Table Of Content
While not required, bringing items like motion-sickness medication, binoculars, and cabin essentials like outlet adapters are helpful to have handy. When scheduling your return flights, don’t book a flight too early on disembarkation day. All cruises come to an end, and unfortunately this means you will have to return home after your Alaska cruise. Canada does not permit entry to any visitors with criminal records, regardless of how long ago the crime occurred.
Top Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska
These waters are also home to a huge population of whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises and puffins. Bald eagles and seabirds often fly overhead— and Admiralty Island is the best spot for glimpsing bears. That's in addition to the shallow pools and hot tubs in the adults-only, forward-facing Solarium with its incredible ocean views. Even when at max capacity, there are plenty of places passengers can spread themselves out, leaving room to roam in between. It may seem like a minor detail, but it's easier to get around on a smaller ship.
Reserve tours once you disembark in port
Located on the Lynn Canal, panoramic vistas surround Skagway and the town is a gateway into Canada’s Yukon Territory. Many passengers choose to ride the White Pass & Yukon Railroad, taking visitors through a mountain pass once climbed by those hoping to strike it rich in the gold-rush era. Skagway is further north in Alaska’s Inside Passage and, while small, is filled with Alaska's gold rush history. Feel the pioneer spirit of Alaska, from First Nations tribes to early Russian settlers to Gold Rush prospectors.
Alaska Food: Where to Find the Best Food in Alaska Royal Caribbean Cruises
And when you combine your seven-night sailing with Alaska CruiseTours, you’ll explore the best of the Last Frontier — on land and sea. Like hiking through the rugged wilderness, dog sledding, and spotting whales in the wild. No vacation in the world delivers once-in-a-lifetime adventure like Alaska. Take off by dogsled across thousand-year-old ice as you soak in otherworldly sights. Get to know wildlife, big and small, that call this wilderness home, like otters, eagles, bears, and whales. During scenic glacier viewing days, Royal Caribbean offers excursions that allow guests to disembark their large cruise ship and board a small expedition vessel.
Royal Caribbean and the Port of Seattle offer a luggage valet service, which allows you to bypass standard airport check-in. One of my favorite Alaska cruise “hacks” is to utilize Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s luggage valet service. One must-do before you board an Alaska cruise in 2024 is to pre-purchase these add-ons.
Cons of a Quantum-class Royal Caribbean Ship in Alaska
Ketchikan, the southernmost Alaska cruise port, is a quaint waterfront town surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. The town’s gold rush history alongside its Native culture offers a chance for visitors to experience Alaska through history. On northbound cruises, you'll get the best views of the glaciers on the starboard side of the ship; when you're sailing southward, the port side is the way to go.
Royal Caribbean Canceled Cruise After Passengers Were Already on Board, Couple Says - Business Insider
Royal Caribbean Canceled Cruise After Passengers Were Already on Board, Couple Says.
Posted: Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
From the majestic scenery, to amazing wildlife, delicious seafood, and diverse history and culture, Alaska has a lot to offer. Whether served up in jams, sweets, pies or cobblers, Alaskan blueberries, high-bush cranberries and other local wild berries are a staple when it comes to Alaskan summer eats. It has far fewer dining options, relying on Chops Grille to satisfy the need for specialty dining. Though there are suites, neither Radiance-class ship offers the Suite Class perks available on larger ships. That means no Genies, no Concierge Lounge, and no Coastal Kitchen for suite lovers. Can the mega ships give you the same Alaska experience you are looking for?
Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska in 2024 - Royal Caribbean Blog
Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska in 2024.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
For the past few years, we’ve noticed a trend on last-minute Alaska cruise pricing. One-way itineraries on Radiance of the Seas have offered cheap cruise deals a few months before the sailing. Being flexible on an Alaska cruise is important, especially when it comes to your cruise itinerary.
Fortunately, Alaska’s cruise ports are all small and walkable, meaning you can see many attractions without booking expensive excursions. A variety of museums, restaurants, and bars are located just a few minutes away from where cruise ships dock in each port. In most Alaska cruise ports, you will find stands selling tours as soon as you disembark the cruise ship. These tours can be booked day-of and may be priced significantly lower than those booked onboard. No matter which itineraries you choose to sail on from Seattle or Vancouver, the best way to maximize your Alaska cruise is with a CruiseTour.
While you can purchase packages once onboard, the cost may be significantly higher than what you could have booked ahead of time. Plus, because you can cancel add-ons for a full refund up to 48 hours before your sailing, you have flexibility in case you change your mind on these purchases later on. Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season. This is another reason why layers are so important—you never know when you’ll need that t-shirt over your winter jacket. Hopefully, if you have an Alaska cruise booked this summer, you’ve already booked your airfare to and from the cruise port.
From local breweries to diners and food trucks, we recommend reading through her guide before your Alaska cruise to ensure you don’t miss out on the state’s best eats. While traveling to any destination, one of the best ways to learn more about a region’s culture is to taste local cuisine, and that is true in Alaska as well. Show your spouse, friend, or another family member who needs convincing a few images and videos of Alaska’s scenery. Maybe find a vlog on YouTube from an Alaska cruise, as seeing a first-hand experience could get someone more excited about the possibility of cruising to Alaska themselves.
This narrow passage is between Vancouver Island and British Columbia and offers scenic mountain views. The shortest cruise and land tour combinations offered by Royal Caribbean are 9 nights, and they include a 7-night cruise and 2 nights in Alaska’s interior, during which you will visit Denali. When planning an Alaska cruise, you will have to choose between either a roundtrip or one-way itinerary. Each of these itineraries comes with advantages and disadvantages, so you should weigh the pros and cons of each before booking an itinerary.
Nonetheless, the fewer crowds and lower prices make visiting at this time of year appealing for many guests. This shoulder season will see some of the lowest prices offered all year, and you can occasionally snag a great last-minute cruise deal as fall approaches. Cruises leaving Vancouver do not need to stop in Victoria, meaning your cruise itinerary will visit more ports in Alaska compared to those leaving Seattle. Vancouver, though, is an excellent embarkation port for the itinerary options. All Alaska cruises departing Seattle must include a port stop in Victoria, British Columbia to meet the requirements of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA).
