Alaska cruise, Cruises to the Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska sailing from Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angles - Information on cruise tours, discounts, cruise reviews, sightseeing, attractions, weather, things to do in Alaska cruise ports, map of Alaska. Alaska has been a favorite of cruise enthusiasts for many years. There are three basic Alaska cruise itineraries. A cruise ship provides passengers with a view of many natural wonders that cannot be seen from land. More than 750,000 cruise passengers will sail the Alaskan waters during the 5 month cruise season. People choose Alaska to take in the scenery, and view exotic creatures both in the sea and on the shore. Alaska is very lard, and much of it can only be seen from the water. Therefore, a cruise is an ideal way to see the bays, glaciers, and wildlife. Due to its size, you will miss much of the state if you only briefly visit the ports.
There are also many cultural and historical experiences to be had in Alaska. Live life as it was during gold rush days, or even when the Russians inhabited the area. Breathtaking scenery, gleaming glaciers, abundant wildlife, and Native American culture are only a few of the spectacular attractions that draw cruise vacationers to Alaska. Experience the sights of Alaska, the totem pole town of Ketchikan, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park of Skagway, the famous Mendenhall Glacier & Red Dog Saloon of Juneau, or flightseeing over Misty Fjords. Alaska is a breathtaking adventure that will take your breath away! Appropriately the state's official flower is the alpine forget-me-not! Alaska cruises normally sell for a higher price than the Caribbean or other popular cruise destinations.
The Alaska cruise season runs from May through September. Due to this itinerary being seasonal, demand is high. For climate and sunlight purposes, cruises to Alaska sail only during the summer months. June, July and August are considered peak season when average daily high temperatures can reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can find the most affordable rates for Alaska cruise tours in May and September, the off-peak periods, when the temperatures are approximately 50 degrees. Alaska experiences long hours of daylight during summer, lasting up to 23 hours a day in June. Cruise Wear for Alaska should be comfortable. For outdoor excursions it is best to dress in layers and bring a backpack. There are two great ways to cruise Alaska--on a mainstream cruise ship of 700 to 3000 passengers or on a small ship of a dozen to less than 200 passengers. Both types of cruises have pros and cons.
There are a large variety of cruise ships sailing to Alaska, including such luxury vessels as Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Most of the mainstream cruise ships sailing to Alaska include staterooms with private verandahs. Mainstream cruise lines include Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Holland America, Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises. While the majority of ships sail from Vancouver, BC, Seattle increases to become a popular home port for many lines. Both embarkation/disembarkation points allow ships to visit the most popular ports on an Alaska cruise, including Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. There are also cruise ships sailing from San Francisco or Los Angeles. Even though Alaska cruises can be expensive, the joy of seeing the beauty is well worth the extra dollars. An appealing alternative to conventional land tours and larger cruise ships is small ship cruising. This offers a richer travel experience.
Small ship cruising appeals to travelers who prefer a relaxed, comfortable travel style with the emphasis on the destination. Small ships take you beyond conventional tourism for meaningful experiences with people and places. America Safari Cruises has three very small ships in Alaska Safari Quest, Safari Spirit, and Safari Escape. Clipper Cruise Line, host to the Yorktown Clipper is led by a professional naturalist and the Clipper Odyssey sails an uncommon itinerary that reaches the Bering Sea and Alaska's outer islands. Cruise West offers several small ships to choose from with varied itineraries and ships. Cruises from 3 to 12 or more days. Lindblad Expeditions uses the Sea Bird and Sea Lion for 8 and 12 day Alaskan cruises. On board naturalists are aboard to answer your questions and lead Zodiac operated shore expeditions. In addition to 7 day cruises there are also a variety of pre and post cruise-tour packages available that take passengers deeper into Alaska via train, including land stays in Denali National Park.
These sailing's operate northbound from Vancouver to Seward and southbound from Seward to Vancouver. Ports of call could include Valdez, Seward, cruising College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier. There are also pre and post hotel packages offered in embarkation and debarkation ports such as Vancouver, Seattle and Anchorage. In Vancouver most cruise ships dock right downtown at Canada Place. The docking facilities are among the most modern and beautiful in the world. Canada Place has undergone an expansion to accommodate a third mega-ship and the viewing area has been increased by 800 feet. In the renovated cruise check-in area, Vancouver Tourism has opened an information center and several souvenir kiosks are operating. Other places of interest located at Canada Place include the IMAX theater, the Pan Pacific Hotel and Vancouver Trade and Convention Center.
