Considered as one of the last wild frontier places in North America, Alaska is a nature lovers delight with a variety of adventure tours, wildlife, landscape and open waterways. This unspoilt land with its high mountains, brilliant glaciers and thick forest makes for the ideal holiday for many. Alaska Cruises are offered in two routes.

Where to Begin an Alaska Cruise

Alaskan cruises begin either in Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, British Columbia. Most cruises offer the Inside Passage route and back however, there are some cruises that offer one-way packages. Passengers who wish to do one-way tours in the opposite direction can disembark at Seward and Juneau where they are free to carry on to other destinations via rail, bus or car.

The Inside Passage Route

The most common route is the Inside Passage, which offers a round-trip cruise from either Vancouver to Vancouver or Seattle back to Seattle. Along this route possible ports of call being Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Haines and the beautiful city of Skagway. Other sights often include Hubbard Glacier, Denali and Glacier Bay National Park. The Inside Passage route sails for one week.

The Gulf of Alaska Route

This route sails between Vancouver, British Columbia and Anchorage, Alaska. Possible stops along this route may include Seward and Valdez as well as several of the Inside Passage stops such as Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau.

Ship Options

There may only be two normal routes offered by the large cruise ships but that is not to say there are only two ships that sail these routes. Taking an Alaska cruise can be as basic or as luxurious as you dream. Take your choice of Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, or Norwegian.

Adventure Tours

The land tours that are offered by cruise ships are extensive and definitely once in a lifetime opportunities. An idea of what cruise passengers can expect to choose from include Klondike Gold Rush, White Pass Trail train and bike ride, spectacular fishing, 4x4 adventures, mountain and trail hiking, white-water rafting, glacier treks, local food tasting, float planes, dog sledding, horseback tours, sea kayaking, snorkelling, flightseeing, village and lumberjack tours, salmon bakes, photo discovery tours and an abundance of wildlife tours. These can include whale watching, eagle excursions, sea otter quests, bear watching and general nature tours. The list is seemingly endless so it is best to check ahead with the cruise company to get an exact list and schedule.

Destinations

Common destinations for an Alaskan cruise can include such places as Glacier Bay, Juneau, Anchorage, Haines and Denali. Cruise passengers may also be able to stop at the Misty Fjords, Ketchikan, Seward, Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier as well as Hubbard Glacier, Petersburg, Sitka, Victoria, Vancouver and Skagway.

Other Sites

Denali National Park is home to the highest mountain in North America. Mount McKinley towers an impressive 20, 320 feet above the ground below. Valdez is one of the most popular choices for sport fishing in Alaska while the pier in Haines offers visitors a great chance to see Fort William, Seward, an army outpost from 1903.