Table Of Content
This detailed review will guide you through every facet of our journey, from our departure in Seattle to our final port. We cover it all—port of calls, shore excursions, onboard amenities, and even those hidden gems that elevate a cruise from good to great. The six-star service is exceptional and the excursions are well put together, giving guests incredible insights into Alaska. Silver Moon falls down a little on things to do while sailing, and the food quality isn’t rated as highly as other luxury ships – but guests on the ship have high expectations, so the food is still very good. Expect a premium experience onboard – not quite ultra-luxury cruising, but a step above mainstream cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Nieuw Amsterdam is best suited to solo travellers and couples, with more of a focus on relaxation and exploration than ‘fun’ during the cruise itself.
Seven Seas Explorer
If you’re considering an Alaska cruise, we wholeheartedly recommend Norwegian Cruise Line for its mid-sized ships and affordable pricing. And if you’re short on time, our guide to picking the perfect 7-day itinerary will help you make the most of your trip. You need to weigh up the typical cruise experience of each ship alongside the reviews. It’s no good paying for an ultra-luxury ship when you can’t afford it and you hate dressing up formally, just because it’s placed higher on the list. While this guide ranks the best ships for Alaska cruise holidays by real reviews, you can’t just accept that the number one ship is the one you should book. Another great advantage of the ship is the choice of destination ports.
Night 6 Dinner at La Cucina
If you want a more active trip in less touristed areas, a great choice would be a small-ship expedition line, including Alaska specialists such as Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures. 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.
Norwegian Bliss Alaska 2024: Daily Trip Report
Despite the slight hiccup with the docking location, the port serves as a condensed version of Alaska’s beauty and culture. However, it’s worth noting that our ship docked at Ward Cove, Alaska’s newest cruise port, located 7 miles from downtown Ketchikan. While a free shuttle service was provided, the distance added a layer of inconvenience to our day. The port is also home to the world’s largest ZipRider, starting from the mountain peak and descending 1,300 feet.
In Sitka, the milder climate enveloped us in lush greenery, while the fog added an air of mystery. They’ll bring you up close to the calving events, where massive ice chunks break off and splash into the ocean. Doors to the terminal opened at noon, well ahead of our 5 PM departure time. This early start allowed for a relaxed and unhurried check-in process.
And I did essentially the exact same thing today as I did 5 months ago. Then I hit the waterfront on the way back to the ship where I snapped some photos and saw my first eagle of the trip perched in a tree near the playground stalking tourist children fattened up from 45 soft serve cones in two days. The Norwegian Sun offers a more intimate cruising experience with fewer passengers. The ship features a range of dining options, from casual eateries to fine dining and many onboard activities to keep you entertained as you sail through Alaska’s stunning landscapes. Also, if you want the best small cruise ships to Alaska, Seabourn Quest is the smallest on this list. It is ideal if you hate crowds or enjoy a more intimate atmosphere where guests mingle and share tales of their shore excursions each day.
Day 7: Sea Day/Victoria, BC
Several Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature cozy studio cabins designed and priced for one person, and the 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss offers 82 solo rooms on its round-trip Seattle cruises to Alaska. Guests can explore the small fishing town of Petersburg or search for orca and humpback whales in Frederick Sound. Lindblad has special permits to bring passengers into the wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the Tongass National Forest, beyond what the big ships can offer. A hike on Chichagof Island is the perfect opportunity to spot bald eagles in the wild.
First Time Cruisers
Photos: I Took an Alaskan Cruise With National Geographic Experts - Business Insider
Photos: I Took an Alaskan Cruise With National Geographic Experts.
Posted: Sun, 28 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The cruise line’s Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary offers two glacier viewing experiences, as well as a voyage across the Gulf of Alaska to see Prince William Sound, known for its abundance of marine and coastal life. Guests can extend their Alaska cruise with three- to 10-day day pre- and post-cruise tours. This section of our Alaska cruise review provides a detailed day-by-day itinerary breakdown. We’ll guide you through each day’s highlights, port of call activities, and activities aboard the Norwegian Sun, from scenic cruising along glaciers to immersive cultural experiences. Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities. Smaller ships can reach ports of call and destinations that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships, allowing you to explore more remote settings and communities.
Alaska cruise review: a voyage through the Inside Passage - The Week
Alaska cruise review: a voyage through the Inside Passage.
Posted: Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Least Favorite Spot On The Bliss
This is also an ultra-luxury cruise ship, renowned for the outstanding service offered onboard – and the fact it scores so highly with customers shows that this isn’t just an empty promise. Choose Seabourn Quest if you want fine dining, opulent accommodations, and an all-inclusive fare as you explore. There may be other ships for these cruise lines that visit Alaska and have a better average review score – but that score might be based on cruises to other destinations. The fairest method was to stick to the ships sailing to Alaska most frequently. Many cruise lines also travel to additional locations such as Sitka, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, and Haines. Programs like Princess Cruises' Cruisetours take the stress out of planning on-shore excursions and curate incredible itineraries for extensive, luxurious travel across the state.
It can be hard to figure out which cruise ship will deliver your idea of a "bucket list" experience in The Last Frontier. The goal is to have the Alaska cruise experience you and your travel companions long for. I also find that Alaska cruises are ideal for ordering room service meals. It definitely saves time before morning excursions and can provide a bit of downtime in your cabin for lunch or dinner on occasion. You'll want to book at the peak of the salmon fishing season, from mid-June to mid-August. Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, and while most cruises stop there, a few don't, so make sure it's on the itinerary if you wish to fish.
It occurred to me midway through this process that I should have packed some “poopourri,” not just for its intended purpose, but for the pungent smell of steaming sneakers. With Agnes and Chris, you're not just reading another travel blog; you're tapping into a treasure trove of insider tips, curated itineraries, and invaluable insights to make your Alaskan journey truly unforgettable. These are just a few of the moments that set our Alaska cruise apart, making it an adventure we’ll cherish forever. Cruising Alaska with Norwegian offers a balanced blend of comfort, affordability, and flexibility. Kayaking in Sitka offered a stark contrast to our Valdez kayaking trip, where we had paddled amid icebergs.
Holland America Line’s Koningsdam offers everything long-time cruisers appreciate, from a comfortable size and price point to onboard activities and numerous dining options. Eleven days exploring the Inside Passage and Alaskan fjords with only 400-ish other passengers aboard a luxurious ship with plenty of onboard activities? Enjoy the magical moments spent exploring the far end of the Misty Fjords on Zodiac, learn more about the local wildlife and geology during lectures with the Expedition Team, and kayak along Hubbard Glacier. When it comes to experiencing the splendor of Alaska, your cruise is only as good as the direct access it offers to this region’s beauty—and Windstar Cruises delivers access like no other. Because of its dainty size, guests are treated to unique experiences, like anchoring right in Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords, which is something you’d have to do on a shore excursion if you were on a larger ship with another cruise line. For an even closer look at Mother Nature’s impressive work, from icebergs to whales, book a kayak or Zodiac Signature Expedition with their incredibly knowledgeable guides.
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