Alaska cruises normally sell for a higher price than the Caribbean or other popular cruise destinations. Although almost nobody pays the brochure price anymore, you can use them for comparison. Most seven-day Caribbean cruises start around $800, but the brochure price for an Alaska cruise on the same ship, same cabin will start about $1000. The Alaska cruise season only runs from May through September, and demand is high. Getting to the embarkation port is often more costly than flying to Florida or even to Europe. Some cruise ships are sailing from San Francisco or Los Angeles, which might be a cheaper air fare, but a longer cruise. Summer is the big vacation season in the northwest, and many non-cruisers also choose to head to this beautiful part of the world. The shorter season and high demand add up to a more expensive cruise.
Even though Alaska cruises can be expensive, the joy of seeing this exciting American wilderness is well worth the extra dollars.
Many of the large and mid-sized cruise ships sailing to Alaska include cabins with private verandas. Cruisers go to Alaska to see the magnificent mountains, beautiful bays, and wonderful wildlife. How better to see all of this than from your own private balcony? In addition to the verandas, ships cruising Alaska often include huge observation lounges and heated indoor/outdoor pools. You don't have to "rough it" to see all that Alaska has to offer!
There are two great ways to cruise Alaska--on a large or mid-sized cruise ship of 700 to 3000 passengers or on a small ship of a dozen to less than 200 passengers. Both types of cruises have pros and cons. The larger ships have all the extra amenities you could ever wish for, but the small ships provide a more personal look at Alaska and often a better chance to see wildlife from the ship. Either way, Alaska cruise lines offer something for everyone.
Large and Mid-Sized Cruises to Alaska in 2009
Royal Caribbean will send three ships to Alaska in 2009, with 57 departures from Seward, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego. Radiance of the Seas will take guests on seven-night itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. Rhapsody of the Seas returns to Seattle on seven-night roundtrip Sawyer Glacier voyages and Serenade of the Seas will sail a seven-night roundtrip itinerary from Vancouver. Royal Caribbean will include calls at Icy Strait Point on many of the cruises. The three ships will have longer voyages at the beginning and end of the season between Alaska and San Diego or San Francisco.
Royal Caribbean 2009 Alaska Cruises
Celebrity Cruises passengers can choose from interesting Alaska itineraries on the Celebrity Infinity, Mercury, or Millennium. The Alaska cruises will be preceded or followed by repositioning cruises from California or Hawaii, and the Panama Canal cruises are in the spring and fall seasons. The Infinity will sail roundtrip from Seattle, the Mercury sails roundtrip from Vancouver, and the Millennium sails between Vancouver and Seward.
Celebrity 2009 Alaska Cruises
The Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner will return to Alaska in 2009. All of the suites on the Seven Seas Mariner have balconies. The Mariner primarily sails 7-day cruises between Vancouver and Seward. I sailed this itinerary on the Seven Seas Mariner in late August 2008 and loved the mid-sized ship, the itinerary, and the excursions. The Seven Seas Mariner will arrive in Vancouver in early April from Japan, following her 121-day World Cruise around the Pacific Ocean from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver. At the end of the Alaska cruise season, the Seven Seas Mariner will cruise the "long way" from Vancouver to Los Angeles on another Grand Asia Pacific voyage of 102 days.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2009 Cruises to Alaska
The Carnival Spirit will also return to Alaska. Spirit will sail the Gulf of Alaska on seven-day trips between Vancouver to Seward and on seven-day Glacier Bay cruises roundtrip from Vancouver.
Carnival 2009 Alaska Cruises
Princess will have eight ships in Alaska sailing the Voyage of the Glaciers or the Inside Passage. The Coral Princess, Sea Princess, Diamond Princess, Golden Princess, Island Princess, Sapphire Princess, Star Princess, and Pacific Princess will all be sailing in Alaska in the summer of 2009. The Star Princess and Golden Princess will being sailing the Inside Passage from Seattle. The Dawn Princess will feature 10-day cruises of the Inside Passage from San Francisco. The Diamond, Island, Sapphire, and Coral Princess will be sailing between Vancouver and Whittier on the "Voyage of the Glaciers" itinerary. The Pacific Princess will have a longer cruise of Alaska - 14 days - with more ports and sightseeing. The Sea Princess will sail twice roundtrip to Alaska from San Francisco.
Princess 2009 Alaska Cruises
Not to be outdone, Holland America is also sending eight of its ships north to Alaska, most of which are in the mid-sized 1200 to 1800-passenger range. The Amsterdam, Zaandam, and Westerdam will sail 7-day "Alaskan Explorer" cruises roundtrip from Seattle. The Veendam, Statendam, and Ryndam "Glacier Discovery Cruises" will sail between Vancouver and Anchorage (Seward). The Volendam and Zuiderdam will join the Veendam, Statendam, and Ryndam on "Glacier Bay Inside Passage" itineraries roundtrip from Vancouver.
Holland America 2009 Alaska Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line has three ships in Alaska in 2009, including one of its newest ships, the Norwegian Pearl. The Norwegian Pearl will join the Norwegian Star in sailing roundtrip cruises from Seattle. The Norwegian Sun will sail 7-day roundtrip cruises from Vancouver. All three of these ships will be sailing Glacier Bay or Sawyer Glacier itineraries.
NCL 2009 Alaska Cruises
Crystal Cruises will return to Alaska in 2009 with one itinerary--the Yokohama, Japan to Los Angeles 22-day leg of the Crystal Serenity World Cruise.
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