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Both ships have outdoor movie nights at the pool, as well as actual cinemas for afternoon matinees. Plus, there are climbing walls, sports courts, and kids' pools for use when weather allows. Radiance sails 7-night, one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward, while Serenade is sailing 7-night, round-trip cruises from Vancouver. The perceived advantage of these ships is that they are smaller, allowing them to go where Royal Caribbean's bigger ships cannot.
Royal Caribbean Cruisetours: Visit inland Alaska and Canada
Nonetheless, if you don’t want to break the bank with excursions, it’s easy to have a great time in port without a shore excursion. Most Alaska cruise ports are completely walkable and offer plenty of shopping, restaurants, museums, and nature to explore without booking a tour. Launched in 2014, Quantum of the Seas is the same size as Ovation of the Seas and heads to the Last Frontier, mainly sailing out of Seattle.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?
Predicting the weather in Alaska is nearly impossible, and you may encounter all four seasons in just one day while visiting the state. These ships feature amenities like an indoor sports arena, rock climbing wall, indoor skydiving simulator, and FlowRider surf simulator. In addition, they have a larger Adventure Ocean kids programming space and an indoor pool for all ages. That being said, they do appear from time to time in the later part of the cruise season, usually around September. Because of their unpredictability, we wouldn’t recommend getting your hopes up about seeing the northern lights.
Maintain a positive mindset about the weather
Victoria is the most convenient port available, as it’s situated on the way to and from Alaska. Most Royal Caribbean itineraries are round trip sailings, meaning they start and end at the same cruise port. The 7-night Multi-Glacier Experience itinerary, on the other hand, includes a visit to not only Tracy Arm Fjord, but also Hubbard Glacier. This impressive glacier stands 400 feet above the ocean's surface and, due to its remote location, is usually only found on one-way Alaska cruise itineraries. Like Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas is also a Quantum Class cruise ship, meaning she offers the latest and greatest of Royal Caribbean’s features and activities.
Hats, gloves, and sunglasses are all important items to bring with you to ensure you stay warm in the chilliest temperatures you may encounter. If it’s cold and rainy, take shelter in a local seafood restaurant, saloon, coffee shop, or brewery and immerse yourself in the town’s culture while tasting delicious food and drinks. Each port you visit will take you to some terrific spots to eat, so don't rely purely on your Yelp app once in town. Figure out the restaurants and bars you want to go to before you leave home, especially if you are interested in enjoying the best crab, salmon and beers of Alaska. Kayaking is a relatively low-impact activity, making it a great choice for those looking for an active excursion that also allows them to relax and enjoy the scenery.
GLACIER SIGHT-SOARING
In addition to the cruises, Royal Caribbean offers expanded journeys into Alaska with its Cruise Tour program. If you are used to cruising in the Caribbean, going to Alaska is going to surprise you in some ways with the different approach and experience it offers. Being able to ask your travel agent questions–and get them resolved–without having to take time out of your day to contact Royal Caribbean yourself will save you valuable time. Additionally, good travel agents have an abundance of knowledge about Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry, so they are available to answer any questions you may have about your upcoming cruise. While the price can vary depending on the itinerary, it’s possible for balcony rooms to cost between $500 and $1000 more than the smallest interior cabins. As your ship departs Seattle or Vancouver, it must sail through a brief section of the open Pacific before reaching Alaska (usually day two of the sailing).
Unlike the Caribbean where the places you visit can sometimes be secondary, an Alaska cruise is all about where you visit and the onboard experience can almost become an afterthought. Whether you are booking through Royal Caribbean directly or through an outside provider, be sure to research what activities and excursions are recommended in each cruise port. While some ports may be best for whale watching, others may offer the best historic or cultural opportunities.
Royal Caribbean cancels second sailing on Radiance of the Seas ship - USA TODAY
Royal Caribbean cancels second sailing on Radiance of the Seas ship.
Posted: Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
These tours head to locations like Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks, Alyeska, and Seward. Another highlight for land tours is the Wilderness Express, where passengers travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks with 360-degree windows and onboard cuisine. Quantum-class ships offer unique options like RipCord by iFly and the North Star bubble that lifts you up and over the side of the ship for stunning views. Booking shore excursions early ensures you can pay the lowest price possible and reserve a spot on a tour on the chance it sells out. Royal Caribbean offers more budget-friendly excursions that still take you to some amazing destinations. As an example, a wildlife safari and bear viewing tour in Haines will run around $89 per adult, whereas a ride on the White Pass Scenic Railway in Skagway is around $100 per person.
Looking Ahead: What Royal Caribbean Ships Will Be in Alaska in 2023?
Mark this as your year to cross this bucket-busting destination off your list once and for all. Take off by dogsled across thousand-year-old ice as you soak in otherworldly sights. Trek across the majestic Mendenhall Glacier for breathtaking views of the wildest country.
7 Best Cruises to Alaska, According to Travel Experts - Good Housekeeping
7 Best Cruises to Alaska, According to Travel Experts.
Posted: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
For the upcoming Alaska cruise season, Royal Caribbean has 4 ships, two in each of the Radiance and Quantum classes, sailing a variety of different itineraries. With popular ships, including Brilliance of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Quantum of the Seas, cruisers have many choices for their dream Alaska vacation. If traveling all the way to Alaska, though, we advise planning more days for a cruise and land trip. Many guests prefer spending an additional week in Alaska’s interior, giving them extra time to visit other areas like Anchorage and Fairbanks. And when you combine your seven-night sailing with Alaska CruiseTours, you’ll explore the best of the Last Frontier — on land and sea. Like hiking through the rugged wilderness, dog sledding, and spotting whales in the wild.
It’s not uncommon for there to be three, four, or even five cruise ships docked in Alaska's ports at once. To ensure you don’t miss out, consider booking a later dinner time, or simply eat dinner elsewhere on the nights the sailaway overlaps with your dining time. The Windjammer buffet can be an excellent place to enjoy dinner in Alaska, as the buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the venue, in addition to outdoor seating on select ships. One of the best ways to become acquainted with Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships is to watch a full tour of the ship on YouTube.
If you have a dining package, head to any of the restaurants onboard to reserve all specialty dining days and times for the week. While it can be tempting to book a full day of fun activities onboard, don’t forget to spend some time relaxing in a comfy chair or on the pool deck to watch the scenery pass by. Every Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tour includes knowledgeable Adventure Specialists who act as guides, historians and concierges. They are by your side for the entirety of the land tour, providing insider tips and local perspective. You can also cancel any packages booked up to two days before your cruise, so there is no harm in booking addons early to lock in the best price. If a balcony stateroom is in your budget, then definitely book one and enjoy the opportunity to have a private area to enjoy the natural beauty of Alaska anytime you see fit.
While it isn’t the cheapest laundry service in the world, the convenience of washing clothes midway through the cruise and packing lighter can be worth the cost. From puffy jackets to rain gear, boots, dress clothes, and swimsuits, it can be easy to fill up a large suitcase with apparel fit for Alaska’s unpredictable weather. It can actually get fairly warm in Alaska during the day in the summer, so having a few t-shirts and even a pair of shorts can be a good idea. On our recent Alaska cruise onboard Ovation of the Seas, we purchased these binoculars and found them to be a great budget option. The proper footwear to bring ultimately depends on what you plan to do while in port. Sneakers or other closed toed shoes are the most recommended footwear, especially those that are water-resistant.
Depending on the weather conditions, this portion of the sailing may encounter rough seas. Packing dramamine or other motion-sickness remedies is recommended just in case your ship sails through choppy waters. For the majority of an Alaska cruise, your cruise ship will sail through the calm waters of the state’s Inside Passage. As land surrounds the passage on both sides, you usually won’t encounter much movement onboard.
Hike through this vast wilderness, where taiga forests full of pines and spruce stretch below the towering peaks. No one enjoys navigating crowds, but it’s almost inevitable when cruising to Alaska. If you want to avoid the highest crowds, we recommend disembarking your ship early on each port day. 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.
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