Cruise Tours
Many cruise lines offer 3- to 10-night land programs (cruise tours) usually in conjunction with seven night one-way Alaska cruises.
Although Holland America does have some that pair a portion of an Inside Passage Cruise with land programs.
Some also offer a Canada Rockies/Rail program out of Vancouver.
Most land programs include stays in interior destinations, such as Anchorage, Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Fairbanks
and the Kenai Peninsula. Each cruise line puts it's a different spin on things and offer exclusives and out-of-the ordinary programs,
special lodgings, different types of travel and different combinations of cities, sightseeing, etc.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN & CELEBRITY CRUISES | With these sister cruise lines, your Cruise Tour is escorted by knowledgeable Adventure Specialists who serve as concierges, traveling with you throughout the land portion of your trip, giving you the same point of contact and a smaller group.
A maximum of 50 guests per land tour and a dedicated motor coach and driver make for a higher level of security and a more cohesive experience.
HOLLAND AMERICA AND PRINCESS | Holland America Line and Princess Cruises operate the largest fleet of dome railcars in Alaska, including the McKinley Explorer which serves the Holland America domed railcars and the Midnight Sun Express which carries the Princess exclusive rail cars. One of the most unique things about the McKinley Explorer and Midnight Sun Express are their schedules. They are separate trains from the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star, and operate on a different schedule. Depending on your travel plans, you may find the McKinley Explorer’s or Midnight Sun's later departure time from Anchorage or earlier arrival time into Anchorage a convenient option.
HOLLAND AMERICA offers an extensive array of land tours to add to your cruise and have been doing so for over 65 years. There are standard 11 to 14-night cruise tours that visit Denali and cities like Fairbanks. Others add the Yukon and many are paired with partial inside passage cruises or 3 to 4 days that pick up the ship in Skagway. Others are as long as 20 nights and include a full 7-day cruise. Some cruise tours even include "Triple Denali" or a highly unusual 3-night stay at Denali National Park.
A new feature for 2016 is “Base Camp," at the entrance to Alaska’s Denali National Park. Base Camp serves as a new gathering area to relax, shop, and dine with an amphitheater, saloon, shops, artist in residence, special excursions and more.
PRINCESS CRUISES has a unique feature of owning Princess Wilderness Lodges on the doorstep of legendary national parks as well as the exclusive Princess Rail which gives you more time in the heart of Alaska. Princess is the only Alaska tour company that has custom-built wilderness lodges expressly for its cruise tour guests. Princess owns and operates five lodges that are unique in the industry:
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Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is only cruise tour hotel within sight of
Mt. McKinley with spectacular views of the 146 acres of land owned by Princess, inside Denali State Park and bordered by the Chulitna River. The lodge offers one of the closest encounters with the famed mountain - just 41 miles from the peak of "The Great One."
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Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is an 85-room lodge located on more than 200 acres at the gateway to North America's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias It features outstanding views of the Wrangell-St.Elias mountain range and the Copper and Klutina Rivers while boasting a wall of windows two stories high to do justice to the dramatic views.
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Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge offers 656 rooms, four restaurants, a main street walking village with Alaska gift shops, spa and exercise facility, hot tubs, the "Music of Denali" dinner theater, and a newly built main lodge building with a dramatic
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vaulted-ceiling great room. Its prime location is just one mile from the entrance to the six-million-acre Denali National Park.
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Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge is conveniently located near the heart of Alaska's interior. Beautifully landscaped, with a large outdoor deck that extends to the water's edge, this Lodge takes every advantage of its exclusive setting on the Chena River. Easy access to the airport, downtown shopping and attractions, the rail depot and the University of Alaska makes it beautiful and convenient.
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Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge is located 43 acres on the banks of the Kenai River in the beautiful Kenai Peninsula in Cooper Landing. The lodge offers all the amenities of a small resort in a relaxing wilderness setting, renowned as a sportsman's and scenic paradise, with a spectacular setting amid fabulous mountains and river views.
At least 2 nights in Denali are included in all programs. With Direct-to-Wilderness Rail, you go directly to Wilderness lodges and spend less time in transit. They offer 4 types of cruise tours ranging from 10 to 15 nights allowing even those pressed for time to experience some of the Anchorage and/or Fairbanks and usually Denali Park also.
Connoisseur programs include 5-8 nights on land, are escorted, include most meals, some sightseeing and at least two nights in Denali with options to Kenai Peninsula and/or Wrangell Arm and St. Elias National Park.
Off the Beaten Path tours include 6-7 nights on land and go deeper into Alaska to Wrangell Arm, St. Elias National Park, and/or Kenai Fjords National Park.
Denali Explorer tours are the most popular with 3-6 nights on land and exclusive
Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service, at least 2 nights in Denali Park plus select sightseeing excursions.
On Your Own programs include 3-4 nights on land, are the most affordable and are for the independent traveler with at least 2 nights in Denali.
Norwegian Cruise Line also offers Cruise Tours in conjunction with the Norwegian Sun.
