10 Reasons to Love a Holland America Alaska Land and Sea Cruise

Table Of Content

• Bring Your Camera on the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali -- and Prepare for a Bumpy, Long Ride
• The Dining Room
• Holland America Line’s McKinley Chalet Resort and Denali Square
• Alaska Cruise Tours
• Find your cruise and we'll hold your spot on board
• How To Plan An Alaska Cruisetour
• How To See Yukon Territory On An Alaska Cruisetour
• More About Alaska Cruisetours

While it’s included for guests booked in a Neptune or Pinnacle Suite, other non-suite stateroom guests can purchase Club Orange for their sailing. Know that availability is limited, so booking early is recommended if it’s something you want. The small”ish” size of the Holland cruise ships can be a big benefit for Alaska cruises as it lets them dock in the ports when larger ships have to tender. Tendering can take up valuable time in port and is less convenient for taking second trips back out to explore. Alaska Cruisetours include a stay at the McKinley Chalet Resort at the entrance to Denali National Park.

Holland America Line to Introduce Glacier Day in 2024 Alaska Cruises - Porthole Cruise and Travel

Holland America Line to Introduce Glacier Day in 2024 Alaska Cruises.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:07:37 GMT [source]

Bring Your Camera on the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali -- and Prepare for a Bumpy, Long Ride

After that, feel free to head to your cruise ship and finally decompress before sailing for your sea portion of the cruisetour. If you’ve always dreamed of panning for gold or downing a cocktail with a mummified human toe in it (yes, really), consider a Yukon & Denali Land+Sea Journey Cruise Tour. Only Holland America Line offers an Alaska cruisetour to this vast natural wonderland and you still get to see Denali, plus cruise the Inside Passage. Go back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush on cruises to Skagway, Alaska, once the primary gateway to the goldfields. Take a trip on the scenic railroad and still have time to dine and shop. Ketchikan, Alaska is one of the best spots along Alaska's Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.

The Dining Room

If your tour offers it, it's well worth the upgrade to take the longer seven-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour by school bus through the park. While wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, you have the potential to see bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and more. June through August is considered the high season in Alaska, and Alaska shines during this period, with endless hours of daylight due to the midnight sun. Still, the shoulder season has its advantages, beyond fewer crowds and lower prices.

Holland America Line’s McKinley Chalet Resort and Denali Square

If you choose, continue the journey into the Yukon on your Alaska cruisetour. From the depths of the icy waters to the tops of snow-capped summits and everything in between, combine land and sea for unforgettable moments. Breathe in fresh mountain air and roast s’mores under the stars at your base camp for adventure. Holland America Line offers classic Alaska cruise vacations aboard spectacular world class luxury liners. Relax and enjoy the scenery on a 7-night round-trip voyage through the Inside Passage from Seattle or Vancouver. One way cruises between Vancouver and Seward (or the reverse) are perfect for creating enjoyable Alaska cruise and land tour combinations.

Alaska Cruise Tours

Visit its most popular attractions, such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Nieuw Amsterdam's exceptional onboard experience earned "Best Cruise Ship Overall" at the Travvy Awards. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises. This is the part I was most looking forward to, and my excursions didn’t disappoint. I also found each person we interacted with to be accommodating and patient, even when guests weren’t particularly warm with them.

Find your cruise and we'll hold your spot on board

Guest rooms are either in wings off the main lobby or in out-buildings. Be prepared to walk, though golf carts might be provided for those with mobility issues. In Seward, you might walk along wooded trails to get from your room to the restaurant or lobby, and in Denali, there's a bit of a hike through some properties in order to get to the shuttle bus stop.

How To Plan An Alaska Cruisetour

Imagine you’re sitting on a balcony, sipping on a freshly made latte while sailing past an electric blue glacier. Later that day, you see dolphins, whales, and sea otters jumping through the waves as the mist breaks to reveal snowy mountains and tree-coated islets. There doesn’t appear to be anything around for miles, and it feels like it’s all unfolding in perfect harmony. That all happened within one day on my weeklong Alaska cruise while my son napped on the other side of the door, and I will never forget those magical moments. Offered pre- or post-cruise, this inland trip begins with a scenic train ride on the glass-domed McKinley Explorer railcars to reach McKinley Chalet Resort.

How To See Yukon Territory On An Alaska Cruisetour

The cost is $49 plus an 18% gratuity, although there are upcharges for some dishes and some ships charge off an a la carte priced menu. The menu includes cuts of filet mignon, NY strip, boneless rib eye, or a massive 36 oz tomahawk bone-in rib eye (added fee). You can also add on a lobster tail for an additional charge if you’re craving a surf and turf meal. If you love fries and sitting poolside, you’re going to love ordering from Dive-In. It’s your typical pool dining spot that serves famous Nathan hot dogs, burgers, as well as french fries. This is a popular spot for kids and families, so you’ll want to order in advance with the HAL Navigator app.

The property is Holland America Line’s 68-acre hotel on the Nenana River. The resort features dining facilities and guest rooms, including a 99-room complex featuring Denali Suites with balconies and larger living areas. Our Alaska shore excursions get you closer to glaciers, wildlife and mountains. Go high into the mountains on the White Pass Railway for breathtaking views and a better understanding of the prospectors’ plight. Make new friends, eat new cuisine, and watch wildlife hunt and play in their home turf. From culture to food to icy thrills, our iconic Alaska shore excursions will make your trip one to remember forever.

Some cruise tour programs don't include meals in the price to give travelers the freedom to try local restaurants of their own choosing. Spend several days exploring Denali National Park followed by a seven-night cruise that takes in all the major sights of Alaska and a few lesser-known ones as well. Spot baby seals resting on icebergs in the Gulf of Alaska from May to early July, go glacier hiking in Juneau and venture off- the-beaten track to Haines, one of the lesser-known Alaska coastal cities. This Alaska Land+Sea Journey is suited to cruise lovers who want to spice up their ocean adventuring with a short-but-sweet land-based experience. With up to three days spent exploring Denali National Park, you will have plenty of time to get back to nature and fully appreciate this region's rugged terrain. If you want the enjoy the full Denali experience in less time, you can choose the Direct to Denali option and travel between your ship and Denali without an overnight stay in Anchorage.

People were always trying to make him smile, and the guests were nice to be around, as well. I have to be honest that the size of the ship (2,500 capacity, one of Holland America’s largest) made me hesitate. I know for sure I’m not the kind of person who would enjoy the huge ships that have 5,000+ passengers, those big slides, and bellyflop competitions. But the Koningsdam was classy, with some shared areas we loved, particularly the Crow’s Nest on the 12th floor, with a fantastic view all around the front of the ship, coffee, and couches for Felix to crawl on. Even if you don’t upgrade to any of the paid dining options, the main dining room is honestly awesome.

And our lazy mornings enjoying room service in bed is a memory that will last us a lifetime. For cruisers who don’t love being in big groups of tourists, renting and doing this self-guided tour is a great way to enjoy the scenery of Juneau. We spent about 4.5 hours driving around to the different sites and then returning our Jeep. While there are plenty of great complimentary dining options available onboard with Holland America if you love enjoying upscale dining you need to splurge on a specialty restaurant or two. Formal dining happens in The Dining Room, located at the back of the ship on decks 2 and 3 (on the Koningsdam). This is your traditional cruise dining experience with many tables and a menu that changes daily with a few regular items remaining each day.

Enjoy a roundtrip Alaska cruise from Seattle on Alaskan Explorer itineraries or from Vancouver on Alaskan Inside Passage itineraries. Many flock to Alaska every year for a chance to witness the aurora borealis. Did you know they are more likely to display during high solar activity cycles?

Travelers who sign up for a cruise are alerted between seven and two days before departure if they will be sailing. Solo cruisers also only pay $49 per day and do not incur a single supplement for a double stateroom. Our guide took us out on the water and headed towards a known fishing spot for rockfish. He helped each of us get our reels set and within seconds all of us had bites!

Simply because it's nice to have time to relax in your stateroom for a good run after traveling to different hotels every night. The go-go-go pace might have you putting luggage outside your doors at 6 a.m., leaving the hotel an hour later and not arriving at the next destination until the evening. Here are eight things you need to know about the best Alaska cruise tours ... Just opened for bookings in 2024, Holland America’s Cruisetours also include time to explore magnificent Denali National Park, too.

2024-2025 Alaska Cruise Tours Land and Sea Tours

Table Of Content

• Alaska Cruisetours
• Cruise Ship
• Topics From This Article to Explore
• Alaska's Glaciers
• The Complete Guide to Alaska Glacier Viewing
• Serving Fresh Fish in Alaska

One of the best things you can do on an Alaskan cruise is to get off the ship and get into nature. For this trip, we chose Holland America Alaska cruise excursions at our three ports of call. Here you’ll find some of your classic Italian favorites like lasagne and risotto, but there are also daily specials and many seafood-inspired dishes. Order up some grilled calamari, lobster and shrimp ravioli, and finish with a slice of tiramisu. Tamarind is an upscale Asian restaurant onboard that features a delectable menu with options like Thai citrus scallops and wok-seared lobster and shrimp.

Alaska Cruisetours

You can also learn about the Gold Rush and mining with a visit to Gold Dredge No. 8 near Fairbanks. Your tour includes a ride on a replica of the narrow-gauge Tanana Valley Railroad and the opportunity to try panning for gold. If you can get past the tourist-trap atmosphere, the excursion can offer invaluable educational value and even a bit of fun.

Cruise Ship

Your basecamp to Denali adventures set among rugged Alaska wilderness. Enjoy creature comforts, exquisite local cuisine and lively Denali Square.

Topics From This Article to Explore

There are plenty of restaurants nearby, and you’re also within walking distance of many of the popular shopping areas of Vancouver. We enjoyed dinner and the sunset in their Coal Harbour Bar that is onsite and the live music was an added treat. This was a truly epic Alaskan experience and one I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fishing. For teens, it’s an activity that engages them while also getting them out on the water and helping them be part of the Alaska fishing experience. Once we hit our limit we headed ashore to a small island camp where our guide brought a couple of our fish ashore to clean them. After being cleaned and prepped, they were handed off to a chef who prepared our group a plate of deliciousness.

Complimentary / Included Restaurants

Holland America Line has an Alaska Land+Sea Journey program that explores this region from both the water and ashore in the one trip. It's one of the first decisions you'll have to make when booking. Our opinion is that the long days on the road can be grueling -- and after changing hotels five times, you'll relish your cabin even more once you board. So, the best choice tends to be a land tour first, cruise second. While an Alaska cruise checks many items off that bucket list, there's no denying that these typical itineraries barely scratch the surface of the state's offerings.

Other excursions include hiking, mountain biking, dog mushing or glacier trekking. Each and every possible destination on an Alaskan land tour is unique, so be sure to choose wisely. Below are some hot spots and a brief summary of what makes them so enticing.

The Complete Guide to Alaska Glacier Viewing

Holland America even provides blankets to help you bundle up when doing your wildlife or glacier spotting. We recently had the opportunity to take a 7-day Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise in August aboard the Holland America Koningsdam ship. With my teen onboard, we reconnected with each other and with the beautiful nature that makes Alaska a coveted tourist destination. At the top edge of the United States sits our 49th state, Alaska. There’s no better way to get a taste of Alaska than aboard a cruise ship. And, Holland America has been operating Alaska cruises longer than anyone.

Visit Dredge Town, where you will enjoy an authentic barbecue lunch including ribs, chicken, and various side dishes. Experience a glimpse of the life of a prospector when you join a colorful cast of characters to learn the art of gold panning. The last day of the land portion of our cruisetour involved another train, the White Pass & Yukon Route railway, a narrow-gauge railroad built in 1898 to get wannabe miners up to the gold fields.

Serving Fresh Fish in Alaska

Read on to see what else is included in this early booking bonus addition. Fairbanks is also firmly in the Aurora zone; if you're here in the later part of the season, be sure to request a wakeup call for Northern Lights at your hotel. Keep in mind that you will be sharing window space with others on the bus; unwritten tour etiquette dictates that you take your shot, then leave room for others to do the same.

We stayed at the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel which is at Canada Place and connected to the cruise port. Another thing to note is that you can choose to have your fish processed and shipped home with the tour company. The pricing was not cheap, and seeing as we’re based in Seattle it didn’t make sense since we have easy access to fresh fish. Our guide also mentioned that some fish should only be transported smoked.

Visiting Alaska is all about the wildlife, but you have to know where to look. Spotting orca whales, caribou, moose and grizzly bears requires cameras and binoculars at the ready while staring at scenery all day. You can either take your cruise to Alaska first, or do the land portion first followed by a southbound Alaska cruise. Holland America has been cruising Alaska for more than 70 years -- longer than any other company and even longer than Alaska has been a US State. This provides extra peace of mind when it comes to dealing with some of the weather and logistical issues that Alaska sometimes dishes up. If you enjoy cruising from May to September, these Alaska Land+Sea Journeys are the perfect fit.

Holland America Line gives agents the chance to visit Alaska on 11-day Famil - Travel Weekly

Holland America Line gives agents the chance to visit Alaska on 11-day Famil.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:00:51 GMT [source]

Holland America Line is debuting a new “Killer Whale Pale Ale” on all Alaska cruises. The beer was produced in collaboration with Pike Brewing – Seattle’s oldest craft brewery – and features notes of honey, citrus and tropical fruits. The label artwork was created in collaboration with Native Artist Rico Worl, a member of the Tlingit and Athabascan community, who also designed the Native artwork featured on the Alaska menus. The Killer Whale Pale Ale label represents the food chain in the Pacific Northwest, with a seal deftly maneuvering out of the grasp of a killer whale. If you’re traveling to Vancouver for your cruise, you’ll likely arrive a day early and want to stay overnight.

Select Cruisetours alsoinclude a journey into the wilds of Canada’s Yukon. Holland America Lineremains the only cruise line that offers overland tours to the Yukon combinedwith an Alaska cruise and Denali experience. Sustainable seafood is central to the culinary experience on Holland America. The Fresh Fish Program is the first of its kind, partnering with a global network of 60 ports to source and serve 80 types of fresh fish on board. Destination-specific menu items use native ingredients from around the world, highlighting the flavours of each region where guests are cruising. Cruisetours range from nine to 18 days and include a one-, two- or three-day visit to Denali National Park.

Only in Alaska can you choose from an array of interesting wake-up calls. The hotel staff will call you if the skies clear, providing a view of the majestic mountain from the hotel's back deck. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a short drive from Downtown Anchorage, and fare is included in a culture pass, along with the Anchorage Museum.

Alaska Cruise: Award-Winning Alaskan Cruise

Table Of Content

• OF ICE AND MOUNTAINS
• What to bring on an Alaska cruise
• Save Big With These Alaska Cruise Deals
• RELEASE YOUR WILD SIDE
• Voyage of the glaciers

Those private verandas are highly desirable, with everyone seeking views of the wilderness, snow-capped peaks and glaciers. The line will send six ships to Alaska in 2024, with tour offerings to Denali, Fairbanks and Anchorage. However, it's the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam that offers some of the most interesting cruise tour itineraries out there. The line always stations one or two Quantum-class ships in Alaska for the season. Adults can linger in the glass-walled Solarium, relaxing in the indoor pools and whirlpools, while their kids zoom around the SeaPlex in bumper cars.

OF ICE AND MOUNTAINS

When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and rain, and the price. 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. The best time to visit Alaska is during its summer season, between May and September.

What to bring on an Alaska cruise

For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dogsled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. Floatplane and helicopter tours take you around scenic areas like Misty Fjords or land you on a glacier, perhaps for a dogsledding or hiking adventure on the ice.

Save Big With These Alaska Cruise Deals

Holland America Line (HAL) — which recently snapped up a 2023 World’s Best Award in the large-ship ocean cruise line category — has been cruising Alaska for over 75 years. HAL prides itself on having more permits for Glacier Bay National Park visits than any other cruise line. The cruise line also offers beloved live music programming, which I got to experience firsthand on a summer 2023 Alaska sailing.

Why not extend your Alaska adventure with a luxury train journey either before or after your voyage? The Rocky Mountaineer winds through some of North America's most spectacular scenery. Explore our complete packing guide for this fantastic region, including tips for sea and shore, what not to pack, and useful packing lists for every suitcase. Whether whale watching from your suite or stateroom or exploring The Great Land on shore, only on Queen Elizabeth can you immerse yourself in Alaska and experience a world of unique experiences and unexpected inspiration. Read our helpful frequently asked questions or check out our CruiseTour brochure.

I’m a Florida-based freelance travel and lifestyle journalist who has embarked on more than a dozen cruises, including several to Alaska. As a traveler, I am just as comfortable bicycling through Italian olive groves and SCUBA diving the wall of sharks in French Polynesia as I am sipping bubbles in a Champagne house and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants. With glass-domed railcars, our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® rail service takes you into the heart of Alaska without juggling multiple tickets or confusing transfers. Enjoy convenience and comfort from ship to train and then directly to your Princess Wilderness Lodge in the Denali-area. We’ve taken care of everything on your Alaska cruisetour, so you can spend less time worrying and more time exploring.

No one does seafood quite like Alaska—which is why we brought the best of the Great Land on board, so you can experience it all with Princess. Read about Alaska’s must-see attractions, signature cuisine, and how to prepare for a wild adventure into the heart of The Great Land. Don’t wait any longer, riding the world's longest zip line in Alaska will be an experience you'll never forget while on your next Alaskan mountain adventure. The sheer size of Alaska lends itself to a wide variety of terrain and travel experiences. This diversity means you need to be prepared for a lot of change while traveling. Exploring the interior of Alaska will give you an entirely different perspective on this vast and rugged state.

Holland America Line Set to Debut New 'Glacier Day' and Enhanced Alaska-Focused Experiences on Every Alaska ... - InvestorsObserver

Holland America Line Set to Debut New 'Glacier Day' and Enhanced Alaska-Focused Experiences on Every Alaska ....

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:15:00 GMT [source]

Voyage of the glaciers

You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations may include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. Alaska’s summer season begins in early May and extends until late September.

Join an adventure of a lifetime aboard the Aleutian Ballad, as seen on Discovery Channel’s - The Deadliest Catch. Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience. Check out our helpful checklist so that you know exactly what to pack for an Alaska cruise with Princess.

On a cruisetour, you'll sail a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska. Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park. You may also find one-way repositioning cruises between southern California ports (Los Angeles and San Diego) and Vancouver at the beginning or end of a ship's Alaska cruise season. You'll have four sea days (for example, two days from San Francisco to Juneau) plus a day of scenic cruising at a spot like Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Endicott Arm, Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park. The waters before you enter the Inside Passage can be calm, rough or anything in between, depending on when you go.

Ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are each small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. With vast forests, rolling tundra, mighty rivers, pristine lakes and towering mountains, you will feel tempted to continue exploring the outdoors with Alaska land tours after your cruise. The two-year-old Discovery Princess sails round trip to Alaska from Seattle, a convenient U.S. home port for families to fly or drive to.

On a cruise to Alaska, explore the Butchart Gardens, tour the pub scene and taste some of the local brews or sail the bay for a whale-watching adventure. With its roaring glaciers, rugged mountains and deep fjords, Glacier Bay National Park feels like a dream. With 3.3 million acres to explore, cruise to this world-renowned landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and let the landscapes inspire your next adventure. Princess Cruises is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park. Sail 500 miles deeper into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound on our back-to-back Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise. Spend 14 days roundtrip from Vancouver, B.C., stopping in historic port cities like Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

From Seward, you could join a challenging hike to Exit Glacier, which flows slowly from the enormous Harding Icefield. Wherever you go in Alaska, you’ll see glaciers in the distance, high in the mountains, sometimes hanging dramatically over a wall of rock. On an Alaska cruise, you’ll experience everything from raw, untamed natural wonders on an extravagant scale to rich history, buzzing cities, vibrant and delicious cuisine, and a warm welcome.