Taking A Look At Alaskan Cruises
Looking into Alaskan cruises this summer? Despite the growing number of people interested in taking an Alaskan vacation, the cruising patterns have remained relatively unchanged. The most traditional Alaskan cruise is an “Inside Passage” route that takes passengers from Vancouver to southeast Alaska and back in seven nights and eight days, with port calls in two to four towns, which might include Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway, or Glacier Bay National Park. The second type of cruise is the seven-night, one-way “Gulf and Glaciers” route that leaves from Seward or Whittier and tours the inside passage sights, with the addition of Prince William Sound. Thirdly, some cruises are just one-way, seven-night trips between Alaskan towns, such as Juneau and Sitka. Lastly, an expedition voyage can include Aleutian island, sub-Arctic ports and Russian territory as well.
“People go to Alaska to see wildlife for a reason, but you see it in many ways and in many circumstances,” said Erik Elvejord, spokesman for Holland America Line. “Don’t expect a lineup of bears when you hit the pier, or pods of whales everywhere the ship goes.” Seeing wildlife in Alaska while on a cruise is all about careful planning, Alaskans say. While animals won’t be flocking toward the ship, you can visit one of the port stop towns for guaranteed sightings.
Carnival Cruise Lines recommends the Sea Otter Quest in Sitka, for example, because there’s a 100% guarantee you’ll see these playful creatures. Holland America recommends the Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest in Auke Bay because humpback and orca feeding grounds are located right amid the Alaskan cruise route. Bears can be a little more hit-or-miss, wildlife experts say. You can take a $100 “Bear Search” at 7am in Icy Strait Point, although there’s no guarantee you’ll spot one. Or you can take a $300 - $1,600 fly-in adventure to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island, Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park or the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where bears reliably come to feed on salmon.
There are, of course, many other activities that draw people to Alaskan cruises. Some say “Why Alaska? Wouldn’t you rather go somewhere warm like the Bahamas or Hawaii?” For starters, you can’t see glaciers somewhere warm. Sure, they’re cold — but for people who live near the mountains already, nothing compares to mountains of ice that have existed since pre-human times. If Al Gore’s predictions are accurate, these behemoth ice caps may one day disappear. Also, where else can you pan for gold, catch a 4.5-pound salmon, traverse by dogsled or purchase traditional Huna native artwork?
When considering Alaskan cruises, you’ll have to decide which port stops are most important to you. Seattle and Vancouver are popular family-friendly port stops you won’t want to miss. In Ketchikan, you will see the Saxman Native Village and The Great Lumberjack Show, as well as hike the Deer Mountain trail. In Juneau, you can board the Mount Roberts tramway, go whale watching and see the Mendenhall Glacier. Sitka has the New Archangel Dancers, the Alaska Raptor Center and scenic trails around Blue Mountain Lake. You won’t want to miss Skagway’s “White Pass & Yukon Railroad” through gold rush country or the Klondike Gold Rush Historic Park.