The Best of Alaska by Land And Sea
Complete your Alaska adventure bucket list with a multi night land tour that’ll take you deeper into America’s Last Frontier. From North America’s tallest peak, Denali, to the stunning coastal route of the Inside Passage, Alaska is one of the most stunning natural landscapes on Earth. In this untouched wilderness, you will find ancient glacial valleys, majestic river canyons and misty emerald forests.
Head to picturesque Seward, icy waters meet bright green lands. You can journey into Denali National Park for a glimpse of roaming brown bears and moose. And learn more about the state’s rich cultural past at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Alaska is brimming with history and adventure, and nothing brings you closer to it than a Royal Caribbean Cruisetour.
JUST IMAGINE WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER
Alaska’s rugged southeastern coast represents some of nature’s best work. The intricate waterways of the Inside Passage, dotted with thousands of islands, big and small. The high cliffs of Misty Fjords. The deep bays that welcome whales every summer. The towering blue ice of Hubbard Glacier. Where life is centered around the water, a cruise is the ideal choice. But a journey into the interior reveals so much more. Mighty rivers fed by massive glaciers. Towns where moose stroll the streets. The vast taiga forests and rolling tundra of Denali National Park. And the Great One itself — Denali, the mountain standing tall over the rest of the snow-covered Alaska Range.
With a Royal Caribbean Cruisetour, you enjoy both. Combining a seven-night sailing along the southeastern coastline of Alaska with a multi-night land tour into the breathtakingly beautiful inland destinations, it’s a complete Alaska adventure. Experience the authentic interior of Alaska in supreme comfort, with luxury transportation and accommodations in the finest lodges available. And with the personal attention and expertise of a dedicated Adventure Specialist, you’ll explore the wild lands of the Last Frontier your way.
BEHOLD NATURAL WONDERS
Nature generally takes her time. Alaska’s dramatic mountain ranges and ruggedly beautiful seascapes were carved out by glaciers over thousands of years. Today, most of these giant masses of ice are slowly receding, with one notable exception. The mighty Hubbard — the continent’s biggest tidewater glacier — is growing larger by the day and moving quickly toward the Gulf of Alaska. Traveling by sea, cruisers experience the awe-inspiring sight of the towering frozen river of blue ice. It’s also a unique opportunity to witness the power of nature as Hubbard reshapes the region around Yakutat Bay.
Even by the standards of the Great Land, Hubbard is huge, covering 1,350 square miles. It stretches 76 miles from Canada’s Yukon toward the sea until it meets Disenchantment Bay. There the glacier stands some 350 feet tall and about seven miles across, and is advancing at the astonishing rate of 30 feet per day. With that relentless movement comes constant calving.
This phenomenon is one of nature’s greatest spectacles, as chunks of melting ice the size of buildings break off and crash into the frigid waters of the bay. The sound of cracking ice is so loud, the native peoples called it “White Thunder.” You can appreciate this wonder of nature from almost anywhere onboard.
ADVENTURE AT EVERY TURN
No two travelers are exactly alike. That’s why a Royal Caribbean Cruisetour features include experiences plus ample free time for you to do as much — or as little — as you’d like. The inclusive selection is designed around tours and experiences that showcase the special qualities of every destination. Each one is thoughtfully chosen to complement your independent explorations and discoveries for a complete and memorable Alaskan vacation that is all yours.
The discovery of gold transformed Alaska, and the Gold Dredge 8 tour brings the state’s gold rush history and mining heritage to life. Over three decades, the pan-like dredge extracted gold just outside downtown Fairbanks. Years after closing, it reopened as a national historic district and is a popular attraction. You’ll travel there aboard a replica narrow-gauge train whose conductor shares tales of the early prospectors. Then watch the giant dredge — itself an engineering landmark — in action before getting hands-on, panning for gold the old-fashioned way.
Discover the diversity of Alaska’s indigenous communities — Yup’ik, Cup’ik, Iñupiaq, Athabascan, Tlingit, Alutiiq and more — at the acclaimed institution, Alaska Native Heritage Center. More than a museum, the center is a forum for the storytellers, dancers and artisans who are dedicated to sharing their heritage and to preserving their languages and customs. The Welcome House is a celebration of contemporary Alaska Native cultures, while the outdoor facilities and sites on the center’s 26-acre wooded campus allow you to explore ancient traditions and architectural styles that have been passed down through the generations.