You’ve probably already done a coastal Alaska Cruise round-trip out of Seattle or Vancouver. You undoubtedly experienced some spectacular scenery, and saw some whales. You’ve also only experienced a small fraction of what this region has to offer. A few thoughts:
ALASKA is HUGE
- If Alaska and British Columbia were a sovereign nation, it would be the 8th largest on earth, and would be about half the size of the lower 48. There’s LOTS to see.
- Vancouver is closer to Mexico than it is to Anchorage, so the scenery and wildlife you see in coastal Alaska on a cruise is entirely different than Denali and the interior.
- The number of options to visit Alaska is almost as vast as the state itself.
- You can fly to Alaska and experience a small piece, or you can use the “efficiency” of a cruise ship to see more.
WHY Go To ALASKA?
- Scenery, wildlife spotting, whales, First Nations culture and art, National Parks, urban vibe in Seattle and/or Vancouver. Fjords, fishing villages, wildlife habitats, historic gold rush towns, glaciers… the list is seemingly endless.
- Even though it’s some of the most rugged geography in the world, it’s logistically easy.
WHO Should Have ALASKA on Their Radar
- Photographers, National Park enthusiasts, those “collecting” states, outdoor people.
- Those wanting a reflective vacation, rather than one busy visiting historical sites.
- For those in Western half, it’s an exotic getaway that’s relatively close by.
HOW to Visit ALASKA
- COASTAL CRUISE from Seattle or Vancouver if you only have a week to spare.
- SMALL SHIP ALASKA: Get to more ports (on days when there aren’t 6 other ships there).
- CRUISE TOUR: A combination cruise and land journey that will get you to Denali and Fairbanks will give you a more comprehensive experience.
- EXPEDITION: If you want to get into nature by kayak, zodiac boat, bicycle and on foot.
BEST TIME to go to ALASKA
- Cruise ship season is May through October, and each time has different advantages:
- May/June: Long days. Less rain in interior. Fewer crowds
- July/August: The least likely rain for coastal Alaska. Will be warmest.
- September/October. Fall colours.
PRO TIPS for Visiting ALASKA
- Pack for rain, whenever you go. There are no guarantees in this region.
- Do pre/post in Vancouver, Seattle, or Victoria. There’s lots to do and see.
- Take Binoculars – you really don’t want to buy them from the cruise line.
- Stay as long as you can. Particularly if you’re coming from the Eastern time zone.
- Go flightseeing – these excursions aren’t cheap, but they are life-changing.
Alaska is one of those destinations that sounds simple until you start researching it.
Then suddenly you’re comparing Inside Passage cruises, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Denali, rail journeys, wildlife tours, cruise-tours, northbound sailings, southbound sailings, roundtrip Seattle, roundtrip Vancouver, and seventeen opinions from people on the internet who appear to have strong feelings about binoculars.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of UNPACKED, Bob and Kim talk through the many different ways to experience Alaska and British Columbia, including round-trip coastal cruises, small-ship cruises, cruise tours, expedition cruises, Denali, the Yukon, and land-based options.
In Case You Missed It:
HOLLAND AMERICA: Yes… it’s a mega-ship (although with the smallest ships in that category), but they have some higher end suites that appeal to our clients. They also have the most extensive network of lodges and infrastructure for the interior of Alaska.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/holland-america-vs-mega-ships/
TRAVEL APPs that I use. We all have different “hacks” we use when we travel. Here’s some of mine:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-websites-and-apps-that-i-use/
IT’S ALL TEMPORARY: A number of years ago, my mom & dad took all their kids and grandkids away to ALASKA to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. My parents are both gone now, but I (and my kids) will cherish those memories forever:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/its-all-temporary-so-travel-now/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
We have made several videos about ALASKA that will help with planning your next trip there:
7-STEPS to Planning Your ALASKA Vacation: https://youtu.be/CwWytuiuK8M
ALASKA: What to Pack https://youtu.be/m3APP25a9cE
VANCOUVER: If you embark or disembark in Vancouver, and DON’T explore it for a couple of days, you’re making a mistake. Here’s some thoughts on what to do there: https://youtu.be/Dtn_1BR_z3k
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities in ALASKA
Today, we’ll just focus on Alaska itineraries, but there are two trends in recent years that might be a good fit for you if you’re looking for something longer:
- Alaska and JAPAN. These cruises start/finish in Vancouver/Tokyo, and are usually 3-weeks long.
- Alaska and HAWAII. These cruises go between Vancouver and Honolulu and are 14 to 20 days.
LUXURY Small Ship ALASKA with SILVERSEA
If you want to see the rugged beauty of ALASKA without roughing it, Silversea has two ships in the region, and you can do a one-week cruise that starts or finishes in Anchorage, so you can visit Denali, OR a two week round-trip from Vancouver:
Anchorage to Vancouver with Departures June – September for 7-days
- Start in Anchorage and cruise Hubbard Glacier, visit Juneau, Haines, Sitka, Klawock, cruise the Inside Passage, and finish in Vancouver.
- Fares from $4020
Vancouver round-trip with Departures May – September for 14-days
- Start in Vancouver and cruise the Inside Passage, visit Ketchikan, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Bay, Valdez, Seward, cruise the Hubbard Glacier, Haines, Sitka, Klawock, and finish back in Vancouver.
- Departures May through September from $9500
DENALI: Add 4-nights on land from $3060
REMOTE ALASKA
You’ve never seen ALASKA like this. If you’d like to see more wildlife & scenery, and fewer T-shirt shoppes, then an EXPEDITION ship is the way to go:
Outdoor ALASKA: Vancouver to Anchorage for 10-days with HX
- If you prefer a nature walk, or sea kayaking to the souvenir shops on the pier, this is the right choice for you. This is also a great way to check out an Expedition Cruise, not too far from home.
- Depart Vancouver, sail the Inside Passage, then to Misty Fjords, Klawock, Fjords of the Alaskan panhandle, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Valdez, Prince William Sound, and then on to Anchorage
- 2027: Departures May through July from $5299
ALASKA’s Inside Passage: Juneau to Sitka for 8-days with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
- Embark in Juneau, and take a close up view of the sculpted icebergs of Endicott Arm during a zodiac ride, take a scenic bike ride around the small fishing town of Petersburg, keep an eye out for whales while kayaking Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait, take a hike around Icy Strait and the Inian Islands, enjoy a full day of exploring Glacier Bay National Park, stop at the isolated beaches on the Southeast Alaska’s Islands, and disembark in Sitka.
- 2026: Departures in August and September from $5973
- 2027: Departures May through September from $6516
- This is one of the few Alaska Cruises that doesn’t touch a foreign port, so there is NO PASSPORT requirement.
OCEANIA: Small Ships for FOODIES
If you’re buying higher end cabins on Celebrity, Holland America or Princess, but would prefer a smaller-ship experience with an elevated culinary experience, then look at OCEANIA:
ALASKA: Vancouver to Seattle departing May 13, 2027 for 11-days
- Can’t decide between Seattle or Vancouver? Do BOTH!
- Start in Vancouver and visit the Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Sitka, Holkham Bay Glacier Fjords, Skagway, Juneau, Wrangell, Klawock, Victoria, and finish in Seattle.
- Fares from $3320
YACHTING in ALASKA with WINDSTAR
Think of a private yacht with fantastic food, but without all the pretentious dinner conversation, and you’ll understand WINDSTAR. Their ships carry between 200 and 340 guests, and the brand new STAR SEEKER will be in Alaska in 2027
WINE CRUISE in SCENIC ALASKA: Vancouver to Juneau for 8-days:
- Start in Vancouver, and sail up the Inside Passage to visit Ketchikan, Rudyard Bay, Wrangell, Sitka, Tracy Arm, Haines, and finish in Juneau.
- 2027: Depart June through August from $4128
ALASKA with VIKING for 11-days
Viking has two ships in Alaska, and include a shore excursion at each port of call.
- Start in Vancouver and cruise the Inside Passage, visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, cruise the Hubbard Glacier, Valdez, and finish in Seward.
- Fares from $5999, with departures May through September
- DENALI and Alaska Interior Land Extensions for 5 or 6 nights from $3799
ROCKY MOUNTAINEER for Pre or Post ALASKA Cruise
Here are two itineraries from the CANADIAN ROCKIES, where the scenery is spectacular, and can be easily added on to ANY Alaskan cruise that starts or finishes in Vancouver.
Circle Journey: Vancouver round-trip for 12 -nights
- If you really want a comprehensive feel for the spectacular Canadian Rockies, this is the trip for you.
- Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff (2-nights), Lake Louise, Jasper (2-nights), Kamloops, Vancouver.
- Departures available April through October from $5641
Vancouver to Calgary for 7-nights
- Spend 2-nights in Vancouver, then board the train to Kamloops, and follow on to Lake Louise for 2-nights, Banff for 2-nights, and finish in Calgary.
- Departures available April through October from $3669
HOLLAND AMERICA in ALASKA
There are over 25 different Alaska itineraries with HAL. Here are three that will allow you to see lots:
DENALI Cruise-Tour(D1L): Fairbanks to Vancouver departing June 8 for 12-days
- Start in Fairbanks and visit Denali National Park, Anchorage, Whittier, cruise the Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, cruise the Inside Passage, and finish in Vancouver.
- Veranda Fares from $5264
DENALI & YUKON (Y5L): Anchorage to Vancouver departing June 12 for 11-days
- Start in Anchorage and visit Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Dawson, Whitehorse, Skagway, cruise Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, cruise the Inside Passage, and finish in Vancouver.
- Veranda Fares from $3869
ULTIMATE ALASKA & YUKON (Y1C): Vancouver round-trip departing May 30 for 17-days
- Start in Vancouver and cruise the Inside Passage, visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, cruise Glacier Bay, College Fjord, and disembark in Whittier. The carry on to Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Dawson, and finish back in Vancouver.
- Veranda Fares from $5684
Today’s OTHER Travel Opportunities
If you’re looking further afield than ALASKA, here are some ideas:
RIVER CRUISING with TAUCK
Tauck is the MOST inclusive of the River Cruise Lines in Europe, and have 35% fewer people on the same sized ship as competitors.
TULIP CRUISE: Amsterdam to Brussels for 9-days
- Visit Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, the Hague, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam (overnight).
- Departures in March and April from $5790
GERMAN OKTOBERFEST: Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September
- Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf (to visit local craft breweries), sail the Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg for a beer-paired lunch, Strasbourg, Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus, Lake Konstanz, and then on to Munich for 2 nights for the world’s largest festival!
- 2026: Nearly Sold Out. A few spots left at $8490
- 2027: Depart September 15 or 22 from $8990
Oberammergau – The Passion Play with VIKING
Every ten years since the 1630s, the residents of this small Bavarian town put on this play to give thanks for being spared from the Bubonic Plague in the 17th Century. Your next chance to see it will be in 2030, but it will sell out long before that. Viking has TWO river cruise itineraries that include Oberammergau and tickets to the Passion Play:
Oberammergau, Innsbruck & the Rhine from Amsterdam to Munich for 13-days
- Board your ship in Amsterdam, and visit Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel. Next transfer to Innsbruck, and then to Oberammergau for 2-nights where you’ll see the Passion Play. Finish in Munich for 2 nights.
- Optional land extensions to Amsterdam, Belgium, Munich or Prague.
- Departures May to September 2030 from $7499.
Oberammergau & Salzburg on the DANUBE: Oberammergau to Budapest for 12-days
- Start with 2-nights at Oberammergau where you’ll see the Passion Play, and then head to Salzburg for 3-nights. Next board your river boat in Passau, and visit Linz, Wachau Valley, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava and finish in Budapest (overnight).
- Optional land extensions to Munich, Prague, Budapest or Croatia/Slovenia.
- Departures May to September 2030 from $6999.
Additions to ship inclusions: 5 or 6 hotel nights (dependent on itinerary), transfers, admission to the Passion Play, and an included excursion in each land stop.
Learn More HERE: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/specialty/oberammergau/index.html
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
