Eagles, moose and bears—oh my! When you’re in search of 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 few of the greatest 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 beautiful 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 proper method to see Alaska. The itinerary contains stops in Fairbanks, Glacier Bay Nationwide Park, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, in addition to a three-day land tour of Denali Nationwide Park.
In Fairbanks, vacationers can take the Riverboat Discovery Tour or go to the very chilly ice museum. Glacier Bay Nationwide Park is among the most stunning locations in Alaska and is dwelling to glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. Juneau is the capital of Alaska and affords extra than simply beautiful views – guests can go whale watching, go to the Alaska State Museum, or take a trip on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Skagway is a quaint city with a wealthy Gold Rush historical past. And at last, Ketchikan is named the “ Salmon Capital of the World” and is dwelling to Creek Avenue, 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 cause! You’ll discover a number of nationwide parks and landmarks which supply scenic views of mountains, glaciers, and forests, in addition to the chance to see wildlife of their pure habitat. After all, it’s not simply the panorama that makes Alaska value visiting. There’s additionally no scarcity of issues for guests to discover and expertise in one in every of its cities, reminiscent of their numerous cultures and wealthy historical past.
Fairbanks
Whereas Fairbanks might conjure pictures of ice and snow, this vibrant metropolis is definitely positioned within the coronary heart of Alaska’s inside. Regardless of its secluded location, the town is dwelling to a various inhabitants and affords a variety of actions for residents and guests alike.
The town is located close to quite a few waterways, offering ample alternatives for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The town can be dwelling to a variety of parks and climbing trails, making it the proper place to benefit from the nice open air. As well as, there are a number of museums across the metropolis the place you may enrich your self with its historical past, or when 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 really is one thing for everybody at Fairbanks.
Riverboat Discovery Tour
Probably the most well-liked issues to do in Alaska’s metropolis of Fairbanks is taking the Riverboat Discovery Tour, and it’s an tour selection 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. Subsequent, you’ll get a peek at Path Breaker Kennel, the place you may see the canines that assist mushers journey by means of the wilderness. Lastly, you’ll cease at Chena Indian Village Residing Museum, the place you may be taught concerning the historical past and tradition of the Alaskan Native individuals.
Denali Nationwide Park
Denali Nationwide Park is among the hottest vacationer points of interest in Alaska. The park is dwelling to Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, and is understood for its beautiful surroundings and numerous wildlife. Guests to the park can take pleasure in climbing, tenting, wildlife watching, and far more. Lately, the park has additionally turn out to be a well-liked vacation spot for winter sports activities reminiscent of cross-country snowboarding and snowshoeing. It doesn’t matter what time of yr you go to, Denali Nationwide Park is certain to impress.
Denali Wilderness Tour
Trying to rise up shut and private with a few of Alaska’s superb wildlife? Then the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour is for you. This narrated tour takes you on a “faculty” bus trip deep into the guts of Denali Nationwide Park, the place you’ll have the possibility to see grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, and extra.
You’ll additionally get to expertise the beautiful landscapes of the park, from its towering mountains to its sprawling tundra. Better of all, you’ll be guided by an skilled naturalist who will provide help to profit from your expertise. So whether or not you’re a seasoned adventurer or a first-time customer, the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour is certain to supply an unforgettable expertise.
It’s additionally a very good alternative to verify it off our US Nationwide Parks Bucket Record: 61 Beauties to Go to in America!
Denali to Anchorage by way of McKinley Explorer
The Mckinley Explorer practice is among the greatest (and best!) methods to see Alaska. The practice takes you from Denali to Anchorage, and the journey takes slightly below eight hours. The surroundings is unbelievable, and also you get to see a few of the most stunning elements of Alaska.
The practice has two ranges, and the dome-shaped higher degree has large home windows so you may actually take within the views. The decrease degree has a eating automotive, the place you may get breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Anchorage
Anchorage is the most important metropolis in Alaska, positioned within the south-central a part of the state. And whereas the typical winter temperatures are under freezing, the summers are heat and sunny, with many various outside actions to take pleasure in, reminiscent of climbing, biking, fishing, and tenting.
Among the greatest actions you are able to do right here embrace climbing (or biking) the Tony Knowles Coastal Path, studying about historical past in Anchorage Museum (Alaska’s largest museum), and seeing glaciers on a day cruise or flightseeing tour to Portage Valley. When you’re trying to shock your self additional, you can even stroll across the metropolis and uncover tons of cool road artwork.
Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Whittier
The Alaska Railroad is among the most scenic railways on this planet, and the Anchorage to Whittier route is one in every of its hottest.
The practice travels by means of a few of Alaska’s most beautiful 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 will not be full and not using a crusing by means of Hubbard Glacier. With a top of 600 ft (350 ft seen above water) and stretching over 76 miles lengthy and seven miles huge, it is among the largest glaciers in North America. Due to its dimension, it’s additionally one of the vital lively (transferring) glaciers on this planet, advancing at a charge of 80 ft per yr.
Cruise ships usually 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. Whereas calving icebergs have turn out to be more and more frequent lately because of local weather change, it appears to have little to no impact on Hubbard Glacier, even rising extra in dimension.
Glacier Nationwide Park
Glacier Bay Nationwide Park is dwelling to a staggering 1045 glaciers (50 of that are named). Among the most stunning ones embrace the Lamplugh Glacier and Margerie Glacier.
Lamplugh Glacier is a small however simply accessible glacier positioned in John Hopkins Inlet (which can be dwelling to a number of marine life value seeing like harbor seals).
Margerie Glacier is one other well-liked vacation spot for cruisers. This glacier is way bigger than Lamplugh Glacier and affords breathtaking views of its crevasses and ice sculptures.
Each may be seen from the Holland America Alaskan Cruise.
Skagway
Skagway is a historic city positioned in Alaska’s Inside Passage. The city is greatest recognized for being the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, when prospectors flooded into the realm seeking gold.
Right this moment, Skagway is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot, providing guests an opportunity to expertise a style of the previous frontier. The city’s fundamental road, Broadway, is lined with quaint outlets and eating places, and there are a number of historic buildings to discover, together with the Pink Onion Saloon and the White Move & Yukon Route Railway Depot.
Skagway can be surrounded by breathtaking pure magnificence, with towering mountains, pristine forests, and glaciers all inside simple attain.
Chilkoot Path Hike & Float
When you’re in search of an journey that can take you thru a few of the most stunning surroundings in Alaska, the Chilkoot Path Hike & Rafting Float is unquestionably for you.
The Chilkoot Path was as soon as a significant entry route used to get by means of the Coast Mountains into the Yukon goldfields again within the late Eighteen Nineties. Right this moment, vacationers can expertise and stroll the identical path the prospectors and packers used again within the day. You may 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 proper method to loosen up after a protracted day on the path. Plus, you may get to see some fascinating wildlife alongside the way in which.
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska, is a lovely place to go to. The town is positioned within the state’s southeastern nook, surrounded by glaciers, mountains, forests, and numerous wildlife reminiscent of bears, eagles, and whales. It’s also a implausible place for guests in search of excursions to Mendenhall Glacier because of its shut proximity (simply 12 miles from downtown Juneau.)
Guests to Juneau can take pleasure in many actions, together with climbing, fishing, whale watching, and kayaking. Among the issues you shouldn’t miss out on embrace a tour by means of the Tracy Arm Fjord, the place the beautiful twin Sawyer Glaciers await on the finish. It’s also possible to study 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 Stroll
You most likely already knew that you may see A LOT of glaciers in Alaska, however do you know that you might really stroll on one? Yep, it’s true! Mendenhall Glacier is among 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 ft, it’s undoubtedly a sight to behold for any traveler.
There are fairly a couple of Holland America cruise excursions that can take you from downtown Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter, which is positioned simply outdoors 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 lovely metropolis positioned in southeastern Alaska. The town is understood for its beautiful surroundings, waterfront location, and mountainous backdrop. And with 5 totally different salmon species coming in droves each July to September, it is named the Salmon Capital of the World.
Ketchikan can be an awesome place to benefit from the open air, with its climbing trails and kayaking alternatives. Among the greatest excursions embrace the Totem Bight State Historic Park, dwelling to over 14 totem poles and a chieftain home, and the Misty Fjords, a nature lover’s paradise accessible solely by aircraft or boat, and comprising nearly 2.3 million acres of wilderness and is a part of the Tongass Nationwide Forest.
As well as, the town is dwelling to quite a lot of cultural points of interest, together with the Totem Heritage Heart and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Heart. And, after all, no go to to Ketchikan can be full with out taking a fishing constitution or having fun with a few 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 stunning surroundings. The Misty Fjords is a part of the Tongass Nationwide Forest (the nation’s largest nationwide forest) and is accessible largely by boat or aircraft.
The cruise takes you thru the Inside Passage, permitting you to see firsthand the beautiful waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and pristine waterways that make this state so distinctive. On the way in which again, you’ll even have the possibility to see wildlife of their pure habitat, together with whales, bald eagles, and sea otters.
Cruising Inside Passage
Alaska’s Inside Passage is among the hottest cruise locations on this planet—and it’s no marvel why. The Passage boasts a few of the most beautiful 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 plentiful, and there are many alternatives to see orca whales!
Vancouver
Vancouver is a singular metropolis with an enchanting historical past. The town has at all times been recognized for its stunning surroundings, gentle local weather, and variety. It additionally affords many alternatives for outside actions, reminiscent of climbing, snowboarding, biking, crusing, and kayaking.
Among the issues you shouldn’t miss out on embrace strolling/biking round Stanley Park (remember to try 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
Eating Expertise 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 when you’re in search of one thing mild and wholesome, the Lido Market buffet is ideal for grabbing a fast chew. After all, no go to to Nieuw Amsterdam can be full with out making an attempt the well-known New York Pizza!
Suites & Staterooms Expertise Inside Holland American’s Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship
Company have loads of choices in the case of the rooms inside Nieuw Amsterdam that can certainly match their wants. There are six room sorts 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 few of the largest and hottest staterooms on the ship. Positioned on decks 4 and eight, these cabins provide superb views of the ship’s wake and in addition function a big lavatory with a bath and bathe.
Cruise Ship Leisure
Searching for a spot to let free and have some enjoyable? Then head on over to the Nieuw Amsterdam Mainstage or B.B. Kings Blues Membership for some leisure the place every evening contains a totally different present. You may see the BBC Earth wildlife documentary paired with stay music, a hilarious comic or entertaining dancers.
Onboard Actions
Searching for one thing to do onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam? You received’t be upset! There are many actions to maintain you entertained throughout your cruise. One well-liked choice is hitting up the on line casino to strive your luck on the slot machines. Or go for a sport of bingo the place there’s potential to win some good cash!
When you’re trying to loosen up, take a dip in one of many swimming pools or take pleasure in a sport 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 provide vacationers a singular alternative to expertise the beautiful pure fantastic thing about Alaska whereas having fun with the facilities of an expensive cruise ship. Whereas every cruise is barely totally different, there are some things that you may anticipate on all of their cruises. In the beginning, you may anticipate Holland America’s trademark consideration to element and excellent customer support. Holland America takes care of all the small print with the intention to loosen up and revel in your trip. It’s also possible to anticipate to see a few of the most stunning surroundings on this planet. Alaska is dwelling to glaciers, mountains, fjords, and wildlife, and Holland America’s cruises provide the probability to see all of it. When you’re in search of an unforgettable Alaska cruise, Holland America is the proper selection.
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