Alaska Cruises – Top 10 Alaskan Cruise Shore Excursions

Alaskan cruises have so much to offer you onboard – casinos, fine dining, entertainment, and other typical outdoor cruise adventures. However, shore excursions are an important part of all cruises. With the diversity of Alaska, there are many beautiful shore excursions that you can take. Depending on where your cruise goes in Alaska, you may be able to do all or most of these on one single cruise.

1. Alaska Glaciers

Visiting glaciers from one or more of the stops on your Alaskan cruise can be a breathtaking and beautiful experience. You can see the glaciers up close, and hike to them or take tours. Going on tours of glaciers, and learning about the diverse plant and animal life found in and around them can be one of the best experiences of your Alaskan cruise.

2. Alaskan Flightseeing

Flightseeing is something that comes standard with just about any Alaskan cruise shore excursion destination. Flightseeing is sightseeing by plane, and it came about because of the overwhelming and breathtaking beauty of the Alaska, but the inaccessibility to see much of this state in an afternoon. Each time you’re off the boat, you’ll probably have a chance to do some flightseeing, whether you’re taken to glaciers, national parks or monuments, or simply for a look at the actual land that you’ve been cruising around.

3. Fishing

Alaska’s coast is known for its fishing – and its seafood. At just about every stop, you’ll have the chance to do a shore excursion that includes fishing. You can do so from land, from docks, or even from smaller fishing boats. Most of the time, you’ll also be able to sample what you’ve caught as well!

4. Mining Tours

Much of current Alaskan history is based around the mining industry. Many ports’ shore excursions include a chance to tour a mine or learn about the history of that particular mine. You’ll be able to see them first hand as well as purchase mining memorabilia. Some towns even have fairs to celebrate their mining history, so you might be lucky enough to visit during that time of the year for a special treat.

5. Museums

Every town has a history, but in Alaska, the cities seem to seep with history. You can take a historical tour of cities or small towns in Alaska on most shore excursions. Most cities also have historical museums that you can visit, and some even offer guided tours.

6. Historical Village Tours

This kind of excursion includes tours of small villages, which can be very different from tours of large cities. You can see the way that ancient people lived and worked in Alaska, and also learn about the American history that is found in all of these places as well. Village tours are very popular when it comes to shore excursions on Alaskan cruises, because the small villages of Alaska are places where the history is still living.

7. Monument Tours

Monument tours are exciting off ship excursions as well. There are lots of monuments that you can visit while in Alaska, and you can often see these by bus, boat, or plane. Many times, you’ll be as excited by the scenery surrounding the monuments as by the monuments themselves.

8. Rain Forest Tours

A rain forest in Alaska? Who knew! Alaska’s rain forest can be found in several stops along your Alaskan cruise. You can take rainforest tours or helicopter or flightseeing tours of these areas. You can learn even more about the area and the rainforests as well, on your shore excursions.

9. Hiking or Biking

You can get out into the beauty of Alaska and take hiking or biking tours of the surrounding areas on your on shore excursions. You can experience the beauty first hand, by being a part of it. Usually cruise lines will have bikes to rent or hiking trails to suggest to you.

10. Dog Sledding

Lastly, dog sledding is an important sport in Alaska, and you can witness it first hand during any time of the year, by visiting dog kennels, learning about the sport, or even trying it out for yourself. Make sure you include this activity and some of those listed above on your next Alaskan cruise!

Visit our site to learn more about alaska cruises and find out more about alaskan cruise special.

A Personal View of an Alaskan Cruise

So, who would have believed our May spectacular to Alaska would produce everything required, including great weather? And not only for our group.

The earlier unaccompanied group, on the first sailing in May, had even more sunshine. This trip was, for Rose and I, the holiday of a lifetime. I dislike long-haul flying. That’s why we, and 17 other ‘followers’, decided to have four nights in Las Vegas followed by three nights in San Francisco. Let’s put our pre-cruise story to bed quickly.

Las Vegas was something else. Not for gambling reasons, but for a city over the top in glitz and glam. We loved it. 20 hotels. 3 shows. Numerous spectacles. Shopping malls. Two packets of corn plasters. Wow! It brought back memories of our first trips to Paris when we’d give up walking after three days and pray to get back home to more comfortable shoes! But it was special. I’m really glad we stayed at the Aladdin. We can’t think of anything nicer or better. The Dolphinarium and Zoo were great. Mind you, once we were inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel we had to join the escape committee to find our way out!

San Francisco. Well, in the words of the wonderful old crooner, I left my heart in San Francisco. A city not to be missed. Lovely people and a feeling of the ultimate way of life. We chose to stay in the Sheraton Fisherman’s

Wharf, close to the port. This was a plus not a minus. The old tramline stopped outside the door, taking us along the various piers before turning to travel to the main shopping districts through to the Castro area. The cable cars were five minutes walk and not to be missed. Alcatraz ferries and trips left from the pier down the road. When we go away, we use local guidebooks and local papers, and often choose to do something unusual. On two nights we ventured out into the unknown by cable car and tram and ended up out of our depth – a crêperie and bar in the Mission district (don’t ask!), and a superb cosmopolitan restaurant called ‘Home’ in the Castro area! Add to that a day out at the Berkeley Jazz Street Festival, several miles out of town, and you’ll understand why we had such a good time. The Sheraton was only five minutes from the port, so close our taxi driver said he’d only charge $5. That’s how honest they are. No effort. No trouble. Even the trip in from the airport was easy. $15 by minibus per person, or $45 by taxi for 2, 3 or 4 people.

Celebrity Mercury was, as always, a lovely ship for the cruise of a lifetime. I won’t, however, bore you with ship information. It was Victoria, British Columbia, first stop. Lovely, clean, inoffensive and a town we’d have liked more time in.

Alas, it wasn’t to be, so it saved another minor hammering on the card! Cruising from then on was really special. We sailed along the Inside Passage with beautiful scenery and, remarkably, no civilisation! On the way up we saw porpoises by the hundreds. Binoculars were poised on every balcony awaiting the inevitable spout of water from a whale. Over the next few days some people were lucky with sightings, some not. Some, like us in the end, couldn’t care less unless it happened!

The stops were all magical for different reasons. None of them looked or felt the same. Skagway has a real ‘western gold-rush ‘ feel to it. The train journey was a well spent three hours. We missed dinner that night to sample real fresh halibut and chips at the local bar next to the ship.

Icy Straight Point was a first – we were the first visitors from a cruise ship – and it was so unspoilt. Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka completed the Alaskan ports of call. It would take too long to describe all the wonderful things we all did. From float planes to helicopter trips, from glacier visits to whale watching. Of course, it all ended far too quickly. But one thing’s certain; it was well worth the effort to go!

Alaskan Cruises – One of America’s Most Beautiful Cruise Adventures

Though a state of the USA, with all of the rights and responsibilities that that entails, Alaska is somehow different from the other states. Its uniqueness is something to be celebrated, and something that makes it an enjoyable way for other US citizens to experience a different culture without even really leaving their home country. Its setting, further north than any other state in the Union, makes it more striking in winter, but certainly doesn’t preclude it from being quite awesome to look at in any of the other seasons. Though Alaska is somewhat smaller than the usual areas covered by a cruise – compare a country, a continent or even the majority of the planet to a single state – this shouldn’t make anyone think that a cruise of Alaska is not worthwhile. Indeed it could be argued that this makes it ideal for a first cruise.

The advantage of Alaska’s size in comparison to other areas covered by a cruise ship voyage is that you can get a true feel of the place within a comparatively short time. Many people will be discouraged from going on a cruise when the initial idea is raised, as they may feel that they don’t have the time for a long holiday or that a few weeks spent on a ship will give them some form of cabin fever. Alaskan cruises can be seen through in just a week, which will be long enough to take in the sights and sounds of this unique state.

In winter, you can guarantee that your trip to Alaska will include the elements so readily recognisable as to be cliché: the snowy and icy terrain; ice floes seen from the boat; the log cabins that are a thing of necessity for many in the cold Alaskan winter. Whenever you travel though, you can guarantee seeing some quite astounding scenery as well as the local wildlife, for which Alaska is widely known. This wildlife is varied indeed, from the caribou and bears that roam the terra firma, to many different species of sea life – humpback whales and killer whales that you simply will not see elsewhere, porpoise and the ever-adorable sea lions. The exotic wildlife also comes from above, with eagles also abounding in the area.

If you have more time to spend, then you can take in a few more sights – Alaska certainly is not short of these. Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, and a stop off at the Hubbard Glacier are just some of the elements of an ideal trip to Alaska. Certain cruise companies will be able to give you special bespoke deals on your trip, including in it only what you want to include – saving you money and potentially a lot of energy. If you want to make the cruise a bit longer, you can even pop into neighbouring Canada to visit some of its own spectacular scenery. An Alaskan cruise is the ideal holiday if you’re looking for something a little bit different from the usual.

Visit our site to learn more about alaska cruise and find out more about alaskan cruise special.

Alaska Cruise Deals – How to Save Money on an Alaskan Cruise

While it’s far too easy to spend a large amount of money on an Alaskan cruise, you certainly don’t need to do so. I personally use a few simple strategies to turn up some great Alaska cruise deals. With a little research, flexibility, and determination, it’s possible to find discounts and specials on an Alaska cruise that will be a wonderfully memorable experience for years to come.

The time of year when you choose to head to Alaska can have a huge impact on its cost. If at all possible, be flexible! As with any tourist destination, the best discounts are found on departures during the non-peak, shoulder seasons. To find the best Alaska cruise deals, stay away from the peak months of June, July and August, and instead look for departures in May, September and October. The days will be a little shorter, and it’s bound to be colder, but an Alaskan cruise is beautiful year round.

The type of cabin you choose is another area where you can easily shave a large amount off the potential cost of an Alaskan cruise. For example, it costs quite a bit more to have an outside cabin, and an outside cabin with a balcony is even more expensive. In my experience, most cruisers to Alaska find that they don’t really spend that much time in their rooms. Part of the fun of a cruise is being able to meet the other guests, and the views of the glorious Alaskan coast from the deck or the bar can’t be beat!

The type of ship you select can also have a big impact on your budget. There are basically three types you can consider. First, all of the major Alaska cruise lines have very large ships, and can often have some very attractive promotions to fill them. As you might expect, they have a strong incentive to make sure they’re not leaving port with empty cabins. The downside, of course, is that because their ships are so big, it can be hard to get in close to the glaciers and other wildlife that you’re hoping to see.

Two other types of ships offer a more intimate experience, but for vastly different budgets. Priced towards the higher end, a few boutique cruise lines specialize in small ship adventures that bring you much closer to the scenery. A final, super cheap option is to take one of the ferries that head up and down the Alaskan coast. You might be rolling out your sleeping bag on the deck, but you’ll also be saving a ton of money!

By far one of the best strategies is to take advantage of the experience of others cruisers. There are a number of forums where up to date information can be found on the latest specials and bargains in the Alaskan cruise market. You’ll be amazed how much information your fellow cruisers will know, how happy they’ll be to share it with you, and how quick they are to respond. I’ve listed a few of my favorites Alaska cruise forums at my blog, which you can access below.

Alaska Cruise Deals – How to Save Money on an Alaskan Cruise

While it’s far too easy to spend a large amount of money on an Alaskan cruise, you certainly don’t need to do so. I personally use a few simple strategies to turn up some great Alaska cruise deals. With a little research, flexibility, and determination, it’s possible to find discounts and specials on an Alaska cruise that will be a wonderfully memorable experience for years to come.

The time of year when you choose to head to Alaska can have a huge impact on its cost. If at all possible, be flexible! As with any tourist destination, the best discounts are found on departures during the non-peak, shoulder seasons. To find the best Alaska cruise deals, stay away from the peak months of June, July and August, and instead look for departures in May, September and October. The days will be a little shorter, and it’s bound to be colder, but an Alaskan cruise is beautiful year round.

The type of cabin you choose is another area where you can easily shave a large amount off the potential cost of an Alaskan cruise. For example, it costs quite a bit more to have an outside cabin, and an outside cabin with a balcony is even more expensive. In my experience, most cruisers to Alaska find that they don’t really spend that much time in their rooms. Part of the fun of a cruise is being able to meet the other guests, and the views of the glorious Alaskan coast from the deck or the bar can’t be beat!

The type of ship you select can also have a big impact on your budget. There are basically three types you can consider. First, all of the major Alaska cruise lines have very large ships, and can often have some very attractive promotions to fill them. As you might expect, they have a strong incentive to make sure they’re not leaving port with empty cabins. The downside, of course, is that because their ships are so big, it can be hard to get in close to the glaciers and other wildlife that you’re hoping to see.

Two other types of ships offer a more intimate experience, but for vastly different budgets. Priced towards the higher end, a few boutique cruise lines specialize in small ship adventures that bring you much closer to the scenery. A final, super cheap option is to take one of the ferries that head up and down the Alaskan coast. You might be rolling out your sleeping bag on the deck, but you’ll also be saving a ton of money!

By far one of the best strategies is to take advantage of the experience of others cruisers. There are a number of forums where up to date information can be found on the latest specials and bargains in the Alaskan cruise market. You’ll be amazed how much information your fellow cruisers will know, how happy they’ll be to share it with you, and how quick they are to respond. I’ve listed a few of my favorites Alaska cruise forums at my blog, which you can access below.

Visit our site to learn more about alaska cruise and find out more about alaskan cruise special.

Best Time to Take an Alaskan Cruise – Why Go to Alaska?

When choosing your cruise destination you are actually determining whether it will be an experience to remember or not. North America has a number of superb cruise destinations and many people like to choose one of them. If you are more adventurous and love wildlife and nature you could choose Alaska. When is the best time to take an Alaskan cruise and more importantly, why go to Alaska are explained in this article, so make use of the information to book yourself an unforgettable experience.

Alaska is teeming with wildlife that you can view from the ship’s deck while cruising. Would you like to see a bear diving for fish or taking a bath? Maybe a moose’s antics will appeal to you more. Then you have the abundance of sea life that includes the whales: killer, humpbacks and beluga; sea lions and weasels and a whole host of other sea creatures.

The best time to take an Alaskan cruise is between the months of May and September, and the peak season runs from July to August. If you travel in May or September the cruise ships will be a bit quieter and you can get yourself a good deal. These months may be a bit cooler and September is usually rainy. Going in May means you get to see wild flowers bloom and the trees changing color. Travelling in September means you get to experience fall in Alaska, an awesome sight and might just be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. Of course it could rain in the other months as well and the wind chill factor is not to be ignored so travel well prepared.

A cruise trip to Alaska is really getting the best of both worlds; most cruise lines offer a cruise and stay on land package deal. With its lovely historical towns and national parks there is something for everyone to enjoy and an Alaskan cruise will be remembered as the trip of a lifetime.

Alaska is considered the last frontier and taking a cruise to this amazing destination is well worth the price. Experience the Alaskan wilderness in all its greatness, watch the awe inspiring ruggedness of her coastlines and stare in wonder at the landscape and glaciers. Breathe the pure, clean air and enjoy the wide open ocean for miles and miles. It is an all round exhilarating experience that will transport you to another world altogether.

You can choose a cruise line that travels through the Inside Passage or one that travels through the Gulf of Alaska. Anchorage, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka have plenty of attractions and a visit to Creek Street in Ketchikan is a must. This was once a red light district that is now filled with little stores and restaurants that over look the canoes and you may get lucky enough to see Salmon leaping.

Alaska Cruise Specials

In the wake of tremendous competition among various cruise lines, each has been offering several special offers. Special offers may be discounts on packaged vacation cruises, or the customization of cruises according to passengers’ wishes. The cruise lines advertise and provide various novel features to attract more cruisers to their ships.

The biggest cruise special is, of course, the discount offered on the package. For bulk or off-season bookings, cruise lines may provide as much as 25 to 50% off their regular rates. The same applies for rerouting cruises, i.e., when the ships are returning to warmer southern seas. Discount schemes are also provided to cruisers for forthcoming tours, which can be availed of by either themselves or their families and friends.

Certain cruise lines, like the Princess, allow passengers to make their own itineraries. These are then incorporated with the cruise lines’ planned itineraries to the maximum possible extent. Cruisers can select which ports they would like to halt at, which hotels to lodge in and how many days to spend exploring the glacier and whale watching, etc. Besides this, they may also have the chance to select their choice of music and food on board. Customized cruises are the current trend, though they are more costly than other cruises.

Oceania Cruise Line provides a unique feature. They organize a lecture series onboard the ships called ‘Your World’. Passengers are invited to attend these lectures and deliberate on issues. Besides this, there are several shops which sell artifacts and trinkets on board, which can be taken home as souvenirs of the cruise. While Oceania focuses on intelligent activities, Royal Caribbean caters to the more adventurous palate, by providing helicopter flying and snorkeling activities.

Almost all cruise lines have a variety of entertainment options on their ships. Features like shopping malls, swimming pools, water spas and saunas, have today become mandatory on cruise ships. There are also Las Vegas-style casinos and cyber cafés for people to remain connected with family, friends and the rest of the world. Some cruise lines also have Broadway theaters and movie halls to enthrall the audience.

Visit our site to learn more about alaska cruise and find out more about alaskan cruise special.

How to Find a Discount Alaska Cruise Vacation – The Art of Getting Cheap Alaskan Cruises

Travel season for an Alaska cruise vacation begins around May and ends around mid September, mostly because Arctic weather is the most comfortable during this time. It’s an especially good time of the year for outdoor activities.

July and August are actually the most comfortable. But both the demand as well as the prices are higher during the summer, the most popular season for Alaskan vacations.

What To Look For

When you’re planning Alaskan trips and are looking for Alaska cruise specials you might want to consider early booking to get a cheap cruise fare on available Alaskan cruise packages. The discount will enable you to enjoy all the same comforts and amenities at a reduced price rate.

It will ensure you the best-offered price.

If you’re on a tight budget, booking one of the discount Alaska cruises could make it possible to afford other activities in Alaska.

In reality, the discount offers for cheap Alaskan cruises from experienced travel companies or travel agents are always dynamic in nature. They allow you to design your plans according to your own requirements.

For example, younger couples will probably enjoy their discounts in a different manner than retired couples. A travel agent can offer you plenty of options on Alaskan cruises to help you customize your vacation.

Excursion And Discounts

When you select shore excursions that are important to you, you will be making your Alaska cruise vacation very special.

Choices can range from exiting mountain-biking trails to the thrill of a dog-sledding tour of Mendenhall glacier. There are even tours that let you leave the boat, take a vehicle into the wild, and then hike into the wilderness for a 16-day excursion into Alaska’s wilds.

But excursions in Alaska can be expensive. That’s where you’ll reap the benefits of the deals and discounts you got by booking a cheap cruise fare.

Take Advice from Cruise Specialists

To get the best discount Alaska cruises it’s always better to take advice from professional cruise experts and specialists. They’ll help you to plan for the cruise line that’s best suited to your budget, personality and lifestyle.

They know the best deals for these Alaskan trips. They are professionally committed to serve you with the top obtainable deals on Alaskan cruise packages so you can make your vacation a memorable one.

An experienced cruise specialist might even help you to find the best and most affordable custom designed Alaska cruise vacation of all time.

A Personal View of an Alaskan Cruise

So, who would have believed our May spectacular to Alaska would produce everything required, including great weather? And not only for our group.

The earlier unaccompanied group, on the first sailing in May, had even more sunshine. This trip was, for Rose and I, the holiday of a lifetime. I dislike long-haul flying. That’s why we, and 17 other ‘followers’, decided to have four nights in Las Vegas followed by three nights in San Francisco. Let’s put our pre-cruise story to bed quickly.

Las Vegas was something else. Not for gambling reasons, but for a city over the top in glitz and glam. We loved it. 20 hotels. 3 shows. Numerous spectacles. Shopping malls. Two packets of corn plasters. Wow! It brought back memories of our first trips to Paris when we’d give up walking after three days and pray to get back home to more comfortable shoes! But it was special. I’m really glad we stayed at the Aladdin. We can’t think of anything nicer or better. The Dolphinarium and Zoo were great. Mind you, once we were inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel we had to join the escape committee to find our way out!

San Francisco. Well, in the words of the wonderful old crooner, I left my heart in San Francisco. A city not to be missed. Lovely people and a feeling of the ultimate way of life. We chose to stay in the Sheraton Fisherman’s

Wharf, close to the port. This was a plus not a minus. The old tramline stopped outside the door, taking us along the various piers before turning to travel to the main shopping districts through to the Castro area. The cable cars were five minutes walk and not to be missed. Alcatraz ferries and trips left from the pier down the road. When we go away, we use local guidebooks and local papers, and often choose to do something unusual. On two nights we ventured out into the unknown by cable car and tram and ended up out of our depth – a crêperie and bar in the Mission district (don’t ask!), and a superb cosmopolitan restaurant called ‘Home’ in the Castro area! Add to that a day out at the Berkeley Jazz Street Festival, several miles out of town, and you’ll understand why we had such a good time. The Sheraton was only five minutes from the port, so close our taxi driver said he’d only charge $5. That’s how honest they are. No effort. No trouble. Even the trip in from the airport was easy. $15 by minibus per person, or $45 by taxi for 2, 3 or 4 people.

Celebrity Mercury was, as always, a lovely ship for the cruise of a lifetime. I won’t, however, bore you with ship information. It was Victoria, British Columbia, first stop. Lovely, clean, inoffensive and a town we’d have liked more time in.

Alas, it wasn’t to be, so it saved another minor hammering on the card! Cruising from then on was really special. We sailed along the Inside Passage with beautiful scenery and, remarkably, no civilisation! On the way up we saw porpoises by the hundreds. Binoculars were poised on every balcony awaiting the inevitable spout of water from a whale. Over the next few days some people were lucky with sightings, some not. Some, like us in the end, couldn’t care less unless it happened!

The stops were all magical for different reasons. None of them looked or felt the same. Skagway has a real ‘western gold-rush ‘ feel to it. The train journey was a well spent three hours. We missed dinner that night to sample real fresh halibut and chips at the local bar next to the ship.

Icy Straight Point was a first – we were the first visitors from a cruise ship – and it was so unspoilt. Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka completed the Alaskan ports of call. It would take too long to describe all the wonderful things we all did. From float planes to helicopter trips, from glacier visits to whale watching. Of course, it all ended far too quickly. But one thing’s certain; it was well worth the effort to go!

Visit our site to learn more about alaska cruise and find out more about alaskan cruise special.

Alaska Cruise Specials

In the wake of tremendous competition among various cruise lines, each has been offering several special offers. Special offers may be discounts on packaged vacation cruises, or the customization of cruises according to passengers’ wishes. The cruise lines advertise and provide various novel features to attract more cruisers to their ships.

The biggest cruise special is, of course, the discount offered on the package. For bulk or off-season bookings, cruise lines may provide as much as 25 to 50% off their regular rates. The same applies for rerouting cruises, i.e., when the ships are returning to warmer southern seas. Discount schemes are also provided to cruisers for forthcoming tours, which can be availed of by either themselves or their families and friends.

Certain cruise lines, like the Princess, allow passengers to make their own itineraries. These are then incorporated with the cruise lines’ planned itineraries to the maximum possible extent. Cruisers can select which ports they would like to halt at, which hotels to lodge in and how many days to spend exploring the glacier and whale watching, etc. Besides this, they may also have the chance to select their choice of music and food on board. Customized cruises are the current trend, though they are more costly than other cruises.

Oceania Cruise Line provides a unique feature. They organize a lecture series onboard the ships called ‘Your World’. Passengers are invited to attend these lectures and deliberate on issues. Besides this, there are several shops which sell artifacts and trinkets on board, which can be taken home as souvenirs of the cruise. While Oceania focuses on intelligent activities, Royal Caribbean caters to the more adventurous palate, by providing helicopter flying and snorkeling activities.

Almost all cruise lines have a variety of entertainment options on their ships. Features like shopping malls, swimming pools, water spas and saunas, have today become mandatory on cruise ships. There are also Las Vegas-style casinos and cyber cafés for people to remain connected with family, friends and the rest of the world. Some cruise lines also have Broadway theaters and movie halls to enthrall the audience.

Today, by virtue of all the specials offered on cruises, they are no longer considered just another activity. Cruising today is considered to be a blend of adventurous and cerebral activities.

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