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For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dog-sled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. The luxury cruise lines are your best bet if you're a couple and enjoy spacious suites, gourmet food, pampering (many luxe lines hire butlers to cater to every passenger) and the opportunity to meet other like-minded cruisers. The personalized service and all-inclusive nature of luxury voyages might also be attractive to anyone celebrating a milestone, such as an anniversary, big birthday or retirement.
Airplane to Ship Transfer
Many Holland America fans who cruise to Alaska choose a one-way voyage to or from the state that lets them add extra days for touring in Alaska at the start or end of the voyage. Such one-way voyages only are available out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Carnival's seven-day Alaska from Seattle cruise, features a stop at three Alaska ports as well as a visit to Victoria, British Columbia. On the first day of the cruise, the ship sets sail from Seattle in the evening, headed toward Alaska. The next two days are spent at sea, with day three of the trip spent cruising through the Tracey Arm Fjord. Day five of the cruise is spent in Juneau, Alaska's capitol, while day six is spent in Ketchikan, along the state's inside passage.
Day 5: Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord
Carnival ships sailing to Alaska were designed for all-weather conditions, adding to the comfort of the guests. These smaller ships still have a good variety of onboard venues and dining options, which might be perfect for families or cruisers who love the fun vibe. There are a couple of important points to consider when considering a Carnival cruise vacation to Alaska, as they differ from other cruise lines sailing to Alaska.
Day 0 Seattle, Washington
No matter which Carnival ship you pick, expect the cruise line’s signature attractions and venues, including a number of family-friendly activities with their usual focus on fun. You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations might include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. Alaska might be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it's rugged and can be tricky to get around.
Meet Local Alaskans
Wildlife enthusiasts might want to visit the Alaska Raptor Center, or go bird- and bear-watching. Kids can hang out in the youth lounges while parents hit the spa or try a wine-tasting class. Everyone can come back together for dinner and evening entertainment or onboard activities suitable for all ages. One excursion will take you to Sitka where you will experience the breathtaking scenery of surrounding mountains, forests, and numerous islands. This historically-rich site is where the United States officially purchased Alaska from Russia.
Carnival opens more 2025 cruises Alaska, trans-oceanic journeys - Seatrade Cruise News
Carnival opens more 2025 cruises Alaska, trans-oceanic journeys.
Posted: Thu, 24 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Most port and tour staff hail from Hoonah, Alaska's largest Tlingit village. The port is set on Chichagof 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. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about Native Alaskan culture.
How to Plan the Best Alaska Cruise
Carnival to offer new Carnival Journeys and Alaska cruises in 2025 - Cruise and Ferry
Carnival to offer new Carnival Journeys and Alaska cruises in 2025.
Posted: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Experience wildlife, wilderness, and native culture on this Alaska cruise with Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival Spirit leaving Seattle, Washington, for 7 days from 18 June, 2024. An Alaskan cruise from Ketchikan is an unforgettable adventure that will take you through some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world.... Juneau is a popular cruise port for Alaska cruises, located on the Inside Passage of Alaska. It is the capital city of Alaska and the third largest city in the state. Top scenic cruising destinations in Alaska include Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm and College Fjord.
It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own. They want to admire its rugged beauty, seek out wildlife (such as eagles, bears and whales) and learn about its Native cultures and gold rush history. It's so far from the rest of the mainland U.S. that it's become a bucket list destination, especially for travelers looking to visit each of the 50 states.
Both have fantastic itineraries that take passengers not only to the Inside Passage, but also to Anchorage, Denali National Park, the Yukon, Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Additionally, you'll have one day spent cruising the Inside Passage and one focused on "scenic cruising," where you can enjoy the landscapes but won't go ashore. This is not nearly as boring as you might think since you'll see incredible sights like Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve or Hubbard Glacier. You'll find magnificent mountains (often snowcapped, even in the summertime), lush forests, waterfalls, fjords and calving glaciers.
Unlike the Royal Caribbean and Norwegian ships mentioned above, the two Princess ships sailing from Seattle don't have top decks heavily skewed to family fun. Instead, their top decks offer lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without much hustle and bustle. This Glacier Bay itinerary features two days at sea as well as a day spent aboard the ship as it passes through Glacier Bay. The ship departs Seattle during the evening, spends the next day at sea before docking in Juneau in the afternoon of day three. The ship travels to Skagway overnight, allowing passengers to spend the majority of day four in the town.
Both of the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska from Seattle are loaded with attractions that are protected from the elements, including those bumper car pavilions and skydiving simulators. In fact, both Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas were specifically built to operate in areas of inclement weather. However, keep in mind that Alaska can be chilly, even at the height of summer, and rainy, too. For that reason, we discount the value of some of the family-friendly attractions on the Norwegian ships, which are open to the elements, and consider the Royal Caribbean ships the best of the bunch for Alaska cruises from Seattle. All of Carnival Cruise Line's Alaska itineraries are offered aboard the Carnival Spirit at the time of publication.
Then, you’ll travel over to Kodiak Island, out to the far stretches of the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbor, and around to Nome, and through the Arctic Circle. Some cruise lines offer pre or post-cruise fly-in opportunities to remote areas of Alaska, like leaving from Fairbanks to the visit the Arctic Circle. In keeping with their mission to deliver fun vacations at sea and ashore, Carnival offers a sizeable range of excursions for a variety of activity levels, ages, and interests. In addition to this, many of the ports are well suited to do-it-yourself tours, with plenty of local transportation to attractions.
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. Popular Inside Passage ports of call include Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Haines and Skagway. Weeklong itineraries generally embark in either Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia — though some itineraries originate in Juneau. A few lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line, offer 10-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver. Instead of taking a long and expensive flight to Anchorage or Fairbanks, you can choose a cruise that sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver (note, you won't be able to tack on a post-cruise land trip to Denali if you do this).
