Most cruise lines offer a variety of affordable cruises to Alaska. Listed below are a couple examples of common cruises and the accommodations offered by most cruise lines.
The Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise
The Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise is one of the more creative cruise tours offered by Princess. This seven day voyage offers three, four, five, six or seven nights of the Alaska Cruise on land. For example one configuration of this trip a cruise passenger will stay at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and Anchorage, Alaska for one night.
The northbound cruise leaves from Vancouver, B.C. and the southbound cruise leaves from Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska. The great thing about this cruise is the visit to Denali National Park and the Princess Rail Service train that takes you there.
Inside Passage Cruises
The Inside Passage Cruises are among the most common and popular cruises offered by all major cruise lines. The typical stopping points for these ships are Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm, Ketchikan and Victoria B.C. The Inland Passage cruise can last anywhere from 7 to 14 days and offers “scenic cruising” with “Enhanced” personal services available. The ports on the Inland Passage Cruises are similar and offer a taste of local cuisine and historic culture.
Each of the stops on the Inside Passage Cruise offer great shore tours. In Ketchikan you can take a float plane to the Misty Fjords National Monument and visit the beautiful Tongass Rainforest. In Juneau you could take a Dog Sled Adventure or Helicopter Ride to a large glacier nearby. In Skagway you wouldn't want to miss the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari in which you travel by catamaran to Glacier Point and then by bus to a view point of the Glacier below.
Alaska Cruise Accommodations
If you haven’t been on a cruise before there’s a few things to know about your accommodations onboard your cruise ship. There are basically three or four types of rooms available on the cruise ship. The cheapest room is what is known as an “Interior Room”. The interior room is the lowest price because they are usually small and there are no windows or balcony.
This is a great option if you plan on being out and about and are only going to use your room for sleeping and taking showers. Another option is a room with a window but no balcony, this room is slightly higher in price than an interior room and is good for travelers who feel claustrophobic without a window.
Next we have the balcony room. The balcony room is typically one of the more expensive rooms on the ship because of the option to step outside into the fresh air and view the wonderful scenery without rubbing elbows with strangers. It’s also a perfect place to have morning coffee or to just sit and absorb the sun in private.
The most expensive room on the cruise ship is the Suite with a large balcony. Now you’re looking at a significant price increase for your cruise, not only do you have a spacious balcony but you also have a small apartment style cabin that is perfect for families and entertaining a group of friends.
