn’t be complete without exploring its famous collection of totem poles. You can take a guided tour to learn about the history and significance of these magnificent sculptures.
The capital of Alaska, Juneau is surrounded by mountains and vibrant green landscapes. You won’t be short of things to do as you explore the town and discover its eateries, shops and history. The Alaska State Museum is ideal for learning more about Alaska’s history. Hiking on Baranof is popular, with nature spotting hikes, community visits, lake hikes and bathing in hot springs on offer. Home to the largest population of bears per square meter in the world, you have a great chance of spotting bears there in late summer. Cruise there and you can enjoy kayaking, visiting local villages or just admire the non-stop parade of glaciers passing by.
Proper footwear is also important and be sure to bring hiking shoes if you plan to enjoy outdoor activities. Most major cruise lines also offer the opportunity for pre or post-cruise land packages that will take you by bus or train to destinations in Southcentral and Interior Alaska. If you have the time, these cruise packages give you the best of both worlds for exploring Alaska's coastal communities and some of the top sights in Alaska's heartland, including Denali National Park. Klawock hosts a new cruise port, and while it has only attracted one cruise line so far, there is promise for the future. The town will serve as the main port for Prince of Wales Island, with excursions primarily focussing on small-boat tours of the surrounding islands and inlets.
Consisting of five archipelagos, this collection of islands offers some rugged natural beauty and is great for anyone with an interest in bird-watching. Hikes around the islands showcase the crashed planes and other debris from World War II battles. It isn’t the most touristy place, so visits tend to focus on the local heritage, including military ruins and hikes along trails first used thousands of years ago by native Unangans. There are a number of things to explore here, including a museum and stores related to the local fishing trade.
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