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Or, if in Ketchikan, put on your hiking points and summit Deer Mountain for unbeatable views of the nearby islands. If traveling all the way to Alaska, though, we advise planning more days for a cruise and land trip. Many guests prefer spending an additional week in Alaska’s interior, giving them extra time to visit other areas like Anchorage and Fairbanks. Outside of hanging out by the pool, guests can enjoy a variety of other activities on a sea day, including sports activities, surfing simulators, rock climbing, trivia, live music, and entertainment shows.
If there is no pool/tan time, what is there to do all day when at sea?
Juneau is a popular cruise port for Alaska cruises, located on the Inside Passage of Alaska. Many cruisers have been able to board Alaska cruises despite having a DUI, however, provided they sail from Seattle and not Vancouver. Because the process can vary from person to person, we advise doing extra research on whether or not you will be able to board an Alaska cruise.
Why choose Radiance of the Seas
In most scenarios, however, the earlier you disembark the ship, the more empty a cruise port will be. When our ship docked in Ketchikan, for example, we disembarked immediately and enjoyed pleasant, crowd-free walking around the quaint town. I noticed places like Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau were extra busy this year—at times it was too busy to be enjoyable. Mentally preparing for crowds at popular spots is important to ensure you are not too overwhelmed with the amount of people present. Nonetheless, cabins on older ships will still offer everything you need during your stay, including a king-sized bed, private bathroom, desk, television, and closet. If you’re cruising from Vancouver on Radiance of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas, expect more outdated cabins.
Alaska Wildlife Express 1A
Some cruise lines have been using tender boats instead of shuttle buses, but neither method is convenient. In Ketchikan, I walked to the historic red-light district, Creek Street, hiked up the Married Man’s Trail, and visited two museums on Alaska’s history and Native culture. Whether you book a small inside room or spacious suite for an Alaska cruise, it will quickly become your home away from home. I had never experienced a line to enter the Windjammer before, but we were told the space was at capacity.
Luckily, Alaska cruise ports are small and walkable, allowing visitors to experience the town’s history, culture, and nearby nature on foot. Even Juneau, the largest Alaska cruise port, still has plenty of walkable areas and ways to get around without booking an excursion, such as the Goldbelt Tramway and Mendenhall Glacier shuttle bus. During scenic glacier viewing days, Royal Caribbean offers excursions that allow guests to disembark their large cruise ship and board a small expedition vessel.
3 Back-to-Back Royal Caribbean Cruises Canceled or Delayed on Same Ship - Business Insider
3 Back-to-Back Royal Caribbean Cruises Canceled or Delayed on Same Ship.
Posted: Wed, 20 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Because shore excursions are so popular on an Alaska cruise, it’s not uncommon to see popular tours like whale watching, glacier visits, and helicopter tours sell out. If you’re visiting smaller ports like Icy Strait Point and Haines, however, we advise researching and booking tours ahead of time. Some ships sail one-way itineraries which start in Vancouver and end in Seward, Alaska (and vice versa). This allows ships to visit more ports on a 7-night cruise and allows guests to enjoy land tours in Alaska or Canada pre or post-cruise. One of the most popular active activities is a kayak tour along Alaska’s scenic fjords, lakes, and glaciers.
I cruised on the oldest and newest cruise ships to Alaska: here's how they compare - Royal Caribbean Blog
I cruised on the oldest and newest cruise ships to Alaska: here's how they compare.
Posted: Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
What type of cabin should you book for an Alaska cruise and why?
Quantum of the Seas was the first ship in the class and debuted in 2014, while Ovation of the Seas first joined the fleet in 2016. 7-night Northbound Alaska and Hubbard Glacier Cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas followed by a 6-night, post-cruise, escorted land tour to Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali (2 nights) and Fairbanks (2 nights). 7-night Northbound Alaska and Hubbard Glacier Cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas followed by a 6-night, post-cruise, escorted land tour to Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali (2 nights) and Fairbanks. 7-night Northbound Alaska and Hubbard Glacier Cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas followed by a 5-night, post-cruise, escorted land tour to Seward, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks (2 nights). 7-night Northbound Alaska and Hubbard Glacier cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas followed by a 4-night, post-cruise, escorted land tour to Denali (2 nights) and Fairbanks (2 nights).
There’s no right or wrong cabin to book for an Alaska cruise, and the type of room you book ultimately comes down to your budget and cabin availability. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each month may help you find the best month for your travel style and needs. In short, a sea day on an Alaska cruise isn’t drastically different from a sea day in the Caribbean. Simply put, there’s not one “best” embarkation port for an Alaska cruise—each has its own pros and cons. The third option for embarkation is in Seward, Alaska, a small town located a few hours drive from Anchorage. This option is not as convenient as Seattle or Vancouver, but is a good choice for those hoping to spend time in Alaska’s interior before starting the cruise.
Alaska Interior Express 2B
Sitka, Alaska is a popular departure port for many Alaskan cruises, offering visitors a chance to explore the Last Frontier's stunning natural beauty, rich history, and culture.... Seattle is a popular departure port for Alaska cruises, offering convenient access to the stunning natural wonders and unique cultural experiences of the region.... Land tours are offered on one-way Alaska cruise itineraries, and these are multi-day tours you can add before or after an Alaska cruise. The casino is open on an Alaska cruise when your cruise ship is sailing through international waters. And, while onboard, kids will enjoy the activities and programming offered by Royal Caribbean.
If you really don't care about your cabin type or week you sail, you might get lucky with a last minute booking, especially if you can cruise in the shoulder season when many others are unable to go. The months of April, early May and September are in that shoulder season when the temperatures are lowest and school is still in session. Next I wanted to get an idea of what the average price is for each sailing when comparing the lowest price for each cruise ship cabin category.
One of the most important pieces of cruise advice we share is to arrive in your embarkation city, whether it’s Seattle or Vancouver, the day before your cruise begins. For my Alaska cruise, I flew to Seattle the day before my cruise, arriving in the city around 2PM. From its towering mountains to magnificent glaciers and historic towns, it’s hard not to be in awe of the sights around you as your ship sails through the state’s chilly waters.
More often than not, the best Alaska cruise deals are found when booking far in advance. Reservations are only required for the signature shows in Two70, one of the main entertainment spaces on Quantum Class ships. On Quantum of the Seas this show is titled Starwater, whereas the Two70 production on Ovation of the Seas is Pixel’s Cabaret. One of the most popular things to do on both Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas is RipCord by iFLY, an indoor skydiving simulator.
Though not Royal Caribbean's largest class of ships, both carry between 4,100 and 4,900 passengers, depending on how many berths are filled. Despite not visiting Glacier Bay, Royal Caribbean puts an incredible product out with their Alaska cruises. If you enjoy Royal Caribbean, it’s not necessary to book another cruise line simply to visit Glacier Bay, as you may prefer the overall experience with Royal Caribbean more than with another company. If you’re on the opposite end of the budget spectrum, there’s nothing wrong with booking a suite. Staying in a suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise can make your Alaska experience even more enjoyable by providing extra space and amenities like private restaurants and priority embarkation.
If you’re in Juneau, consider booking an excursion to Admiralty Island, home to an estimated 1,600 brown bears and accessible only by boat or floatplane. Though there are suites, neither Radiance-class ship offers the Suite Class perks available on larger ships. Both ships have outdoor movie nights at the pool, as well as actual cinemas for afternoon matinees. Plus, there are climbing walls, sports courts, and kids' pools for use when weather allows. Only select cruise lines, including Princess Cruises and Holland America, can visit Glacier Bay.
The Radiance ships have ample scenery-watching space, plenty of it protected from the elements. Experience wildlife, wilderness, and native culture on this Alaska cruise with Royal Caribbean. Our favorite tip for finding a cheap deal on a hotel is to use Priceline Express Deals. Priceline offers a “blind booking” feature where you can input the destination and dates, and a list of hotels will populate offering deals.
When compared to the two Ovation Class ships or even Radiance of the Seas, Enchantment has the least activities and things to do onboard. Moreover, the fact the cheapest cabin was found three out of four times on Enchantment of the Seas is not surprise since Enchantment is the smallest and oldest ship offering cruises to Alaska in 2023. While some may be able to turn around and book an Alaska cruise for later this season, many families need more time to plan out a trip.
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