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Ships Dock in Downtown Juneau 1 |
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One of the most popular
ways to see the Last Frontier state is by cruise ship, with thousands choosing
this method of travel to visit Alaska
annually. The state is known for its natural beauty; a landscape of glaciers,
tundra and pristine wilderness, inhabited by a wealth of fauna including grizzly
bears and bald eagles. Cruises also provide direct access to towns and cities
located on the coast that are not easily accessible via road, such as the state's
capital of Juneau.
Also, many docks or port of calls are located within a short distance from city
and town centers, allowing visitors better access to the heart of sights
and attractions.
Some of the natural attractions
drawing tourists up north include the Tongass
National Forest, covered by the Misty
Fjords, Wrangell-St.
Elias National Park, the largest national park by area in the United
States, Glacier
Bay, containing 16 glaciers and Denali
National Park, home of Mount
McKinley. Along with these attractions, visitors will have opportunities
to enjoy several activities including wildlife viewing, kayaking, hiking, birding
and whale-watching.
There are many factors to
consider when booking a cruise including extra costs such as airfare, port charges,
taxes, transfers, tips, and shore activities. The WorldWeb.com
Travel Guide provides a directory of cruise
lines operating in Alaska, with links to their websites, allowing for
easy research and planning. Other WorldWeb.com features include a list of cities
in Alaska along with major sights and attractions, as well as tour
operators and transportation
options available.
Planning a cruise vacation
starts with determining three important factors: when to travel, which route
to take and what type of ship.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
The Alaska cruise season
is a short one, running from May to September. May and September are considered
shoulder season months, and often vacationers can find lower rates and less-crowded
ships. The busiest times are from June to August when the weather is warmest,
with daily temperatures averaging 50°F to 80°F (10°C to 27°C). July and August
can be rainy, so bring some wet-weather gear.
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Humpback
Whale in the Ocean 2 |
Book in advance to take
advantage of early-bird rates or look for last minute deals. When seeking these
types of specials, consider such things as cabin-selection, which may be limited
on sale rates. For example, inside cabins do not have port holes while outside
cabins, although more expensive, have a window. For a splurge, get a cabin with
a veranda, offering private and scenic views of the ocean. Other affordable
options include traveling with a group and asking about any available discounts,
for example, senior rates.
DESTINATIONS/ROUTES
Most Alaskan cruises are
seven-days in length and fall into two categories: Inside Passage and Gulf of
Alaska.
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is the more popular of the two cruises, as ships sail along
the southeastern coast, which is surrounded by islands, whose protection provides
calm waters. Most itineraries are comprised of a round-trip from Vancouver,
British Columbia
(BC) or Seattle,
Washington
(WA), with visits to three to four port towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan
and Haines. Other highlights on this type of cruise include visiting glaciers,
such as Glacier Bay.
Gulf of Alaska
A second option is the Gulf of Alaska route which is ideal for travelers wanting
to explore the interior of Alaska. This journey is usually one-way, sailing
north or southbound between Vancouver and Seward
(Anchorage's port). Most Gulf of Alaska cruises stop at the same towns as Inside
Passage trips, but may also include other gulf towns and area attractions such
as Valdez, Hubbard
Glacier and College
Fjord in Prince
William Sound.
TYPES OF CRUISE SHIPS
Part of the cruise experience
is choosing the type of ship that will cater to a traveler's preference. Ships
fall into two main categories: Large and Small.
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Bight Park in Ketchikan 3 |
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Large
Part of the fun of choosing a large, commercial cruise line is the ship itself.
These floating resorts are loaded with several amenities and facilities for
passengers including onboard entertainment and activities such as casinos, health
centers, swimming pools, nightclubs, movie theaters, shops and large dining
rooms. Cabins range from basic rooms to luxury suites. A drawback of larger
vessels is their inability to access all waterways due to their physical size,
which can limit what travelers get to see. Popular cruise lines in this category
include Carnival,
Celebrity,
Princess,
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian
lines.
Small
Smaller vessels offer a more intimate and casual cruising experience and are
often geared toward travelers with specific culture or adventure focused itineraries.
Although more expensive, smaller cruise lines offer increased flexibility with
schedules and can access areas big ships cannot. Popular lines include Clipper
Odyssey and Cruise
West. It is important to note that these smaller ships do not offer
the range of amenities and facilities found on larger cruise ships. This may
present problems for passengers with reduced mobility, as many do not have elevators.
PORTS OF CALL
Anchorage
To reach Alaska's largest city, Anchorage,
ships dock at the towns of Seward and Whittier and from there, passengers are
bused into Anchorage, approximately three hours from Seward and 90 minutes from
Whittier. There are several attractions in the city, many of which are found
in the downtown district, including the Anchorage
Museum of History and Art and the Tony
Knowles Coastal Trail.
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Norovirus
Many people may have heard about the stomach bug called norovirus that
has afflicted cruise passengers with bouts of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The best defense against contracting the virus is a common-sense approach
by washing hands frequently, avoiding raw foods especially shellfish and
drinking bottled water. Norovirus is not restricted to cruises only, as
it affects millions of people every year on land. Cruise ships undergo
regular inspections and have strict regulations implemented by the Centers
for Disease Control. Travelers can consult with family doctors and travel
clinics for more information.
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Haines
A small Alaskan town, Haines was established as a missionary site in 1879 and
was also the home of the now de-activated US Military base Fort
William H. Seward, currently a local tourist attraction. Another popular
draw is the Alaska
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Most larger cruise ships will anchor offshore
from Haines and transport passengers in by tender, either docking at the Port
Chilkoot Dock or the Small
Boat Harbor, whereas small ships dock directly at Port Chilkoot. Many
ships offer a shuttle service that takes visitors to Main Street, or tourists
can access this strip by walking down Front Street.
Juneau
Alaska's capital city, Juneau
is a popular port of call, which is not accessible via road, as it is surrounded
by water and ice fields. Both large and small ships dock in the downtown area,
providing visitors with easy access to some of the city's main attractions including
the Red
Dog Saloon and the Alaska
State Museum. A short drive out of town will take tourists to the Mendenhall
Glacier, famous for its ice-blue coloring.
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The
Town of Skagway 4 |
Ketchikan
Often called the First City, due to its location as the southern-most port of
call, Ketchikan
is most noted for its wealth of First Nations heritage and culture, including
a large collection of authentic totem poles. These can be admired at places
such as Saxman
Totem Park. Ships dock right in the downtown area, where visitors will
find the Southeast
Alaska Discovery Center and the Tongass
Historical Museum within walking distance. Once the town's red light
district in the 1950s, Creek Street is another popular tourist area, only today
its lined with restaurants and galleries.
Skagway
Part of the Klondike
Gold Rush National Historical Park, Skagway's
appeal lies in its gold-mining roots and history. It takes approximately 20
minutes to walk from the dock to downtown or visitors can take the shuttle buses
that are available. Popular attractions in town include the Skagway
Museum, Red
Onion Saloon, White
Pass and Yukon Route Railway and Arctic
Brotherhood Hall.
OTHER TRAVEL OPTIONS
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Marine Highway System 5 |
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Cruise Tours
Visitors who have more time and money to spend may want to consider planing
a cruise tour. These packages include a land tour before or after the cruise,
and usually incorporate hotel, transportation and some meal costs. This option
allows travelers to explore Alaska's interior including such cities as Anchorage,
Denali and Fairbanks,
as well as Canada's Yukon
and the Canadian Rockies
on some tours. Leading companies offering these packages include Holland
America and Princess,
both also operating their own hotels.
Ferry
The Alaska
Marine Highway System offers an alternative way to sail the sea. These
ferries provide year-round service throughout southeastern and southwestern
Alaska, traveling the Inside Passage across the gulf. Embarkation points are
found at Prince
Rupert, BC and Bellingham,
WA. Traveling via ferry offers passengers the flexibility of stoping at various
port towns to further explore inland attractions, with the option of sailing
with their vehicle onboard.
Most ferries offer several
amenities such as food and beverage services, which includes cafeteria-style
dining and vending machines. Cabins with private bathrooms are available, and
other snoozing options include recliner chairs and resting areas where passengers
can lay out sleeping bags. Other amenities available include gift shops, reading
rooms and theater areas.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Frank Flavin; c/o
Alaska Travel Industry Association; Cruise Ships Dock in Downtown Juneau;
Juneau, AK, USA
- c/o Alaska Travel
Industry Association; Humpback Whale in the Ocean; AK, USA
- Michael DeYoung and
Mark Kelly; c/o Alaska Travel Industry Association; Totem Bight Park in Ketchikan;
Ketchikan, AK, USA
- c/o Alaska Travel
Industry Association; The Town of Skagway, Skagway, AK, USA
- c/o Alaska Travel
Industry Association; Alaska's Marine Highway System; AK, USA
