Cruise Guide to the Inside Passage, Alaska
Planning to take an Alaskan cruise holiday and see the natural majesty that the great land has to show you? Then you have the right idea. Taking a cruise through Alaska is one of the best ways to see all that this land has and allows you to see more of it than you would be able to on your own. With multiple cruises taking trips throughout the year, you can go between May and September for the best views. With an Alaskan cruise that travels through the Inside passage, you can experience smooth waters while being able to see the native wildlife and fantastic natural wonders of the area.
What is it the Inside Passage ?
The Inside Passage is a route that extends from Washington State all the way to Alaska and connects a number of smaller passages along the way so that boats can travel through the area while slithering through the islands along the coast. The Alaskan portion of this passage runs from the Gulf to Puget Sound.
Many Alaskan cruise ships take this route because of the variety of land, air, and sea animals that you can see while on this trip. Many seals, bears, sea lions, eagles, and many others can be seen on this route. There are also dozens of glaciers to view while traveling through this area that can make for an incredible sight to see.
Stops Along the Way
Although there is plenty to see on this Alaska cruise while staying on the ship, there are also a number of stops along the way that allow you to get off the boat and see Alaska for yourself. The ships stop at the Glacier National Park and Preserve where you will see jagged walls of glaciers line the area and Tongass National Forest where you can see the last temperate rainforest and stroll through the trees and flowers for a bit of greenery to see amongst all the glaciers and snow along the way.
Also, while you are on the Alaskan cruise ship, you will be able to stop some interesting sight along the passage with decorated indigenous totem poles lining the coast that are hand-carved, colorfully painted with faces of men and animals, and often adorned with wings.
These poles are usually between seven to ten feet in height and can be seen from far away against the blanketed snowy environment in the winter.
Excursions Available
While you are on these stops, you can head over to the excursions offered at each port and take a kayaking trip along the water for a closer look at the wildlife and glaciers surrounding you, have a relaxing day of fishing on the water with a small boat rental, or even be able to take a tour that will let you see bears in their natural habitat as they feed and live their lives uninterrupted.
Interesting Facts About the Inside Passage, Alaska
The Inside Passage is home to many sea creatures, and because of it being along the coast, you may get the opportunity to see some of the largest sea animals around. The Humpback Whale and Orca can both be seen on this trip – if you’re lucky! – and can be an awesome experience.
Humpback whales will sometimes begin breaching, which can look like playful interaction with the travelers, and the Orcas may be seen lobtailing, which means that they slap the water’s surface with their tail.
These displays may seem too adorable to come from such large creatures, but if you’re able to sneak a peek at either, you will likely see how cute they can truly be.
Author: Sophie Anderson
Post Date: 18th January 2020
Categories: Ports
Tags: Alaska , Inside Passage