10 incredible cruises to Alaska and Canada

The Canadian Rockies at Banff National Park
The Canadian Rockies at Banff National Park Credit: AP

As many cruise regulars will know, voyages can take you to some of the world’s most exciting and far-flung corners. Here is our pick of some of the most exciting adventures you can have on the water in Alaska and Canada.

Prices were correct at the time of publication and include flights unless otherwise stated.

1. The Canadian Rockies and Alaska

Among the established mainstream operators to the region, Princess Cruises carries more passengers than any rival, thanks to the number of departures – no fewer than 113 this year, across six ships. Departure ports include Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier and San Francisco. Among its attractive offerings are “Land and Sea” options. These include the Denali Explorer (the most popular such trip, which takes you to Alaska’s Denali National Park); independent pre-booked tours (On Your Own); luxury land tours (Connoisseur); and trips to more remote regions, such as the Kenai Peninsula (Off the Beaten Track). 

Its most tempting variation for 2017 is the Heart of the Rockies on Star Princess, a 14-night trip that combines a seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise, northbound from Vancouver to Whittier, with seven nights in the Rockies (Calgary to Vancouver) and a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer train. 

From £4,006 per person excluding flights; departures in June, July and August 2017 (0843 374 4444; princess.com).

2. Alaska to Vancouver

Seabourn returns to Alaska in 2017 after 15 years’ absence with six “ultra-luxury” itineraries. Some of these itineraries have predictable ports of call (Juneau, Ketchikan), but more unusual and interesting stops (Sitka, Haines, Wrangell) are available on longer voyages (usually aboard the 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn). These include the 14-day Ultimate Glacier and Fjord Adventure from Seward to Vancouver. But the key to any Alaskan cruise, where ports are often secondary, is excursions, and here Seabourn is part of a trend for more expedition-style excursions that allow for hiking, kayaking, “wet” Zodiac landings and more specialist on-board lecturers and guides. These excursions will be available at Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords, two of Alaska’s great scenic highlights. There is also a four-day fully escorted Denali Experience, featuring luxury accommodation and travel in a flightseeing plane in Denali National Park.

An 11-day Ultimate Alaskan Sojourn departing in June 2017 from Vancouver costs from £3,699 per person excluding flights (0843 373 2000; seabourn.com).

The waterfall at the Misty Fjords of Alaska
The waterfall at the Misty Fjords of Alaska Credit: AP

3. Alaska learning cruise

Luxury line Regent Seven Seas has also invested in its excursions, and its ships. The Seven Seas Mariner, for example, was revamped in 2014 and is in Alaska for many of the company’s 20 sailings here this year. More to the point, in a region where there is much to learn, Regent has an acclaimed lecturer, Terry Breen, on every cruise: he has 20 years’ experience of sailing the Inside Passage to Alaska. 

Regent also works with the Smithsonian Institution on its Smithsonian Collection, a varied programme of lectures, discussions and Q&A sessions with a range of on‑board experts. 

A 14-day Northern Frontiers cruise with Terry Breen and the Smithsonian Collection costs from £7,619 per person, round trip from Vancouver, departing May 24 2017 (02380 682280; rssc.com).

4. Anchorage to Vancouver

Crystal Cruises has 11 straightforward-looking Alaskan cruises this year, either round trip from Vancouver or one-way Vancouver to Anchorage (the latter is an advantage as you see more of Alaska and have the chance to extend your trip from Anchorage). But its cruises score highly in several respects: its Serenity and Symphony ships, for example, are excellent mid-size options (about 1,000 passengers each) and rate highly for food and service. The August 8 departure from Vancouver to Anchorage also segues straight into a 32-day Northwest Passage cruise from Anchorage to New York, which, like Seabourn, will also offer expedition-style excursions: some 100 passengers completed both voyages on the equivalent 2016 cruise. 

A seven-day Vancouver to Anchorage cruise, departing August 8 2017, costs from £1,878 per person. Excludes flights (020 7399 7601; crystalcruises.co.uk).

Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska Credit: AP

5. Alaska and Vancouver Island

Norwegian Cruise Line offers another point of difference in 2018 when it takes delivery of a new 4,000-passenger ship, Norwegian Bliss, specially designed for Alaskan cruising. Furthermore, its home base for the summer cruising season will be Seattle (many Alaskan cruises depart Vancouver), offering the chance for pre- or post-cruise exploration of the city and its Pacific Northwest hinterland. The ship’s seven-day itineraries will also include two less-frequented ports of call: Skagway in Alaska and the pretty city of Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada.

A seven-night round trip from Seattle on Bliss, with weekly departures from June to September, costs from £939 per person. Excludes flights (0333 241 2319; ncl.co.uk).

Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island

6. Disney family cruise

If you’re travelling with children to Alaska and want a cruise with a good range of family-friendly ships and shore activities, then Disney Cruises has introduced a seven-night Alaskan itinerary for 2017, round trip from Vancouver. The addition of the Hubbard Glacier provides one of the region’s great scenic highlights, and though most other ports of call are unexceptional, Icy Strait Point, with its big zip-line and whale-watching opportunities, is particularly child-friendly. Disney’s Junior Ranger educational programme and its on-board facilities for children and teenagers are major considerations on Alaskan cruises, where two or more days at sea are the norm. 

From £6,167 for a family of four sharing a cabin, departing July 17 (0800 171 2317; disneycruise.disney.go.com).

The Hubbard Glacier
The Hubbard Glacier Credit: AP

7. Child-friendly expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions is known for its comfortable small-ship (62-passenger) expedition-style cruises operated in conjunction with National Geographic. With more than 30 years’ experience in Alaska, its educational element is especially strong, and recently the line has made a big effort to attract families. It offers child-friendly menus, movie nights and children-only science and leisure activities. It has three dedicated Family Cruise departures this year between Juneau and Sitka, with additional educational programmes and other child-friendly activities. Lindblad also offers an exceptional variation on standard itineraries by including three days in Canada’s Queen Charlotte Islands en route from Seattle to Sitka. The islands are renowned for their wildlife, unspoilt landscapes and Native Canadian heritage. 

An eight-day Family Cruise departing July 2 2017 costs from £4,800 per person; a 15-day Alaska with Haida Gwaii cruise from £8,900 per person, departing May 13). Excludes international flights (001 800 397 3348; expeditions.com).

8. Juneau boat journey 

Among the region’s smallest family-friendly operations is Alaskan Small Ship Cruises, whose luxury 12-berth boat, MV Sikumi, specially built for Alaskan waters, offers cruises in and around Juneau, but can also be privately booked for tailor-made, multi-generational family groups. Meals and excursions can be customised (and are inclusive), and the Sikumi also offers all the benefits of small-ship cruising in one of the most diverse areas of the Inside Passage region.

Six days from £4,850 per person or £36,500 full charter, with sailings between June and September. Price excludes flights (001 970 217 6359; sikumi.com).

The Medenhall Glacier in Juneau
The Medenhall Glacier in Juneau Credit: AP

9. Off-the-beaten track Alaska

Alaskan cruises usually mean big ships, which in turn means calls at the same big ports regardless of the company involved. Small-ship and expedition cruising itineraries allow for a wider range of destinations as well as a pathway to scenery inaccessible to larger vessels.

Silversea’s 12-day cruise from Seward to Vancouver aboard the 130-passenger Silver Explorer visits parts of the region virtually unheard of on other cruises, among them Yakutat; Elfin Cove, which lies on the northern shore of Chichagof Island; the Inian Islands, a group of scenic islands located in the frigid waters of Icy Strait; Sergius Narrows and Metlakatla. 

From £6,345 per person, departing August 25 2018, excluding flights (0844 251 0837; silversea.com).

Yakutat Bay, Alaska
Yakutat Bay, Alaska Credit: AP

10. New Viking cruise from Vancouver to Alaska

Viking Cruises is building more ocean ships, and makes its Alaska debut in 2019 with the yet-to-be-launched, 930-passenger Viking Spirit – and the cruises are already selling fast. The 10-night route is from Vancouver to Seward or vice versa, and takes in a good array of ports and scenic areas. Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau and Skagway are among the more familiar names, but there’s a few more unusual ones too. At Icy Strait Point, the old fish canning factory has been restored; sailing around Yakutat Bay will reveal one of Alaska’s formidable glaciers; Valdez is a former Gold Rush port. Along the way there will be chances to take scenic flights and even fish for salmon.

From £4,385 per person departing May to August 2019 (0800 298 9700; vikingcruises.co.uk).



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