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Take a Glacier Discovery voyage to glide several of Alaska’s most dramatic icescapes. Or go to the seldom-visited Kodiak Island, home of the famous Kodiak bears on our Great Alaskan Explorer. Continue the exploration on ship with local insights and onboard programming.
Glacier Bay Cruise Itineraries
Like Holland America, Princess offers 7-night one-way cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, all of which include Glacier Bay National Park. Round-trip cruises come in a variety of lengths, ranging from four-night samplers to eleven days. These round-trip cruises originate from Seattle and Vancouver, as well as 10- and 11-night sailings from San Francisco.
America’s coolest state offers the warmest welcome.
Gus Antorcha (HAL's President) said Alaska continued to be among their most popular destinations, and they were excited to have 6 ships in Alaska in 2023, along with the return of the 14-day voyage. Two award-winning itineraries are offered every week between May and September, along with an array of other options to suit your length of stay needs and destination choices. Board a 26-passenger expedition boat on the ‘Glacier Point Wilderness Safari’ to see whales, seals, sea lions, waterfalls and even a remote beach. The ‘Birds, Bears and Barnacles’ tour guarantees sightings of bald eagles and brown bears as well as marine life at aquariums, touch tanks and a salmon hatchery. Or go kayaking past rainforests, among the reefs and swirling kelp, as you scan the coast, sky and sea for wildlife. Discover Great Land splendors from an award-winning ship that impresses with understated elegance.
Best Shore Excursions On An Alaska Cruise
Stop into iconic destinations and cruise Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier. Ride the rails through Alaska backcountry aboard the McKinley Explorer® domed luxury train. Your basecamp to Denali adventures set among rugged Alaska wilderness.
That does make things cost a bit more, but it really does make this a bucket-list trip. I think with a veranda, excursions, and some of the higher-end dining, as well as making use of the ship amenities that appeal most to you, will make for a wonderful experience. Although I might never be the type to cruise-hop in the Caribbean, I have a feeling this won’t be my last scenic cruise in some of the more mountainous, glacier-topped destinations.
The Italian restaurant with seating near the windows offers sharing-style Italian dishes. It’s a must-do if you’re looking for higher-end pasta, meatballs, seafood dishes, and desserts. I’d encountered a lot of chicken nuggets and subpar burgers in the past on my brief cruise experiences. However, there was plenty of variety, and I was able to eat healthy and find plenty of options for my one-year-old as well (veggies, grilled meats, and fruit were always abundant).
Holland America Line to Introduce 'Glacier Day' on 2024 Alaska... - Cruiseline.com
Holland America Line to Introduce 'Glacier Day' on 2024 Alaska....
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:57:14 GMT [source]
It was truly an adventure, which included scenes all around Juneau, crampons, and hiking on the ice for a few glorious hours. The guides were also happy to take pictures, which was helpful, since I did this excursion solo. Although they had a kids’ menu, my son tends to just eat the healthier food that we eat, and we could get other food for him in the restaurant and Lido Market, and share what we ordered in the specialty restaurants. As we made our way through, the weather kept changing, creating different lighting along the glaciers and providing incredible wildlife-spotting opportunities. I saw dolphins, whales, otters, and an eagle perched on an iceberg, all from our veranda.
We reached Juneau just after noon and departed at 10 p.m., and many people chose to have dinner off the ship at one of the city’s famed restaurants. I saw lines outside Tracy’s King Crab Shack, Red Dog Saloon and The Hangar as I headed down the pier to meet a friend for dinner and drinks at Twisted Fish. These tours also include a ride on the McKinley Explorer full-dome railcars, as well as the Tundra Wilderness Tour at Denali National Park. Each ship, no matter the size, sail date, or itinerary, will feature expanded onboard programming to highlight the region. Guests can engage with Alaska naturalists, enjoy special presentations explore local topics such as Alaska’s bush pilots and the famous Iditarod race, and meet with National Park Rangers and local Huna Tlingit guides. “Alaska continues to be among our most popular destinations, and we are excited to have six ships in Alaska in 2023, along with the return of the 14-day cruise,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.
A wide range of cruisetours to Denali and the Yukon are also part of the line’s exploration of the Last Frontier, with more options than any other cruise line for guests to sail through the famed Glacier Bay. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces, and a blend of 21st-century elegance and nautical tradition dazzle at every turn. The ship abounds with innovative dining and entertainment options. King’s Blues Club for Memphis R&B, take in visually stunning entertainment at World Stage, revisit classic hits at Billboard Onboard, and head to the Rolling Stone Lounge for the best in rock music.
Every Holland America Alaska cruise is dedicated to glacier-viewing from ships that are perfectly mid-sized for getting up close to the action. Spacious and sophisticated, the ships are built for cruising, not crowds, with distinctive blue hulls and wraparound decks. Our first Signature Class ship, Eurodam epitomizes grace and excellence. Test your music trivia skills at Billboard Onboard or catch a performance at the stunning World Stage.
Other specialty restaurants include Pinnacle Grill, a steakhouse serving the traditional cuts and sides that you expect. I joined the Sitka Bike and Hike tour for an easy pedal along paths on the southern part of the island. We went out about two miles before taking a stroll into the temperate rainforest and past Thimbleberry Lake. I hopped on the bus back to Sitka Sound cruise port to have lunch at the restaurant Halibut Point Crab & Lobster, located right at the pier. It carries just 2,100 passengers, making it relatively tiny when compared with the giant megaships that have greatly expanded the options for cruisers in recent years. Sixteen different variations combine a 3-, 4- or 7-day Alaska cruise with an inland exploration of Denali National Park.
Known for its Pacific Northwest steaks and fresh seafood, the Pinnacle is popular with repeat cruisers. We had an 31-hour stretch of sailing before our next stop, checking in to Victoria, B.C., for a few hours in the evening before sailing at midnight to return to Seattle. The quick stop in Victoria serves mostly as a technical stop to satisfy regulations requiring that U.S. passengers vessels leave the United States during the cruise.
Celebrity is known for its fabulous dining options and bars, but perhaps the unique feature of Celebrity’s Solstice class ships is the Lawn Club. Among the most popular cruise ships in Alaska, you’ll find a wide range of choices, from mainstream lines to luxury. Price is obviously something you’ll take into consideration when choosing a ship for your Alaska cruise, but what else should you look at? At Cruise Critic, we believe you need facts about dining, staterooms and onboard activities along with where the ship will stop to make the best decision.
The Fresh Fish Program is the first of its kind, partnering with a global network of 60 ports to source and serve 80 types of fresh fish on board. Destination-specific menu items use native ingredients from around the world, highlighting the flavours of each region where guests are cruising. Fluid lines and dramatic spaces make the Holland America Nieuw Statendam a modern beauty. The second in the line of our Pinnacle Class ships, her design draws inspiration from the elegant curves of musical instruments.
