Alaska Cruises 2012

Plan Your Cruise to Alaska on a Large or Mid-Sized Ship

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Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, and is very high on most cruise lovers' list. Some of the most spectacular parts of Alaska can best be seen from the sea.

Alaska cruises normally sell for a higher price than the Caribbean. The Alaska cruise season only runs from May through September, and demand is high. In addition, getting to the ship is often more costly than flying to Florida or other cruise embarkation ports. Some cruise ships are sailing from California ports, 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 more 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 (like bears, whales, and sea lions) and to participate in some unforgettable shore excursions. In addition, visitors to Alaska get to experience fascinating small towns like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. 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 500 to 3000 passengers or on a small ship of a dozen to less than 500 passengers. Both types of cruises have pros and cons. The larger ships have all the extra amenities you could ever wish for, but an Alaska cruise on a small ship provides 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.

Many of the cruise lines offer "cruisetours", which include both a cruise and a land tour of either parts of the interior of Alaska or western Canada. Those with more time should inquire about these cruisetours, since they often represent a good add-on to your Alaska cruise.

Let's look at the large and mid-sized ships sailing to Alaska in 2012.

Carnival Cruise Lines - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Mount Juneau (c) Linda Garrison

The Carnival Spirit will return to Alaska for 2012, featuring seven-day Inside Passage cruises. The ship will primarily sail roundtrip from Seattle, but also has one early season seven-day cruise roundtrip from Vancouver. The Carnival Spirit's last cruise of the season in September visits Glacier Bay National Park roundtrip from Seattle.

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Celebrity Cruises - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Flying on a helicopter over an icefield in Alaska

Juneau Icefield (c) Linda Garrison

Celebrity Cruises passengers can choose from Alaska itineraries on three ships--the Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Century, or Celebrity 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 weekly Alaska Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Seattle, the Celebrity Century sails weekly to the Inside Passage roundtrip from Vancouver, and the Celebrity Millennium sails between Vancouver and Seward.
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Crystal Cruises - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Anchorage (c) Linda Garrison

Crystal Cruises only has one cruise scheduled for Alaska in 2012. The Crystal Symphony will spend 10 days in Alaska and British Columbia in late April at the conclusion of a 22-day cruise from Osaka, Japan to Los Angeles. This cruise stops over in three Alaska ports that do not see many cruise ships -- Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, and Anchorage.
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Disney Cruise Line - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm, Alaska (c) Linda Garrison

Disney Cruise Line will visit Alaska again in 2012 when the Disney Wonder sails seven-day voyages from Seattle in May through September. Although Disney is best-known for its family cruises, adults will also appreciate the shore excursions and activities Disney has planned.
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Holland America Line - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Misty Fjords near Ketchikan (c) Linda Garrison

Holland America Line has seven ships sailing four different Alaska itineraries, including seven-day cruises to the Inside Passage roundtrip from either Seattle or Vancouver, seven-day Gulf of Alaska cruises between Seward and Vancouver, and 14-day Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Seattle on the ms Amsterdam.

Holland America's schedule features seven ships offering 130 total departures from May 2 through September 23, 2012.

Holland America also has some fascinating cruise tours that combine a seven-day cruise with a tour of the interior of Alaska.
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Norwegian Cruise Line - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Glacier Bay National Park (c) Linda Garrison

Norwegian Cruise Line will send two ships to Alaska in 2012. The Norwegian Pearl will sail seven-day Glacier Bay cruises roundtrip from Seattle, and the Norwegian Jewel will sail seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruises roundtrip from Seattle.
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Princess Cruises - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Humpback whales bubble-net feeding in Alaska

Alaska Humpback Whales (c) Linda Garrison

Princess Cruises will feature over 100 Alaska sailings aboard seven ships offering three itinerary options during the May to September season. The Princess lineup includes Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess, Diamond Princess, and Island Princess traveling on the line's "Voyage of the Glaciers" route through the scenic Gulf of Alaska; Golden Princess and Star Princess sailing the Inside Passage from Seattle, and Sea Princess cruising on 10-day journeys from San Francisco.

Princess also offers many land/cruise combination tours, so those wanting to see parts of the interior of Alaska (like Denali Park), might want to add-on a land extension.
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Mountains surrounding Seward, Alaska (c) Linda Garrison

The Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Navigator will sail to Alaska in 2012. The Navigator primarily sails 7-day cruises between Vancouver and Seward. I sailed this itinerary on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner in late August 2008 and loved the luxury mid-sized ship, the itinerary, and the excursions.

The Seven Seas Navigator will arrive in Vancouver in May from San Francisco, following her transit through the Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale.

At the end of the Alaska cruise season, the Seven Seas Navigator will cruise the from Vancouver to San Francisco and then back through the Panama Canal to New York, where she will do a series of fall cruises to New England and Atlantic Canada.
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Line - 2012 Alaska Cruises

Summertime Dogsledding in Alaska (c) Linda Garrison

Royal Caribbean will send two ships to Alaska in 2012, with departures from Seward, Vancouver, and Seattle. 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 Inside Passage voyages. Royal Caribbean has 21 cruisetour options that combine well with the Radiance of the Seas' itineraries.
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