Michael Nolan & CT Ticknor
By Heidi Sarna
Alaska is all about calving glaciers, snowcapped mountain peaks, and the chance to see eagles, bears, whales, and other wildlife. Fishing towns and a handful of small cities dot the coast, but otherwise an Alaska cruise is all about nature, especially if you're aboard a small ship that can get close to the shoreline. Can't decide whether to book your next Alaska cruise vacation on a big ship or a small one? Here are five reasons to cruise Alaska in a big ship and five reasons why you should experience Alaska by small ship.
Photo Caption: National Geographic Sea Bird among icebergs in remote Endicott Arm, Alaska
The Pro: There's no better place to view Alaska's landscape than from a private cabin balcony. All of the big ships sailing in Alaska are equipped with these prized cabins -- often more than half of a megaship's rooms will have an attached private balcony. See a whale breach or a chunk of ice fall into the sea, all from the private quarters of your oceanview terrace.
Cruise Lines to Consider: Holland America has particularly appealing balconies in its Deluxe Verandah Suites (Category S) aboard the 1,848-passenger Westerdam, Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, and Noordam sisters (from $2,799 per person for 7-night Inside Passage cruises round-trip from Seattle). Suite perks include the use of binoculars and food delivery to your cabin throughout the day, from breakfast to high tea and hors d'oeuvres before dinner.
Photo Caption: Deluxe Verandah Suite aboard Holland America Line's Veendam
The Pro: As the little ones are entertained by the ships' drop-off programming, Mom and Dad can spend a morning or the day enjoying grown-up shore excursions such as zip-lining in Ketchikan, rock climbing in Skagway, or a taking a seaplane over Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier. When in Alaska, kid-friendly megaships often offer arts and crafts as well as educational games that incorporate facts about Alaska's wildlife and landscape.
Cruise Lines to Consider: The 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder has complimentary drop-off kids' programming in playrooms for ages 3 years and up on sea and port days from morning until midnight. For babies and toddlers 3 months to 3 years, there's drop-off nursery service available at an hourly rate. Alaska-centric activities and amenities include meeting Alaska park rangers who sail on board, making a video to take home about Alaska's natural environment, and getting a copy of port guides created specifically for kids to teach them about Alaska culture and natural bounty. Throughout the day, Disney's beloved characters roam the decks to meet kids and families for photo ops. And sometimes the characters join families in port, such as the scenic railway tour excursions in Skagway. There are also teens-only shore excursions like a helicopter ride and glacier trek.
Photo Caption: Mickey and Minnie on deck during Disney Wonder's first-ever Alaska cruise. Photo: Disney Cruise Line
The Pro: Most Alaska itineraries have one or two days at sea while the ship moves between ports and past the region's mountains, fjords, and glaciers. Enjoying the scenery while you also enjoy relaxing in the ships' spa is a win-win situation.
Cruise Lines to Consider: Within its Mandara spa on Deck 12, the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl has an oceanview thermal suite with floor-to-ceiling windows facing forward to the sea. It has heated mosaic lounge chairs, therapeutic plunge pools, a steam room, a sauna, and hot tubs. Passengers booking a spa treatment can use the thermal suite for $20; it costs $30 per day if you don't book a treatment.
Photo Caption: The South Pacific Spa and Beauty Salon on the Norwegian Pearl
The Pro: Admire glaciers as you soak in a bubbling hot tub and sip some refreshing champagne or hot chocolate. All the megaships have at least a couple of hot tubs high up on deck, and some have great views to boot.
Cruise Lines to Consider: Princess Cruises' 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess each have a pair of large 10-seater hot tubs at the stern on Deck 16, with views of the ships' wake and the surrounding scenery. The Oasis Bar is nearby so refreshments are never far.
Photo Caption; Drinks from the Oasis Bar aboard Sapphire Princess
The Pro: An Alaska cruise on a megaship lets you stay active while onboard. From rock-climbing walls to mini-golf courses, all the megaships are loaded with things to do.
Cruise Lines to Consider: On Royal Caribbean's 1,890-passenger Radiance of the Seas, try the outdoor miniature golf course and rock-climbing wall, or simply unwind in the outdoor hot tubs or in the solarium with an indoor pool. There's also a pair of gyroscopically-rigged billiards tables so you can pocket the eight ball while Alaska floats by past the adjacent windows.
Photo Caption: Pool tables aboard Radiance of the Seas
The Pro: Small ships have the clear advantage of being able to get closer to Alaska's shoreline and glaciers via hidden coves and narrow channels. Daily excursions in small inflatable boats or kayaks carried onboard mean you can literally reach out and touch icebergs. Humpback whales breaching, brown bears on shore, and adorable seals frolicking on ice floes are just some of the wildlife you can see at close range, sometimes just a few feet away.
Cruise Lines to Consider: Discovery Voyages' 12-passenger M/V Discovery was specifically designed for service in coastal Alaska and the 65-foot ship spends the summer cruising in Prince William Sound. Voyages are focused on whale-watching, birding, hiking, kayaking, photography, and more.
Photo Caption: M/V Discovery in Harriman Fjord, Chugach National Forest, Prince William Sound, Alaska
The Pro: Unlike on big ships where you'd have to book a separate kayak shore excursion, many small ships carry a fleet of kayaks on board for exploring remote harbors and waterways. Passengers can hop in and paddle right next to or up to remote stretches of coastline. Your kayak is often within a few feet of fjords, glaciers, waterfalls, chunks of floating ice, and wildlife viewing.
Cruise Lines to Consider: All three of InnerSea Discoveries expedition vessels -- 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer, 76-passenger Wilderness Discoverer, and 76-passenger Wilderness Explorer -- carry kayaks on board and have convenient launching platforms at the stern so it's easy to get into a kayak and slide into the sea.
Photo Caption: Guests on the Wilderness Discoverer in Alaska take a break to go kayaking.
The Pro: Since small ships are closer to the water level as well, crew members can lean over, scoop up bits of icebergs (aka bergy bits), and serve drinks with ice to waiting passengers on deck. Cheers!
Cruise Lines to Consider: American Safari Cruises' three vessels (the 86-passenger Safari Endeavour, 22-passenger Safari Quest, and 36-passenger Safari Explorer) as well as sister company InnerSea Discoveries' three small vessels all are able to bring passengers deep into Alaska's unspoiled wilderness and literally within touching distance of its natural features.
Photo Caption: Crew members of Cruise West's Spirit of Endeavour (recently relaunched as American Safari Cruises' Safari Endeavour) fill a pitcher of water from Hole in the Wall Falls in Tracy Arm, Alaska, for passengers to drink.
The Pro: Most small ships have at least one naturalist aboard, and usually more. Passengers can easily mingle and chat with the naturalists and scientists to learn more about Alaska's wildlife, ecosystems, and native culture. On the big ships, there might be one naturalist speaking generally about Alaska over the PA system, but most passengers would never see or get to meet these experts.
Cruise Lines to Consider: Lindblad Expeditions is a learning-oriented adventure cruise company and a team of experts sails along on all of its voyages. For instance, a 7-night cruise between Juneau and Sitka on the 62-passenger Sea Lion might include two naturalists (with degrees in zoology, wildlife biology, and ecology), an undersea specialist (a biochemist specializing in marine biology), National Geographic-certified photo instructor (with a degree in anthropology), and an expedition leader, who is a naturalist with several academic degrees and certifications. As if that's not enough, a native Tlingit Interpreter and a national park ranger join the ship for the day when cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.
Photo Caption: A naturalist lectures from a Zodiac boat in Alaska, aboard Cruise West's Spirit of Endeavour, recently relaunched as American Safari Cruises' Safari Endeavour.
Alaska is all about calving glaciers, snowcapped mountain peaks, and the chance to see eagles, bears, whales, and other wildlife. Fishing towns and a handful of small cities dot the coast, but otherwise an Alaska cruise is all about nature, especially if you're aboard a small ship that can get close to the shoreline. Can't decide whether to book your next Alaska cruise vacation on a big ship or a small one? Here are five reasons to cruise Alaska in a big ship and five reasons why you should experience Alaska by small ship.
Photo Caption: National Geographic Sea Bird among icebergs in remote Endicott Arm, Alaska
Cruise Lines to Consider: Holland America has particularly appealing balconies in its Deluxe Verandah Suites (Category S) aboard the 1,848-passenger Westerdam, Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, and Noordam sisters (from $2,799 per person for 7-night Inside Passage cruises round-trip from Seattle). Suite perks include the use of binoculars and food delivery to your cabin throughout the day, from breakfast to high tea and hors d'oeuvres before dinner.
Photo Caption: Deluxe Verandah Suite aboard Holland America Line's Veendam
Cruise Lines to Consider: The 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder has complimentary drop-off kids' programming in playrooms for ages 3 years and up on sea and port days from morning until midnight. For babies and toddlers 3 months to 3 years, there's drop-off nursery service available at an hourly rate. Alaska-centric activities and amenities include meeting Alaska park rangers who sail on board, making a video to take home about Alaska's natural environment, and getting a copy of port guides created specifically for kids to teach them about Alaska culture and natural bounty. Throughout the day, Disney's beloved characters roam the decks to meet kids and families for photo ops. And sometimes the characters join families in port, such as the scenic railway tour excursions in Skagway. There are also teens-only shore excursions like a helicopter ride and glacier trek.
Photo Caption: Mickey and Minnie on deck during Disney Wonder's first-ever Alaska cruise. Photo: Disney Cruise Line
Cruise Lines to Consider: Within its Mandara spa on Deck 12, the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl has an oceanview thermal suite with floor-to-ceiling windows facing forward to the sea. It has heated mosaic lounge chairs, therapeutic plunge pools, a steam room, a sauna, and hot tubs. Passengers booking a spa treatment can use the thermal suite for $20; it costs $30 per day if you don't book a treatment.
Photo Caption: The South Pacific Spa and Beauty Salon on the Norwegian Pearl
Cruise Lines to Consider: Princess Cruises' 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess each have a pair of large 10-seater hot tubs at the stern on Deck 16, with views of the ships' wake and the surrounding scenery. The Oasis Bar is nearby so refreshments are never far.
Photo Caption; Drinks from the Oasis Bar aboard Sapphire Princess
Cruise Lines to Consider: On Royal Caribbean's 1,890-passenger Radiance of the Seas, try the outdoor miniature golf course and rock-climbing wall, or simply unwind in the outdoor hot tubs or in the solarium with an indoor pool. There's also a pair of gyroscopically-rigged billiards tables so you can pocket the eight ball while Alaska floats by past the adjacent windows.
Photo Caption: Pool tables aboard Radiance of the Seas
Cruise Lines to Consider: Discovery Voyages' 12-passenger M/V Discovery was specifically designed for service in coastal Alaska and the 65-foot ship spends the summer cruising in Prince William Sound. Voyages are focused on whale-watching, birding, hiking, kayaking, photography, and more.
Photo Caption: M/V Discovery in Harriman Fjord, Chugach National Forest, Prince William Sound, Alaska
Cruise Lines to Consider: All three of InnerSea Discoveries expedition vessels -- 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer, 76-passenger Wilderness Discoverer, and 76-passenger Wilderness Explorer -- carry kayaks on board and have convenient launching platforms at the stern so it's easy to get into a kayak and slide into the sea.
Photo Caption: Guests on the Wilderness Discoverer in Alaska take a break to go kayaking.
Cruise Lines to Consider: American Safari Cruises' three vessels (the 86-passenger Safari Endeavour, 22-passenger Safari Quest, and 36-passenger Safari Explorer) as well as sister company InnerSea Discoveries' three small vessels all are able to bring passengers deep into Alaska's unspoiled wilderness and literally within touching distance of its natural features.
Photo Caption: Crew members of Cruise West's Spirit of Endeavour (recently relaunched as American Safari Cruises' Safari Endeavour) fill a pitcher of water from Hole in the Wall Falls in Tracy Arm, Alaska, for passengers to drink.
Cruise Lines to Consider: Lindblad Expeditions is a learning-oriented adventure cruise company and a team of experts sails along on all of its voyages. For instance, a 7-night cruise between Juneau and Sitka on the 62-passenger Sea Lion might include two naturalists (with degrees in zoology, wildlife biology, and ecology), an undersea specialist (a biochemist specializing in marine biology), National Geographic-certified photo instructor (with a degree in anthropology), and an expedition leader, who is a naturalist with several academic degrees and certifications. As if that's not enough, a native Tlingit Interpreter and a national park ranger join the ship for the day when cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.
Photo Caption: A naturalist lectures from a Zodiac boat in Alaska, aboard Cruise West's Spirit of Endeavour, recently relaunched as American Safari Cruises' Safari Endeavour.