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An Alaska Inside Passage cruise is the most iconic way to explore Alaska. Cruises along this coastal route sail amid steep, irregular coastlines, dramatic tidewater glaciers, dense evergreen forests and abundant wildlife. Many towns here have no major in-roads, so visiting by ship is not only the best way to see them—it’s also the only way. Read on to learn more about the Alaska’s Inside Passage and how get aboard an Inside Passage cruise. The rocky and mountainous landscapes are punctuated by verdant patches of forest and cascading waterfalls. Wildlife you may spot while on your cruise includes whales, harbor seals, bears, deer, and wolves.
What Sets It Apart from Other Cruises
The fantastic bear encounter made up for the entire week, however. The smallest boat offering Inside Passage cruises is 8 guests, two examples being the Westward and Sikumi yachts. These ships are great for Alaska yacht charters, or a more intimate experience with fellow travelers. The largest ship on our curated Inside Passage cruise itineraries are the 100-guest identical sister ships National Geographic Venture and Quest. Cruise itineraries here include a mix of these ports and places, and routes can really vary by cruise line and the timing of your Inside Passage trip. Ask one of our experts about what might be the best small ship Inside Passage itinerary for your needs.
One of the biggest reasons people visit
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.
Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The region bursts into color during the spring and summer with wildflowers such as fireweed, lupine, and Arctic poppy. The most scenic and famous towns along the Alaska Inside Passage are Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Icy Strait Point/Honnah, Haines, Petersburg, and Wrangell. Our aim is to guide you through the maze of options so you can make an informed decision about your Alaska Inside Passage Cruise and itinerary that perfectly aligns with your interests and desires. By sharing our personal experiences and tips, we’re committed to helping you choose an itinerary that not only meets but exceeds your expectations. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Listen to Gold Rush history while admiring scenery of the Yukon and White Pass Summit.
Visiting Glacier Bay National Park
Approximately 1,000 miles North of Vancouver, it was the center of activity during Alaska's 19th century Gold Rush. Also known as the "Panhandle," the Inside Passage is popular for spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, vivid Native cultures, astounding history and exceptional hospitality. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative.
The Inside Passage encompasses islands, coves, bays, national parks, and fjords, and gives you the opportunity to explore remote towns only accessible by boat or plane. Sightseeing trips via seaplanes or boats take you up close to wildlife and glaciers, lodging options, and nearby communities. Once we narrowed it down to these two cruise companies, choosing the best Alaska cruise for us really came down to the itinerary. Having experienced the Inside Passage ourselves, we highly recommend taking advantage of the diverse shore excursions available.
Admiralty Dream
Don’t miss the Mendenhall Glacier, a 13-mile-long river of ice, and the Alaska State Museum, which provides a deep dive into the state’s history and culture. The Alaska cruising season for the Inside Passage generally runs from May to September. Each month offers its own set of unique experiences, from the blooming wildflowers in spring to the salmon runs in late summer.
Inside Passage with Glacier Bay
Originally home to indigenous communities like the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian, the Inside Passage has a history that stretches back thousands of years. It later became a vital route for explorers, traders, and settlers during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is a globally renowned cruise destination where natural splendor meets rich cultural heritage.
Ships on this itinerary
All we need are a few details like how many travelers are in your group and some basic interests to get started on a custom travel recommendation. Or if you have time to browse, consider taking an Inside Passage trip we’ve recently experienced and reviewed. Linked here are some of our most recent tales from small ship cruising the Inside Passage of Alaska. Alaska Inside Passage excursions off the ship are a big part of the day when you are small ship cruising. Being off the ship exploring actively and intimately is a hallmark of any itinerary AdventureSmith Explorations offers worldwide. And an Alaska Inside Passage cruise on a small ship is no exception.
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR - AFAR Media
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR.
Posted: Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Alaska Inside Passage Shore Excursions
These ships can carry anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 passengers and are operated by well-known companies like Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. Sitka offers kayaking adventures through its intricate waterways, where you might spot eagles and even bears along the shoreline. The Inside Passage is also home to unique geological wonders like the Marble Islands, a set of small, marble-capped islands in Glacier Bay National Park.
To be honest, our visit to Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park was hampered by terrible weather. It was cold and rainy, the rocks at low tide were extremely slippery, and our local tour guide (who was new and not exployed by the cruise companies) didn’t seem to know much about the site’s history. The Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm are both over 30 miles long and bordered by sheer mountains dotted with sproce and hemlock forests. About 20% of this rugged wilderness is covered in ice, and the most distinctive characteristic of the Endicott Arm was the massive icebergs floating within. The best part for me, as someone who loves traditional indigenous cultures, was hiking through the forest in Bartlett Cove to a remarkably ornate Tlingit tribal house. The native interpreters there gave us an excellent overview of Tlingit culture, which we’ll talk about in more depth in a future post.
This 30-mile waterway is surrounded by cliffs, valleys and dozens of waterfalls. Icebergs and harbor seals decorate the water below while Dawes Glacier soars into the sky above. Revel in the beauty of Mother Nature’s masterpiece and listen closely as the scenery whispers secrets of times long ago during your cruise to Alaska. Alaska’s rich history begins with the Indigenous groups that have lived in the region for thousands of years, including the Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian.
However, Alaska does use the U.S. dollar as its official currency. Alaska’s main sources of economic growth and revenue are fishing and tourism. Don’t forget to tip tour providers, bartenders, and restaurant servers during your Alaska cruise. If you’ve never seen a glacier in person, you’ll be amazed at their scale and enormity here.
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