People go to Alaska for six reasons: Wilderness, Wildlife, Glaciers, Mountains, History and Culture. A seven night Alaska Inside Passage Cruise will certainly give you a taste of Alaska and a chance to see glaciers and marine wildlife. An Alaska land tour into the interior region gives you an opportunity to experience the wilderness, mountains and land wildlife aspects of Alaska. Both are great vacations, but neither gives you the whole Alaska vacation package.
Alaska Cruise Tours offer the best of both worlds, combining a 3- to 7-day relaxing and luxurious cruise vacation along the Alaska coast with a 3- to 12-day adventurous land tour giving you the opportunity to explore the interior of Alaska including Denali National Park and Mt. Denali.
Like Alaska Glacier Cruises, Alaska Cruise Tours can operate as Northbound or Southbound Vacations. Most Northbound Cruise Tours start with a 7-Night Northbound Alaska Glacier Cruise departing from Vancouver and ending in Seward. Once you disembark in Seward, the land portion of your Alaska vacation begins. Southbound Alaska Cruise Tours, on the other hand, begin with the land portion of your tour first. You'll fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska, and see the sights in Alaska's interior, then transfer by motor coach to Seward where your Southbound Glacier Cruise to Vancouver will begin.
Both Cruisetour options have their advantages. Southbound Alaska Cruisetours are popular because many cruise passengers like starting their vacation with the most physical activities first and then ending their trip with a relaxing seven night cruise. The Northbound vacations are also popular because they cost less than the Southbound Cruises, often saving a passenger hundreds of dollars.
Alaska Cruisetour itineraries vary by cruise line, and you can literally choose from hundreds of different tours based on your interests and budget. When planning your vacation, you must ask yourself what you want to do and see and find the tour that best suits those needs. The choices can be overwhelming and you should not hesitate to call to get some help from an AlaskaCruises.com Cruise Specialist who can take you through the specific details of a particular tour.
Here is an example of a popular Alaska Cruise Tour. Itineraries vary by cruise line and ship:
Sample Cruisetour Itinerary
13 Night The Great Frontier Expedition
7 Nt Cruise + 2 Nts Fairbanks + 2 Nts Denali +
1 Nt Talkeetna + 1 Nt Anchorage
Southbound: Fairbanks to Vancouver
Alaska Cruise Tours can be as active or as relaxed as you choose to make them. The cruise lines offer wonderful experiences for all ages making Alaska a perfect family cruise destination. Naturalists and tour guides provide education and a local flavor that all will enjoy. Additionally, each tour gives you plenty of opportunities to take advantage of high adventure activities like: hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, white-water rafting, fishing and more.
Again, there are two components to an Alaska Cruise Tour - the land portion and the cruise portion. What's included varies upon the actual Cruise Tour and the part of the trip you are on. But in general, the following is included on your vacation:
On the Alaska Land Portion:
The Cruise portion of your trip will include:
Your Alaska Cruise Tour WILL NOT include:
If you are sailing to or from Vancouver, consider spending a few extra days either before or after the cruise to enjoy some of the local sights. Most cruise lines offer affordable pre- and post-cruise hotel programs that give you the opportunity to experience some of the local attractions like the Space Needle and Pike's Market in Seattle or the Butchart Gardens in Vancouver/Victoria. Ask your Alaska Cruise Specialist about this when planning your cruise.
Cruise Tours begin in late May and continue though the end of August or very early September. Whether you cruise when the Inside Passage is blanketed with spring wildflowers or ablaze with fall foliage you'll be awed at Alaska's natural wonders. Spring whale migrations, fall bald eagle gatherings, winter trumpeter swans - exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities and substantial savings can be found during spring and fall.
Alaska Cruise Tours are very complicated travel packages that cannot yet be booked online. If you would like to purchase an Alaska Cruise Tour or have additional questions, please call AlaskaCruises.com directly and one of our Alaska experts will be happy to help you plan your trip.