Cruise Ships That Are Sailing in Alaska This Summer

Due to the bipartisan help within the passing of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, cruise strains are actually shifting full pace forward with planning Alaska cruises starting in July 2021.

By eliminating the requirement that non-US flagged ships make a cease in a Canadian port, the Restoration Act makes roundtrip seven-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle a viable possibility, bypassing Victoria and/or Vancouver, British Columbia, for the primary time ever.

To function these cruises with out first crusing “check voyages” required beneath the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s Conditional Crusing Order, cruise strains are requiring all eligible passengers to current proof of vaccination to sail. Presently, vaccinations in america are solely obtainable to children 12 and over.

Royal Caribbean and Celeb will permit youthful passengers to cruise in the event that they current a unfavorable COVID-19 check previous to boarding. Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian, and Princess, nonetheless, are requiring all passengers to be totally vaccinated, which means kids beneath 12 won’t be able to sail in any respect.

This removed from regular Alaska season is providing a slim window for one group of potential passengers: U.S. residents who’ve a DUI or different severe offense on their information can take an Alaska cruise for the primary, and maybe, solely time. Sometimes, Canada refuses to admit Americans with DUIs or different varieties of felonies (generally they do permit exceptions that require additional paperwork for entry). Since, till this summer time, Alaska cruisers had been required to depart from or make a cease in Canada, these cruisers had been (technically) barred from crusing north to Alaska. With out the required cease in British Columbia, these passengers can sail to soak up the pure great thing about one of the crucial superb cruise locations for the primary time.

Glacier Bay Nationwide Park (Photograph courtesy of Holland America Line)

These cruises additionally may be one of the best time for passengers who’re much less keen on crusing with children to embark on ships that will probably be devoid of the youngest passengers, and certain have fewer youngsters than a typical summer time voyage. And, as a result of a lot later than regular begin to the Alaska season, ships will probably be crusing later into September and even October than is often the case. For these eager to expertise a cooler, drier Alaska by cruise, this yr additionally presents a singular alternative.

Although it’s unclear on the precise protocols that will probably be noticed onboard ships and in port within the Pacific Northwest — as these are nonetheless being finalized by the cruise strains and topic to evaluation by the CDC — it’s seemingly masks and social distancing will probably be required (although Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain is optimistic they received’t be), buffet and meal providers will virtually actually be modified, and capability will probably be decreased.

Listed here are all of the ships at the moment scheduled to sail to Alaska in Summer time 2021.

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas

• Crusing Mondays July 19 to September 20, 2021
• 7-night cruises visiting Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Level and scenic cruising at Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier
• Necessities: Passengers 16 and older have to be vaccinated towards COVID-19 for all sailings; starting August 1, all passengers 12 and older have to be vaccinated. Underage passengers will probably be examined for COVID-19 previous to crusing.

Celeb Summit

• Crusing Fridays July 23 to September 17, 2021
• 7 evening cruises visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and scenic cruising at Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier
• Necessities: Passengers 16 and older have to be vaccinated towards COVID-19 for all sailings; starting August 1, all passengers 12 and older have to be vaccinated. Underage passengers will probably be examined for COVID-19 previous to crusing.

Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam

• Crusing Saturdays July 24 to September 25, 2021
• 7 evening cruises visiting Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Icy Straight Level, and scenic cruising in Glacier Bay Nationwide Park and Stephens Passage
• Necessities: All passengers will need to have been vaccinated towards COVID-19 a minimum of 14 days previous to departure, and current proof of vaccination.

Passengers on Nieuw Amsterdam in Alaska (Photograph courtesy of Nancy Schretter)

READ MORE: Alaska Glacier Cruises Explained: All You Need To Know

Majestic Princess

• Crusing Sundays July 25 to September 26, 2021
• 7 evening cruises visiting Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and scenic cruising in Glacier Bay Nationwide Park
• Necessities: All passengers will need to have been vaccinated towards COVID-19 a minimum of 14 days previous to departure, and current proof of vaccination.

Carnival Miracle

• Crusing Tuesdays July 27 to September 14, 2021
• 7 evening cruises visiting Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord; the September 14 cruise is 8 nights and likewise visits Icy Straight Level
• Necessities: All passengers will need to have been vaccinated towards COVID-19 a minimum of 14 days previous to departure, and current proof of vaccination.

Norwegian Bliss

• Sailings Saturdays August 7 to October 9, 2021
• 7 Night time Cruises visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Level, and scenic cruising in Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier; or, visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay Nationwide Park. Observe: Norwegian’s official itineraries at the moment record a port name in Victoria, British Columbia for these cruises, however the port is predicted to be bypassed on account of Canada’s ban on massive cruise ships and the passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas

• Crusing Fridays August 13 to September 10, 2021
• 7 evening cruises visiting Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Icy Strait Level, and scenic cruising at Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier
• Necessities: Passengers 12 and older have to be vaccinated towards COVID-19. Underage passengers will probably be examined for COVID-19 previous to crusing.

The North Star commentary capsule on Ovation of the Seas (Photograph courtesy of Royal Caribbean)

Silversea’s Silver Muse

• Crusing Thursdays and Sundays beginning July 29, 2021
• 10 and 11-night cruises visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, Wrangell, Skagway, Sitka, and scenic cruising at Sawyer Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier
• Necessities: All passengers will need to have been vaccinated towards COVID-19 a minimum of 14 days previous to departure, and current proof of vaccination.

Whereas vacationers are excited concerning the likelihood to sail to Alaska, tourism-dependent companies within the state are much more thrilled after struggling a brutal 2020 with no cruise passengers and only a few vacationers.

“Alaskans are able to welcome guests from throughout the globe to Alaska, the place they will personally expertise the scenic and cultural wonders that may solely be discovered right here,” Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy mentioned.

Sadly, cruise excursions to Denali Nationwide Park are usually not on the schedule this yr, however there’ll nonetheless be loads of alternatives to see humpback whales, sea otters, black and brown bears, bald eagles, and extra.

READ NEXT: Alaska Inside Passage Cruises: What You Need to Know