An Alaskan cruise offers something for everyone! For those who like adventure or for those who just want to sit back and view the wildlife from afar this is the right choice. It is the most popular way to explore Alaska, which is twice the size of Texas with 47,300 miles of shoreline, 4 million acres of National Parks, preserves and monuments, 17 of the nation’s 20 highest peaks, and the largest number of active glaciers and ice fields in the inhabited world. A cruise is the best way to combine sightseeing with options like glacier viewing, whale watching, fishing, hiking, beach combing, berry picking, bear viewing, photography, bird watching and kayaking. The cruises are seasonal with July and August being the most popular months for tourists.
There are two major routes for Alaskan cruises that usually last seven nights: the Inside Passage route and the Gulf of Alaska route. Round trips from Vancouver or Seattle may include ports of call such as Glacier Bay, Juneau or Hanes. While Gulf of Alaska cruise route travels from Anchorage to Vancouver or vice versa with ports of call including Hubbard Glacier, Seward or Valdez.
Over 30 ships from 13 cruise lines sail in Alaska’s waters ranging from small vessels offering a casual atmosphere, medium size (800 to 1500 passengers) to mega size (2000 and more) offering a host of amenities and activities in a resort-like setting. The latter has equal focus on shipboard activities as on the landscape of Alaska. The smaller ships focus more on nature activities and often get closer to shore and enter some fjords that may be too small for the larger ships.
Enjoy ancient history at the 10,000-year old settlement of Prince Rupert Port, view the extinct Volcano at the northern city of Sitka and the unique 25 story tall monuments of ice floating in Glacier Bay. Most Alaska cruises are affordable and include meals, ship transportation, cabin accommodations, entertainment and most activities. Many lines include side trips to Denali National Park but shore excursions can be more expensive, so check before you book.