Alaska Cruise Tour

Types of Tours

There are several different types of tours available, depending on the specific cruise line. Holland America Cruise Line offers the most extensive selection of Alaska options, with more than two dozen tours ranging from eleven to nineteen total days, including the time spent onboard the ship (typically seven days). Most cruise lines that offer Alaskan voyages also have some variety of cruise tours available, including Carnival and Princess Cruises, though their options are typically shorter than those offered by Holland America.

Tours can be booked either before or after a cruise, and they offer the convenience of limited paperwork, an experienced tour director from the cruise line, and dozens of coordinated sightseeing options. Naturally, longer tours will have a greater variety of stops, as well as bonus days to more deeply explore popular destinations.

Tour Features

Different tours offer a variety of features, though all of them provide passengers a glimpse of the awesome wildlife and natural beauty of Alaska. Inevitably, each tour will visit different cities (most frequently Fairbanks, Anchorage, or both) as well as assorted national parks – Denali is the most popular, home to the highest mountain in North America, the famed Mount McKinley. Other national park visits may include Tombstone Territorial Park or Glacier Bay National Park.

Tours always include amenities similar to the comforts of a cruise ship, even though they’re still on land. Experienced guides offer expert advice and insight to local attractions, and comfortable private transportation and accommodations are conveniently arranged. Passengers can choose from a variety of optional excursions throughout the tour, such as whale watching quests, river rafting, guided hikes, helicopter tours, and other sightseeing options.

For details about specific tours, prospective passengers should consult an experienced travel agent or communicate directly with the cruise line.

Costs of an Alaska Cruise Tour

Alaska cruise tours are not covered in the standard cost of a cruise vacation; instead, they are an additional fee based on the length of the tour and the scheduled attractions. Prices generally begin at $1,000 per guest, and may be as high as $3,000 for longer, more extensive cruise supplements. When budgeting for a cruise, passengers should remember that the cost of a tour is in addition to the regular cruise fare as well as any necessary airfare or other fees.

Benefits of Adding a Tour

For many vacationers, the cost of adding an Alaska cruise tour may seem exorbitant, but when all other considerations are made (the cost of arranging tours separately including transportation between cities, guides for different parks and excursions, and additional accommodations), they are quite reasonably priced. Not only will visitors experience the luxury of a cruise but by experiencing the additional wonders in Alaska’s interior they can truly say they have visited this fine state.

Alaska is a vast state and most visitors only brush the fringes of the wonders it offers. By adding Alaska cruise tours onto standard seven-day cruise vacations, travelers can explore the state’s interior and come face to face with many natural delights, including wolves, caribou, moose, bears, and more. Visiting the national parks is an awe-inspiring experience for many, and the convenience of an organized tour coordinated with a decadent cruise makes a truly remarkable vacation.