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If you just stay in the towns and explore on your own, you'll miss a big part of what Alaska is all about. But since dog sledding is a winter activity, cruise ship visitors in the early days never had a chance to experience it. That all changed when helicopters became readily available to travelers.
Explore Alaska
After you touch down, you'll get a quick lesson from seasoned Iditarod racers about how to command your huskies before taking the reins yourself. Listen to the enthusiastic yips and howls of your sled dogs and feel the icy wind in your face as you speed through the awe-inspiring snowy landscape. The cruise line hasn't posted any excursions yet, and I am trying to get an idea of what's available and what it costs. The Juneau-Douglas City Museum sits on the site where Alaska officially became a state.
Wilderness River Adventure
After about an hour in the water, you'll head back to the dive shop, where a hot beverage caps a perfect day. Like Whittier (farther below), Seward is most often used as an embarkation and debarkation port. As such, this is an excursion that's also limited to participants who are sailing on back-to-back cruises to/from Seward if you buy through the line. It's also open to those who are ending their sailing in Seward with a late-night flight out of nearby Anchorage (or with an overnight stay in the city), in which case the tour includes an airport transfer, too. Unlike Prince William Sound in Whittier, note that those with motion sickness should take precautions since the Resurrection Bay waters can be a bit choppy. You'll need to buy a one-day fishing license from the captain of the small boat for $15 cash, as required by Alaska law.
Explore The Wilderness Of Alaska With Norwegian Cruise Line
Expert-led hikes take you deep into the breathtaking beauty of the backcountry of one of Alaska's most remote national parks. Find your perfect Alaska cruise with NCL, whether it be action-packed wilderness adventures or shore excursions to quaint villages. Witness whales breaching the surface, marvel at stunning glaciers, and take in breathtaking views on board custom-built ships designed to showcase Alaska’s natural beauty. Holland America Line serves sustainable wild Alaskan seafood, with park rangers and local Indigenous tribe members often boarding for presentations.
Breathtaking Excursions Your Alaska Cruise Offers
A popular tour destination on cruise itineraries, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve wows with its icy wilderness and grand glaciers in southeastern Alaska. Glaciers of note include the park's largest tidewater glacier, John Hopkins; the elongated 21-mile Margerie; and the rapidly receding Muir. The park also is home to an amazing world of marine life, including humpback whales, sea otters, giant Pacific octopuses and harbor porpoises. An array of species resides on land, from brown and black bears to moose, mountain goats, wolves and prickly porcupines, while the bird variety includes bald eagles, tufted puffins and trumpeter swans. Deep fjords, icy glaciers, and the shimmering lights of the aurora borealis... Alaska is home to some of the world’s most spectacular natural treasures.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, AK
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska Month by Month - Cruise Critic
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska Month by Month.
Posted: Mon, 01 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
We work with reputable, local tour operators to offer you a wide variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you’ll visit. Animal lovers of every age relish visiting the Kroschel Wildlife Refuge in Haines, a popular excursion among Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise passengers. It’s also interactive; get close for photos and learn how the refuge protects these animals. For those with a hefty bankroll, this might be the ultimate Alaska shore excursion. Combining helicopter flightseeing over the seemingly endless Juneau Icefield with a landing on a glacier for dog sledding, it hits two of Alaska's most iconic experiences.
Guests will also have exclusive keycard access to the Studio Lounge, where they can have a drink and mingle with other solo travellers. NCL offers a multitude of accommodation options, ranging from solo staterooms to The Haven, NCL’s most luxurious accommodation. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. There's nothing that says Alaska quite like a trip in a floatplane. And, if you're going to do a floatplane ride, there's nowhere better than in Ketchikan.
Lunch is served in a heated pavilion, and staff also stoke a roaring campfire to help you beat the chill and relax. The outings on this adventure-minded Alaskan cruise exceed typical cruise ships, featuring Ventures by Seabourn excursions with Zodiac explorations, kayaking, and hiking led by expedition experts. In Wrangell, sign up for Anan Creek Bear Viewing and Photography, joining the expedition team bear expert and a photography specialist for this rousing small-group bear-viewing experience. Travel by boat to the Anan Estuary and Wildlife Observatory in the Tongass National Forest (Anan Creek has Southeast Alaska’s largest pink salmon run) and climb to the observation deck overlooking cascading waterfalls.
A Seward Glacier Cruise: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise and Alaska SeaLife Center
Alaska is a place where you may want to budget almost as much per person for your shore excursions as you do for your cabin. There are some cruise destinations — Barcelona, for instance, or Venice — where you really don't need to sign up for shore excursions. You can just walk off the ship and head to the major attractions on your own. During your voyage on the calm waters of the Inside Passage, keep your eyes open for glimpses of whales, porpoises, seals, and other marine creatures. Listen to action-packed stories of life on the Bering Sea and get an up-close look at the catch of the day.
Gaze out windows, eying otherworldly views of the Placer River Valley and soaring peaks of Spencer Glacier, while enjoying a box lunch. Then meet guides to go rafting, paddling between dramatic icebergs and down the serene and scenic Placer River. To get the most out of an Alaska cruise, you'll want to sign up for a tour in most if not all of the ports you visit. You'll be looking for the best Alaska shore excursions that get you out into the Alaska backcountry. Depending on the booking situation, various excursions are also offered in German, Spanish, French, Italian or Russian (minimum number of 30 participants). Please see the detailed information for your shore excursion on board.
History buffs can add a visit to Liarsville, a re-created gold rush camp complete with Vaudeville entertainment and a salmon bake. Begin with an aerial overview of Misty Fjords National Monument and those granite cliffs. Just beyond is a series of small, remote mountain lakes that would be next to impossible to reach on foot. Your pilot picks out one of the lakes, lands the floatplane, and turns off the engine.
I should also be clear that the towns themselves aren't devoid of attractions. While I highly encourage Alaska-bound cruisers to get out into the wilderness, there are plenty of worthwhile things to do in each of the main port towns. The best way for nature lovers in search of rustic elegance to experience Denali and the heart of Alaska's wilderness. With over 27,000 glaciers, Alaska is one of the best places to see these majestic pieces of nature up close.
Visit the gift shop, restaurant, live bald eagle display, and nature center. Check out the wildlife viewing platforms and follow the self-guided trail marked by Native totemic carvings for access to upper alpine hiking area. You'll stop off at a shoreline camp to enjoy a snack over an open fire. When you’re finished, you’ll go on a short walk through a dramatic old-growth forest. Experience kayaking in Alaska the way it should be — away from the crowds — with these unique Ketchikan paddling tours offered by Alaska Kayak Company.
Each restaurant serves a wide variety of delicious cuisine, consisting of specially curated modern and classic dishes made with the freshest ingredients. The Oceanview and Inside Staterooms can accommodate up to five and four guests respectively, ideal for active travellers planning on spending their holiday dining, playing and enjoying entertainment. But, also get ready for lovely views of glacier-carved fjords, cliffs and rock walls jutting thousands of feet out of the ocean. The whole thing is covered with temperate rainforests and features huge waterfalls (thanks to all that rain). Explore Alaska as the mountain climbers do with an overnight stay in the quaint community of Talkeetna. Located 60 miles from the base of Mt. Denali, this tour gives you the best possible opportunity to see the largest mountain in North America from two distinctly different views.
Sip a cocktail with spectacular views from the coziest spot at Spinnaker Lounge or take a dip in one of five luxurious hot tubs. Whichever ship you choose, Alaska and the vacation of a lifetime await. Pack Creek Bear Tours offers fully guided adventures to Admiralty Island or Chichagof Island, each home to more than 1,500 brown bears!
After a beautiful 20- or 25-minute floatplane ride, you’ll land on a remote beach. Take a short walk to the bear-viewing area, where you can watch these magnificent creatures for hours in their natural environment. The Sitka, Alaska Raptor Center is home to view birds of prey, including bald eagles, up close. Sitka is also noteworthy among Alaska towns for its strong Russian and Tlingit heritage. This tour combines the work done at the raptor center with Sitka's cultural side. The Scenic Train and Rafting excursion delivers an inspired eight-hour shore tour, beginning with a train ride on the Alaskan Railroad through the vast wilderness.
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