Beyond being the largest US state by area, Alaska is also its least densely populated state. Situated to the northwest of the North American continent, it is flanked by Canada on the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. It connects to Russia via the Bering Strait. Inhabited most densely within the Anchorage metropolitan area, it offers tourists virgin landscapes and exclusive maritime scenes via some of the best Alaskan cruise tours offered by the leading names in the industry.
Spectacular Cruise Spots
The cruises are now inclusive of travel by air, river, and sea, across the well-developed ferry system called the Alaska Marine Highway. The best options enable stopovers across the cities that span the southeast of the peninsula, as well as the Gulf Coast. You get to connect to any one of the shore excursions via popular inland destinations such as Bellingham, Prince Rupert, British Columbia and Washington in Canada and the Skagway. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority offers tours marine links that enable thousands of passengers to indulge in pleasure voyages along transit stopovers. Liners that cater to this segment offer transit and round trips.
Most Popular Tours
Some ships that ply these waters offer intercontinental travelers the chance to indulge in transatlantic voyages, rife with luxury and enforced idleness. The best experience is offered by liners that operate like floating hotels, catered to by the best hospitality staff and crew. The biggest names in the industry like the Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Holland America Lines cater to the sector. They enable inland and maritime indulgence in and around the waters of:
Denali National Park, the home to the tallest mountain in North America and impressive wildlife.
Glacier Bay, arena for exclusive tidewater glaciers, valleys and fjords.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, site for mines, glaciers, and Alaska’s largest national park.
Kenai Fjords, perfect for wildlife-viewing and kayaking.
Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and the gateway to maritime adventure.
Fairbanks, the perfect inland blend of the cosmopolitan and rustic in a rare display of nature and industry co-existing.
Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
The popular cruises come with the promise to cover the national forests that are great venues for fishing and hunting, and exclusive mountain biking trails. They also offer guided inland tours that cover national monuments and quaint native villages. You could pick destinations and stopovers from among Livengood, Prudhoe Bay, Fort Yukon, Trapper Creek, Halibut Cove, and/or Anchor Point. The land is known for flaunting rich and varied terrain all year through, and with the finest hotels and resorts catering to the tourism industry, being part of the blizzards is just as exciting as watching the first signs of spring unveil. Inside Passage is by far the best destination, since it allows access to the Prince William Sound, the Bering Sea, and the Gulf of Alaska. Routes vary according to personal preference, but the cruise will offer you a sneak peek at the majestic wildlife comprising the bald eagles, whales, and bears, irrespective of the chosen route.
Cruise travel allows you to indulge in adventure tourism, a segment that enables exploration of some of Alaska’s most remote and exotic areas, for a more indulgent cultural exchange with the Inupiat, Eyak, Yupik, Haida, Aleut, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Athabaskan people. The best cruises also accommodate itineraries for inland activities such as mountaineering, bungee jumping, mountain biking, trekking, rafting, and rock climbing. They merge the excitement of ghetto and jungle tourism while enabling overland travel to niche locations in and around mesmerizing Alaska.
