Alaska is Still Calling You

Canada has extended it's ban on cruise ships docking until February 28, 2022. Cruise ships that have overnight accommodations for more than 100 people will not be allowed to operate in Canadian waters during the ban.

“As Canadians continue to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, our government continues to work hard to ensure Canada’s transportation system remains safe,” Omar Alghabra, federal minister of transport, says in a statement. “Temporary prohibitions to cruise vessels and pleasure craft are essential to continue to protect the most vulnerable among our communities and avoid overwhelming our health care systems. This is the right and responsible thing to do.”

 Since foreign flagged cruise ships must stop at a foreign port before sailing between two U.S. ports, the Canadian ban puts the Alaskan Cruise Season and the Canada / New England cruise season in jeopardy. The Canadian government could rescind the order should conditions improve but until then, this announcement leaves the major cruise lines scrambling to see what operations can be salvaged.  Many of them also operate lodges in Alaska, which initial indications are they will continue to do to allow for land-based itineraries to proceed.

The cruise industry is key to the economic recovery in Canada and Alaska, so this announcement is a huge blow to the hospitality industry in both countries. 

 So You Had Your Heart Set on Seeing Alaska 

While it appears that a cruise to Alaska won't be possible again this year, there is a vast amount of Alaska still waiting for you to explore it. I always recommend that my guest include a land portion to their Alaskan vacation plans, so my suggestion is that you continue your Alaskan vacation plans for 2021.  As an Alaskan expert, I can help you plan an amazing Alaskan trip.

Majestic Beauty

Imagine gazing out the window of your railcar and catching this glimpse of Denali (Mount McKinley).   We were fortunate enough to capture this view many years ago, and I can still remember the thrill of seeing this amazing site.

Let's begin your Alaskan vacation with Natures Best: Alaska tour. 

Peaks. Glaciers. Whales. Wildlife. 

You couldn’t see more of the great state of Alaska in one week if you were an Iditarod sled dog.

Fairbanks to Anchorage (7 Days)

FAIRBANKS: Your Alaskan trip of a lifetime begins in Fairbanks with a hotel stay along the banks of the Chena River.  The tour continues with a scenic sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River. Visit the Chena Indian Village and then continue with a scenic drive to Denali National Park. 

DENALI NATIONAL PARK: A must see for any stay in Denali National Park is the Tundra Wilderness tour which is included. You'll have free time in the evening. in the morning you'll visit the home of an Iditarod Musher before heading for a train ride. 

ALASKA RAILROAD: All aboard for a scenic train ride to Talkeetna. View breathtaking scenery as the train takes you comfortably to your next stop where you'll have free time that evening. 

TALKEETNA–SEWARD: Start your day with an Alaskan treat at the Talkeetna Roadhous and continue with a scenic drive along the Kenai Peninsula en route to Seward. 

SEWARD: Day 6 begins with a scenic cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Following the cruise you'll return to Anchorage. 

ANCHORAGE: Your vacation ends with breakfast but the memories will last a life time.

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Time to Explore Alaska by Land and Sea

Experience first-hand the majesty of Alaska and meet the people. Alaska comprises 591,004 square miles of some of the most diverse and spectacular landscapes in the world. It is a vast territory, almost a fifth the size of mainland USA, or to put it in a worldly perspective, it is as large as the combined areas of England, France, Spain, and Italy. Nature has painted this landscape with broad strokes, majestic mountains, awe inspiring fjords, massive glaciers, dense forests, and open tundra. Here you will find 17 of the 20 highest peaks in North America, with Denali (Mt. McKinley) towering to 20,306 feet. Over 100,000 glaciers cover 28,000 miles of territory. Alaska is home to the largest population of brown and black bears in the United States. It is also home to moose, caribou, musk ox, Dall sheep, black tail deer, wolves, and fox as well as a variety of small mammals. Over 90% of all bald eagles in the United States call Alaska their home. Welcome to Alaska - the last frontier

Alaska Cruise Season 

May - September

There are four types of Alaska Cruise Vacations:

Alaska - Roundtrip: These are cruises that begin and end in the same port city. They are very popular because they are often 7 days long and leave from either Seattle or Vancouver which both offer a number of affordable flight schedules for the cruise passenger.

Alaska - Northbound: These are one-way Glacier Intensive cruises. They begin in Seattle or Vancouver and cruise North to Anchorage/Seward.

Alaska - Southbound: These are also one-way Glacier Intensive cruises. They begin in Anchorage/Seward and cruise South to Vancouver or Seattle.

Alaska - Cruise and Land: This is the most popular way to see Alaska. These cruise/tours give you the opportunity to combine an Alaska Cruise with a scenic land tour that takes you into the Interior of Alaska. These are the packages that often include the domed cars of the Alaska Railroad to Denali National Park and Mt. McKinley. Click for Featured Alaska Cruises

Alaska Cruise Season May - September Click to Enlarge Vancouver Vancouver Photo Album Alaska cruises often begin / end in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The largest metropolitan center in western Canada and the country's third largest city, Vancouver is the Canadian jewel of Puget Sound.  It was the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympic games. Allow some time before or after your cruise to see the bustling center of Vancouver, Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park, and experience the treetop adventure at the Capilano Suspension Bridge.  Seattle Click to Enlarge Many Alaskan cruises begin and / or end in Seattle, Washington. Visitors to the Emerald City find a fusion of American, Asian and Native American cultures, set against a backdrop of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Sample the freshest seafood to be found along the Pacific Rim, as well as a cup of Seattle's famous coffee. Also tour Seattle's famous Underground, including the world famous Pike Place Market, and ascend to the top of the Space Needle to view the entire city. Ketchikan Ketchikan Album Near the southernmost tip of Alaska's panhandle sits a sleepy little town with a very dramatic title. Squeezed between mountain and sea, it is hard to imagine how the town got the Tlingit Indian name which means "Thundering Wings of an Eagle". Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world and home to the world's largest collections of totem poles. This small town's main street skirts a waterfront built on pilings over the seas. A few blocks from the downtown area you will find Creek Street, a former red-light district popular during the mining days.

Hubbard Glacier  Cruising Hubbard Glacier Stretching over 90 miles from the core of the 12 million acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to the head of the Yakutat Bay, the mighty Hubbard is one of Alaska's largest and most unpredictable glaciers. This is one of the highlights of your cruise as the ship enters Disenchantment Bay and carefully navigates through icebergs to get as close to the glacier as possible. Those who purchased balcony cabins will be glad that they did during this part of the cruise. Millions of tons of ice, gravel, and broken rock slide down the mountain carving a path to the sea. Juneau Juneau Photos Nestled deep within the norther reaches of the Inside Passage is Alaska's first truly American city. Founded 13 years after the purchase of Alaska, it was Juneau, and more importantly its gold, that captured the imagination of the American public. Here we highly recommend Orca Enterprises Whale Watching boat tour. Captain Larry guarantees you will see whales, eagles, and other sea mammals during this tour. Sitka Sitka Photo Album Almost every city or town in the United States can trace its formation back to an European immigration or conquest. English, Spanish, French, and German are common heritages, but few can claim Russian roots. However, Sitka is one of those rare exceptions, with Russians first arriving in 1741. This town can easily be explored on foot. It will be your last chance for Alaskan souvenirs and your only chance for Russian souvenirs during the cruise. Victoria Butchart Gardens Album Situated on the sunny southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria basks in one of Canada's mildest climates. This intimate, sophisticated seaside city with its English charm, gentle weather, and dramatic scenery draws close to two million visitors every year - earning it the title of the most visited vacation spot in Western Canada. Victoria is known as the "City of Gardens". A short drive north of the city will bring you to the 130 acre Butchart Gardens where you can walk among some of the most gorgeous flower gardens in the world.

 

National Plan A Cruise Month Promotions 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

Choose Cruise Month (click for mini-series)

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Alaska Family Adventure 2013

Experiencing Alaska through the eyes of a child

Alaska Family Adventure — 2013 Celebrity Millennium®

We invite you to bring the entire family with you on a Celebrity Cruisetour to Alaska's interior.

You will be greeted by a local expert who will serve as your tour guide throughout your land-based portion of your vacation. 

Cruise Ports

Departing from Vancouver, British Columbia; Inside Passage (Cruising); Ketchikan, Alaska; Icy Strait Point, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Hubbard Glacier (Cruising); Seward, Alaska

Cruisetour Cities

Seward, Alaska; Alyeska (Girdwood), Alaska; Anchorage, Alaska; Denali, Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska

Dates: May 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30

HIGHLIGHTS:

 

7-NIGHT NORTHBOUND HUBBARD GLACIER CRUISE

• Exclusive Rail travel between Seward & Anchorage
• Included Activities – Alaska SeaLife Center, Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Mt. Alyeska Tram Ride, Anchorage Museum & Imaginarium Discovery Center, Discover Denali Tour, Gold Dredge No. 8
• 1-Night The Hotel Alyeska, 1-Night Anchorage, 2-Night Denali & 1-Night Fairbanks

Experience much more of Alaska
 Watch our "Cruisetours: The Complete Alaska Vacation Experience" video

See what a difference a Tour Director can make.
 Watch our "Alaska Cruisetours the Celebrity Way" video

Celebrity Cruisetours to Hubbard Glacier in 2012

Alaska Cruisetours
Celebrity Millennium®
 
See Hubbard Glacier 
& so much more

Most people thought of a cruise to Alaska as the ultimate vacation, to be completed sometime later in life, perhaps when the children are grown and on their own.   Now, that thinking has changed and many families go to Alaska as an educational experience while the children are living with you.

Whichever situation applies to you,  we are happy that you are exploring an Alaska cruise vacation.  Our blog and Facebook page has a wealth of information to get you started on your investigation.  We are Certified Alaska Experts and can help you plan a worry-free trip that will satisfy the requests of everyone in your group.


We encourage you to extend your cruise by adding one of the many Cruisetours which can be added before or after the cruise portion of your trip - or even both if you have the time.  Here is just a sampling of Cruisetours on Celebrity Millennium, one of our favorite ships.

See how Celebrity visits Alaska in this video

DESCRIPTION	CRUISETOUR DATES 2012	ITINERARY
Cruisetour #3 10-Night Anchorage, Talkeetna & Alyeska (Motorcoach & Rail) and Southbound Hubbard Glacier cruise onboard Celebrity Millennium®	6/1, 6/15, 6/29; 7/13, 7/27; 8/10, 8/24	Day 1: Arrive Anchorage Day 2: Talkeetna/Anchorage Day 3: Anchorage/Alyeska Day 4: Alyeska/Seward Days 5-11: Celebrity Millennium® Southbound Hubbard Glacier cruise
Cruisetour #20 10-Night Fairbanks & Denali (Motorcoach) and Southbound Hubbard Glacier cruise onboard Celebrity Millennium®	6/8, 6/22, 6/29; 7/6, 7/20; 8/3, 8/17, 8/31	Day 1: Arrive Fairbanks Day 2: Fairbanks/Denali Day 3: Denali Day 4: Denali/Anchorage/Seward Days 5-11: Celebrity Millennium® Southbound Hubbard Glacier cruise
Cruisetour #21 14-Night Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali & Fairbanks (Motorcoach & Rail) and Northbound Hubbard Glacier cruise onboard Celebrity Millennium®	6/1, 6/15, 6/29,7/13, 7/27; 8/10, 8/24	Days 1-7: Celebrity Millennium® Northbound Hubbard Glacier cruise Day 8: Seward Day 9: Seward/Anchorage Day 10: Anchorage/Talkeetna Day 11: Talkeetna/Denali Day 12: Denali Day 13: Denali/Fairbanks Day 14: Fairbanks Day 15: Depart from Fairbanks
Cruisetour #17 13-Night Seward, Alyeska, Denali, Talkeetna & Anchorage (Motorcoach & Rail) and Northbound Hubbard Glacier cruise onboard Celebrity Millennium®	6/8, 6/15, 6/29; 7/13, 7/27; 8/10, 8/24	Days 1-7: Celebrity Millennium Northbound Hubbard Glacier cruise Day 8: Seward Day 9: Seward/Alyeska Day 10: Alyeska/Denali Day 11: Denali Day 12: Denali/Talkeetna Day 13: Talkeetna/Anchorage Day 14: Depart from Anchorage

Be sure to check out our Exploring Alaska page on Facebook

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus |  Wine Lists   | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos 

See Alaska with the Whole Family

 Plan An Alaska Cruisetour for the Family

Royal Caribbean’s Alaska Family Style Northbound Cruisetour brings together the Last Frontier’s best family experiences by land and sea, in one easy-to-book vacation.

Royal Caribbean's Alaska "Family Style" Cruisetour packs an abundance of educational opportunities and experiences in with a whole lot of fun. Expert Adventure Specialists create an intimate setting for all families traveling together, providing family focused insider tips and suggestions throughout the journey.

Your 12 night Alaska Cruisetour package includes the 7-night Northbound Alaska cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas with the Adventure Ocean program, fabulous onboard entertainment and a visit to the mighty Hubbard Glacier. The cruise is complimented with a 5-night escorted land tour featuring rail travel on the Wilderness Express^® glass domed  railcars along the scenic journey between Seward and Alyeska. Two nights in Denali provide the younger travelers with ample opportunities to engage in the all the National Park has to offer. In addition the hotel properties have been carefully chosen to provide families with comfortable accommodations as well as easy access to all the sites and attractions unique to each of the stops along the way.

"Family Style" Cruisetour includes the following Alaskan experiences:

• Alaska Sealife Center (Seward)
• Bay Wildlife Cruise and lunch at Fox Island (Seward)
• Wildlife Conservation Center (Alyeska)
• Mt. Alyeska Tram (Alyeska)
• Museum and Imaginarium Discovery Center (Anchorage)
• Denali Program (Denali)
• Dorado Gold Mine (Fairbanks)

Somethings, like Alaska, are best shared together.  Watch this video to see what a cruise vacation can include on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (activities vary by ship).




  We would be happy to tell you more about an Alaska CruisetourJust Select the Time and We'll do the Rest Alaska bookings are open through 2013 currently

Princess Alaska Off the Beaten Path & Connoisseur 2012

Princess Cruises Alaska Cruisetour Images 

Courtesy Princess Cruises

If you are interested in this article, also see:

Princess Alaska Denali Explorer 2012
Princess Alaska Deployment 2012 

Time to Explore Alaska by Land and Sea 

A la Carte Princess Alaska Cruisetours 

Princess Cruises Alaska Land Excursion Options 

Princess Family Cruisetours to Alaska Back in 2011

 
Land & Sea Vacations

Off the Beaten Path tours include key benefits of  Denali Explorer itineraries, plus visits to less-frequented regions like Copper River and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, the Kenai Peninsula or Prudhoe Bay above the Arctic Circle.

Cruisetour	Itinerary Highlights†	Tour Number*	2012 Dates
M	13 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge® • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Anchorage	MA6 After Cruise MB6 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8 Island Princess: May 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30 Coral Princess: May 29; Jun 12, 26; Jul 10, 24; Aug 7, 21; Sep 4 Diamond Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Sapphire Princess: May 20; Jun 3, 17; Jul 1, 15, 29; Aug 12, 26; Sep 9
N	14 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour • 2 nights Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Anchorage	NA7 After Cruise NB7 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Coral Princess: May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25 Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8
O	14 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge® • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	OA7 After Cruise OB7 Before Cruise	Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8 Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8
P	15 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 3 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	PA8 After Cruise	Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3
Q	14 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour • 1 night Coldfoot • 1 night Prudhoe Bay • 1 night Anchorage	QA7 After Cruise QB7 Before Cruise	Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18 Island Princess: Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29

Connoisseur deluxe escorted cruisetours represent the highest level of service with a tour director on land and most meals included. They include up to four nights at a combination of both Mt. McKinley and Denali Princess wilderness lodges, with enhanced sightseeing experiences, such as the longer Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park. Plus, there are options to visit the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.

Cruisetour	Itinerary Highlights†	Tour Number*	2012 Dates
R	12 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Anchorage	RA5 After Cruise RB5 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29; Sep 12 Coral Princess: May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8 Island Princess: May 25; Jun 8, 22; Jul 6, 20; Aug 3, 17, 31; Sep 14 Coral Princess: May 30; Jun 13, 27; Jul 11, 25; Aug 8, 22; Sep 5 Diamond Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Sapphire Princess: May 21; Jun 4, 18; Jul 2, 16, 30; Aug 13, 27; Sep 10
S	13 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	SA6 After Cruise SB6 Before Cruise	Coral Princess: May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Island Princess: May 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30; Sep 13 Diamond Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Sapphire Princess: May 20; Jun 3, 17; Jul 1, 15, 29; Aug 12, 26; Sep 9
T	15 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	TA8 After Cruise TB8 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Coral Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Diamond Princess: May 25; Jun 8, 22; Jul 6, 20; Aug 3, 17, 31
U	15 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 3 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	UA8 After Cruise UB8 Before Cruise	Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Island Princess: May 22; Jun 5, 19; Jul 3, 17, 31; Aug 14, 28 Coral Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Sapphire Princess: Jun 1, 15, 29; Jul 13, 27; Aug 10, 24; Sep 7

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.
*After Cruise = Land tour after cruise, Before Cruise = Land tour before cruise