Staying Fit
The bucket list appeal of an Alaska cruise is as clear as the state's pristine glacial waters: You can admire rugged, unspoiled scenery; cover vast distances without being trapped in a car (Alaska is about 2 1/2 times as large as Texas); and, if you're lucky, experience one-of-a-kind moments in hard-to-access places.
"We sailed right up to the glaciers and heard the thunder as they were cracking and crashing into the water,” says Andy Gibson, 50, an IT consultant in Fairfax, Virginia, who traveled with Royal Caribbean in Alaska and has also cruised in the Caribbean and Hawaii. He calls it “the coolest cruise experience I've ever had. It's like you're watching a nature documentary, but it's real life."
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These trips are also a big draw for multigenerational family groups. What kid wouldn't want to see orcas and towering glaciers?
For most Alaska travelers, the Inside Passage is the most popular route. Weaving among the islands of the narrow southeastern strip of the state, the voyage offers intimate views of glaciers, islands and fjords, with stops in towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. Other routes take guests along more of the Gulf of Alaska, but you'll still typically sail through the passage. Inside Passage cruises frequently go round trip from Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia; the latter is the port of choice for luxury lines.
These are some top-rated options (note that prices are subject to change):
Michael S. Nolan
Lindblad Expeditions’ eight-day Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness
Ship: National Geographic Venture, 100 passengers
Price: Starts at $6,490 per person
You can find smaller ships than the 50-cabin Venture, which was launched in 2018, but its cabins are larger than those of the cruise line's other coastal vessels. Plus, the Venture can get to the same remote areas that many of the littler boats can access. It also allows you to hike, bike and kayak through Alaska's wilderness.
The trip starts in Juneau and ends in Sitka, and in between you'll explore destinations such as the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, where you'll see glaciers, waterfalls and icebergs; Petersburg, a small fishing town and location for a Dungeness crab feast; and the Inian Islands, home to sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles.
The company partners with National Geographic, which provides, among other educational perks, an underseas specialist and a photography instructor. At lunch and dinner you'll eat plenty of fresh produce and fish. Not included in your fare: your flight and alcohol (though alcohol is included on Lindblad's National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion cruises).
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ seven-day Iconic Trails and Frontier Tales
Ship: Seven Seas Explorer, 750 passengers
