Alaska Cruises

Alaska is part of the USA, and so the main language spoken is English. Alaska also officially recognises 20 native languages, which are spoken by just over 5% of the population. 

These languages can be broken down into four main families: Inuit-Yupik-Unangan (spoken in western and south-western Alaska as well as Siberia), Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit (Athabaskan is spoken across Alaska, while Tlingit has prominence in southeast Alaska), Haida (Prince of Wales islands) and Tsimshian (south-eastern Alaska).

Alaska is generally considered a safe place to visit. All guests are encouraged to be vigilant about their personal safety and take the precautions applicable to any other country. Find out more about your safety onboard. 

•    Hubbard Glacier – The enormous Hubbard Glacier is located in the southeast of Alaska and has been known to shed icebergs the size of buildings. Cruise past this calving giant on an Alaska cruise. 

•    Juneau – Welcome to Alaska’s capital city, the compact and diverse Juneau. Hike the East Glacier Loop Trail to spot the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, which is part of the sprawling Juneau Icefield. 

•    Seward – Immerse yourself in history in Seward, which is one of Alaska’s oldest towns. Cruise the glaciers in Resurrection Bay or check out the brewery downtown. 

•    Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier – Make sure to bring your camera while admiring the Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier from the top deck of your Celebrity Cruises ship – you might just see whales carving their way through the water. 

•    Skagway – Find out more about Alaska’s gold rush past in Skagway, a city in the south-east of the country. Many of the traditional buildings have been lovingly preserved and are now part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. 

You’ll find plenty of fish and cold-water seafood in the Alaskan diet. Staples include halibut and king crab. The most popular and iconic dish is Alaskan salmon, which you can enjoy smoked for breakfast or as a fillet accompanied by plenty of nourishing veggies for dinner.

Not a seafood lover? Not a problem – tuck into a reindeer hot dog or a cobbler, packed full of juicy wild Alaskan berries.

Weather can be unpredictable in Alaska during any season, so make sure to bring plenty of warm layers with you. We sail to Alaska between May and September, when temperatures in the capital of Juneau hover between 10 and 17 degrees. 

It’s also a good idea to bring some rain gear and hiking boots for enjoying those long walks, like the East Glacier Loop Trail. Want to do some wildlife spotting? Pack some binoculars and your camera. Find out more information on what to pack for your Celebrity cruise. 

For the most part, Alaska follows Alaska Standard Time (AKST), which is nine hours behind GMT.

Then naturalist John Muir once said, “to the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world”. Alaska is where nature is allowed to run riot – it’s sparsely populated, and its landscapes have a stark and brutal beauty. It has something for everyone, from wildlife enthusiasts to adrenaline junkies.

•    Accessibility – The only way to discover some of Alaska’s most breathtaking glaciers and straits is by ship. Exploring Alaska by water opens up the hidden corners of this mysterious, icy landscape. 
•    Incredible sights – There’s no feeling quite like floating past a hulking glacier, glittering in the deep cobalt waters from the top deck of your luxurious Celebrity Cruises ship. 
•    Easy to plan – When you book a cruise, you book your travel and accommodation all in one, saving you time and money on figuring out all of the fiddly details. Say goodbye to delayed transport and complicated travel plans. 
•    Hassle-free – Much in the same way, you won’t have to unpack every time you reach a new destination. We can take you from A to B in streamlined style. 
•    Onboard knowledge – We’ve been sailing to Alaska’s enchanting wilderness for many years, and so are the experts in the must-see sights. 

We cruise to Alaska in the summer, when the weather is warmer and the straits more passable. The Northern Lights tend to be most active in February and March when the skies are at their darkest. This means it’s unlikely you’ll see the Northern Lights during your cruise – but you’re bound to see plenty of other natural wonders, such as migrating whales and calving glaciers.

To visit Alaska, you will need the following:
•    Passport
•    US visa/ESTA 
 

Celebrity Cruises sails to Alaska between May and September.
May: Alaskan temperatures start to warm up in May, although they tend to stay in single figures. Typically, there’s around 15 hours of daylight/twilight in May. 
June: Temperatures are likely to reach the teens in June. Low winds and reduced cloud cover can make it feel warmer, too, although warm layers are still recommended. 
July: July is Alaska’s warmest month, with temperatures potentially reaching the high teens. 
August: Temperatures begin to dip in August, but it remains warm. Nights and mornings can get cold, so cosy jumpers and cardigans are a good idea.
September: It gets much chillier in Alaska in September, so it’s essential to bring warm clothing. Precipitation and cloud cover make the landscapes look even more dramatic. 

Some of our Alaskan cruises leave from the west coast of America and Canada, namely Vancouver and Seattle. Other cruises begin in Alaska, at the port of Seward.