Can I Visit or Take a Cruise in Alaska in 2021?

 

Can I Visit or Take a Cruise in Alaska in 2021?

 

Alaska is a bucket-list destination for many people.  Being that it is part of the United States, it is an easy place to visit. No passports or visas required. You can't beat that!  There is something for everyone and every age to enjoy.

As you may have read in the news recently, none of the major cruise lines will be operating in Alaska for the rest of 2021. This is because of an old federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the United States. In 1920, the Passenger Services Act (part of the Jones Act...for you history buffs) would not allow ships  that were not registered in the United States from embarking and disembarking guests at two different U.S. ports. Being that most major cruise lines are "flagged" in foreign countries, they must be able to visit a foreign port. In the case of a destination such as Alaska, the most obvious foreign port would be located in Canada. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, Canada is not allowing cruise lines to visit there this year.

HOWEVER, don't count travel to Alaska out just yet!! There are many ways that you can still visit Alaska in 2021!!

In fact, my husband and I are doing just that. We are flying to Anchorage in June where we will spend 3 glorious days. We plan on doing a Trolley City Tour, visiting the Anchorage Museum, and shopping for Alaska Native crafts. Anchorage is known for having unbelievable restaurants where seafood is locally sourced. You can even fish for fresh Alaskan salmon at Ship Creek and have it shipped home for bragging rights!! (SO cool!!)

From there, we will embark on the Alaska Railroad in Anchorage and head south to Seward in "Gold Star Service." Although the "Adventure Class" sounds incredible too, the Gold Star Service has glass-dome ceilings which allow for panoramic views as you ride along the tracks surrounded by unspoiled wilderness, wildlife, and the highest mountain in North America, Denali. Gold Star Service features also include upper-level outdoor viewing platforms, inclusive dining at the lower-level full-service dining car, private bar and two complimentary adult beverages, comfortable forward-facing seats and an Alaskan tour guide providing narration. Gold Star Service sells out fast due to high demand, so if you're interested in experiencing it, let's book it ASAP!

The train does not have sleeper cars. It is purely a daytime train so we have beautiful accommodations set up in Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. During the daytime, we have booked several incredible things to do such as Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali Backcountry Adventure tours. And we will still have plenty of time to spend our days exploring (and shopping) in these beautiful towns!

After visiting the Southcentral Region of Alaska, you can visit the Southeast Region also known as the Inside Passage. Beautiful, quaint towns of Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway and the capital of Alaska, Juneau are just some of the wonderful towns you can stop at. Most people visit the Inside Passage by cruise ship. Although the major cruise lines will not be operating there this year, there are several small ship cruise lines (which I prefer anyway for this part of the world) that are U.S. flagged so will  be running this summer. The small ships with fewer passengers can give you an even better and more memorable up-close look at the glaciers and you'll most likely spot some whales along the way!

There are so many incredible things to do and see in Alaska!! I promise you won't be bored. Don't you need something awesome to look forward to?

Fun Facts:

1. Did you know that Alaska is bigger than the U.S. states of Texas, California, and Montana combined?

2. Alaska has more than 50% of the entire U.S. coastline which is over 6500 miles!! It is SO big that it has its own time zone...which is one hour behind Pacific Standard Time.

3. In December, Anchorage, Alaska has 5 hours and 28 minutes of daylight whereas, June has 22 hours of daylight. Just pick the time of year you prefer!!

4. There are 5 Regions in Alaska:

• Southeast- Also known as the Inside Passage. This includes the state capital, Juneau.
• Southcentral- Home of Anchorage which is the largest city in Alaska with almost 300,000 residents. Also includes the Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska Valley.
• Southwest- Includes the Aleutian Islands and the island of Kodiak.
• Interior- Includes Denali National Park and Fairbanks, Alaska's third-largest city.
• Arctic- Above the Arctic Circle. Includes Nome, the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

 

 

There is something for everyone and every age in Alaska! Beautiful cozy lodges, exquisitely fresh food dining options, flight seeing, helicopter rides, ziplining, ATV tours, bird, wildlife and whale watching, a visit to the dog sled kennels (cutest pups EVER,) fishing, glacier hiking, 17 beautiful National Parks, walking and city tours, and did I mention shopping...lol?? This is just a small sampling of what Alaska has to offer. There is SO much more to do and see....

So let's plan a trip for YOU and YOURS to the Last Frontier!