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See how dogsled pups are trained and ride a dogsled through a wilderness forest. Foodies will enjoy a culinary tour that showcases Alaska’s delicious food and those who catch it, grow it, and sell it, led by one of our onboard chefs. In addition, an onboard Klondike Festival brings added family entertainment, including gold nugget arts and crafts projects, a naturalist exhibition, harmonica music classes and North to Alaska dance performances. That makes these ships more appealing to an older demographic that doesn't necessarily want to be on a vessel that's loaded to the gills with children's fun zones and the younger family travelers drawn to that. Notably, the average age of Princess passengers is around 57, and you'll usually see many couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Solo passengers on Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss will also find a sometimes rollicking bar scene, with plenty of counter-style seating in bars that are a great place to meet other solo travelers and friendly guests.
Best for luxury lovers: Norwegian Encore
Nearly every major cruise line has a presence in Alaska from May through mid-September, with some offering sailings as early as April or as late as October. Cold temperatures, icy waters and a long snowy season are not conducive to early spring and late fall cruises. Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think. Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss are also our top picks for ships operating the best Alaska cruises from Seattle for solo travelers. Between these two, it's a tossup, though we put Norwegian Bliss in the headline above since, well, we already gave Norwegian Encore a turn in the limelight with the best-for-luxury category.
What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise
Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to gold rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury. No vacation in the world delivers once-in-a-lifetime adventure like Alaska. Mark this as your year to cross this bucket-busting destination off your list once and for all. Take off by dogsled across thousand-year-old ice as you soak in otherworldly sights. Trek across the majestic Mendenhall Glacier for breathtaking views of the wildest country.
Unique Alaska Cruise Experiences
Find the comforts of home along with the luxuries you deserve on board any of our ships. 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. It's the sort of itinerary that specifically appeals to retirees with the time (and money) to book such a long trip. The two-level complex also has upstairs nooks for playing Xbox, ping pong and foosball. It's like one big play zone for families that will keep your kids busy for hours.
Convenient Alaska Cruise Departure Ports
See the beauty and wonder of the Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest national forest, on wildlife tours, wilderness hikes, and bike tours through the Tongass temperate rainforest. When you stop in Skagway, Alaska’s Klondike Gold Rush history is front and center. Learn all about the gold rush and its cultural and historical significance by riding the restored White Pass & Yukon Railroad that traces the steep, mountainous White Pass trail of the 1896 gold rush. Here are some things you should know before you book one of our round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing.
Weather can often be cold, rainy and windy, but if you want a unique adventure in Alaska, check out the itineraries from Hurtigruten. Additionally, with the Northwest Passage now open to marine traffic, the northwestern city of Nome is a regular port of call for higher-end, midsize cruise lines to expose passengers to the rural reaches of coastal Alaska. The Aleutian Island city of Unalaska is also on some boutique cruise line itineraries, so check carefully that the region that sparks your interest. Icy Strait Point is notable among Alaska cruise ports because the area and its attractions are all Native Alaskan-owned. Most port and tour staff hail from Hoonah, Alaska's largest Tlingit village.
Milestones in Seattle Cruise History - portseattle.org
Milestones in Seattle Cruise History.
Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If you want to see landlocked areas, such as Denali National Park, you can tack a cruise line-operated tour onto the beginning or end of your sailing for a seamless land and sea vacation. It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own. Seattle, as the departure port for your Alaska cruise, provides the perfect gateway to a captivating adventure through the pristine wilderness of the Last Frontier. Immerse yourself in the city's vibrant atmosphere, explore its iconic attractions, and savor its diverse culinary offerings. From the bustling streets of downtown to the serene waters of the Puget Sound, Seattle sets the stage for a truly unforgettable Alaskan cruise experience. Icy Strait Point offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Alaska.
Alaska cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
However, for 2024, Westerdam has added an epic new 28-night Alaska itinerary out of Seattle that will include calls in remote areas that most cruise ships never visit. The new itinerary is one reason we give Westerdam the edge among ships when rating the best Alaska cruises out of Seattle for seniors. Still, you can get a variation on a luxury cruise experience on a voyage to Alaska from Seattle on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Encore. When planning a trip to Alaska, many travelers wonder if it's better to explore the state by land or by sea.
Discover Great Land splendors from an award-winning ship that impresses with understated elegance. Named "Best for Great Dining & Diverse Destinations," you will enjoy a vast entertainment selection on board. Stop into iconic destinations and cruise Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier. Conveniently located an hour and a half from Anchorage, Whittier is a small town on the shore of the glacier-filled Prince William Sound. Named for the Northern compass point, Noordam is fitting for a cruise to Alaska.
Fish for salmon in Ketchikan, meet sled dogs in Juneau and pan for gold in Skagway. 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. Princess has long been heralded as one of the best cruise lines for multigenerational travel, in part because its ships offer a little something for travelers of all ages. Notably, both Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore boast large private zones for solo travelers — something you won't find on any other cruise ship sailing out of Seattle. During the busy peak cruising season, both the port area and downtown Seattle are well served with ample options for local transportation.
Holland America Line Flight Ease® offers specially negotiated low prices, a convenient and worry-free way to book air travel, late-arrival protection, and the freedom to change your flights with no change fees. At Holland America we offer cruise travelers low prices on their flights. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us.
To discover Alaska’s rich historyYou can’t skip Ketchikan, Juneau or Skagway on an itinerary. Ketchikan once was a major player in the timber industry and has a sordid past steeped in bootlegging and brothels. Skagway was a jumping-off point for the Klondike Gold Rush beyond Chilkoot Pass and has an old railroad to prove it. Sitka is as much a working fishing town as it is a tourist destination. Sitka's Russian heritage also sets it apart from other Alaskan ports on your cruise itinerary. See St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral with its onion dome and the Russian Bishop's House.
Some shore excursions allow up close interaction with these natural wonders. Add air travel, hotel stays and celebrations to your cruise from Seattle. From exploring Denali National Park to fishing for salmon in Anchorage, discover the top Alaska destinations on a Princess cruise. When you cruise to Alaska from Seattle, encounter unique ports of call that are rich in history, culture and natural beauty. Taking a deep dive into Alaska’s coastal regions Book a small ship cruise between Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau for a week or longer in the nooks and crannies of southeast Alaska.
Yes, the 3,998-passenger Norwegian Encore is a cruise ship that generally caters to the masses, not the luxury crowd. However, it has its own "ship-within-a-ship" luxury zone that offers a much more swanky experience for those willing to pay. Our pick for the best Alaska cruises from Seattle for budget travelers may come as a surprise to many cruise aficionados. That's because it's not the Alaska voyages from Seattle offered by the North American cruise line best known for budget sailings — Carnival Cruise Line. Discover the magic of the Last Frontier during a Dawes Glacier cruise from Seattle, where you’ll sail through Alaska’s Inside Passage, stop in quaint fishing towns, and witness the beauty of nature’s wonders. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure or are hoping to spot wildlife in their natural habitat, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during a cruise to Alaska.
On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens. If you're interested in the Midnight Sun, the longest day of the year is June 21, when you can experience close to 20 or more hours of sunlight in some parts of the state. If you're more interested in the Alaska Northern Lights, the earlier sunset in later summer will allow more contrast and better views of this natural wonder. Sail into the Last Frontier from Seward or Vancouver onboard Radiance of the Seas®. With over three acres of windows and glass exterior viewing elevators, you can watch for whales along Alaska’s Inside Passage when you aren’t wandering wilderness paths from Ketchikan to Juneau.
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