How to Explore Alaska's Cruise Ports on a Budget
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When planning a trip to Alaska, many travelers wonder if it's better to explore the state by land or by sea. Known for its endless wilderness, Alaska is an adventurous yet relaxing destination for travelers. Stroll through quaint towns, visit state parks and World Heritage Sites, or pan for gold in town. There's plenty of marine life, birds, and animals to see, and it doesn't take much life to find yourself up close to the stunning wildlife. At the Alaska Sealife Center, for example, you can see and touch sea anemones, starfish, seals, and sea lions. You can also explore glaciers at Glacier Bay National Park or learn about the 49th state's culture at the Alaska Native Heritage Center or Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
Must-Have Alaskan Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
Come aboard Norwegian Cruise Line to Alaska and feel what it's like when you let the outside in. Browse through our Alaskan cruises and find the best cruise deals designed to make your cruise experience unforgettable. With 7 cruise ships sailing from 6 departure ports, including land and sea packages on our Alaska Cruisetours, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Ketchikan on a Budget
When sailing to Alaska, these ships also offer other kid-friendly events, such as Puppies on Princess, when dog mushers and their newest sled dogs come on board for meet-and-greets (and photos!). That makes these ships more appealing to an older demographic that doesn't necessarily want to be on a vessel that's loaded to the gills with children's fun zones and the younger family travelers drawn to that. Notably, the average age of Princess passengers is around 57, and you'll usually see many couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Looking for the best Alaska cruise from Seattle if you're bringing three generations of your family along for the ride?
Cruise fare, flights, and hotel
From misty rainforests to dramatic glaciers, mother nature takes centre stage. Take a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway, spot some wildlife at Glacier Bay, or experience Alaska's native culture in Ketchikan. With incredible culture and unmatched natural beauty, on a cruise to awe-inspiring Alaska, the largest state in the United States, you'll have the time of your life. Another free attraction downtown is the Baranof Castle State Historic Site, which was the location where Alaska was formally handed off to the United States. Atop this small hill are informational boards on Sitka’s history along with some of the best views you’ll see in all of the region. The Totem Heritage Center focuses on the history and artistic traditions of the native Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples.
This was one of the cheapest hotel options I found downtown, with others as high as $400+ per night. The cruise fare was listed at $240 per person with $293 in taxes and fees. As someone who cruises on a budget and loves visiting Alaska, I took the leap and booked the cruise unsure of what to expect. One of the things I love most about cruising is the fantastic vacation value it can offer, with accommodation, food, entertainment, and amazing destinations included in the cruise fare. It’s hard to pass up a cheap cruise deal, especially when the cruise visits Alaska.
My strong recommendation to Heather was to get out of the uninspiring town and head to and get up close to the Mendenhall Glacier. It’s stunning, the visitor centre is interesting, and you can get right up to the spectacular Nugget Falls. Across the way is the Red Onion Saloon (which was a brothel and has a free museum upstairs) and further into town is the McCabe College Building with the Skagway Museum.
The cabin was room 9009, which was located on deck 9 forward of Radiance of the Seas. The cabin appeared well-maintained and had a nice amount of walking space throughout it. There was a ton of storage, too, with 7 drawers in the vanity, two shelving areas above the TV, one full-sized wardrobe, and one smaller wardrobe with shelves inside. Instead, Radiance of the Seas has a large, 6-story elevator lobby connecting shops, lounges, a coffee shop, and other onboard amenities. I also spent around $10 to get from Vancouver’s airport to downtown via the metro and $15 for an Uber from my house to the airport. No matter your budget, age or travel interest, plenty of cruise options ply the waters around Alaska.
Three Super Cheap Cruises Worth Booking In 2024 - TheTravel
Three Super Cheap Cruises Worth Booking In 2024.
Posted: Sun, 26 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
What’s the Best Length of Time for a Cruise?
Sitka is the only Alaska cruise port facing the open ocean instead of the Inside Passage, and its location on the remote Baranof Island has influenced its history for over 10,000 years. The Tongass Historical Museum, located in the center of downtown, tells the story of Ketchikan’s history and culture and includes a collection of old photographs and artifacts. Strolling Creek Street is completely free, although certain attractions along the street may charge an entrance fee. You might even spot wildlife in the creek as well, including salmon and sea otters.
Enjoy the Freedom to Cruise Alaska the Way You Like
One of my favorite parts of the day was walking around the Sitka National Historic Park, which had gorgeous rainforest nature trails. The salmon were also running when I was in Alaska, so tons of visitors gathered to watch as the salmon frantically swam upstream. Sitka, the former capital of Russian Alaska, was the next port on our cruise. Like other ports, we planned to explore freely without a prior plan, and it led to a fun yet busy day in town. Once we returned to downtown Juneau, we visited a few local shops and discovered a cool food truck park in the middle of the city.
This includes Ketchikan, Dawes Glacier, Juneau, and Skagway, along with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia before returning to Washington. But for many travelers, flying or driving into Seattle is much cheaper and convenient. So even if you pay a little more for the cruise, you’ll still come out ahead overall. This type of cruise is normally hundreds more during the peak of the season. One thing to note is that balcony cabins on this particular trip are considerably more expensive, starting at $929 per person. With all of these tips in mind, here are some of the cheapest Alaskan cruises for 2024.
The third best time to shop for Alaska cruise deals is between 60 and 45 days prior to sailing. Your choice of cabins may be limited, but last-minute deals on Alaska cruises are often surprising. Alaska cruises are expensive, in large part because shore excursions are some of the priciest out there. You'll want to shop for cruise deals that include onboard credit you can apply to your excursions. These are abundant during wave season, though Cruise Critic's Deal Score also clearly shows you what inclusions and offers are part of Alaska cruise deals as well.
BEST Cheap Alaska Cruise Deals - Cruise Critic
BEST Cheap Alaska Cruise Deals.
Posted: Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:56:25 GMT [source]
Once used by married men to conspicuously reach the red-light district, the path is now a free way to explore Ketchikan’s nature. If you’d like, you can choose to ride the tram back to downtown Juneau instead of hiking down the mountain. Another free activity in Skagway is to visit the Skagway Museum, which aims to preserve the history of the Skagway and Taiya Valleys. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Still, unlike some lines that cater to an older crowd, Princess doesn't ignore the children's market.
Something that makes Radiance Class cruise ships unique is the movie theater, which plays a different movie each day of the cruise! There were five showtimes each day, so it was the perfect thing to do on a chilly day at sea. I had never sailed on a Radiance Class cruise ship before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Royal Caribbean has 6 classes of cruise ships, and each has a different layout and size as well as varied onboard dining, activities, and amenities.
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