what cruise lines go to seward, alaska

Operated by the iconic Queen Mary 2, the sailings are a throwback to the days of grand ocean liner travel. The 120-mile rail excursionthe most scenic in the statetakes about four hours. . Strap into your sled and hang on tight because once you reach the glacier, the dogs know its time to run. This special charter can only be booked through the respective cruise line. You May Like: What Cruise Line Goes To Turk And Caicos. They brought more than 400,000 passengers, mostly to Seward and Whittier. The idea is that the latter three brands offer a premium product to the first four. During the summer there will be a daily early morning train between Anchorage and Seward. From SEWARD, ALASKA - onboard CELEBRITY SUMMIT. But, in many cases, they are well known in the travel world for what they do. Take the bus and leave the driving to our friends at the Park Connection. Reserve your dining now. No. Don't Lose Your Reservation! Theyre more like small boutique hotels that happen to float from place to place. from Anchorage city limits to the Portage Junction where the two ports service diverge. Downtown Anchorage, Alaska, photographed on Saturday, May 22, 2021. Viking now accounts for about half of all river cruises taken by North Americans. Editors note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Canadas ban on the large ships remains in place until early next year. it stays on the main line. The Alaska Railroad transfer to Seward departs Anchorage early morning, takes four hours and arrives in Seward about 11am. Royal Caribbeans biggest ships, for instance, are three times the size of its smallest ships. NCL offers this as an excursion, but we booked it directly as we wanted the earlier train. Often, they are ships that originally were built as luxury vessels and were state-of-the-art in their time but no longer have as wide an array of amenities as newer luxury ships. Explore the dynamic glaciers of Prince William Sound from Whittier, Alaska or embark on a trip to see graceful whales and colorful puffins on your way to the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward, Alaska. Keep your camera at the ready, and dont be surprised if you spot wildlife and incredible natural landscapes along the way. Its a hard-to-categorize little line that specializes in adventurous, outdoorsy, ship-based trips in remote parts of Alaska. There's a reason why the best way to cruise Alaska is with Norwegian - we've got something for every type of traveler. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 25422881. To access Whittier, travel through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, North Americas longest shared rail/vehicle tunnel. Norwegian Communications Center. Let's Talk. Salmon Berry Tours has a cruise transfer as well (https://www.salmonberrytours.com). Can you tell me the best way to get to Seward? See dynamic glaciers and wildlife on the 26 Glacier Cruise and Glacier Quest Cruise departing from Whittier, Alaska. Apr 1, 2014. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. There are cruisers with more range but then you have to contend with the hideous dispersion. ;Restaurants:; The Cookery-;Next to tourism, fishing is the most popular industry in Seward, so theres no shortage of fresh fish! Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Traveling between Whittier or Seward and Anchorage is easy. There are dozens of cruise lines out there, and no two are alike. Hike deep into misty coastal rainforests . Day 1: Traveling (Chicago to Anchorage to Seward) At 8:00 on Saturday evening we tucked our. Shore Excursions Seward shore excursions include the half-day Exit Glacier and Alaska Sealife Center Tour, which visits Kenai Fjords National Park and allows visitors to explore the glacier. Some just sail in North America. Its calling itself a luxe-adventure line. ; No trip to Alaska is complete without meeting the stars behind the states most popular sport! ST42496CST No. The voyages are scheduled for late July. You may book online or contact us directly. But, depending on your preferences, not every line will do. There are seven big lines that account for the majority of cruises taken by North Americans. Too tired for;hiking or walking? Language: View Cruises Top 3: Things to Do in Seward, Alaska Featured Shore Excursions Kenai Fjords Cruise & Fox Island Dinner (For Guests on D3 Cruisetours) Explore Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise (For Guests on D3 Cruisetours) Explore 1 Of 2 See All Experiences The other less expensive class is the Adventure class with spacious coach cars and include a cafe/snack car for items to purchase. The vessels to Southeast Alaska originate in Seattle, allowing those planned sailings to move ahead, said Erik Elvejord, a Holland America spokesman. You are traveling to these places by seagoing vessel because thats the only way to reach them. You asked your most pressing Alaska cruise questions, and today, we're answering each and every one. Luckily, many water taxis and boat tour operators based out of Seward will gladly tow travelers and their sea kayaks to the bay. $3,470 USD Avg Per Person. They offer cabins for $100 per night, cabins for $1,000 a night and everything in between. Seller of Travel Reg. Seward is absolutely beautiful. These three brands are what I call the floating megaresort lines lines that offer unusually giant ships that are the seagoing equivalent of land-based megaresorts such as Atlantis in the Bahamas. The best way to describe them is that they are like the big Las Vegas resorts, except they float. Other major brands that market river cruises to North Americans include: As you can see, there is no shortage of companies in the river cruise business. Windstar Cruises Regent Seven Seas Hurtigruten Oceania Cruises Seward Cruise Ship Terminal Directions Rental car in Maui, Hawaii (Photo: Aaron Saunders) Your starting point is likely the. Small cruise ships have not been affected by the ban. If you want more Alaska travel tips, check out some other Alaska articles, linked below. Actually, it does not matter if one books the train through the Alaska Railroad or through the cruise line. 20 minutes ago, don't-use-real-name said: 27 minutes ago, don't-use-real-name said: 15 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said: 13 hours ago, don't-use-real-name said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. Aida, in particular, is a significantly large line larger than Celebrity or Holland America when measured by passenger capacity. If you are traveling with Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises you will sail from the port in Seward. But the world of cruising also includes companies that operate far smaller, more intimate vessels that carry just a few dozen to a few hundred people. But doing something to bring the numbers up was important to us. Many cruise tour itineraries include a trip on the Alaska Railroad, which stretches for 470 miles from Seward to Fairbanks.The upsides of train travel are the double-decker, glass-domed cars that . Cunard also is known for its annual around-the-world sailings that include stops in dozens of countries. The land-package visitors, who will travel Alaska by train and motor coach, might number around 3,000 this summer, Elvejord said. Related: Why its easier to meet new people on a small ship. The ships can be seen on your left from the highway as you enter Seward. As noted above, the size of each ship operated by these brands varies. Note that one of the luxury lines mentioned above, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, is a German line that operates many of its cruises in German only. #1 Posted September 17, 2021 We plan to fly into Anchorage and spend a Tuesday night in July, 2022. Once on the Seward Highway, you will travel approximately 130 miles to Seward. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. 2100614-50. Cruise from Seward, Alaska If you're thinking about a cruise from Seward, Alaska, you probably have a taste for wild, outdoor adventures and rugged natural beauty. WMPH Vacations and AlaskaCruises.com are located in Delray Beach, Florida. All these brands have changed over the years, and the old distinctions no longer apply. I am thinking of the style that graphic artist Massimo Vignelli used in 1972 for showing New York City subway routes, given that the confusion over railroad trains in Alaska is related to the operational routes, more so than the geographical relationship (for which the current New York City map, designed in 1978 by my personal friend, the late Michael Hertz, aimed to do). All rights reserved. raving about your life exploring the world by sea, Is cruising right for you? Seward, Alaska sits at the head of Resurrection Bay and serves as the turn around port for the 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruises offered by Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This class of service sells out very quickly - book early for best results ! There also are plenty of Never Cruisers out there people who, for various reasons, wouldnt even think of getting on a ship for a vacation. This is it. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. But you also may find the experience more intimate. You may love one of these brands but not like another, depending on your tastes and preferences. When it comes to tier II cruisers, the decisions pretty easy. Please change the date range and try again. Alaskans are fortunate not to have the problems like the lower 48 continental states of, FREIGHT INTERFERENCE with Amtrak operation -, For the most part passenger trains operate in daylight and the freights at night or other odd hours -. It operates a very specialized set of French Polynesian itineraries out of Tahiti to destinations such as Bora Bora and Moorea that draw a lot of honeymooners and couples celebrating anniversaries. Dining on sale - Exclusive Dining Offer. Turn right on Minnesota Drive and follow the signs to the Seward Highway south. And with passenger trains in Alaska being profitable (or at least some of the passenger trains), they can be prioritized. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. From selecting a ship and embarkation port to reserving the best shore excursions, there's a lot to know before your cruise begins. Linger longer and . In Alaska, it is the same railroad that operates the passenger trains and the freight trains, so the tension that exists between Amtrak and the host railroads is absent. These nimble vessels are able to slip into smaller spaces than the big ships, better navigate to sea lion haulouts, bird nesting areas and whale watching hot spots in the moment, and get closer to glaciers and then linger in silence. But unless you live in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, youve probably never heard of it and would be unlikely to ever sail on it. Alaska RR operates the Coastal Classic leaving at 6:30 from the Anchorage Depot and arriving. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. There are several more lines that offer an upscale, elegant experience that isnt quite as white-glove as what youll find on the luxury lines above but still quite wonderful. The meeting point for Seabourn cruises is either Ted Stevens International Airport or The Hotel Captain Cook: Ted Stevens International Airport Here, you may be able to see some large halibut being cleaned. Seward AK was included as call port in the Northwest Passage cruises of the following ships: Crystal Serenity - 32-days itinerary from Seward Alaska to NYC New York (2016 - August 16 to September 16) Crystal Serenity - 32-days itinerary 32-days Seward to New York City (2017 - August 15 to September 15) But they dont always include as much in their base fares. If your northbound Alaska cruise starts in Vancouver and ends in Seward, you would take your Cruisetour after the cruise. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. On the other hand, the chartered train does travel along the branch line going to the Anchorage airport. The 7 Night Northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier visits Vancouver, British Columbia; Juneau, Alaska; Icy Strait Point, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska and Seward, Alaska. If youre booking a cruise for the first time, know that the seven lines are not necessarily interchangeable even in cases where they offer similar pricing on similar itineraries. Related: The 12 best cruise ships for childlike fun. Halibut can be caught in Seward year-round, and many consider this type of fishing to be the best in Alaska. Often on an expedition cruise, the focus is on remote wilderness areas and the wildlife that inhabits them. Along with their coffee and tea selection, they serve a wide variety of pastries, cakes, and sandwiches. Indeed the Anchorage Airport stop could be made into a short line metro link to downtown - maybe with a stop here or there - frequency of operation dependent on planned traffic. Columbia Steens Mountain Full-Zip Fleece Jacket. These incredible sights also makes day cruises a great option for independent travelers as well. Just ignore it when you see it. Among the biggies, its really in a class of its own. While relatively unknown in North America, it operates several of the most elegant, spacious and service-focused cruise vessels anywhere in the world. In this story, Ill try to help you break down the options. Located less than 70 miles north of Juneau, along the continent's longest and deepest fjord, Haines offers endless outdoor activities for intrepid explorers. First, the morning train from downtown Anchorage to Seward, and its return in the evening from Seward to downtown Anchorage, is "direct" in the sense that this train does not travel along the branch line going to the Anchorage airport . Youll probably want to gravitate toward Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC Cruises. In other cases, they only cater to a narrow range of people people who love sailing, for instance. Some new Hurtigruten expedition vessels are designed for around 500 people. The key thing to know about the seven biggies, as I call them, is that the type of experience that they offer varies greatly. The halibut can get up to 500 pounds and are one of the largest fish in the world. Aialik Bay. In recent years, until the arrival of Mardi Gras, it didnt have a single vessel among the top 30 biggest cruise ships in the world. This charter will be offered as an afternoon trip between the Anchorage airport and Seward cruise ship terminal, and as an early morning run for ships disembarking in Seward. By Thats making up for reduced bookings of the highway Jeep tours often preferred by older cruise ship travelers. At the same time, luxury ships generally are smaller than mass-market ships often by a lot. The Dresden forces you to get in close. You easily can pay several times as much for a luxury cruise as a mass-market cruise. Exit Glacier Visitor Center If a healthy, invigorating hike is your idea of true Alaskan experience, head up the Harding Icefield Trail - located within Kenai Fjords National Park - and hike the 4.1 mile trail (8.2 miles round-trip). Start planning your next cruise vacation by selecting a destination and departure port. Expedition cruising is all about getting you to off-the-beaten-path places that, in many cases, have little or no land-based infrastructure. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! Some operate small ships. This is, after all, the brand that famously holds a Hairy Chest Contest around the pool deck on every voyage, to a standing-room-only, hooting and hollering crowd. Youll cross the mountains and follow the coast of;Turnagain Arm. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. The remains of a World War II fort are found at Caines Head State Recreation Area, and the 4,124-foot Mount Marathon has hosted its namesake 5K race for more than 100 years. Earlier today I had been reflecting on the fact that there are many similar questions, and I started to sketch out a map that could show the various services available. Of course, if you prefer to stick to nature, beachcombing is a popular activity. There are plenty of fishing charter options in Seward. Like luxury lines, these lines have a high staff-to-passenger ratio though often not quite as high as the luxury lines. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the park's Harding Icefield, like the 13-mile Bear Glacier; its surrounding lagoon is popular for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Please note, the cruise port schedule is based on updated itineraries from the following cruise lines: Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Marella Cruises, TUI, P&O Cruises, Aida Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Carnival. Carnival Cruise Line: 24 ships; 75,384 berths. The branch line to the airport is 2.45 miles in length, and joins the main line at CP 1102, located at milepost 110.13.) Also, not all cruise lines at Seward will arrange for charter train service, but all the primary mass market lines do so. Once in Seward, follow the signs to the Alaska Railroad Dock. So the options are booking directly from the ARR to/from the ARR Anchorage terminal and the ARR Seward thermal. We booked ourselves on the Seward to Anchorage in the afternoon. Copyright 2023 by Vacations To Go. Seward is one of my favorite towns in Alaska. Let's hope NCL puts out their embarkation train excursion for your May 8th cruise out of Seward. These ships have a completely different vibe. . Theres an abundance of wildlife, water activities, hiking, and exploring you will be so happy you visited. ;Coffee Shops and Cafes:; 13 Ravens Coffee and Books-;Grab a coffee and a browse through the books at 13 Ravens for a quiet start to your morning. Youll also find that the size of the ships within the fleets of each of these brands can vary significantly. There are multiple trains, buses, and cars, any of which could be "best" depending on personal preferences. On ship days in Seward all of the cruise lines offer a special chartered rail trip between the Anchorage airport the Seward cruise ship terminal. But, as survey after survey has shown, most people who try a cruise for the first time give it high marks and many end up cruising again and again. 1,067 Reviews . As noted above, there are dozens of cruise lines out there. But to me, thats all marketing speak. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. These are lines that offer a very specialized product, often with just a handful of ships. Read more: Ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line | Ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line | Ultimate guide to MSC Cruises. These lines include Germanys Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises, both of which are aimed at German-speaking travelers with onboard programs conducted in German. All passengers regardless of their home country, citizenship or country of residency are responsible for obtaining the proper documentation for travel. These are brands designed to appeal to a wide demographic, including families with children of all ages. About Cruising to Seward Seward is a picturesque harbor town sporting the catchy motto "Alaska starts here." What that means is that Seward really is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Indeed, in the summer there are no local trains serving intermediate stops (such as, for example, Healy). The railroad stop origin at the Anchorage AIRPORT was only a recent development in the past few years and creates a unique option alternative to transportation to and from the ports in conjunction with cruise travel and airline connections. . We did the reverse, Seward to Anchorage. Like expedition cruising, this has been a fast-growing segment of the cruise world in recent years, with capacity among the major river lines growing at a rapid pace. Take in the scenery of gorgeous glaciers and mountains with friendly dogs by your side! That was one of our favorite cruises. Ive been cruising for more than 25 years, on just about every line thats out there, and I can tell you its a wonderful way to travel. As a result, there is less variation among river ships than there is among ocean ships. Anchorage, AK 99501. (At that time, it didn't seem that the times of the NCL trains had the Gold level observation cars, but that could have changed, of course. Find the right card for you. Upscale line trivia: The four Azamara ships and the four oldest Oceania ships are sister vessels. Traveling from Anchorage Airport Every one of its ocean ships was built in the last seven years. Expedition ships are expensive to build on a per-berth basis and require a relatively high ratio of staff to passengers to operate compared with mass-market cruise ships. 555 West 5th Avenue Thats the most common standard river ship size on European waterways, due to the lock sizes in Europe. . Related: Is cruising right for you? This adventure outpost offers sailing, dog-sledding, ice climbing and plenty of fishing for halibut and salmon. The scenic town of Seward is about 125 road miles from Anchorage and the cruise transfer by motor coach takes about three hours. Independent travelers typically stay longer in Alaska and spend more at more businesses, officials say. Among these lines, I include the following (with its specialty in parentheses): Even the biggest of these lines Disney is just one-tenth the size of industry leader Royal Caribbean, when measured by passenger capacity.

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