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Having booked the cruise only three months before I sailed, it offered a fantastic value. One of our favorite “tricks” when planning an Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbean is to take advantage of cheap last-minute sailings. On my Alaska cruise last June, it was nearly 80 degrees on several port days—I spent the day sweating while walking around Skagway.
Sitka
If you prefer to stay grounded, you can find informative trolley tours of ports like Skagway. These cruise lines, especially on their newer ships, offer something for everyone — as well as a higher caliber of onboard dining than on the cheapest cruises. If you want to see landlocked areas, such as Denali National Park, you can tack a cruise line-operated tour onto the beginning or end of your sailing for a seamless land and sea vacation. It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own.
Research low-cost things to do in port if you’re on a budget
Royal Caribbean and the Port of Seattle offer a luggage valet service, which allows you to bypass standard airport check-in. Watching a ship tour will help make your first few days onboard stress-free, as you will already have a general understanding of what is offered onboard, as well as the location of popular venues. Regardless of where your cruise starts and ends, it’s always better to plan transportation logistics ahead of time to avoid any surprises and confusion upon arrival. In addition to airfare, you’ll also want to figure out transportation logistics on land, which can vary from one embarkation city to another. In Sitka, for instance, you can enjoy a leisurely walk through the Sitka National Historic Park, which comes at no extra cost and is within walking distance from the town center. Likewise, you could take a shuttle bus to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau for $45 roundtrip, which is much cheaper than excursions booked through the cruise line.
Delight in the spectacle of calving glaciers
A pair of sneakers made from a water-resistant material will keep your feet dry and warm under most weather conditions. Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season. This is another reason why layers are so important—you never know when you’ll need that t-shirt over your winter jacket.
The 2024 Alaska cruise season is quickly approaching, and we’re sharing 24 of our most helpful Alaska cruise tips that you need to follow. With nearly endless summer days and coastal breezes, you’ll want to make sure to dress with flexibility in mind. This is also the trip for a camera with good telephoto lenses and binoculars. For more on what to bring on an Alaska cruise, check out our Alaska cruise packing list.
It takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time. Hopefully, if you have an Alaska cruise booked this summer, you’ve already booked your airfare to and from the cruise port.
Alaska cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
The last thing you want to happen is have your dream excursion sell out, leaving you scrambling to find other plans. Plus, excursions tend to only get more expensive over time, so booking early helps you lock in a lower price. Due to the popularity of excursions on an Alaska cruise, they can fill up quickly, so it’s important to book excursions well ahead of time. If you have not yet booked excursions for your 2024 Alaska cruise, book them as soon as possible. Our experienced agents will take the time to answer your questions and listen to your ideas, before making expert recommendations that fit your budget.
Programs like Princess Cruises' Cruisetours take the stress out of planning on-shore excursions and curate incredible itineraries for extensive, luxurious travel across the state. Some activities are included in the cost of the cruisetour; other outings can be booked like shore excursions, depending on your interest and budget. If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. Agents with a CLIA Certification icon below their name have passed a rigorous program of courses designed to elevate their cruise travel expertise. Refer to the key on the right side of the results page to understand CLIA Certification levels. To prepare for all conditions, you should plan for temperatures ranging from the 40s to 70s, both on and off ship.
Search for shore excursions on websites like GetYourGuide.com and ShoreExcursionsGroup.com, and compare them to what you see on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. 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 confused about what to pack or overwhelmed with the dozens of shore excursion offerings, the planning process can quickly seem more stressful than enjoyable. If you prefer to get off-the-beaten-track and travel with smaller groups, a wide array of small ship cruise companies offer more intimate cruises catering to adventure and luxury travelers.
Statesville man arrested for cruise scam - WCNC.com
Statesville man arrested for cruise scam.
Posted: Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to be a useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. While it could be tempting to sleep in, we advise starting your port day earlier rather than later. If so, you can almost always expect warm temperatures and, aside from a chance of rain, pleasant weather conditions. Whether you’re cruising with an elaborate mirrorless camera or just your cell phone, it’s hard to take a bad photo of somewhere as beautiful as Alaska.
If your cruise is a one-way itinerary that starts or ends in Seward, Alaska, transportation logistics require more pre-planning. The closest major airport to Seward is Anchorage, which is over two hours away by car. Due to this, you might want to consider taking a Royal Caribbean shuttle or the train from Seward to Anchorage, which must be scheduled in advance.
Barrhead Travel agent wins Cunard Alaska cruise - Travel Gossip
Barrhead Travel agent wins Cunard Alaska cruise.
Posted: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruises at the beginning (April and May) and end (September and October) of Alaska's cruise season are generally a bit cheaper than those in June, July and August. Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel (AlaskaACT) is a statewide, non-profit, membership-funded organization made up of businesses and individuals benefiting from cruise travel. Through AlaskaACT, these stakeholders will work together to promote accurate information and support responsible development and growth of Alaska tourism and the cruise industry. Doing research will help you pack correctly, plan your travel logistics without any issues, and book that once-in-a-lifetime excursion you’ve dreamed about for years. While you can purchase packages once onboard, the cost may be significantly higher than what you could have booked ahead of time.
With over 70 years experience in Alaskan waters, CLAA provides exceptional service while assisting with all your requirements for a comfortable cruise and easy connections throughout Alaska and beyond. As a small Alaskan company, ATC creates customized Alaska vacations for independent travelers, couples, families, and small groups. Alaska's wild beauty, abundant wildlife and colorful culture offer great appeal to those looking to travel off the beaten track on a self drive... They can give you a "group" advantage even when you’re not part of a group.
