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Canada was built along the historic Canadian Rail system, so it makes sense that many major Canadian cities are easily accessible by train. With train stations often centrally located within these cosmopolitan cities or remote towns, it is easy to explore the best of Canada by train. Expedition Ships are smaller and more agile vessels, with reduced passenger capacity to allow for larger cabins and a less crowded ship. Speak with our Canadian Insiders to add a cruise to your train vacation.
Train Travel
Royal Caribbean's new and final Oasis Class ship will launch in July 2024. At the time of writing, the line has yet to release full details about the new Royal Railway - Utopia Station. However, what we know about this tech-forward, train-inspired restaurant is very exciting. The journey ends at the Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, just about a 10-minute cab or Uber ride from the Port of New Orleans. Before your cruise, enjoy an overnight stay in the Big Easy with time to explore the National World War II Museum, the French Quarter and Louis Armstrong Park. The more significant issue you'll face is deciding which stunning part of the world with train corridors and cruise ship-plied waters you should focus on for a cruise-and-rail adventure.
An Alaska cruise with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
The Alaska Railroad tracks run north from Seward, stretching 470 miles through Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park to the town of Fairbanks. The two primary cruise ports in the region are in Whittier and Seward. You can easily take the train to or from your cruise ship in both communities. Most consider Anchorage and Fairbanks the top cities to visit on Alaska train rides.
Ride
You can travel between Anchorage and Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad, which also stops in Denali and Talkeetna, a small town known for flightseeing adventures. For the best Alaska cruise and train package, we recommend setting aside at least 5 to 7 days for the cruise portion of your trip. This will give you enough time for whale watching, exploring Glacier Bay National Park and sightseeing along the Alaskan coast. Stopping in Kamloops overnight, you'll continue on the next day toward the vibrant seaside city of Vancouver. The dry interior of BC gives way to rushing rivers, dense coastal rainforests and majestic mountains.
Your Guidebook to the Best Time of Year to Visit Alaska
Don’t just see the Great Land’s glaciers, feel them come alive on an Alaska cruisetour. Get up close to Mother Nature’s masterpieces and listen for the crash of “white thunder”. Visit wilderness playgrounds like Glacier Bay National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – along with even more natural wonderlands like Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier.
Trek across the majestic Mendenhall Glacier for breathtaking views of the wildest country. Get to know wildlife, big and small, that call this wilderness home, like otters, eagles, bears, and whales. This is Last Frontier pioneering with the cruise line voted Best Overall by Travel Weekly readers for 20 years running. Situated on the Kenai Peninsula overlooking the Kenai River, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge® is surrounded by mountains, rivers and wilderness inviting you to explore. Adventure through Chugach National Forest, cruise past Kenai Fjords National Parks’ glaciers or fish along the Kenai River. Take in the sights of this natural masterpiece at a leisurely pace only on an Alaska cruisetour.
He has cruised to some of the most iconic and obscure parts of the planet. The Rocky Mountaineer train is known for it's top-quality service, amazing food, and glass-domed carriages. It's no wonder that National Geographic named the Rocky Mountaineer one of the "World’s Greatest Trips". Your cruise line will provide a transfer to the station if you book through them. While I don't recommend a ride if you're someone who can't sit still for long periods of time or if you're afraid of heights, I do think it's one of the best activities a visitor to Alaska can do.
After imbibing pre-dinner drinks on the station platform, passengers will hear a train whistle sound, signaling diners to board. Throughout the immersive experience, passengers enjoy a multicourse dinner. Passengers sailing on Utopia of the Seas can have a unique rail experience and upscale dining at sea.
Many consider this the most scenic stretch of track, as the train winds along the Placer River Valley and amid the alpine meadows of Grandview. This is the perfect option if you're cruise is departing of finishing in Seward. Many one way cruises go between Vancouver and Seward and flying in or out of Anchorage is usually the best option (and the cheapest). Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, the railroad made the area far more accessible and even more popular for gold miners hoping to strike lucky. The three foot wide track is an engineering marvel and ascends to almost 3,000 feet within the first 20 miles of the journey. If you're looking for a memorable way to grasp the history and sheer vastness that is the Alaskan wilderness, a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route train is something you don't want to miss.
We offer a fully comprehensive and unforgettable Denali experience based on our 75-year history in the Great Land. Our Alaska cruisetours feature transportation, accommodations and more to make your wildest Denali dreams come true. The McKinley Explorer route to Denali is the best route for a luxurious journey between Anchorage and Denali. If you want to explore Seward and Girdwood, the Alaska railroad’s Coastal Classic heads from Anchorage to Seward along the picturesque Turnagain Arm.
Skagway White Pass Railway cruise excursions in Alaska - The Points Guy
Skagway White Pass Railway cruise excursions in Alaska.
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience. Continue the journey north aboard the Denali Star Train to Denali National Park. Beginning in Chicago, Amtrak's Chicago-to-New Orleans route traverses 900 miles through Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee within roughly 19 hours. In Chicago, stroll along the Riverwalk or through Millennium Park, and visit the Art Institute of Chicago. Among them are AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Abercrombie & Kent and Scenic.
Each person who ventured out in search of gold via one of the two paths was required to carry 1 ton of supplies to see them through their trip, making the hike even more treacherous. After the railroad's completion, the expedition was far less arduous, and it took much less time for stampeders to reach the Klondike region. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as a helicopter tour over Alaska's sprawling landscapes. Whether you're a history buff or a nature nut, there are numerous bucket list destinations to experience while traveling on your Alaska cruise vacation. Plan your romantic Alaskan cruise with our adventurer’s guide to discovering the coziest vacation spots and most scenic restaurants for couples traveling in Alaska.
Itineraries can also start with rail travel andtouring in the continental United States or Canada for an epicland and sea journey. America's Last Frontier is in a category all its own, with itsimmense mountain ranges, ancient glaciers, remote expanses, andcities steeped in mining history. Rugged Alaska is home to thelargest mountain in the country in Denali National Park, and someof the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis. Nearly34,000 miles of gorgeous coastline envelop all of this, offering amagnificent perspective whether you are looking out toward thewater or inland from the sea. Because the views are so dynamic andthe wilderness is so vast, there is no better way to get acquaintedwith this wild state's offerings than with an Alaska train andcruise vacation.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Whether you're curious about Alaska native culture or other Alaska traditions, here's how to make these an integral part of your trip up north. After traveling somewhere new, you want to bring something back with you to remember all of your fun adventures.
Coordinating an Alaska cruise and train ride does require careful planning. Look through the sample trips below for inspiration and then contact us if you need help putting everything together. Pulling from train travel’s luxurious history, Princess prepares cuisine made to order for our guests in every one of our Alaska rail cars. If a drink is all you’re after, relax in your seat and enjoy our beverage service. With food always nearby, fill up on delicious fare and the Great Land’s beauty that surrounds you.
