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Alaska, America's 49th state, breaks all kinds of records, including North America's tallest peak, America's largest state, and the largest collection of totem poles. Filled with Native American culture, Alaska is America's last frontier. Cruises to the final frontier range from 7 to 23 days and can be one-way or round trip. For one-way cruises it is recommended to stay extra nights to venture to Alaska’s scenic interior. Alaskan and Pacific Coast cruises are known for their shore excursions that explore wilderness, wildlife, glaciers and mountains.

ALASKA CRUISE DEALS

	ITINERARY	INTERIOR	OCEANVIEW	BALCONY	SUITE	SAVINGS
	7 Night Alaska Hubbard Glacier Southbound Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Millennium Departs from Seward	$449	$599	$699	$1,249	SAVE
	7 Night Northbound Alaska Brochure price $2,029. Save up to 70%. Carnival Cruise Lines – Carnival Spirit Departs from Vancouver	$609	$859	$979	$1,679	70%
	FREE Onboard Savings Booklet!
	7 Night Alaska & Sawyer Glacier Brochure price $1,259. Save up to 47%. Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Star Departs from Seattle	$669	$799	$1,149	$1,369	47%
	7 Night Alaska & Sawyer Glacier Brochure price $1,159. Save up to 41%. Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Sun Departs from Vancouver	$679	$799	$1,009	$1,479	41%
	7 Night Glacier Bay Inside Passage Brochure price $879. Save up to 17%. Holland America Line – Ryndam Departs from Vancouver	$729	$799	$1,599	$2,399	17%
	7 Night Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Brochure price $949. Save up to 21%. Holland America Line – Westerdam Departs from Seattle	$749	$899	$1,149	$1,499	21%
	7 Night Alaska Glacier Bay Brochure price $1,999. Save up to 60%. Carnival Cruise Lines – Carnival Spirit Departs from Vancouver	$809	$1,059	$1,159	$1,749	60%
	FREE Onboard Savings Booklet!
	7 Night Alaskan Explorer via Hubbard Glacier Brochure price $1,799. Save up to 25%. Holland America Line – Oosterdam Departs from Seattle	Sold Out	Sold Out	$1,349	$1,599	25%
	7 Night Alaska Hubbard Glacier Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Infinity Departs from Seattle	$1,039	Sold Out	Sold Out	$3,099	SAVE
	7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier Royal Caribbean – Rhapsody of the Seas Departs from Seattle	$1,089	Sold Out	$1,899	Sold Out	SAVE
	14 Night Ultimate Alaska Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Millennium Departs from Vancouver	$1,099	$1,749	$1,969	Sold Out	SAVE

Alaska Ports of Call

Cruises to Alaska either travel the Gulf of Alaska or the Inside Passage, but many ports of call for the two trips overlap. Gulf of Alaska cruises (also known as Alaska Glacier cruises) tend to be one way, while Inside Passage cruises are usually round trip.

The 4 most popular Alaskan destinations are Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchican. Other stops on your Alaskan itinerary may include Anchorage, Icy Strait, Prince Rupert, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Haines, Glacier Bay, Vancouver, Victoria, Whittier and/or Seward.

Alaska Highlights

The low down on the most popular Alaskan cruise destinations:

Juneau: The capital of Alaska is also its third most populous city.

Skagway: The “garden city of Alaska” became popular during the 19th century Alaskan gold rush. Many sites today are restored to resemble what Skagway looked like in its heyday.

Sitka: The former Russian capital of North America, Sitka is the only city in Southeast Alaska to front the Pacific Ocean.

Ketchikan: Nicknamed the “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan is home to Creek Street, coined as the most photographed street in the world, and the most totem poles in the Northwest.

Icy Strait: Alaska’s newest port allows cruisers to experience the natural wilderness of America’s 49th state. Only one cruise ship is allowed to dock here per day.

Whittier: This small Alaskan port is one of the closest to Anchorage and can be used as a substitute for the more distant Seward.

Prince Rupert, British Columbia: Prince Rupert, the “halibut capital of the world” is considered to be one of the oldest continuously occupied regions in the world. It is also the site of the deepest harbor in North America.

Vancouver, British Columbia: This Canadian metropolis is a popular departure site for many Alaskan and Pacific Coast cruises. Vancouver’s main attraction is the Seawall, which stretches over 13 miles and boasts many tourist sites.

Victoria, British Columbia: The capital of British Columbia has many historic and touristy areas for your enjoyment.

Anchorage: The most well-known city in Alaska, Anchorage is a perfect combination of commercial centers and natural beauty.

Fairbanks: Nicknamed the “golden heart of Alaska,” Alaska’s second largest city became famous once gold was struck here in 1902. Less than 200 miles below the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks experiences unusually long summer days (21 hours of sunlight).

Denali National Park: This 6 million acre park north of Anchorage is home to Mt. McKinley, the highest point in North America.

Glacier Bay: This Alaskan national park and preserve is home to the highest concentration of tidewater glaciers in the world. The highest point in Southeastern Alaska, Mount Fairweather, is located in Glacier Bay.

Haines: A calm and pleasant neighborhood in Southeastern Alaska. Some cruises stop here, but if not, there are ferries available from Skagway (the fastest ferries in the world).

Seward: One of the oldest Alaskan settlements is a starting point for many North to South Alaska cruises.

Alaska Activities and Attractions

Juneau Attractions: Mount Roberts Tramway, Red Dog Saloon, Alaska State Museum, Gastineau Salmon Hatchery, Green Angel Gardens, Governor's Mansion, Alaska Gastineau Mill, Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.

Juneau Excursions: Activities include catamaran rides, helicopter tours, flight tours, sport-fishing, dogsled rides, glacier hiking, kayaking, panning for gold, gold mine tours, forest hiking, canoeing, brewery tours, whitewater rafting and whale watching.

Skagway Excursions: Activities include historic walking tours, canoeing, horseback riding, flight tours, kayaking, catamaran rides, rock climbing, rappelling, helicopter tours, nature hikes, dog sledding, biking tours, 4WD tours, street car tours and gold panning.

Sitka Attractions: Alaska Raptor Center, St. Michael's Cathedral, the Russian Bishop's House, totem poles, Sitka National Historical Park Visitor Center, Tlingit Fort, Klingit Clan House (for cultural performances), Alaska Native Brotherhood building, Sitka Pioneers Home, Baranof Castle ruins, Castle Hill, Old Russian Cemetery, Eagle Flight Center, Isabel Miller Museum, Alaska Raptor Center, Whale Park, Sheldon Jackson Museum.

Sitka Excursions: Activities include self-guided hiking, biking, sport-fishing, whale watching, 4WD tours, catamaran rides, culture tours, semi-submersible boat trips, snorkeling and kayaking.

Ketchikan Excursions: Activities include hiking Deer Mountain, deep-sea fishing, fly-fishing, flight tours of Misty Fjords, 4WD forest tour, cultural performances, bear watching, jet boat tours, snorkeling, narrated helicopter tour, motorcycle tours, off road go-karting, forest hiking, canopy tours, horse drawn trolley city tours, wilderness cruises, mountain biking and kayaking.

Ketchikan Attractions: Dolly’s House Museum, Totem Heritage Center, Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, Totem Heritage Center, Tongass Historical Museum, Totem Bight State Park, Saxman Native Village, Saxman Totem Park, City Park, Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan Museum.

Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show: Available in Ketchikan.

Ketchikan Shopping: Available along Creek Street and Stedman Street.

Icy Strait Excursions: Activities include forest tours, fishing, trips to the nearby village of Hoonah, the Historical Cannery Tour, Remote Bush Exploration and Wildlife Search, flight tours over Glacier Bay National Park, salmon fishing, bear viewing, whale watching and bike tours.

Icy Strait Attractions: Hoonah village, Native Heritage Center Theater (for cultural performances), Cannery Museum.

Prince Rupert Attractions: Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, First Nations Carving Shed, Cow Bay shops, Butze Rapids, Oliver Lake, Roosevelt Park, Totem Park, Sunken Gardens, Pacific Mariners Memorial Park, Museum of Northern British Columbia, North Pacific Cannery, Kwinitsa Station Railway Museum, Firehall Museum, North Pacific Historic Fishing Village.

Prince Rupert Excursions: Activities include whale watching, granite wall climbing, rappelling, walking tours, nature walks, hiking, kayaking, river tours, cultural tours, flight tours, helicopter tours, sport-fishing, salmon fishing and canoeing.

Vancouver Shopping: Available at Pacific Centre, Sinclair Centre, Robson street and Granville street.

Vancouver Attractions: False Creek, BC Sports Hall of Fame Museum, Queen Elizabeth Park, Stanley Park, Museum of Anthropology, Capilano Canyon, Vancouver Aquatic Centre, Lonsdale Quay, historical Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Capilano Suspension Bridge, the chic neighborhood of Yaletown, Coal Harbour waterfront area, Vancouver Art Gallery, Grouse Mountain, Steveston (a fishing village).

Granville Island: Sites here include museums, a public market, maritime market, brewery, Vanier Park and Telus Science World; a short ferry ride from Vancouver.

Vancouver Excursions: Activities include gondola rides, biking, hiking, the Grouse Mountain Skyride, city tours and kayaking.

Victoria Activities: High tea, nighttime lantern-lit walking tours, daytime walking tours, city tours, vineyard tours, whale watching, kayaking, canoeing, biking, scooter tours, powerboat tours.

Victoria Sites: Parliament Buildings, Empress Hotel, Royal British Columbia Museum, Imax Theatre, Beacon Hill Park, Chinatown, Bastion Square, James Bay, Butchart Gardens, Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery, Marley Farm Winery, Maritime Museum, Butterfly Gardens, Fort Victoria, Craigdarroch Castle, Lieutenant Governor's mansion, Mt. Tolmie Lookout.

Victoria Shopping: Antiques can be found along Fort Street.

Victoria Golf: Available at Bear Mountain Resort and Olympic View Gold Club.

Whittier Activities: Traveling on the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel into town, fishing, glacier adventures, whale watching, kayaking, sightseeing boat tours.

Begich Towers: The entire town of Whittier is packaged into a 14-story building, complete with a grocery store, apartments, and medical clinic.

Anchorage Sites: Alaska Native Heritage Center, Resolution Park, Imaginarium science center, Anchorage Museum of History and Art.

Anchorage Excursions: Activities include glacier cruises, flight tours, whale watching and bear viewing.

Fairbanks Excursions: Activities include Sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery rides, mining tours, flight tours, guided river tours and cultural tours.

Fairbanks Attractions: El Dorado Gold Mine, Alaskaland Pioneer Park (theme park), Malemute Saloon shows.

Denali National Park Activities: Denali National History Tour, Tundra Wilderness Tour, day hiking, camping, mountain climbing, sightseeing, helicopter tours, whitewater rafting, dog kennel tours.

Denali National Park Golf: Believe it or not, they managed to put a 9-hole golf course in this mountainous Alaska park.

Glacier Bay Sites: Tarr Inlet, Johns Hopkins Inlet, Takhinsha Mountains.

Haines Golf: Available at the scenic Eagles Golf Links.

Haines Activities: Museums, biking, sightseeing, Ford Seward.

Seward Activities: Hiking, fishing, kayaking, whale watching, Resurrection Bay Wildlife cruise, Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise.

Seward Attractions: Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska Sealife Center, Chugah National Forest (the most northern national park), Exit Glacier.

When to Visit Alaska

Unlike tropical destinations, Alaska does not have pleasant weather year-round. May is considered the driest month, and the warmer months (April through September) are considered peak season for Alaska cruise travel. The weather can be quite unpredictable, so prepare for warm and cool temperatures when you book an Alaskan cruise.

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