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In 2022, for example, I booked the cheapest Alaska cruise I could find on Radiance of the Seas. Having booked the cruise only three months before I sailed, it offered a fantastic value. If you live in a warm climate or don’t wear winter jackets often, consider purchasing gently-used cold weather gear at a thrift shop or on eBay.
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips - Royal Caribbean Blog
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:23:24 GMT [source]
Book a one-way itinerary if you want to extend your trip
Although ships in the same class, such as Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, share similarities, they still offer varied dining venues, entertainment, and decor. Regardless of which ports you visit, you’re guaranteed to have an enjoyable time visiting Alaska on one of Royal Caribbean’s most family-friendly cruise ships. Alaska Glacier cruises visit three Alaska cruise ports and include a scenic sightseeing experience at Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier.
Remember to book pre-cruise add-ons before you board
While Radiance of the Seas is considered a small cruise ship by Royal Caribbean standards, she is still a large vessel that holds nearly 2,500 guests at double capacity. Many guests enjoy the size of a Radiance Class ship for the combination of having enough activities to do while maintaining a more personal feel. Like Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas is also a Quantum Class cruise ship, meaning she offers the latest and greatest of Royal Caribbean’s features and activities. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the unique “I can’t believe they put that on a cruise ship” activities found onboard, such as the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator or bumper cars. If you’re considering an Alaska cruise for the 2023 season or beyond, you might be wondering which Royal Caribbean ships sail to Alaska. Brilliance of the Seas will sail primarily 7-night roundtrip cruises, including some multi-glacier cruises that visit Hubbard Glacier in addition to Dawes Glacier.
Pack accessories
Cruising the Caribbean is an excuse to party, from reggae bands on the pool deck to all-inclusive resorts in port. Whereas you might find large groups of friends onboard a 3-night Freedom of the Seas cruise for a bachelorette party, you’re more likely to see families on an Alaska cruise. If you’re used to weekend party cruises to the Bahamas, you might be shocked by the relaxed atmosphere on an Alaska cruise. In general, cruises to cold weather destinations tend to attract a different demographic compared to Caribbean cruises. As previously stated, Alaska’s weather can be highly unpredictable, and this may lead to itinerary changes and even port cancellations.
Arrive in Seattle the day before your cruise begins
If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors viewing scenery, it’s always better to be prepared with more layers and accessories than you think you’ll need. Predicting the weather in Alaska is nearly impossible, and you may encounter all four seasons in just one day while visiting the state. And, while onboard, kids will enjoy the activities and programming offered by Royal Caribbean. Whether in the Caribbean or Alaska, Royal Caribbean offers the same family-friendly activities and programs for its guests. The most common time to see the northern lights is during the winter and early spring.
What to pack for an Alaska cruise
Booking shore excursions early ensures you can pay the lowest price possible and reserve a spot on a tour on the chance it sells out. Exploring ports through independent tour operators or on your own is another option. All Alaska cruise ports have complimentary attractions and nature activities right near where the ship docks, so it’s not always necessary to book an excursion.
During the summer, visitors can expect to see the warmest temperatures and most hours of daylight. Cruising to Alaska in the early season, April and May, brings lower crowds and prices. Expect to see daily temperatures with highs in the mid 50s and lows around 40 degrees. Less rain is expected during the early season, as April, May, and June are among the driest months of the year in Alaska. Daylight hours will increase each day leading up to the summer solstice, with daylight hours from 4AM to 10PM in late May. It’s not uncommon for there to be three, four, or even five cruise ships docked in Alaska's ports at once.
Disembark your ship early on each port day to avoid crowds
A passport isn’t necessary when cruising out of Seattle, either, although it is recommended. If you made it to the end of this article, chances are you’re already following our final tip on this list, and that is to read as many tips as you can about Alaska cruises before you set sail. While it could be tempting to sleep in, we advise starting your port day earlier rather than later.
The same rules that apply to dining and beverage packages also apply to shore excursions; it’s important to book shore excursions in advance. In fact, because popular shore excursions often risk selling out, it’s even more important to book shore excursions ahead of time compared to dining and beverage packages. If so, selecting a larger ship like Quantum of the Seas or Ovation of the Seas may be the best option.
Depending on the weather conditions outside and time of year you sail to Alaska, you may encounter some choppy seas. While most days should be smooth sailing, it’s always good to plan in advance if you are prone to motion sickness. This is especially true if you plan to book a whale watching tour while in port, as most guests will feel more movement on a smaller vessel. Fortunately, Alaska’s cruise ports are all small and walkable, meaning you can see many attractions without booking expensive excursions.
The Quantum Class ships (Quantum and Ovation of the Seas) are newer ships, and offer much more to see, eat, and do onboard. They are also priced higher since you are sailing on one of Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships. You may also want to consider packing snacks to bring with you on your excursion, especially if traveling with kids. Alaska shore excursions can be more active than what you’re used to, so having a bag of trail mix or granola bars on hand is helpful. Depending on the month you’re cruising to Alaska, packing a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt as a base layer is essential. Even though you’ll be surrounded by glaciers, it can get relatively warm in southeast Alaska, especially in the summer months.
If it’s cold and rainy, take shelter in a local seafood restaurant, saloon, coffee shop, or brewery and immerse yourself in the town’s culture while tasting delicious food and drinks. An Alaska cruise is different from cruises to the Caribbean or Europe, and there's a whole bunch of easy tips and tricks to make your cruise fantastic. All cruises come to an end, and unfortunately this means you will have to return home after your Alaska cruise.
In addition, tour operators may offer similar cancellation policies to Royal Caribbean on the chance your cruise itinerary changes. Royal Caribbean will do everything possible to notify guests of itinerary changes before the cruise, but sometimes you will not find out of any itinerary changes until you get onboard. Unfortunately, this may mean scrambling to figure out new shore excursions and ideas for what to do in port. If you’re concerned over not packing enough or what you’ll do if clothes get dirty on a shore excursion, remember that all Royal Caribbean ships offer laundry service onboard. While self-service laundry is not available, you can choose to have a full bag of laundry washed and folded for $35.99 per bag. Whale watching tours are arguably the most popular shore excursion to book on an Alaska cruise.
Radiance of the Seas spends nearly every summer in Alaska, making it one of the region’s most consistent cruise ships. Of all Royal Caribbean ships in Alaska in 2023, Radiance of the Seas offers the most port-intensive itineraries. It’s also important to note that booking an excursion on an Alaska cruise is not a requirement. Alaska cruise ports offer many options for free and low-cost sightseeing, from walking around historic towns to tasting local cuisine and hiking in the mountains. Seattle is a gateway to Alaska cruises, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit remarkable, stunning ports on a weeklong cruise. You’ll typically find between 3-4 ports and a scenic glacier viewing day on a 7-night Alaska cruise from Seattle.
Cruises leaving Vancouver do not need to stop in Victoria, meaning your cruise itinerary will visit more ports in Alaska compared to those leaving Seattle. All Alaska cruises departing Seattle must include a port stop in Victoria, British Columbia to meet the requirements of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA). Truthfully, your experience in Alaska will not vary drastically from itinerary to itinerary. All itineraries give passengers the chance to explore the state’s wildlife, history, and cuisine regardless of the town.
If prices are lower, or if there’s availability on a tour that’s sold out on the Cruise Planner, there’s no harm in booking through a third party. Speaking of excursions, it isn’t necessary to book excursions through Royal Caribbean. While booking shore excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website is convenient, you might find more options (or lower prices) by booking through independent tour operators. Radiance of the Seas will offer these one-way Alaska sailings in 2023, offering 7-night Northbound and Southbound cruises. Four Alaska ports will be visited on these itineraries along with a scenic viewing day at Hubbard Glacier.
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