Ports of Call to Explore on your Alaska Cruise
Cruising along the coastline of Alaska is a breathtaking experience. With wildlife, glaciers, and unparalleled scenery along the route, it’s no wonder that Alaska cruises are some of the most sought after in the world. Cruising to Alaska doesn’t mean just ocean views – there are many adventures, sights, and experiences to be had both off and on shore. Ports of call, which are itinerary-based stops included on your cruise, are a wonderful way to disembark the cruise ship and experience the communities and cultures that make Alaska one-of-a-kind.
Ports of call vary based on your cruise ship’s itinerary, duration, and cruise line. Fishing packages, hiking tours, dog sledding, glacier trekking, kayaking, and more are usually available as shore excursions, based on location. For those looking to explore on your own, there’s no shortage of independent activities to be had at these ports of call, as well.
Inside Passage Ports of Call
Most cruises in Alaska visit ports of call in the Inside Passage region, the most popular cruise route in the state. Round-trip and cross gulf cruises from Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC meander through the Inside Passage’s lush coves and fjords, stopping at scenic port towns along the way.
Primary Ports of Call
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is steeped in Alaska Native culture and gold rush history. Here in the “Salmon Capital of the World” you’ll find totem poles, close access to to Misty Fjords National Monument, hiking trails, and a charming and historical downtown. Spend your day in Ketchikan wandering town and the colorful Creek Street, or join a wide variety of shore excursions including cultural experiences at Saxman Native Village, culinary tours, guided hikes and bike rides, fishing charters, flightseeing, ziplines, wildlife viewing, and more.
Juneau
Whales, mountains, tranquil waters, glaciers, and a vibrant culinary scene make Alaska’s capital city, Juneau, an exciting port of call with activities for everyone. There’s plenty of great shopping, museums and cultural centers, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries within close walking distance of the cruise dock. Popular shore excursions include a visit to Mendenhall Glacier, culinary tours, dog sledding, guided hiking and biking, fishing, whale watching, kayaking, riding the Mount Roberts Tram, and so much more.
Skagway
Home to gold rush history, a historic railway, and a colorful downtown, Skagway is a small town that boasts big-time views and experiences. Take a history tour through Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - with many historic buildings located right in town, ride the famous White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, pan for gold, go dog sledding, join a guided hiking, biking, or kayaking trip – the options are plenty in beautiful Skagway.
Glacier Bay National Park
While not actually a port of call, Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of many visitors’ Alaska cruise experience and therefore must be mentioned here. Most Inside Passage cruises spend several hours in Glacier Bay National Park, but guests don’t actually disembark from the ship. Since the park’s main attraction – towering tidewater glaciers – are visible from the water, cruise ships travel to the end of glacier-carved fjords so passengers can view these shimmering walls of ice, along with abundant wildlife and stunning mountain scenery. Some cruise lines bring national park rangers onboard to give naturalist presentations while in Glacier Bay.
Icy Strait Point
Icy Strait Point is a historic salmon cannery turned cruise ship port and is located next to Hoonah, the largest Alaska Native Tlingit village in the state. Visitors to Icy Strait Point enjoy Tlingit cultural experiences, whale and bear viewing, kayaking, guided hiking, and an epic zipline for those adrenaline seekers.
Sitka
This beautiful coastal community is known for its island-dotted coastline and tranquil forests, along with rich Alaska Native and Russian history. Popular shore excursions in Sitka include guided tours of Sitka National Historical Park, up-close views of wildlife at local conservation centers Fortress of the Bear and the Raptor Center, cultural song and dance performances, whale watching, guided hiking and biking, and more.
Smaller Ports of Call
While not common on typical cruise ship itineraries, these smaller ports of call are visited on longer itineraries or on small ship cruises.
Wrangell
Enjoy a visit to Tlingit cultural sites, take a jet boat ride up the beautiful Stikine River, or go for a hike in Tongass National Forest from Wrangell – one of the oldest towns in Alaska, located on the northern tip of Wrangell Island.
Petersburg
The town of Petersburg is known for its passion for its way of life, namely, fishing and its Norwegian heritage. Here, visitors can enjoy the tranquility of this scenic port town, with art galleries, museums, and a charming downtown to boot, along with activities like kayaking, whale watching, and of course – fishing.
Kake
The small town of Kake is home to one of the tallest totem poles in the world at 132 feet tall, honoring the community’s Tlingit heritage. Visitors can enjoy fishing, wildlife viewing, kayaking, and more away from the crowds.
Haines
Located less than an hour by boat from the bustling Skagway, the town of Haines offers just as much scenery and adventure with less people. Popular shore excursions include a visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, experiencing Tlingit culture, going on a guided hiking or biking trip, going canoeing or kayaking, or visiting the local distillery.
Southcentral Ports of Call
Cross gulf cruises travel through the Inside Passage and cross the Gulf of Alaska to reach ports of call in the Southcentral region of Alaska. Ending your cruise in a Southcentral port of call of call allows for easy connections for land-based tours to explore more of Alaska by train or motorcoach.
Valdez
Valdez is famous as the end of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and offers a wide variety of activities including whale watching, glacier viewing, and kayaking in the protected waters of Prince Williiam Sound along with skiing, hiking, and glacier trekking on land. The road leading from Valdez is known for it’s scenic sights including Bridal Veil Falls, Worthington Glacier, and Thompson Pass.
Seward
Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad. Activities abound including incredible local food and shopping in the downtown and harbor areas, fishing, glacier and wildlife day cruises, dog mushing on glaciers, up-close views of wildlife at the Alaska SeaLife Center, and guided hiking and glacier trekking. Or, hop on the train and enjoy a scenic ride north to connect to Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, and more.
Whittier
The small town of Whittier is known for two unique features: it is accessible by land through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest road-railway tunnel at 2.7 miles long, and most of its 300 residents live in the same building. Located on the shores of Prince William Sound, Whittier offers plenty of water-based adventures like fishing, kayaking, glacier and whale watching cruises, and even glacier jet skiing. Whittier is also a stop on the Alaska Railroad, making it an easy connection for post-cruise land tours and transfers to Anchorage.
Each port of call offers incredibly unique experiences to enjoy – just one of the many reasons why cruising to Alaska is the most popular way to experience the 49th state!
Alaska: AKA Your Next Adventure
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