Alaska Cruisetour: The Last Frontier by Sea and Land

When most people think of Alaska they imagine vast glacier fjords, an abundance of wildlife, epic vistas, remote wilderness, and a place that’s like no other on earth.  After experiencing it for myself, I can now say it’s all true.  I realized that there was only one way that I could check Alaska off my bucket list and that was to see all of the above. I knew that I would be looking to book a Cruisetour which is a combination of Alaska by land and by cruise. 

Our flight to Anchorage was breathtaking and as soon as I arrived, our Princess Representative was waiting to whisk us to our first hotel. On the way, our tour driver spotted a moose and I wasn’t even in Alaska for 20 minutes! The next day we traveled by luxury rail cars to Talkeetna and Mt McKinley Lodge.              

The Mt McKinley lodge was like nothing I have ever seen. With a vast balcony right in front of “The Great One”. Check your pulse when attempting white water rapids or relax by the fire and soak it all in. The food and service was immaculate and I highly recommend the King Crabs Legs.              Then it was off to Denali National Park and the Denali Princess Lodge. This was one of the biggest highlights of the trip. We luckily did the Tundra Wilderness tour of the park which was 9 hours long.          

We saw grizzlies, dall sheep, moose, caribou, wolves, and so much more. Seeing wildlife roam in their natural habitat was one of the most amazing experiences I have had yet.        

We hopped on the train again for the 9 hour journey to Whittier to board the Island Princess. On the way we passed gulch, a pod of beluga whales, small towns, and a whole lot of history. The ship sat in Whittier like it had been waiting for us to start the second epic part of our journey.  The amazing service, naturalists onboard, onboard activities, delicious food, and sheer relaxation made this the best cruise I have done to date (and I have done a lot). Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan all had unique charm and were fantastic ports of call.              

By far what took my breath away more than anything else was Glacier Bay National Park.  The ship spent the entire day cruising the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Mountains and glaciers on both sides with whales, birds, seals, and otters all around.  The Inside Passage with land on both sides, fishing villages, light houses, and wildlife needed no introduction.    We ended this trip of a lifetime by sailing into Vancouver, BC. If you’re up early enough, you can watch the ship sail directly underneath the Lions Gate Bridge. I highly recommend visiting Alaska by Cruisetour and hope that you will also be able to have one less adventure on your own list.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I have lots of pictures and am more than happy to share my experience with you.