“We’re counting down the days until we can welcome guests back to Alaska in 2021 to experience the incredible natural beauty of the last frontier—a place they have been dreaming about, a place I’m incredibly passionate about and take great pride in bringing more guests to than any other cruise line,” says Lisa Syme, v.p. of marketing for Princess Cruises.
Stakeholders have tremendous hope in the 2021 Alaska cruise season, and the 49th state, with its wide-open spaces, offers the perfect setting for today’s cruisers. That said, Alaska cruises will look a little different than in past years, with lines offering shorter itineraries due to CDC guidelines.
New to the region is Princess Cruises’ Majestic Princess, which will sail in Alaska for the first time, picking up all Regal Princess Seattle-Inside Passage departures from May to September. Majestic is also set to sail a 4-day Alaska Sampler in September. And for 2022, the cruise line will be increasing its presence in the region, debuting sailings on the newest ship in the fleet, the Discovery Princess. Discovery and Emerald Princess will sail the 7-day Inside Passage itinerary, while Majestic Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess will sail the 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary, which features two glacier viewing experiences on every cruise including Glacier Bay National Park (Vancouver, B.C. to Anchorage [Whittier] or vice-versa). Ruby Princess offers 10-day Inside Passage cruises out of San Francisco, featuring the added bonus of a sail-away under the Golden Gate Bridge. princess.com
Royal Caribbean is set to have four ships sailing in Alaska this upcoming season, including Quantum of the Seas. All itineraries, such as Alaska Glacier, will be seven nights. Come 2022, Royal Caribbean will be ramping it up with new itineraries that tout four ports of call and others that showcase twice the glaciers. Ovation and Quantum of the Seas will sail 7-night roundtrip itineraries from Seattle, visiting scenic cities and towns along the Northwest coastline, including Victoria, British Columbia; Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau, Alaska.
Radiance and Serenade of the Seas will offer a fresh take on 7-night itineraries anchored by visits to Haines, Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau and Seward, Alaska. Sailing alternating itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, Radiance will introduce a second northbound itinerary that includes a visit to Icy Strait Point, known for its native Tlingit hospitality, diverse landscape and active wildlife. Southbound sailings will introduce an evening call to Haines, among the Inside Passage’s most scenic towns and home to a thriving arts community. Paired with a day spent in Skagway, guests can take advantage of the long, summer daylight hours in the state’s adventure capital that is located along the continent’s longest and deepest fjord. Sister ship Serenade, departing roundtrip from Vancouver, will also stop in on Haines with a full-day visit, and guests can also enjoy twice the ice with an itinerary that features both the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, and the Hubbard Glacier. Guests on board Serenade can extend their stay with Royal Caribbean’s signature CruiseTours, a series of 2- to 6-night pre- or post-cruise land tours led by local experts. royalcaribbean.com
Seabourn’s 2021 Alaska season has been tweaked, with the entire season consisting of 18 seven-day voyages between Vancouver and Juneau on board Seabourn Odyssey, taking guests to the region’s most popular destinations, as well as hidden gems along the Inside Passage. seabourn.com/en_US.html
And for very intimate explorations of Alaska, Alaskan Luxury Cruises will cruise in Prince William Sound with a new private yacht in 2021, the Sea Mist. With only three suites and luxurious amenities, this ship is ideal for those wanting a custom, private cruise in Alaska. alaskanluxurycruises.com
