Travel Lifestyle

What to Expect on a Holland America Alaskan Cruise

January 7, 2023

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Eagles, moose and bears—oh my! If you’re searching for an unforgettable Alaskan cruise and land expertise, look no additional. Holland America Line has 149 years of expertise (wowza, that’s quite a bit!), and affords a number of the finest Alaskan land and sea excursions accessible.

From Fairbanks to Vancouver, you’ll take pleasure in breathtaking surroundings as you sail by means of iconic locations such because the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay, and have loads of time to discover Alaska’s gorgeous cities and villages onshore. Plus, with their award-winning service and in depth vary of onboard actions, you’re positive to have a trip you’ll always remember!

The Holland America 11-Day Double Denali cruise and land tour is the right solution to see Alaska. The itinerary contains stops in Fairbanks, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, in addition to a three-day land tour of Denali National Park.

In Fairbanks, vacationers can take the Riverboat Discovery Tour or go to the very chilly ice museum. Glacier Bay National Park is likely one of the most lovely locations in Alaska and is house to glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. Juneau is the capital of Alaska and affords extra than simply gorgeous views – guests can go whale watching, go to the Alaska State Museum, or take a experience on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Skagway is a quaint city with a wealthy Gold Rush historical past. And lastly, Ketchikan is named the “ Salmon Capital of the World” and is house to Creek Street, a historic boardwalk lined with outlets and eating places.

Alaska Cruise Ports

Alaska is a well-liked vacation spot for excursions and cruises, and for good motive! You’ll discover a number of nationwide parks and landmarks which provide scenic views of mountains, glaciers, and forests, in addition to the chance to see wildlife of their pure habitat. Of course, it isn’t simply the panorama that makes Alaska price visiting. There’s additionally no scarcity of issues for guests to discover and expertise in one in every of its cities, resembling their various cultures and wealthy historical past.

Fairbanks

While Fairbanks could conjure photos of ice and snow, this vibrant metropolis is definitely positioned within the coronary heart of Alaska’s inside. Despite its secluded location, town is house to a various inhabitants and affords a variety of actions for residents and guests alike.

The metropolis is located close to quite a few waterways, offering ample alternatives for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The metropolis can also be house to plenty of parks and mountain climbing trails, making it the right place to benefit from the nice outside. In addition, there are a number of museums across the metropolis the place you may enrich your self with its historical past, or in case you’re extra of an artsy individual, ogle at some pretty ice artwork and sculptures (don’t miss the Fairbanks Ice Museum!).

With its distinctive mixture of city and rural points of interest, there actually is one thing for everybody at Fairbanks.

Riverboat Discovery Tour

One of the preferred issues to do in Alaska’s metropolis of Fairbanks is taking the Riverboat Discovery Tour, and it’s an tour alternative in your Holland America Alaskan cruise. The tour begins with a Bush Pilot Demonstration, the place you may see how pilots fly within the rugged Alaskan terrain and land on the water. Next, you’ll get a peek at Trail Breaker Kennel, the place you may see the canine that assist mushers journey by means of the wilderness. Finally, you’ll cease at Chena Indian Village Living Museum, the place you may study in regards to the historical past and tradition of the Alaskan Native individuals.

Denali National Park

Denali National Park is likely one of the hottest vacationer points of interest in Alaska. The park is house to Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, and is thought for its gorgeous surroundings and various wildlife. Visitors to the park can take pleasure in mountain climbing, tenting, wildlife watching, and far more. In current years, the park has additionally change into a preferred vacation spot for winter sports activities resembling cross-country snowboarding and snowshoeing. No matter what time of yr you go to, Denali National Park is bound to impress.

Denali Wilderness Tour

Looking to stand up shut and private with a few of Alaska’s wonderful wildlife? Then the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour is for you. This narrated tour takes you on a “school” bus experience deep into the guts of Denali National Park, the place you’ll have the prospect to see grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, and extra.

You’ll additionally get to expertise the gorgeous landscapes of the park, from its towering mountains to its sprawling tundra. Best of all, you’ll be guided by an skilled naturalist who will assist you take advantage of your expertise. So whether or not you’re a seasoned adventurer or a first-time customer, the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour is bound to supply an unforgettable expertise.

It’s additionally a great alternative to examine it off our US National Parks Bucket List: 61 Beauties to Visit in America!

Denali to Anchorage by way of McKinley Explorer

The Mckinley Explorer prepare is likely one of the finest (and best!) methods to see Alaska. The prepare takes you from Denali to Anchorage, and the journey takes just below eight hours. The surroundings is unimaginable, and also you get to see a number of the most lovely elements of Alaska.

The prepare has two ranges, and the dome-shaped higher stage has massive home windows so you may actually take within the views. The decrease stage has a eating automobile, the place you may get breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Anchorage

Anchorage is the biggest metropolis in Alaska, positioned within the south-central a part of the state. And whereas the common winter temperatures are under freezing, the summers are heat and sunny, with many alternative outside actions to take pleasure in, resembling mountain climbing, biking, fishing, and tenting.

Some of the perfect actions you are able to do right here embody mountain climbing (or biking) the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, studying about historical past in Anchorage Museum (Alaska’s largest museum), and seeing glaciers on a day cruise or flightseeing tour to Portage Valley. If you’re seeking to shock your self additional, you can even stroll across the metropolis and uncover tons of cool avenue artwork.

Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Whittier

The Alaska Railroad is likely one of the most scenic railways on the earth, and the Anchorage to Whittier route is one in every of its hottest.

The prepare travels by means of a few of Alaska’s most gorgeous landscapes, together with the Chugach Mountains and the Kenai Peninsula. The journey takes about 2.5 hours, and there are many alternatives to soak up the surroundings alongside the way in which.

Hubbard Glacier

An Alaskan cruise shouldn’t be full with no crusing by means of Hubbard Glacier. With a top of 600 toes (350 toes seen above water) and stretching over 76 miles lengthy and seven miles vast, it is likely one of the largest glaciers in North America. Because of its dimension, it’s additionally some of the lively (transferring) glaciers on the earth, advancing at a price of 80 toes per yr.

Cruise ships typically cease at Hubbard Glacier so passengers can get a close-up view of the glacier (however not too shut!) and its calving, the place chunks of ice break off from the principle glacier. While calving icebergs have change into more and more frequent lately attributable to local weather change, it appears to have little to no impact on Hubbard Glacier, even rising extra in dimension.

Glacier National Park

Glacier Bay National Park is house to a staggering 1045 glaciers (50 of that are named). Some of probably the most lovely ones embody the Lamplugh Glacier and Margerie Glacier.

Lamplugh Glacier is a small however simply accessible glacier positioned in John Hopkins Inlet (which can also be house to a number of marine life price seeing like harbor seals).

Margerie Glacier is one other in style vacation spot for cruisers. This glacier is far bigger than Lamplugh Glacier and affords breathtaking views of its crevasses and ice sculptures.

Both may be seen from the Holland America Alaskan Cruise.

Skagway

Skagway is a historic city positioned in Alaska’s Inside Passage. The city is finest recognized for being the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, when prospectors flooded into the realm looking for gold.

Today, Skagway is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot, providing guests an opportunity to expertise a style of the outdated frontier. The city’s principal avenue, Broadway, is lined with quaint outlets and eating places, and there are a number of historic buildings to discover, together with the Red Onion Saloon and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway Depot.

Skagway can also be surrounded by breathtaking pure magnificence, with towering mountains, pristine forests, and glaciers all inside simple attain.

Chilkoot Trail Hike & Float

If you’re searching for an journey that may take you thru a number of the most lovely surroundings in Alaska, the Chilkoot Trail Hike & Rafting Float is unquestionably for you.

The Chilkoot Trail was as soon as an important entry route used to get by means of the Coast Mountains into the Yukon goldfields again within the late Eighteen Nineties. Today, vacationers can expertise and stroll the identical path the prospectors and packers used again within the day. You can prepare the complete 33-mile hike, however the Holland America cruise tour solely covers a 2-mile portion.

The hike itself is a bit difficult (a number of uphill to start with!) however extremely rewarding, and the float down the river is the right solution to calm down after an extended day on the path. Plus, you may get to see some fascinating wildlife alongside the way in which.

Juneau

Juneau, Alaska, is a good looking place to go to. The metropolis is positioned within the state’s southeastern nook, surrounded by glaciers, mountains, forests, and various wildlife resembling bears, eagles, and whales. It can also be a incredible place for guests searching for excursions to Mendenhall Glacier attributable to its shut proximity (simply 12 miles from downtown Juneau.)

Visitors to Juneau can take pleasure in many actions, together with mountain climbing, fishing, whale watching, and kayaking. Some of the issues you shouldn’t miss out on embody a tour by means of the Tracy Arm Fjord, the place the gorgeous twin Sawyer Glaciers await on the finish. You can even find out about Alaska’s tradition and historical past within the Alaska State Museum, which homes over 32,000 historic artifacts, artwork, and specimens.

Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Guided Walk

You in all probability already knew you can see A LOT of glaciers in Alaska, however do you know that you might truly stroll on one? Yep, it’s true! Mendenhall Glacier is likely one of the hottest vacationer points of interest in Alaska. With a size of 21.9 km and a width of about 2.4 km, plus reaching elevations of as much as nearly 5,200 toes, it’s positively a sight to behold for any traveler.

There are fairly a number of Holland America cruise excursions that may take you from downtown Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter, which is positioned simply exterior of Juneau. We did the usual guided stroll the place our copter flew us across the glacier for a birds-eye view, then landed on the ice. We hopped out to WALK ON THE GLACIER!! There was even the choice to drink glacier water, which I did!

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a good looking metropolis positioned in southeastern Alaska. The metropolis is thought for its gorgeous surroundings, waterfront location, and mountainous backdrop. And with 5 completely different salmon species coming in droves each July to September, it is named the Salmon Capital of the World.

Ketchikan can also be an ideal place to benefit from the outside, with its mountain climbing trails and kayaking alternatives. Some of the perfect excursions embody the Totem Bight State Historical Park, house to over 14 totem poles and a chieftain home, and the Misty Fjords, a nature lover’s paradise accessible solely by airplane or boat, and comprising nearly 2.3 million acres of wilderness and is a part of the Tongass National Forest.

In addition, town is house to quite a lot of cultural points of interest, together with the Totem Heritage Center and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. And, in fact, no go to to Ketchikan can be full with out taking a fishing constitution or having fun with a number of the recent seafood.

Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer Cruise

The Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer Cruise is an effective way to see a few of Alaska’s most lovely surroundings. The Misty Fjords is a part of the Tongass National Forest (the nation’s largest nationwide forest) and is accessible largely by boat or airplane.

The cruise takes you thru the Inside Passage, permitting you to see firsthand the gorgeous waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and pristine waterways that make this state so distinctive. On the way in which again, you’ll even have the prospect to see wildlife of their pure habitat, together with whales, bald eagles, and sea otters.

Cruising Inside Passage

Alaska’s Inside Passage is likely one of the hottest cruise locations on the earth—and it’s no surprise why. The Passage boasts a number of the most gorgeous surroundings on earth, from towering mountains and glaciers to pristine forests and crystal-clear waterways.

This famend coastal route takes you thru the waters between parts of Washington (Puget Sound), British Columbia, and Alaska (Lynn Canal).

Wildlife is ample, and there are many alternatives to see orca whales!

Vancouver

Vancouver is a singular metropolis with an interesting historical past. The metropolis has all the time been recognized for its lovely surroundings, gentle local weather, and variety. It additionally affords many alternatives for outside actions, resembling mountain climbing, snowboarding, biking, crusing, and kayaking.

Some of the issues you shouldn’t miss out on embody strolling/biking round Stanley Park (you should definitely take a look at the seawall), exploring the artwork and meals scene on the historic Gastown (and its Steam Clock), and the breathtaking views of Vancouver at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Onboard Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam

Dining Experience Inside Holland American’s Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship

There’s no scarcity of nice locations to eat onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. For a style of the Orient, Tamarind affords a scrumptious menu of conventional Asian dishes. Or, for Italian delicacies lovers, Canaletto serves up mouth-watering pizzas and pasta dishes (I had a scrumptious lasagna!).

And in case you’re searching for one thing mild and wholesome, the Lido Market buffet is ideal for grabbing a fast chew. Of course, no go to to Nieuw Amsterdam can be full with out making an attempt the well-known New York Pizza!

Suites & Staterooms Experience Inside Holland American’s Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship

Guests have loads of choices with regards to the rooms inside Nieuw Amsterdam that may certainly match their wants. There are six room varieties to select from: Inside (no home windows), Ocean View, Verandah, Vista, Signature, and Neptune/Pinnacle. For my journey, I opted for the Verandah room.

The Verandah Cabins on board the Nieuw Amsterdam are a number of the largest and hottest staterooms on the ship. Located on decks 4 and eight, these cabins supply wonderful views of the ship’s wake and likewise function a big lavatory with a bathtub and bathe.

Cruise Ship Entertainment

Looking for a spot to let free and have some enjoyable? Then head on over to the Nieuw Amsterdam Mainstage or B.B. Kings Blues Club for some leisure the place every evening incorporates a completely different present. You may see the BBC Earth wildlife documentary paired with reside music, a hilarious comic or entertaining dancers.

Onboard Activities

Looking for one thing to do onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam? You received’t be upset! There are loads of actions to maintain you entertained throughout your cruise. One in style possibility is hitting up the on line casino to attempt your luck on the slot machines. Or go for a recreation of bingo the place there’s potential to win some good cash!

If you’re seeking to calm down, take a dip in one of many swimming pools or take pleasure in a recreation of ping pong. There’s additionally quite a lot of onboard outlets the place you may browse for a memento insulated mug or piece of art work.

. . .

Holland America Alaskan Cruises supply vacationers a singular alternative to expertise the gorgeous pure great thing about Alaska whereas having fun with the facilities of an expensive cruise ship. While every cruise is barely completely different, there are some things you can count on on all of their cruises. First and foremost, you may count on Holland America’s trademark consideration to element and excellent customer support. Holland America takes care of all the main points so as to calm down and revel in your trip. You can even count on to see a number of the most lovely surroundings on the earth. Alaska is house to glaciers, mountains, fjords, and wildlife, and Holland America’s cruises provide the likelihood to see all of it. If you’re searching for an unforgettable Alaska cruise, Holland America is the right alternative.

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