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Solo travelers don't always have to pay double to cruise Alaska on their own. Several Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature cozy studio cabins designed and priced for one person, and the 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss offers 82 solo rooms on its round-trip Seattle cruises to Alaska. Seabourn Odyssey sails both one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Juneau and round-trip itineraries from Vancouver. It visits popular Alaska ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, as well as less-touristed destinations like Wrangell, Prince Rupert (a port city in Canada) and Rudyerd Bay.
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Or view them all,alongside our advice for choosing the best small ship Alaska cruise. You’ll find three main dining rooms, plus a pizzeria, gastropub, Italian restaurant, chop house, and Mediterranean bistro. Or, kick things up a notch with a Chef’s Table Lumiere experience of multiple courses with wine pairings. Spend your time listening to live music in the Crooners Bar, exploring cocktails from around the world at Good Spirits, and relaxing at the jazz club.
Pro: Intimate ships
6 best Alaska cruises for families - The Points Guy
6 best Alaska cruises for families.
Posted: Thu, 19 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If adventure is what you crave on an Alaska cruise, you should seek out the small ships of UnCruise Adventures. All of the line's itineraries boast an active component, but its "Wild, Woolly and Wow" itinerary claims to be "the most active back country itinerary" of UnCruise's 2024 Alaska cruises. The line will send six ships to Alaska in 2024, with tour offerings to Denali, Fairbanks and Anchorage. However, it's the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam that offers some of the most interesting cruise tour itineraries out there. The line always stations one or two Quantum-class ships in Alaska for the season.
Seabourn Cruises
Biking River Cruise With Backroads & AmaWaterways By John Roberts You can have it all as a cycling enthusiast who wants to explore Europe on a highly curated, hassle-free vacation. In fact, I took a river cruise bike tour that combines the best elements of sailing... I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles. One of the oldest names in Alaska small-ship cruising, Lindblad Expeditions has a history here dating back to the 1980s.
Alaska Small Ship Cruises to/from Seattle
Today, with over 20 cruise lines and small ships sailing Alaska’s waterways, there are plenty of options for travelers to choose from during the Alaska cruise season, which runs every year from April through October. If you’re planning a bucket list trip, we’ve selected the best Alaska cruises for every type of travel style in 2024, from the adventure-focused to the super luxurious. We make sure you have all the tools necessary to enjoy your expedition to the fullest. For travelers who are wondering what a small ship Alaska cruise is really like or have questions regarding their recently booked travel, take a look through our Alaska small ship cruise guides. Our experts have sailed extensively along the entire coastline and share these tips so you can find the best small Alaska cruise.
I saw bears foraging in the intertidal grasses lining the shore and sea lions basking in the sun on an outcropping of rocks. These are experiences you’re not likely to have aboard a big ship, certainly not at such close range. Guests can explore the small fishing town of Petersburg or search for orca and humpback whales in Frederick Sound. Lindblad has special permits to bring passengers into the wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the Tongass National Forest, beyond what the big ships can offer. A hike on Chichagof Island is the perfect opportunity to spot bald eagles in the wild.
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Beyond the ubiquitous wildlife, little-seen villages and bucket-list moments, what I recall most vividly are the people I met, both passengers and crew. My fellow nature-loving small-ship travelers were of every age and from all over the United States. Often it was an international group, with one or two among us originating in some far-flung corner of the world, especially from Australia. Explore Alaska’s hot springs and glaciers aboard a unique ship that puts you behind the helm and lets you man the sails. This Southeast Alaska-based tour operator will leave you with a new definition of what it means to have a once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan adventure.
On Ocean Victory, the expedition team and onboard scientists are encouraged to eat with the passengers so you can get to know them and tap into their expertise about the Last Frontier. The in-port experience wasn't the only positive of seeking out a small ship in this huge state. Here are some of the pros and cons of small-ship cruising in Alaska, so you can decide if a little ship will make a big difference in your vacation enjoyment. Except for the welcoming locals, who were happy to talk about life in small-town Alaska, the only people I encountered were a few fellow passengers from American Queen Voyages' 186-passenger expedition ship Ocean Victory.
Immerse yourself in a multi-day Alaskan adventure that promises incredible views and jaw-dropping bear viewing in Katmai National Park, along with a warm camaraderie that only a small group expedition can create. Explore from your home base on the Island C, a research vessel that gets you close to the action while providing comfortable lodging and delicious meals. Multi-day bear viewing and wildlife expeditions aboard a well-appointed research vessel with comfortable lodging and delicious meals. Small ship cruises are more expensive than big-ship cruises, but in return, you get a more personal level of service, and the chance to travel with a typically curious, adventurous group of travelers. The two-year-old Discovery Princess sails round trip to Alaska from Seattle, a convenient U.S. home port for families to fly or drive to. Its "North to Alaska" program will delight kids with sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, and lure their parents and grandparents with local seafood on restaurant menus and onboard cultural programming with Alaska residents.
I’m a Florida-based freelance travel and lifestyle journalist who has embarked on more than a dozen cruises, including several to Alaska. As a traveler, I am just as comfortable bicycling through Italian olive groves and SCUBA diving the wall of sharks in French Polynesia as I am sipping bubbles in a Champagne house and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants. Lindblad pioneered the expedition cruise several decades ago and has partnered with National Geographic since 2004,.
10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts - Travel + Leisure
10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts.
Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
We recommend that you plan ahead for your small ship Alaska cruise to take advantage of early-booking discounts, but we’re here to help those planning last-minute travel save as well. Don’t worry, our team can help you narrow down your choices and identify the best Alaska cruise itinerary for you. Our connections and longtime partnerships translate into savings and knowledge about when to secure the best deal on a small Alaska cruise.
Lindblad recently extended its partnership with National Geographic, which includes providing content and training for the line’s onboard programming. ADC’s trips focus on hiking and kayaking in secluded wilderness areas with a particular emphasis on cultural immersion. Fly from Anchorage by seaplane to the Northwest Odyssey, anchored off the coast of Katmai National Park. This luxurious yacht will be your home base for spectacular bear viewing and fishing in uncrowded waters. Design your exclusive itinerary then set sail into the vast open waters and wildlife-rich shorelines of Prince William Sound.
With AAA’s travel expertise to assist you, you can enjoy a luxurious cruise experience in Alaska’s glorious fjords and glaciers. The Last Frontier truly is a wonderland of nature and wildlife just waiting to be discovered. Some of the animals that passengers aboard an Alaskan cruise may see include polar bears, whales, walrus, eagles, harbor seals, sea otters, Kodiak brown bears, and puffins.
Smaller cruise boats are more intimate, helping you make friends and also connecting you with the water below — on large ships, it’s easy to forget that you’re even on the ocean; not so with small ship Alaska cruises. Arrive early - As mentioned earlier, arriving a day in advance is a good idea to ensure you’re on your cruise on time. As most Alaska cruise ship departure ports require a short flight, allowing time for delays is a good idea. Chichagof Island & Baranof Island - Just a couple of the many Alaska Islands and both a nature lover's dream, Chichagof Island is home to porpoises, seals, whales, and the largest population of bears per square meter in the world. Baranof Island features hidden coves, hot springs, and an amazing array of wildlife calling this island home.
We evaluated over a dozen Alaskan cruises before selecting the best in each category. We considered various elements like the cruise line’s reputation and quality of service, ship design and architecture, and notable ship amenities (e.g., swimming pools, entertainment, technology, access to nature experts, etc.). We also reviewed each ship’s cruise itinerary, dining and wellness options, and the types of experiences and excursions available to guests.
Hit all four corners of Southeast Alaska on this dynamic itinerary featuring active excursions and indigenous culture aboard the 49-guest Admiralty Dream. Read this review to hear from an expert’s eye what sets this operator's cruises apart from others in Alaska. This is the final step we recommend, but it could also easily be your first! To truly find honest answers and your own best small ship Alaska cruise, it often involves talking with a trusted resource. Their extensive and innovative programme of Alaska cruises giveyou plenty of choice, so ask us for advice on the best one for you,from the 62-guest Sea Bird or Sea Lion, to the more recently introduced100-guest National Geographic Quest. Ponant's super-chic 260-guest yachts Le Soléal and L'Austral are a Francophile adventurer's dream -all that is best in French style and elegance, with anEnglish-speaking environment and a stunning destination.
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