Cruises to Alaska are increasingly popular. This year, there’s a prediction of a 16 percent jump in cruise visitors compared to 2018. The cruise season, which extends from May to September, gives people opportunities to enjoy the uniquely beautiful outdoor scenery and head to different ports for additional explorations of nature, history, and culture.
If you want to save on costs for your Alaskan cruise trip, you can find relatively affordable options, including the following five.
1. Inside Passage, Seattle Round Trip – Princess Cruises
This well-known company offers a few variations for their Inside Passage cruise.
The most affordable one is a round trip beginning and ending in Seattle and taking you to five ports along the way. These include Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway, which are all rich in history and culture; their points of interest range from Native American totem poles to Gold Rush saloons.
There are also a variety of ways to admire the natural beauty of each area and enjoy hiking, kayaking, glacier tours, dog sledding, and other outdoor activities. At Victoria, a gorgeous city in British Columbia, you’ll be able to visit magnificent gardens.
For anyone choosing the interior accommodations, which are the most affordable, the base fare for this cruise may go as low as $500 per person and remain less than $1,000 throughout the season. The price includes certain meals, access to a fitness center, and various entertainment options on the ship, including an outdoor movie night, parties, and shows.
2. 7-Day Alaska with Glacier Bay – Norwegian Cruise Line
This one-way trip begins in Vancouver and ends in Seward, Alaska. Before reaching Seward, you’ll stop at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. The cruise also offers phenomenal views of the scenery at Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. Activities on land include zip lining, panning for gold, and taking a trip on the White Pass Scenic Railway.
The most affordable accommodations will be available at around $349 per person this coming June. Throughout the cruise season, which ends in late September, the price does increase, but it currently doesn’t exceed $700. Unfortunately, the available accommodations are small and don’t have an ocean view. However, they’re comfortable, and you’ll have plenty of stunning views and access to delicious food and amenities throughout the ship.
The ship’s attractions include a fitness center and jogging track, an art gallery, a casino, a swimming pool, several hot tubs, a library, and activity centers for kids. The ship is also host to a range of restaurants serving cuisines from around the world.
3. Glacier Bay National Park Adventure – Adventure Life
What if you aren’t looking for a typical cruise on a large ship? Some companies offer cruise packages with smaller ships and more extensive explorations of a particular area of Alaska. Generally, these types of cruises are going to cost more. However, depending on the date of your trip and the package you choose, you can bring the cost down.
For excursions in late September, the Glacier Bay National Park Adventure from Adventure Life is currently available for less than $3,000 per person, which is relatively cheap for this type of trip. Starting and ending in Juneau, the trip takes place on the Wilderness Adventurer, a small ship that doesn’t have many of the entertainment features of a larger vessel but still provides a comfortable, social atmosphere. With 60 passengers at most on the ship, you can find yourself enjoying a quieter time and getting to know people better.
This particular trip, which takes place over several days, allows you to explore Glacier Bay National Park in greater depth, experiencing much more of it than most visitors do. Instead of limiting yourself to viewing the scenery from the ship, you’ll immerse yourself in different parts of the park and use the ship as a launching point for hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor adventures in wilderness areas.
4. 7-Day Glacier Discovery Northbound – Holland America Line
Starting at Vancouver and ending in Seward, this cruise may be available for as low as $549 per person, even in the middle of the summer. The route takes you through the gorgeous Inside Passage and stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, giving you a medley of Alaska’s natural beauty, history, and culture. You’ll also be able to view Glacier Bay from the ship.
Your fare includes access to performances in chamber music, jazz, and blues, a digital photography workshop, and cooking classes. Kids will be able to enjoy a club with sports, arts and crafts, video games, and other challenging and fun activities.
5. Ultimate Alaska and Pacific Northwest Adventurer – Holland America Line
Cruises are often a week in length. But what if you want to go on a longer voyage?
One way to do that without wrecking your budget is to take advantage of this 21-day cruise, which is currently available at a base rate of roughly $1,200 per person.
Offering a round trip that starts and ends in San Francisco, the cruise departs at the end of May. You’ll be able to explore the cultural venues and beautiful environs of Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan, Haines, Valdez, Homer, Kodiak, Sitka, and Wrangell. Victoria, which is in Canada’s British Columbia, is another stop.
The ship will also cruise along some of the most gorgeous areas on the Alaskan coast, including College Fjord, where eight glaciers are visible, and Tracy Arm Fjord, which has a stunning forest. Plus, humpback whales and other wildlife will likely be visible from the ship.
This particular cruise ship is the only one from Holland America Line that’s equipped with Zodiacs, which are smaller, inflatable watercraft that can take you on special tours along the coast; they’re accessible at an additional price. For no extra cost, there are many other activities you can enjoy on the ship, including movies, live shows, and cooking demonstrations.
Finding a Cheap Cruise to Alaska
Along with searching through the websites for each cruise line, it’s strongly advisable to look for deals available through Expedia, Kayak, and other reputable sites. A cruise that’s ordinarily over $1,000 per person may become available at a lower rate. Beyond the base fare for the cruise, be sure to pay attention to any additional fees and taxes you’ll be subjected to.
Carrying out this research is worthwhile because an Alaskan cruise can give you extraordinary views and experiences.