What is an Alaska Cruisetour?
Picture-perfect mountain views from domed vintage train cars, narrated glacier tours right from your ship, and sightseeing in major Alaska cities like Anchorage are just a few of the awe-striking experiences you may have while taking an Alaska cruisetour. History buffs will enjoy learning about the state's indigenous peoples' customs and fashions at Anchorage's Alaska Native Heritage Center and Ketchikan's Totem Bight State Park or going back in time and experiencing the Gold Rush during a dinner theater show. And if this only sparks your curiosity even more, a common stop for Holland America's Alaska cruisetours is Gold Dredge No. 8 in Fairbanks to tour the restored dredge and maybe get your hands on some of your own gold.
- Why an Alaska Cruise Tour?
- Northbound and Southbound Alaska Cruise Tours
- Alaska Cruise Tour Itineraries
- What's Included with an Alaska Cruise Tour?
- Pre- or Post Cruise Options in Seattle or Vancouver
- When Can I Take an Alaska Cruise Tour?
- How to Book an Alaska Cruise Tour
Why an Alaska Cruise Tour?
People go to Alaska for six reasons: Wilderness, Wildlife, Glaciers, Mountains, History and Culture. A seven night Alaska Inside Passage Cruise will certainly give you a taste of Alaska and a chance to see glaciers and marine wildlife. An Alaska land tour into the interior region gives you an opportunity to experience the wilderness, mountains and land wildlife aspects of Alaska. Both are great vacations, but neither gives you the whole Alaska vacation package.
Alaska Cruise Tours offer the best of both worlds, combining a 3-day or 7-day relaxing and luxurious cruise vacation along the Alaska coast with a 3- to 12-day adventurous land tour giving you the opportunity to explore the interior of Alaska including Denali National Park and Mt. Denali.
Northbound and Southbound Alaska Cruise Tours
Like Alaska Glacier Cruises, Alaska Cruise Tours can operate as Northbound or Southbound Vacations. Most Northbound Cruise Tours start with a 7-Night Northbound Alaska Glacier Cruise departing from Vancouver and ending in Seward. Once you disembark in Seward, the land portion of your Alaska vacation begins.
Southbound Alaska Cruise Tours, on the other hand, begin with the land portion of your tour first. You'll fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska and see the sights in Alaska's interior, then transfer by motor coach to Seward where your Southbound Glacier Cruise to Vancouver will begin.
Both Cruise Tour options have their advantages. Southbound Alaska Cruise Tours are popular because many cruise passengers like starting their vacation with the most physical activities first and then ending their trip with a relaxing seven night cruise. The Northbound vacations are also popular because they cost less than the Southbound Cruises, often saving a passenger hundreds of dollars.
Alaska Cruise Tour Itineraries
Alaska Cruise Tour itineraries vary by cruise line, and you can literally choose from hundreds of different tours based on your interests and budget. When planning your vacation, you must ask yourself what you want to do and see and find the tour that best suits those needs. The choices can be overwhelming and you should not hesitate calling to get some help from an AlaskaCruises.com Cruise Specialist to take you through the specific details of a particular tour.
Here is an example of a popular Alaska Cruise Tour. Itineraries vary by cruise line and ship:
12 Night Alaska Mountain Medley Cruisetour 5B
7 Nt Cruise + 1 Nt Anchorage + 1 Nt Talkeetna + 2 Nts Denali + 1 Nt Alyeska
Direction: Southbound from Anchorage to Vancouver
1
- Anchorage, United States
2
- Anchorage, United States
- Wilderness Express Train Travel
- Talkeetna, United States
3
- Talkeetna, United States
- Bus Travel
- Denali National Park, United States
4
- Denali National Park, United States
5
- Denali National Park, United States
- Bus Travel
- Anchorage, United States
- Bus Travel
- Alyeska, United States
6
- Alyeska, United States
- Bus Travel
- Seward, United States
Cruise Segment of Itinerary
6
- Cruise Begins
- Seward, United States
- Depart: 8:00 pm
7
- Cruising Hubbard Glacier, United States
- Arrive: 2:00 pm
- Depart: 6:00 pm
8
- Juneau, United States
- Arrive: 9:00 am
- Depart: 9:00 pm
9
- Skagway, United States
- Arrive: 7:00 am
- Depart: 8:30 pm
10
- Icy Strait Point, United States
- Arrive: 6:30 am
- Depart: 3:00 pm
11
- Ketchikan, United States
- Arrive: 9:00 am
- Depart: 6:00 pm
12
- Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage, United States
13
- Vancouver, Canada
- Arrive: 7:00 am
Alaska Cruise Tours can be as active or as relaxed as you choose to make them. The cruise lines offer wonderful experiences for all ages making Alaska a perfect family, cruise destination. Naturalists and tour guides provide education and a local flavor that all will enjoy. Additionally, each tour gives you plenty of opportunities to take advantage of high adventure activities like: hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, white-water rafting, fishing and more.
What's Included with an Alaska Cruise Tour?
Again, there are two components to an Alaska Cruise Tour - the land portion and the cruise portion. What's included varies upon the actual Cruise Tour and the part of the trip you are on. But in general, the following is included on your vacation:
On the Alaska Land Portion:
- Hotel Accommodations in Fairbanks
- Discover Riverboat Tour and Gold Mine Tour in Fairbanks
- Domed Railcar Transportation on part or all of your land trip
- Hotel Accommodations in the Denali National Park Area
- Either a short or long bus tour into Denali National Park
- Hotel Accommodations in Talkeetna or Anchorage if applicable to tour
- Transfers and Baggage handling
- Some tours may have an Escort or Guide through the trip
The Cruise portion of your trip will include:
- 7 Night Alaska Glacier or Inside Passage Cruise
- Deluxe Accommodations on the ship
- All meals onboard including 24 hour room service
- Coffee, Tea, Milk, Juice, non-bottled water
- Entertainment, casinos, piano bars, comedians, Broadway-style shows
- Onboard Activities and Kids programming on most ships
- Port charges, taxes and fees
Your Alaska Cruise Tour WILL NOT include:
- Meals or drinks on the land portion of the Cruise Tour
- Gratuities onboard the ship
- Shore Excursions and Sight-seeing tours in Alaska
- Special Spa Services or Casino Gaming
- Beer, wine, spirits or bottled water
- Travel Insurance unless requested
- Airfare unless requested
Pre- or Post-Cruise Options in Seattle or Vancouver
If you are sailing to or from Vancouver, consider spending a few extra days either before or after the cruise to enjoy some of the local sights. Most cruise lines offer affordable pre- and post-cruise hotel programs that give you the opportunity to experience some of the local attractions like the Space Need and the Pike's Market in Seattle or the Butchart Gardens in Vancouver/Victoria. Ask your Alaska Cruise Specialist about this when planning your cruise.
When Can I Take an Alaska Cruise Tour?
Cruise Tours begin in late May and continue though the end of August or very early September. Whether you cruise when the Inside Passage is blanketed with spring wildflowers or ablaze with fall foliage you'll be awed at Alaska's natural wonders. Spring whale migrations, fall bald eagle gatherings, winter trumpeter swans - exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities and substantial savings can be found during spring and fall.
How to Book an Alaska Cruise Tour
Alaska Cruise Tours are very complicated travel packages that cannot yet be booked online. If you would like to purchase an Alaska Cruise Tour or have additional questions, please call AlaskaCruises.com directly and one of our Alaska experts will be happy to help you plan your trip.