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On this adventure, you'll check out the local terrain from above with a helicopter flightseeing experience. But the real action begins when you learn to climb up and rappel down glaciers using special equipment. The best part is that no experience is needed; a guide will instruct you in the use of the provided mountain gear, which includes boots, an ice ax and crampons. Floatplane trips include views walls of granite, lush forests, and more. Along the way, you’ll see cascading waterfalls, majestic fjords, and abundant wildlife.
FULLY ESCORTED EXPERIENCES
Check out the best cruise excursions and safaris in Alaska below. It is a good idea to choose an excursion that is booked through your cruise line. They will, in good faith, wait for you if there is a delay in your returning to the ship. If the ship cannot wait, they may make accommodations to get you to the next port of call.
Acknowledgement of Land
Sitka faces the open Pacific Ocean, so there's often a wider variety of species, including king salmon and halibut. Well, we've done the legwork for you, and you find the answers to that question here. Since our film crews have shot more than 150 Alaska cruise excursions in the past few years, we know them intimately.
Rafting the Mendenhall River
That said, you can sometimes get discounts by calling a tour operator directly. Zip up the Mount Roberts Tramway, treated to mountain vistas along the way. Discover the Mendenhall Glacier, a vivid blue glacier that stretches 13 miles to Mendenhall Lake. 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.
Cruises
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. Look to UnCruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Hurtigruten and Lindblad Expeditions for the best adventure cruises. If you've got active teens who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices. Gulf of Alaska sailings — especially those in late August and September — can encounter rough seas in the gulf portion of the voyage. Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night.
ZipRider Zipline Adventure
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. 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. 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.
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler - Condé Nast Traveler
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler.
Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
All these activities are planned for you as part of the cruise itinerary—as a way for travelers to sample the diverse wonders of The Last Frontier in one fell swoop. You don't have to stick with ship-sponsored shore excursions in every port in Alaska. On my last Alaska cruise, we booked kayaking independently for our stop in Ketchikan. We were guaranteed an on-time return to the ship and paid far less than for the ship's kayaking excursions.
The Top 10 Shore Excursions for Alaskan Cruises - Travel Noire
The Top 10 Shore Excursions for Alaskan Cruises.
Posted: Tue, 13 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Those craving a luxury Alaska cruise need not look further than Silversea, says Goldring. The line’s Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares cover private airport transfers, economy flights, business-class upgrades or air credits, and shore excursions. 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 dogsled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about native Alaskan culture.
Bering Sea Crab Fishermen
Everyone will then board a Unimog, an open-air all-terrain vehicle, and take a rugged 15-minute ride up the mountain to the base of Grizzly Falls. It was interesting to learn more about the history of the town and we were surprised at just how small and remote it is. Our family had the best time soaring over waterfalls and through the moss-covered trees in the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Another iconic building belongs to the Arctic Brotherhood, a well-respected fraternal organization during the gold rush.
While pulling into port one day, I remember digging into a hearty lunch of fish and chips featuring fresh-caught Alaskan halibut. Cruisers can try his flavorful seafood dishes during their sailing. If you're interested in Alaska's Gold Rush history, Skagway — 90 miles northwest of Juneau — is a port you shouldn't miss. In fact, it's the gateway to the Klondike and Dawson's mining district in Canada's Yukon territory, where prospectors searched for gold in the late 1890s. The historic district still has a Wild West feel, though that's been a bit commercialized for the modern era. This port can get crowded in summer when several ships can call on the same day.
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. Your small group (usually just 4 people) will board the company’s comfortable boat and set off from the Ketchikan cruise-ship dock, leaving the big ships and the crowds behind. 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. You will encounter slippery slopes and rocky roads — and that's just walking through Alaska port towns.
You can take advantage of discounted fares, free upgrades or complimentary add-ons, such as Wi-Fi, gratuities, restaurant meals, beverage packages and tours. Some of the most desirable cabins might be sold out; being flexible about your sail date or itinerary can help. 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.
Get these things wrong, and you might miss out on your big Alaska cruise experience. Accordingly, passengers can opt in for a version of the excursion that includes a post-tour motor coach transfer to Anchorage hotels and its airport. The ride takes only 90 seconds before your gentle, brake-activated touchdown on the beach. For even more adventure, some tours combine the Icy Straight Point zipline with an ATV ride. Get a bird’s eye view of one of Denali's stunning Yanert Glacier. Fed from the precipice of Mt. Deborah, which towers over the glacial valley that you'll land on.
Like hiking through the rugged wilderness, dog sledding, and spotting whales in the wild. Several cruise lines also offer land extensions (sometimes called “cruisetours”) to make the experience as seamless as possible. 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. Icy Straight Point offers an unparalleled whale-watching experience.
On my last Alaska cruise, I heard about two passenger emergencies. A kid broke an arm on the ship and needed surgery, so a family of five disembarked in Ketchikan — not exactly a cheap end to their vacation, I'm guessing. Later in the sailing, a sick passenger was airlifted directly off the ship by the Canadian Coast Guard before we made it to Victoria.
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