Many of you have been inquiring about Alaska recently, so I thought it was time to comment about this. There is a lot of demand for Alaska in 2022, partly because it was mostly unavailable to us in 2020 and 2021, and partly because it is logistically easier than travelling overseas, which is especially appealing this year.
All the cruise lines operate in Alaska, and they broadly fall into three categories:
Mass-Market – these are the big-ship lines, and the cheapest way to visit Alaska. These trips offer a more ‘standard’ experience – but the scenery and wildlife in Alaska are spectacular regardless of how you get there.
Just about all the mass market cruise itineraries visit Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.
Several of the big-ship lines have excellent packages for Alaska. Princess is one of those lines, and for the next two weeks, they’re offering an extra incentive for those including Denali in their trip (more on that below).
Expedition – If you want to get off beaten path, and get out in zodiac boats, kayaks, or maybe just do some light hiking in Alaska, an expedition ship might be more appropriate. These itineraries tend to go where the other ships in Alaska DON’T go, and the onboard experience is closer to the luxury offerings.
You can experience an expedition cruise on the Ocean Victory, American Queen Voyages’ new ship. Other examples of expedition cruise lines in Alaska include UnCruise Adventures and Hurtigruten.
Luxury Small Ship – Many parts of Alaska can only be accessed by ship, and the small-ship luxury lines appeal to those who want to see this incredible part of the world, but don’t see themselves fitting into either of the two categories above and/or may not consider themselves to be ‘cruisers’. These cruise lines are all-inclusive, and the quality of food, service and amenities exceeds those found at the world’s best hotels. They are also remarkably casual (especially in Alaska). It seems that those who are ready, willing, and able to pay for a higher quality product don’t like to play dress-up.
Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent Seven Seas are three examples of Luxury small ships that visit Alaska.
After you’ve chosen which one of those three cruise types is best for you, there are other decisions to made. Choosing amongst all the options in Alaska is a bit like Lithuanian language lessons, so here’s a Cheat Sheet:
WHEN? The tourist season runs from late April through to early October, and there is no “best” time to visit, just a series of trade-offs:
- April, May and early June have lots of daylight hours, are usually light on rain, and fewer crowds. If you are going to Denali, it is also possible you won’t be able to get all the way into the depths of the park until the beginning of June.
- June, July, and August have reliable weather (although the further north you go, the more subject to rain you are starting in July). There are also more crowds, and you’ll find it to be a bit more expensive in these months.
- September and October things get a bit quieter again, but the later in the season you go, the fewer daylight hours you get, and you are more subject to rain and colder weather.
CRUISE, LAND, or BOTH? You can do round-trip cruises out of Seattle or Vancouver, but those trips only go halfway up the coast. This might be fine if you’re just looking for a taste of Alaska, but many people who do these cruises vow to return to see the rest of the state, especially Denali National Park. If you’re going to go to the time and expense of visiting Alaska, I recommend doing a cruise with a land extension to Denali National Park (and including other points if you have time).
NORTHBOUND or SOUTHBOUND? If you’re not doing one of the round-trip cruises, the endpoints of your trip will be in Anchorage or Fairbanks in the north, and Seattle or Vancouver in the south. It’s a matter of personal opinion as to which is preferable but remember that the northern end of the trip involves a much longer flight. Vancouver is closer to Mexico than it is to Anchorage and flying from Seattle to Fairbanks or Anchorage takes about 4 hours. You’ll want to consider whether that longer day of air travel should be pre-vacation or on your way home.
LENGTH OF TRIP? There really aren’t any Alaskan cruises shorter than 7 nights because of the huge distance you are covering. The land extensions are an additional 3 days to 8 days. If you’re going to Denali, keep in mind it is about an 8 hours trip by train or motor coach from the port, and the park itself is larger than Massachusetts. If you choose a 3-day land extension, plan on spending most of that time on a bus just getting to and from the park. The most common land extension is 5 nights, which makes for a more comfortable pace.
SEATTLE or VANCOUVER? Both these cities are spectacular in their own way, but logistically, they are very similar. Vancouver has a larger cruise ship port and airport, but Seattle is better served for domestic flights. In both cases you will need a passport. These two cities are only about 100 miles apart, so this should be your last criteria, after you’ve decided on all the ones above.
Here are today’s travel opportunities with an example of each of the three modes of cruise ship travel mentioned above.
Princess Cruises – with Denali Extension
Princess is the largest operator in Alaska, and they own and operate 5 lodges on land in Alaska. We visited all the Princess and Holland America Alaska Lodges in 2018. Here’s a link to our YouTube Playlist on those lodges:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEZh4TwDNnSFedD8FOItXHe
There are about 2 dozen different land-sea combinations on Princess, so here is ONE example that I’ve selected to highlight because I believe it allows you to see the 49th State very well.
12-day Denali Explorer
- Departing Vancouver on May 11th, 2022 with 7-nights aboard the ship, followed by 5-nights at Princess Alaska Lodges.
- Visits Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Whitter, train to McKinley for 2-nights, Denali for 2-nights, Fairbanks for 1-night.
- Inside cabins from $1809 per person. Balcony cabins from $2609 per person.
The current Princess promotion makes this even more compelling:
- Inclusions: Open bar on the ship, gratuities, Wi-Fi, stateroom upgrade, and one night of speciality dining.
- Book by Jan. 27th and you also get meals in the lodges during your 5-nights land extension! Normally, you are on your own for your meals at the Alaska lodges. This perk is worth several hundred dollars in additional value, and we don’t often see Princess include this in their offer.
This is an extremely cost-effective way to see Alaska, but remember, you must book by January 27th.
Ocean Victory
If an expedition cruise to Alaska is more your speed, there’s a new player in Alaska this season: the brand-new Ocean Victory, a ship making its inaugural voyage in May 2022. This ship is state of art, and holds only 186 guests, so it is more like a river boat that’s designed to operate on the ocean. The beauty of travelling on such a small ship means you’ll visit smaller, out-of-the-way places the larger ships can’t reach… meaning you’ll get to experience the beauty of Alaska without the crowds.
Don’t let the word ‘expedition’ intimidate you. You can choose your own adventures – guided walking tours, whale watching, zodiac trips… or simply sightseeing if that’s what you happen to feel like.
All Ocean Victory sailings include one night pre-cruise hotel, unlimited guided tours and expeditions, open bar, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi on the ship. Here’s an example:
Vancouver to Sitka (or reverse) over 12 or 13 days starting at $4699 per person
- Sail the Inside Passage, visit Kynoch Inlet, Ketchikan, Metlakatla, Misty Fjords National Monument, Wrangell, Waterfall Coast (Gut Bay), Petersburg, Tracy Arm (for tidewater Glacier viewing), Kake and Frederick. The fact you may not have heard of many of these places is a testament to the uniqueness of this Alaska itinerary.
- 2022 Departures at this price on May 6, May 27, June 17, Sep 9. Similar pricing in July and August.
SilverSea
If you want to try small-ship luxury in Alaska, then the 388 guest Silver Shadow is great choice. Here’s an example:
- Depart Anchorage on August 18th, 2022 for 7-nights bound for Vancouver.
- Visit Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan
- All staterooms on the Silver Shadow are suites
- Price includes shore excursions, open bar, gratuities, and Wi-Fi on the ship.
SilverSea has two pricing structures:
- Port to Port fares for this cruise start at $3350 per person
- Door to Door fares (from $5200 per person) also include the ride from your house to your departure airport, your round-trip flights, and your transfer to the ship for $5200 per person.
Regardless of which price you choose, you’ll get an additional $300 per person on board credit by booking through me.
One final note: If Alaska is on your list for 2022, it is much more sold out than it normally would be at this point. There is still reasonable availability, but we’re seeing it get more filled up weekly.
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
