Cruise Destinations - Alaska Cruises
Cruising Alaska is much more of a destination experience
than say, the Caribbean. You don’t generally go to Alaska
for warm weather and beaches - you go because of the majestic
scenery and the chance to view wild life in their majestic setting.
While there can be very warm weather, it can also be cold and
rainy in the middle of August. This is offset by the gorgeous scenery,
mountains, glaciers calving, fjords and incredible flora and fauna.
One thing to note is that cruise passengers to Alaska tend to
be mid-50’s and up and generally this is not a first cruise.
However, Alaska cruising offers so much for off ship experiences,
such as helicopter sight-seeing, glacier walking, flightseeing,
mountain biking, salmon fishing, kayaking and more, so there is
plenty for all ages including kids.
Cruising Alaska requires you to choose whether you want an Inside
Passage cruise or a North Bound or South Bound voyage.
An Alaska inside passage is typically a 7 day round trip voyage
from Vancouver, Canada or Seattle and returns you to where you
started from. A Northbound or Southbound Glacier voyage will (again
typically 7 days) start in Vancouver or Seattle or Seward, Alaska
and proceed north or south. In this case, your cruise is a one
way voyage and you will need to either fly back to your departure
point or fly to your departure point.
A typical 7 day Alaska cruise includes stops in several ports
and might include Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Haines.
Also, you want to ensure that you have the opportunity to visit
Glacier Bay to experience “calving”. Huge chunks of
glacial ice crack like thunder as they break off and plunge into
the bay.
Not all cruise lines or sailings are given permits to enter Glacier
Bay so check your itinerary carefully. You may find that the itinerary
includes Hubbard Glacier instead which is a treat to experience
as well.
When To Cruise Alaska
The Alaska cruise season is short, May to September. May and September
are often referred to as the “shoulder” seasons and
you can often find very attractive rates for this period.
Next ... Hawaii cruises
This Guide to Cruising is being updated regularly - Please bookmark this page
and come back again for the next 'chapter'
-
Introduction
to this Cruising Guide ...
-
How
much more you can enjoy a cruise compared to a 'land' based holiday ...
-
How
to research a cruise holiday
-
Types
of Cruise Ship Accommodation
-
What
Part of the Ship Should You Choose For Your Cabin?
-
How
to choose your cruise cabin
-
Choosing
and Booking your Cruise Part
1 and Part 2
-
Should
I book my Cruise through a Travel Agent?
-
Cruises - FAQs ... Answers
to frequently asked questions on Cruise Holidays
-
Your
Cruise Checklist ... Things to consider when choosing your cruise ...
-
So
what do all those sailing terms mean?
-
How
to Choose a Cruising Holiday - What different Itineraries mean ...
-
Cruise
Destinations - Caribbean Cruises
-
Cruise
Destinations - Alaska Cruises
-
Cruise
Destinations - Hawaii Cruises
-
Cruise
Destinations - Mexican Riviera Cruises
-
Choosing
the right kind of cruise ship for your kind of holiday
-
What
kind of cruise traveler are you?
- Next ...Singles Cruising
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