Table Of Content
- Order essentials ahead of time, like binoculars and motion-sickness remedies
- Reserve entertainment ahead of time, and stick to shows early in the week
- Explore Alaska's Wilderness on a May 2024 Cruise from Seattle
- Explorer's Lounge
- You don’t have to book your excursions through Royal Caribbean
- Figure out your transportation logistics to and from the airport, hotel, and cruise port
If your cruise ends in Seward, you’ll want to schedule even more time to catch your flight, as it takes several hours to get to Anchorage from Seward. More often than not, flight prices will increase significantly as your travel date approaches. Waiting to see if the price drops almost always results in paying more for your flight, so it’s important to get your flights booked to avoid wasting money.
Order essentials ahead of time, like binoculars and motion-sickness remedies
At New York Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Enjoy your pizza by day while overlooking the Lido pool, and into the night. This venue is New York Deli & Pizza on Koningsdam, Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam, offering made-to-order deli sandwiches in addition to pizza.
Reserve entertainment ahead of time, and stick to shows early in the week
The menu, which honors the elements of water, wood, fire and earth, features such exotic fare as wok-seared lobster, barramundi (Asian sea bass) in banana leaf and sushi, accompanied by chilled or heated sake. Our Alaska cruise departure ports have big personalities and loads of attractions. Ketchikan, Alaska is one of the best spots along Alaska's Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. Amble historic Creek Street, a boardwalk over a wide creek that fills with salmon during certain times of year. An elegant and spacious Alaska cruise ship with fresh floral arrangements and garden-inspired décor.
Explore Alaska's Wilderness on a May 2024 Cruise from Seattle
Extend your Alaska cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative.
Explorer's Lounge
With its roaring glaciers, rugged mountains and deep fjords, Glacier Bay National Park feels like a dream. With 3.3 million acres to explore, cruise to this world-renowned landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and let the landscapes inspire your next adventure. Princess Cruises is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.
What's New for the 2024 Alaska Cruise Season - Cruise Critic
What's New for the 2024 Alaska Cruise Season.
Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Dinner in the Main Dining Room is a traditional part of any cruise experience, but think twice before selecting your dining time. In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather. It’s challenging to predict whether your cruise will encounter sunny skies and 70 degrees, or seven days of straight rain. Sure, booking your cruise in June usually results in better weather compared to one in September, but weather conditions are never guaranteed.
Figure out your transportation logistics to and from the airport, hotel, and cruise port
Valdez is situated in Prince William Sound and serves as the gateway to the interior of Alaska. Often referred to as the "Little Switzerland", Valdez is known for its breathtaking panorama of snow-capped mountains and glaciers. It is also well-known for its role in the transportation of crude oil from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which ends in Valdez.
Top Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska
One of my favorite Alaska cruise “hacks” is to utilize Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s luggage valet service. Instead of getting upset over a cold, rainy day in port, maintain a positive attitude. Find a cozy saloon to enjoy a warm Irish coffee, or bundle up in your rain gear and make the most of the day. If so, you can almost always expect warm temperatures and, aside from a chance of rain, pleasant weather conditions. Should your cruise encounter rough seas, an itinerary change, or another unforeseen circumstance, there’s a chance a showtime could get canceled or rescheduled.
Alaska Ports of Call
If prices are lower, or if there’s availability on a tour that’s sold out on the Cruise Planner, there’s no harm in booking through a third party. Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to glaciers or a shopping spree downtown, the towns along Alaska's inside passage provide a variety of adventurous activities. Alaska cruise ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. In Alaska, ancient rivers of ice wind between mountains and grind out of valleys.
When you cruise with Norwegian, the awe of Alaska stays with you throughout your vacation. Embark on an unforgettable Alaskan cruise adventure departing from San Francisco in May 2024. San Francisco is a great departure port for Alaska cruises, offering easy access to the waters of the Pacific and a range of attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy before or after their cruise. With modern and well-equipped cruise terminals, excellent transportation links, and a wealth of attractions and amenities, San Francisco is an ideal starting point for a memorable Alaska cruise adventure. May is a wonderful time to embark on an Alaskan cruise, as the snow and ice begin to melt away and the landscape transforms into a lush, green paradise. Choose from a range of popular cruise lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, and explore the breathtaking natural beauty of Alaska on a cruise from San Francisco in May 2024.
There’s really no need to spend hundreds of dollars on new winter gear just for an Alaska cruise, especially if you’re traveling with children who will quickly outgrow clothing. You’d be surprised by how many activities you can fit into a pre-cruise stay in Seattle or Vancouver. Even if you arrive at 3PM the day before your cruise, you will have around twenty hours in either city before embarkation begins. One of my favorite aspects of cruising to Alaska is the pre-cruise stay in Seattle or Vancouver. Not only do both of these cities offer breathtaking natural scenery, but they boast an impressive amount of things to do within the city, too. In addition to airfare, you’ll also want to figure out transportation logistics on land, which can vary from one embarkation city to another.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best free and low-cost activities to do in each Alaska cruise port, which should help give you some ideas. Whether you’re confused about what to pack or overwhelmed with the dozens of shore excursion offerings, the planning process can quickly seem more stressful than enjoyable. Learn why our ships are uniquely designed for the best glacier experiences.
