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In 2024 and 2025, Celebrity Solstice moves from Seattle to Vancouver for its Alaska homeport, which offers a slightly better itinerary (although not nearly as good as you'll find on Celebrity Summit). The upside is that you visit Hubbard Glacier instead of Dawes, which is generally easier to see from the ship, even if you don't take the extra (and expensive) small boat excursion that gets you closer to the glacier. The downside is you still only visit three ports -- Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan. Modernized Celebrity Summit® offers Alaska Cruisetours as a pre- or post- itinerary on its 7-night sailings. On every Cruisetour, you’ll enjoy a narrated journey into the heart of Denali National Park.
In Search of Calm, I Went on an Alaskan Cruise by Myself - Shondaland.com
In Search of Calm, I Went on an Alaskan Cruise by Myself.
Posted: Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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For a less testing but equally thrilling experience, you could join a whale-watching tour, or take a helicopter or floatplane flightseeing trip, soaring over forests and glaciers. Explore the cultures of the Native Alaskans, and learn about the Klondike Gold Rush. Discover the best things to do in Alaska, where its vast landscapes, glaciers, wildlife, and rich history offer endless opportunities for adventure. The fun continues the minute cruisers disembark in each port, with excursions ranging from dogsledding to private helicopter tours. Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this.
Find Cruises Departing from Washington's Seattle Port
We're going to break them down for you so you can choose the best Celebrity ship for your needs. Celebrity Cruises announces its 2023 Alaska sailings, with Celebrity Eclipse, Solstice, and Millennium cruising this region once again. Few people know and love Alaska like those who live there, and the Tour Directors on a Cruisetour are chosen for their deep roots and connections to the local communities.
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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. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard (a dueling piano bar), Lincoln Center Stage, and Rolling Stone Rock Room. After our shore excursions, we’d hop back on board the ship for drinks, dinner, and a nightcap at the dueling piano bar to jam out to hits from Billy Joel and Elton John. All of the above make HAL a popular pick among middle-aged and mature couples traveling without kids; however, onboard our summer sailing, I did notice quite a few small children traveling with their parents and grandparents. According to T+L A-List travel advisor Ashton Palmer, the Alaska cruise season is short (typically from May to September) and availability is limited, which is why travelers should plan their sailings six to eight months ahead of time.
Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants
The Alaska Range reaches from the coastline to the interior regions and includes Denali, its showpiece mountain. The mountain known as the Great One towers over the surrounding Alaska Range. Allow the colorful wooden buildings of Ketchikan to welcome you to this seaside town, known as the salmon capital of the world. Enjoy a freshly-caught salmon bake for lunch or embark on a crab fishing excursion and see what you can haul in.
Included Experiences & Optional Land Excursions
This is a boon to those who love the newest style of Celebrity ships, with a more centrally located martini bar and a fully realized suite complex in The Retreat. The controversial "infinite verandas" on Celebrity Edge, where you lower a window for fresh air as opposed to stepping out, are actually a preferable style of room in cold regions. You can lower your window and take a photo quite easily, without having to put on a bunch of layers to step outside. Still, we think the extra time in Alaska and the ports that you get on this itinerary -- Icy Strait Point and on northbound trips, Sitka -- in addition to the usual stops of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway make this the best choice. High mountain formerly known as Mount McKinley and the tallest peak in North America.
ALASKA CRUISETOURS
(Classic cruises, on the other hand, take place on board Silver Muse, Silver Nova, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, or Silver Moon). Nova and Moon offer the Sea and Land Taste program (S.A.L.T), offering culinary connoisseurs the incredible opportunity to experience the local food scene and culture both on and off the ship. Last but not least, keep in mind that Silversea sails between Vancouver and Seward (with the exception of one September 2024 itinerary, which sails from Nome to Vancouver).
Ports along this Alaska cruise include Ketchikan; Juneau, the perfect spot for whale-watching; and Icy Strait Point, where you can search for bears and eagles. Riding one of Seattle’s many ferries is a unique way to see the best views of the city. From the rugged evergreen forests to the sharp, stunning skyscrapers of the city, you can see all aspects of Seattle from your waterside vantage point.
View All Alaska Ports
While pulling into port one day, I remember digging into a hearty lunch of fish and chips featuring fresh-caught Alaskan halibut. (HAL is the first cruise line to serve fresh, certified-sustainable Alaskan seafood.) As of September, acclaimed chef Masaharu Morimoto is the Fresh Fish Ambassador as part of the line’s Global Fresh Fish Program. The sight of the turquoise water, rugged peaks and glaciers impresses like nothing you’ve ever seen. Late in the day, with the glowing sun setting behind Mount Victoria in Banff National Park, it is quiet and still.
Those craving a luxury Alaska cruise need not look further than Silversea, says Goldring. The line’s Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares cover private airport transfers, economy flights, business-class upgrades or air credits, and shore excursions. With the optional land excursions, you’ll enjoy the best of Alaska in its inland towns. The selection of land excursions is diverse, offering the experiences that you and your family will love, whether you’re looking for a craft beer tour, a dog sled ride, fly fishing, high-flying thrills, outdoor challenges or a memorable meal on a glacial lake.
Celebrity Solstice is the first of the line's Solstice-class and it has not received a major refurbishment. On a recent sailing, we found the ship to be more tired than trendy, and it was missing some of the glamour that you find on Celebrity's newer or refurbished vessels. We wouldn't recommend booking a suite on this ship, for instance, as it doesn't have a full Retreat complex. Still, the ship does boast the lovely Sky Lounge, which is perfect for scenic cruising. The specialty restaurant Tuscan Grille at the back of the ship is also a great choice for a late evening meal and fantastic sunsets.
Wherever you go in Alaska, you’ll see glaciers in the distance, high in the mountains, sometimes hanging dramatically over a wall of rock. With spectacular wildlife and dozens of thrilling, kid-friendly activities, Alaska is perfect for families. Kids will love spotting bears and whales, and the whole family can try sea kayaking, go zip lining, join guided hikes through the forest, and learn to drive a team of husky dogs. Vast, creaking blue-white glaciers inch their way to the sea as jagged, snow-capped mountain peaks pierce the sky. Bears prowl rock-strewn beaches, while salmon-laden rivers rush through pristine, old-growth forest, bald eagles perched watchfully in the treetops. Sail from Vancouver to North America’s biggest glacier, seven miles wide and the height of a 30-story building.
On an Alaska cruise, you’ll journey along the state’s southeastern coastline aboard award-winning ships experiencing the beauty of glaciers, nature’s ever-changing and fragile masterpieces. But, with a Celebrity Alaska Cruisetour, you’ll explore that and so much more. Cruisers who are veterans at Inside Passage itineraries on the big ships have really only seen a preview of the nooks and crannies of the region.
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