celebrity cruise photo package reviews

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Photo package

By historybuff1980 , February 28, 2013 in Celebrity Cruises

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historybuff1980

Just wondering...has anyone used the new Celebrity photo package? I am looking for some pros/cons.

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StartrainDD

Just wondering...has anyone used the new Celebrity photo package? I am looking for some pros/cons.   Thanks!:)

We used the unlimited package during our 14 night Summit cruise last fall. We cruised with my parents, so we took every opportunity to have formal and informal portaits done; individual, couple, and group of four. We also searched out the photographers at each port stop.

Left the ship with 272 8*10 photos (yes, really!) and a CD. Worked out to less than a dollar a photo - and the photographers got to know us and had us do some really unusual poses after the first few days - it was fun!

Will we get it on our upcoming Constellation cruise? Likely NO. We have no friends or family cruising with us so for us it wouldn't be worth it.

Tiggertastic

A couple on our new years cruise bought the package as part of their anniversary cruise. They took every opportunity to have pictures taken and made the most of it - going home with multiple pictures and all of them on a drive too.

Any taken with us and others, they sent to us after the cruise - telling us on the ship not to buy them as they would send them to us.

We have some lovely pictures, courtesy of this lovely couple

Project_gal

Thanks, Jan, for the nice comments. You and David helped make our cruise so memorable.

Yes, it was a good deal for us but one thing needs to be pointed out about the "new" package. In the past the CD included the actual photographs, which were extracted using software also supplied on the CD. As such, they could be extracted from the CD again anytime in the future.

This time, the CD purely contained software that linked to the internet and downloaded the photographs from there. The photographs are only retain on the internet for a limited period [one month, I think]. This means that you do not have a backup of the photographs should you need it in the future and, if your cruise is part of an extended trip, you will have limited time in which you can get your photographs. None of this was explained to us when we bought the package prior to the cruise [the cheapest way to do it] or on board the ship.

Dreamcruise27

Thanks, Jan, for the nice comments. You and David helped make our cruise so memorable.   Yes, it was a good deal for us but one thing needs to be pointed out about the "new" package. In the past the CD included the actual photographs, which were extracted using software also supplied on the CD. As such, they could be extracted from the CD again anytime in the future.   This time, the CD purely contained software that linked to the internet and downloaded the photographs from there. The photographs are only retain on the internet for a limited period [one month, I think]. This means that you do not have a backup of the photographs should you need it in the future and, if your cruise is part of an extended trip, you will have limited time in which you can get your photographs. None of this was explained to us when we bought the package prior to the cruise [the cheapest way to do it] or on board the ship.   Sue

Just wondering if you remember what the price difference was between buying before or on the cruise? I thought I read somewhere that the prices were the same... Thank you!

  This time, the CD purely contained software that linked to the internet and downloaded the photographs from there. The photographs are only retain on the internet for a limited period [one month, I think]. This means that you do not have a backup of the photographs should you need it in the future and, if your cruise is part of an extended trip, you will have limited time in which you can get your photographs. None of this was explained to us when we bought the package prior to the cruise [the cheapest way to do it] or on board the ship.   Sue

Does this mean I have to order the pictures from the picture company anyways? I can't download and print them myself or send to a photo shop?

Thanks for your help!!

Cruise a holic

Loved the photo package. Order directly from mycruisephotos.com on both Celebrity and RC cruises. Worked out great and a true bargain. We got over 300 photos on a few occasions (brought two grandchildren with us a couple of times- but ourselves a few others) and when you think the average price is $20-25 per photo- you do the math! They take photo's at each port- and nightly at multiple locations.

We prefer to get the disc if offered then make our own photo albums- and prints from a vendor on line. It was cheaper going direct. Also a few times we got both hard copy and disc and the prints practically took up most of the space in our carry-on luggage!

You will not regret getting the package.

Hello, Just wondering if you remember what the price difference was between buying before or on the cruise? I thought I read somewhere that the prices were the same... Thank you!

It was, I believe, US$50 cheaper to purchase in advance but I cannot be certain because there was also a price rise between purchasing and getting on board. Our cruise was very late going on line and we only purchased about a week before the cruise departed. I know we paid less than US$300 and it was over US$400 on board. Apologies, I cannot check the actual price paid because we paid in £ sterling and the exchange rate has changed radically since our cruise.

Does this mean I have to order the pictures from the picture company anyways? I can't download and print them myself or send to a photo shop?     Thanks for your help!!

Apologies, it is not easy to explain how it works - it is strange. You get a CD as well as the prints of your photographs taken on board - just like in the past - but, instead of the jpeg files of your photos being on the CD, the CD just includes software which links to the Internet and downloads the jpeg files to your computer. You can then do what you like with them because they come with a copyright waive. The issue I was trying to highlight was that the photos only stay on the website for you to download for a month from the end of your cruise. Fail to do it in that time, you lose them and only have the prints.

It was, I believe, US$50 cheaper to purchase in advance but I cannot be certain because there was also a price rise between purchasing and getting on board. Our cruise was very late going on line and we only purchased about a week before the cruise departed. I know we paid less than US$300 and it was over US$400 on board. Apologies, I cannot check the actual price paid because we paid in £ sterling and the exchange rate has changed radically since our cruise.       Apologies, it is not easy to explain how it works - it is strange. You get a CD as well as the prints of your photographs taken on board - just like in the past - but, instead of the jpeg files of your photos being on the CD, the CD just includes software which links to the Internet and downloads the jpeg files to your computer. You can then do what you like with them because they come with a copyright waive. The issue I was trying to highlight was that the photos only stay on the website for you to download for a month from the end of your cruise. Fail to do it in that time, you lose them and only have the prints.   Sue

I do not recall the exact price difference. We did sign the waiver and didn't realize that the photos remaind on jpeg on line photos for one month. Instead my DH scanned them as the CD wasn't listed last cruise as an on line pre cruise purchase! Thank you for the helpful information. On our next Reflection cruise, the only on line total pics package was a CD. However the CD has the pics all loaded on it. In fact we had checked the CD in the photography studio daily and if a hard copy was omitted because no facial recognition was used, they added it to our CD. We have ordered the package differently on different celebrity and RC cruises depending upon what was offered on line. We paid about $250 for all the hard copies on our 2 week Eclipse cruise --On line prior to the cruise that is. Funny the price for our upcoming one week cruise is the same for a CD!

Hello Sue,   I do not recall the exact price difference. We did sign the waiver and didn't realize that the photos remaind on jpeg on line photos for one month. Instead my DH scanned them as the CD wasn't listed last cruise as an on line pre cruise purchase! Thank you for the helpful information. On our next Reflection cruise, the only on line total pics package was a CD. However the CD has the pics all loaded on it. In fact we had checked the CD in the photography studio daily and if a hard copy was omitted because no facial recognition was used, they added it to our CD. We have ordered the package differently on different celebrity and RC cruises depending upon what was offered on line. We paid about $250 for all the hard copies on our 2 week Eclipse cruise --On line prior to the cruise that is. Funny the price for our upcoming one week cruise is the same for a CD!

No, there was no mention of the CD online. I only found out that it was included because I asked to upgrade on board.

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Celebrity Summit Cruise Review: Post Revolutionized (with photos)

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Celebrity Summit Cruise Review After the Updates (part 1)

We recently cruised on the Celebrity Summit (post-revolutionized) from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Bermuda, Boston, Bar Harbor and Portland. The combination of 3 port days in Bermuda,  and 3 days in New England made for an interesting 11 day cruise that we couldn’t pass up!

Celebrity Summit Cruise Review Post-Revolutionized (part 1)

We were pretty excited about cruising on the Celebrity Summit, now that it’s been “Revolutionized”. I figure, you probably are too!

So, before getting into the dining, entertainment, and port reviews, I’ll go over our impressions of the ship, post-updates.

Part 1 of this Celebrity Summit Cruise Review, will focus on the details about the ship itself, after the Celebrity Revolution updates.

To give you a bit of background, we have cruised on the Summit twice before, and really enjoy this ship. However, there were areas that were dated and needed a fresher look.

I wrote about what we were most looking forward to before our cruise on Celebrity Summit , and the ship did not disappoint!

Cabins: First Impressions

One of the first things we did after boarding, and having a quick glass of celebratory Champagne upon embarkation, what I think of as one of Celebrity Cruises “Special Touches”, was head to our cabin to put our carry-on and other items down.

We were pleased to know that Celebrity is now trying to make it more comfortable for guests, by allowing a quick drop off of the essentials in the cabin, while the attendant continues to make everything ready.

As we walked up the stairs and down the halls, we saw that the carpets had been replaced and were fresh. However, when we saw our cabin we were shocked.

We were in an Inside Cabin for this cruise, and truthfully weren’t expecting much. However, as we opened the cabin door, we literally gasped. The color palette is serene and upscale, yet it was so warm and inviting.

Plus, it really felt spacious. Having seen photos, they just don’t do it justice.

Now, I won’t say that this inside cabin was as good as a Veranda cabin (let’s face it a balcony is pretty awesome!) , it was a pleasant surprise that the inside cabin was more than livable. It was genuinely very pretty.

The only negatives were not having natural light, and the extra space of the balcony (which we fully expected).

When we’ve had balcony cabins, we really enjoy some coffee outside in the morning and love some time on our own private outdoor space. So we did miss this a little, but still found our cabin very comfortable.

Cabin Layout, Furnishings and Bathroom

For an inside cabin, the space was very efficient and the furnishings were really nice, and practical. If you’ve cruised on this ship (or similar ones) before, you’ll notice that the small sofa was replaced with a large chair, and the coffee table is no longer there.

In our case, the sofa chair turned into a bed at night for our son. We found all beds extremely comfortable, even the sofa bed!

Something to note is that there were electric and USB outlets at both the desk/vanity and night-tables. Nice improvement!

The bathroom was so nice, with good shelving and a glass shower door.

Here’s a quick cabin tour video, where you can see the closet space and more of the furnishings.

More Celebrity Summit cabins: Veranda, Oceanview, and Quad cabins (cabins for 4)

We did a little cabin tour through the online roll call we joined, so here are some photos of the other cabins as well.

Oceanview Cafe (buffet)

We went upstairs to Deck 10 and had a bite to eat at Ocean view Cafe, the buffet.

This is an area that looks completely transformed, and almost doesn’t feel like a cruise ship buffet. It was so spacious, and the colors were light and airy, with different types of chairs and tables in various sections of the buffet.

I overheard someone say that there was wasted space, as they could have fit “more” in. I disagree, as finally we were in a buffet that didn’t feel loud and hectic, and tight on space.

That being said, there are several stations along the sides of Oceanview Cafe, and in the back are were you can find stations such as pasta station, a pizza station, create a sandwich station, salads, and hot grilled items.

One thing we noticed is that the grill station that was there before, was removed in lieu of this hot station. It does include grilled minute steak, chicken breast and fish, however it wasn’t cooked to order.

Tip: At the entrance to Oceanview Cafe, there is an ice cream and snack bar with absolute delicious ice cream and freshly made sorbet. We had the mango sorbet on our embarkation day, and truly it was mouth watering.

Sunset Bar – Only my favorite place on the Celebrity Summit.

#ilovesunsetbar – just sayin’

We experienced Sailaway from here for the first time, at the recommendation of new friends we met. They were right. It had a great atmosphere (despite an overcast sky), including a lovely musical duo playing for us as we departed.

Check out Sailaway at the Sunset Bar for a great aft view as you depart Cape Liberty and head under the Verazano Bridge.

The furniture is so pretty and it’s our favorite place to eat, when we go to the buffet (it’s straight out back).

While we truly enjoy the Sunset Bar, I will pass on some pros and cons about these updates, in my opinion (and heard from some others on board)

Gorgeous new furniture.

A larger, more open bar.

A lighter and airier look with light woods.

Less shade – The covering over Sunset Bar is a wood design with openings rather than full shade in some areas.

Low tables with regular size chairs. These tables were somewhat awkward to eat at, so try and find a high one unless you’re simply having a drink.

Tip: If you enjoy Sangria, the Sunset Bar had an amazing red sangria. As we got back from our cruise ports, we ended the afternoon with a Sangria as we sailed away. Perfect!

Main Pool area

The main pool area seems to have gotten a nice little face-lift. She has new lounge chairs and the pools have been painted a very pretty shade of sea blue.

The Solarium Pool

The thallostherapy pool is definitely a favorite of many Celebrity Summit cruisers. Calming music plays, there is comfortable lounge seating and conversation areas. Plus, it’s a covered pool, that gets a lot of light.

Updates also include a nice updated paint job to the well loved large lady sculpture that adorns the Solarium Pool.

Persian Gardens

Persian Gardens received a beautiful update and has an upgraded feel. The “aquatic suite”, with an aromatic steam room, sensory showers, salt room, Hamman Turkish bath, Infrared Sauna and heated loungers, is a popular feature on the Summit.

Passes are available for the week, however, if you are cruising in an Aqua Class Veranda, access to Persian Gardens is included. If you enoy spending time at the spa, consider the value of Aqua Class for this benefit (among  others)

Tip: Just inside the doors to the interior of the ship from the Solarium Pool, there is a ladies washroom that is my favorite public washroom on the ship.

What’s so special?

Hairdryers, lotions and an updated and beautiful sauna. If you enjoy  a sauna and don’t have access to Persian Gardens for the week, this one was almost always empty. Maybe, don’t tell anyone 😉

Cosmopolitan Dining Room

With a color scheme as calming as the sea, the “revolutionized” Cosmopolitan dining room is beautiful in every way.

Previously, this main dining room was rich, but dark.

Now, it’s light and modern, with unique but sumptuous seating. No matter where you sat, the chairs were very comfortable.

This cruise, we opted for traditional early seating, which was a pleasure. It was nice to get back to having the same servers every night, as we had done on our earlier cruises, but more on that in Part 2.

Rendez-Vous Lounge

Another area that got a complete change of look and feel, is the comfortable Rendez-Vous lounge that led into the Cosmopolitan restaurant.

The look is now open and bright, and once again feels like a totally different space than what we remember.

Now, there are groupings of chairs and seating configurations for 2, 4, 8 and even 10. This made for a great venue for games and shows in the evening, as well as activities during the day.

When nothing was scheduled, you could see people playing board games or sitting and talking. A really nice space.

There were some updates made to the theater (it was always dark, so being honest hard to see). However, from a passenger point of view, the more comfortable seating was a noted update that we really appreciated. The tones were also neutral and rich, and very much in line with the look of the rest of the ship.

Gone are the dark reds and in are the blues and grays and silver. I didn’t play in the casino, so my only experience is walking through, but the Casino was looking good.

Celebrity Summit Shops and shopping area

In the past, the shopping space on the Summit was called the Emporium. Being honest, I’m not sure it is anymore.

However, this space has been refurbished really nicely with fresh carpeting and a nice long and unique seating “couch” in the center. Blues, grays and silver and a bright look made this space feel nice and bright!

The shops were nice enough – pretty typical cruise stores.

For those that are interested, in addition to a Celebrity souvenir shop, there is an Apple Store, a couple jewelry stores, a Tag Hueur boutique and a small Vintage Rolex collection for sale (pre-owned). This very much interested my son, lol, although no purchase was made ;-).

The Celebrity Summit exterior

You can see that the Celebrity Summit now has a fresh new exterior look as well. She sure looks pretty in Bermuda.

What was not refurbished on the Celebrity Summit?

As much as this was beyond a basic refurbishment, not every space was redone on the Summit.

I’m pointing this out not as a complaint, but so you can have a realistic expectation of what to expect. After all, it is an older ship.

Crush Martini Bar and Sky Lounge

Both of these bars and venues still look pretty amazing and are overall in keeping with the Celebrity Summit “revolutionized” look.

Could they use new, more comfortable chairs? Probably in the near future.

The Grand Foyer and Cafe Al Bacio

I LOVE these spaces and am OK that they were not updated. However, since the rest of the ship was updated in lighter and more modern tones, it surprised us that Cafe Al Bacio’s dark wood and yellow gold look remained.

That said, we LOVE Cafe Al Bacio and always found it a great place to hang out, have amazing coffee and amazing desserts.

Tip: The pastries and desserts are included and are soooo good. Try the lemon tarts which are sinful!

Recommended reading: If you’d like to know more about Cafe Al Bacio and what’s included (menus too), you can read this post .

Cellar Masters

Leading into the Cosmopolitan Dining room on Deck 5 (upper level) is Cellar Masters. This wine bar/lounge didn’t get updated and the color scheme and furnishings do look dark and a bit worn. This was probably the only space that we noticed this.

We heard some info (at a Cruise Critic get together ) that this area was supposed to have been redone, however time ran out. I can’t be 100% sure, but I can see that being a possibility.

Revolutionized cruise ship areas we didn’t see

The retreat deck, lounge and suites.

If you’ve been following the Celebrity Revolution videos and photos, you know that the Celebrity Summit now has a stunning sun deck area at the front of the ship, reserved for guests staying in suites.

I’m sure it’s as amazing in person as in photos!

Overall impressions of the ship and cruise

This was one of the best cruises we’ve had. Truly, although the ship is really as nice (actually nicer), than it looks in photos, this isn’t what makes the cruise.

The Celebrity Summit staff and crew were incredible. Our stateroom attendant was attentive and did a great job. Our servers made every dinner special. The entertainment was excellent. The food and drinks… wonderful. All of this will be in the next part of the cruise review.

Finally, Captain Ioannis was so personable. If you have a chance to go to the Captain’s Talk (was on the last sea day on our cruise), definitely do so. It was extremely informative a great way to spend some time during our sea day .

Recap: Celebrity Summit Review (post-revolutionized)

I hope that Part 1 of this Celebrity Summit (post-revolutionized) cruise review gave you some information about the updates on the ship and that the photos give you a realistic look at what you can expect when you board the ship, for your own cruise vacation.

Have you cruised on the Celebrity Summit? Let me know your thoughts, and please ask me any questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer.

Happy Cruising!

If you’ve found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-)! Please share on Facebook or Pin and save for later on Pinterest (buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Popular Celebrity Cruises posts you may enjoy:

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10 Comments

Thank you for this review.We were on the Summit a few weeks before you as well as last year. We agree with you. It is a great ship with excellent service.I want to go back

Hi Barbara,

Thanks so much – glad you liked it and also had a great experience. I’m right with you…. I just need more vacation time ;-).

I hope you’ve got another cruise coming up on the horizon!

Thanks for the information. I’m very excited about my cruise in October on the summit. I do have one question for you. About seating. Did you find that the chairs are at a good height for people especially older people with creaky bones and wide enough for overweight or obese people???

we were on the anthem in January and noticed that the designers failed to acknowledge passenger weight and age. Chairs were so low and the chairs were made for skinny people.

Hi MaryAnne,

Glad the info was helpful – I’ll have more to come as I sort through all my photos and videos.

Great questions – so I do think this depends on the venue. However, the buffet chairs and even MDR chairs had a very open design, so that chair arms didn’t turn back in (if that makes sense). In the lounges the couches seemed low, however there were some spacious single chairs as well. In the theater, it was bench style seating, so this seemed quite accommodating and comfortable as well.

I hope this helps a bit. Have a wonderful cruise!

Thanks for your unique perspective on the newly-renovated Celebrity Summit. We are sailing out of Puerto Rico for the Virgin Islands from just after Christmas through the New Year. I Am interested in a finding out your thoughts about the updated staterooms & bathrooms & a few other things..

New glass-door showers… Do they provide body wash, shampoo & conditioner dispensers in the showers? Or do we have to bring our own?

Plenty of closet space?

Did you pay for the internet pkg? Not sure about if I want to get it (even the least expensive for one device) but want to get your thoughts.

TV? Channels? My husband can’t fall asleep without it (don’t ask lol!).

There will be eight of us (2 kids under 7 yrs) & we have open seating for dinner. Any reason why you specifically chose the other option?

Is on-board laundry/cleaners expensive? Good turnaround? I hate flying home with dirty clothes. Unless it’s really pricey…

How’s the Kid’s Club/Camp? Know anything about it? If not, I’ll check with Cruise Critic.

I hope I’m not too presumptuous… Hope to hear back when you have a chance. Thanks!

So glad you found this post. Your cruise sounds amazing – love the itinerary from San Juan!

I’ll try my best to answer your questions – I do also have several Youtube videos with some details including a ship tour you might find helpful – here’s one/the main tour, but you”l find others on the channel https://youtu.be/IIOVayS6VvE

They had shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. I bring my own hair products out of preference. Yes, glass shower doors.

Closet and drawer space quiet good. Check video for details.

I didn’t buy the internet. We used our phones instead on port days.

I didn’t watch tv, I would say they are standard and somewhat limited.

We’ve done select dining before and it’s fine, but we wanted to go back to knowing we had a table ready and the same waiters nightly. That said, we reserved tables in the past in open dining and the service was excellent.

If you can reserve times in advance, I would. It’s not fun to wait in line, especially if you’re 8 people.

Laundry was pricey, in my opinion. Although they had a promo for 40$ or so for a bag of laundry towards the end of the cruise. I needed a few pieces washed midway and paid 45$ for just a few items.

My son went to the kids club/teen club in the past and it was very good. I’ve heard of others with yourng children finding it to be good. It’s not a ship with lots of bells and whistles for kids (ie. waterslides and ropes courses), but the pools are great, and there are good activities, including movies at the very top in the back of the ship.

I hope this helps. If you’re on Facebook, there’s a great group called Celebrity Summit 2.0 where people post current info. You may enjoy it :-).

Have an amazing cruise!!

I loved your post! Do you know anything about the new always included perks, especially the classic drinks package? If you do, is it sufficient for most venues, or would you recommend upgrading? I loved your pictures!! Thank you!

Thanks so much! The Summit is honestly one of our favorite ships, especially after the upgrades. Here’s a post about the Always Included. Something to know is the classic package, which is the AI, does not include the martinis and top brand liqueurs, but a lot is still included. The details are here if you need more info: https://lifewellcruised.com/celebrity-cruises-always-included/

Love this post Ilana..so informative.we are cruising in Sept 2022 to Canada..but have a cabin with a window..no balc.left.is the window like the small circle portholes they were years ago or a decent size window now? Thanks for all your info!

When I cruised on Celebrity Summit the ocean view cabins had nice large round windows!

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Everything I Ate on my Celebrity Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

If you are taking a cruise with Celebrity you may be wondering what the food will be like. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all included at no extra cost on a Celebrity cruise.

I have just disembarked a cruise on the Celebrity Edge, and in this post, we will look at everything I ate in the main dining room, buffet and in some Speciality restaurants. Menus are also provided.

I took my first Celebrity cruise in 2019, and I have always found their food quality to be excellent .

There are Four Main Dining Rooms – All Food In These Restaurants Is Included In Your Cruise Fare

There are four main dining rooms on the Celebrity Edge, all of which have their own theme.

As well as serving the standard selection of food in each restaurant, they have a couple of regional dishes specific to that restaurant’s theme. The themes are French, Italian, Mediterranean and American.

You can book the restaurants via the celebrity App when you wish to have your dinner. It is quick and easy to do.

Normandie Restaurant

• Normandie Restaurant features contemporary French cuisine as well as the standard Celebrity Cruise ship menu.

Cyprus Restaurant

• Mediterranean food is served here. The regional dishes on the menu’s main focus is mostly on seafood -but there are plenty of other dishes if you aren’t a fish lover.
• There are lots of Greek-style salads, and we enjoyed some amazing “Saganaki” (fried cheese, pictured below)

Tuscan Restaurant

Italian cuisine inspired by authentic southern Italian eateries is served here. The pastas are all “homemade” and, according to Celebrity are “prepared with a rustic flare.”

Cosmopolitan Restaurant

• This is the only main restaurant I didn’t get to try whilst onboard.
• Celebrity describe the food as being “Creative cuisine with new American with global influences.”

We never found any of the main restaurants open for lunch, even on sea days. This meant the only included lunch options were to get food from the buffet, or Mast poolside grill.

Oceanview Cafe Buffet

This buffet, found on deck 14, is always open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

It offers a wide range of hot and cold dishes, and there is lots of wonderful bread, all made freshly onboard.

There is a daily feature food station. One day when we were there, there was a British Day, serving Fish and Chips, “Bangers and Mash” (Sausages and Mash!) and Guinness and Steak Pies.

On other days there were Indian dishes, Mexican, French – all sorts.

The buffet on Celebrity Edge was undoubtedly one of the best I have ever been to .

Tucked away at one end is an ice cream counter, serving a variety of Ice Cream and Sorbets, most of which don’t cost extra.

For some reason, one of the flavours was at an extra charge – and was clearly marked as such. I am not sure why .

As I didn’t have a drinks package, it was lovely to see juices offered at breakfast and other fruit drinks and lemonade offered throughout the day.

As with most other cruise ship buffets, tea coffee and water were available whenever the buffet was open.

Mast Poolside Grill

As with most cruise ships, there is a poolside grill serving a variety of burgers, hot dogs, and Chips/Fries.

There is also a self-service cold drinks machine and a soft-serve Ice Cream Machine.

My veggie burger was cooked to order for me at the Mast Grill.

Cafe El Bacio

This cafe serves a wide selection of teas and coffee – at an extra charge. However, all the cookies and cakes here were free! I regularly came by, to see which cookies were available.

Speciality Restaurants That I Tried

I was invited by Celebrity to try the following two speciality restaurants. I did not pay for the cover charge. All opinions are my own.

Rooftop Garden Grill

Open for both lunch and dinner, with a menu described by Celebrity as:

“Gourmet backyard BBQ favourites.” Celebrity Cruises

Our drinks were served in jam jars / Kilner jars with handles – which I thought was an amusing touch!

You can enjoy dinner under the stars at the Roof Top Grill. It is positioned in its own corner of the Rooftop Garden.

The rooftop garden itself was a favourite of mine, with wonderful plants and foliage – and even its own (live) lizard hiding amongst the plants .

The cover charge for the Roof Top Grill is around $65 at the time of writing.

Eden Restaurant

Situated at the back of the ship, this restaurant gives you wonderful views of the wake. Celebrity says:

Dinner at Eden Restaurant isn’t just a meal. It’s an extraordinary culinary journey, featuring an open kitchen, innovative dishes, and three levels of design excellence Celebrity Cruises

I must give Celebrity full credit here, the three-level space that makes up Eden is absolutely STUNNING! It is hard to believe that they could design a space like this on a cruise ship at all.

I was totally wowed.

There is a cover charge of around $65 per person for the standard menu and around $100 for the seven-course tasting menu.

All of these dishes were on the main menu.

Breakfast at Eden

Eden also has a small cafe that opens for breakfast. Breakfast food is free , but the cafe is only open for a couple of hours, and shuts quite early – I only made breakfast here once.

Most food is cooked to order.

Breakfast In the Eden Cafe does not have a cover charge.

Other Speciality Restaurants Onboard That I Didn’t Try – Additional Charges Apply to All.

Fine cut steakhouse.

Celebrity describes this as an “upscale steak and seafood experience where service is elevated to an art form”

The Fine Cut Steakhouse serves a variety of steaks, seafood, and Lobster

Expect to pay a cover charge of around $55 per person – and if you want to add an additional main course, an additional $20 will be added to your bill.

Le Grand Bistro

Le Grand Bistro is Inspired by classic French bistros. Celebrity say

The mouthwatering sights, scents, and sounds of a bustling boulangerie-patisserie are sure to excite and entice. Celebrity Cruises

There is a planter-edged sidewalk and an inner café, giving wonderful views of the sea.

Menus include steak, trout, chicken and wild mushroom tart.

In addition to this, there is a “plats du jour” offered. This is a different set dish for every day of the week – like Coq Au Vin, Lamb Shank Bourguignon to seafood dishes.

Expect to pay a service charge of around $30, slightly less for their lunch or breakfast menus.

Le Petit Chef

On Celebrity Edge, you will find a very unique, animated dining experience called “Le Petit Chef”.”

This speciality dining restaurant features an immersive and visual dinner where an animated chef is projected on the table from above.

You watch him preparing each course.

Understandably this means the menu is reasonably limited. When I tried this restaurant on Celebrity Silhouette, the animated chef was catching and preparing Lobster – which is something I would never eat!

It wasn’t a problem, it just meant my finished dish didn’t match the animation like everyone else’s did .

Expect to pay around $65 per person for this restaurant.

The display at the entrance of the restaurant showcases a display of oysters, crabs, and lobsters that you can choose from.

Their menu is also available at the Magic Carpet when it is positioned on deck 5 Then it features more casual offerings like Shrimp Salad, Lobster Roll and sushi and sashimi.

Expect to pay up to $75 per person, depending on what you choose from the menu.

Dinner on the Edge

This is the amazing pop-up restaurant on the Celebrity Edge’s “Magic Carpet.”

You can’t book this restaurant before you board the cruise, reservations have to be made once onboard.

It serves a three-course meal, including steak, Lobster, fish etc.

The cover charge for this at the time of writing is $129 per person – but the views as the sun sets must be stunning!

As a budget-conscious cruiser, I decided to give the “Dinner on the Edge” speciality restaurant a miss .

To learn all about Celebrity’s unique Magic Carpet, watch this video next – it explains all!

Before You Go!

Do you want to compare Celebrity’s food to that of a less luxurious Cruise Line? I took a really cheap cruise on the Italian mega-ship Costa Smeralda. The food was of good quality, the menu was mostly Mediterranean.

To find out exactly what I ate on that cruise, click here:

Everything I ate on Costa Smeralda

Compare this to the food served on America’s biggest cruise line, Carnival. The menu was very different from Costa’s!

Carnival Food Review – EVERYTHING I Ate During my Cruise: (Photos and Menus)

Let Us Help You Book Your Next Cruise

If you are looking at the wonderful food on Celebrity Edge and would like to try it for yourself, my friendly, knowledgeable partner travel agents can help.

If you are not sure which cruise would suit you, they can help you find something that best suits you and your family.

It never costs more than booking directly with the cruise line, you get impartial advice, and often a better price or added extras – like onboard credit that you wouldn’t get booking direct.

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Celebrity Moveup

Bid On A Stateroom Upgrade

You can upgrade your stateroom in a few simple clicks.

Welcome to Celebrity MoveUp - our new program that allows you to bid on a cruise stateroom upgrade after you purchase your cruise.*

*Eligible reservations on all Celebrity Cruise ships within 30 days of departure date. When entering your information below, please make sure to use the first / primary guest last name and valid booking number for your reservation to avoid errors. 

Check if your Cruise is Eligible for Upgrade?

How can you upgrade it’s simple..

Browse through the stateroom options and put in an offer based on the amount you're willing to pay for an upgrade for each stateroom option. Making offers on multiple rooms will increase your chances of getting upgraded, but you'll only ever pay for one upgrade.

We'll notify you via email if your request for an upgrade has been approved. If your offer is accepted, you'll be automatically charged for the upgrade. If not, you pay nothing and enjoy the stateroom you’ve already booked.

Offers are priced per person, based on double occupancy, for the length of your cruise—only the first and second guest in your stateroom will be charged. Additional guests beyond the second guest are upgraded with no additional cost.

Is the offer amount per person per day or for the entire duration of the cruise?

The offer amount is per person for the entire duration of the cruise. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged.

Does the upgrade include any additional promotions?

The upgrade does not include any additional promotions. However, you get to keep whichever promotions you already have.

What happens if I am part of a group or traveling with another reservation?

Each offer is considered individually, Celebrity Cruises cannot guarantee that all reservations traveling together will be upgraded. Under the circumstance that all reservations are upgraded, Celebrity Cruises cannot guarantee that all the upgraded cabins will be close together.

Can I reject the upgrade after it is accepted?

No, once your bid is accepted, your card will be charged immediately and the upgrade amount paid is final and non-refundable.

What happens with the promotions I already have?

You get to keep the promotions you already have. However, no additional promotions will be added to your reservation.

Can I choose the location or specific features of the upgrade cabin?

No, your cabin location and attributes will depend on availability. Celebrity cannot guarantee a specific cabin number assignment within the upgraded category.

How much do I pay if my reservation includes more than 2 guests?

If your reservation includes multiple guests (between 2 and 5 passengers), the offer amount submitted will be per guest but only for the first and second guest on the reservation.

Can I modify or cancel my offer after I submit it?

You may modify or cancel your offer up until 2 days prior to departure, provided that your offer has not already been accepted by Celebrity Cruises and provided your credit card has not been charged.

When will I know if my offer got accepted?

Your offer can be accepted anytime from the moment it is submitted up until 2 days prior to voyage departure.

If I have two reservations can I bid only once and if accepted, cancel the second reservation and move the guests into the upgraded cabin?

No, if you have two cabins you will need to submit two separate bids and they will be considered independently. Celebrity Cruises cannot guarantee that both reservations will be upgraded. In the case that one of the reservations gets upgraded, you cannot move the other guests into the upgraded cabin. All reservations cancelled within the penalty period will be subject to cancellation fees.

What happens if I am a single guest?

You will be charged based on double occupancy.

Why did I or someone I’m traveling with not receive an invite to bid on a stateroom upgrade?

To receive an email invitation to bid on a stateroom upgrade guest must be opted-in to Celebrity Marketing e-mails. To opt-in, to receive emails guests can sign up on our website, opt-in through the online check in process or within My Reservations section of website.

If I upgrade to a higher category stateroom, will I have to pay a gratuity amount based on the new upgraded category?

Yes, by upgrading to a higher stateroom category, each guest in the booking may be subject to a higher gratuity amount. The Offer Amount does not include the higher gratuity. If the Offer is accepted, the difference between the originl and upgraded stateroom gratuities (if applicable) will be automatically applied to all guests (the "Additional Charges").

Will I earn Captain’s Club points based on my upgraded category?

No, you will earn points based on the original category paid for.

Terms & Conditions

Celebrity Move UP℠ – Upgrade Program T&Cs The Celebrity Move UP℠ upgrade program provides booked guests with an opportunity to submit an offer (an “Offer”) to Celebrity to upgrade from the original Celebrity Cruises stateroom category purchased to a higher stateroom category (the “Program”). The Program applies to cruises, sail dates, and stateroom categories selected by Celebrity in its sole and absolute discretion. Not all cruises, stateroom categories, or bookings will be selected for participation, regardless of availability.

Eligibility Only a stateroom that has been purchased by either the guest or someone authorized to make an Offer on guest’s behalf is eligible for the Program (the “Guest”). If Celebrity selects a booking to participate in the Program, Celebrity will email an invitation to that booking to submit an Offer. Celebrity makes no representation to any person that an invitation to participate will be issued, an offer or upgrade will be reviewed, accepted, made available or processed, regardless of stateroom availability.

Valid Guest Email Required A valid email address must be associated with the booking. Celebrity will send an invitation to the most recently updated email address that is associated with the booking. An email address may have been provided to Celebrity at the time of booking or by any guest on the booking who uses the online “My Cruises” pre-cruise planner tool. Only the Guest named in the email invitation or someone over the age of 18 who is authorized to make an Offer on Guest’s behalf is eligible to submit an Offer. By submitting an Offer, Guest represents to Celebrity that he or she has the authority to act on behalf of and to bind the person or persons named or included on the Offer to these Terms and Conditions and those persons named in the booking.

Submitting an Offer Only one Offer may be submitted per eligible stateroom category. Guest may submit Offers for more than one stateroom category. Offers may be modified in accordance with the terms below.The amount of the Offer consists of the total per person amount that the Guest is willing to pay for the opportunity to upgrade from the original booked stateroom category to a higher stateroom category (the “Offer Amount”) and is separate and in addition to the amount paid for the original booking. The Offer Amount applies to only the first and second guests in the booking (in other words, the Offer Amount will not be charged to third and higher guests if the Offer is accepted). For single occupancy guest bookings, the Guest will be charged the double occupancy Offer Amount.By upgrading to a higher stateroom category, each guest in the booking may be subject to a higher gratuity amount. The Offer Amount does not include the higher gratuity. If the Offer is accepted, the difference between the original and upgraded stateroom gratuities (if applicable) will be automatically applied to all guests (the “Additional Charges”).Prior to submitting your Offer, the Offer Amount and any Additional Charges will be displayed (the “Total Amount”). If Celebrity accepts an Offer, the Guest who submitted the Offer will be obligated to pay the Total Amount. During the Offer submission, Guest must provide credit or debit card information (the “Credit Card”). If the Offer is accepted by Celebrity, the Total Amount will be charged to the Credit Card.

Acceptance and Rejection of an Offer

Celebrity reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine if an Offer is accepted or not, regardless of stateroom availability.  Celebrity may review and make a decision about an Offer at any time after the Offer is submitted, up to 48 hours before the cruise departure date. If Celebrity accepts the Offer, Guest will receive an email confirming the acceptance of the Offer and the details of the upgraded stateroom booking (the “Upgrade”). Celebrity will assign the location of the stateroom in its discretion. The Upgrade will have the same number of berths as the original stateroom. Immediately upon Celebrity’s acceptance of an Offer, the Total Amount will be charged to the Credit Card and becomes final and non-refundable. Refunds, credits, or changes may be issued only in the following circumstances: 1) Celebrity cancels the cruise, or 2) Celebrity cancels the cruise and re-books the guests onto another cruise in a stateroom class that is lower than the upgraded stateroom class. Any refund or credit will be limited to the Upgrade charge and credited back to the Credit Card in the same currency of the original charge; no other charges or fees of any type or nature will be refunded or credited.  If Celebrity does not accept the Offer, the original booking will continue and persons associated with the booking will travel in the original stateroom category. Celebrity will not offer and guests will not receive any compensation, consideration, or other benefit as a result of the Offer not being accepted.

Modifying or Cancelling the Offer

Guest may modify or cancel an Offer up to 48-hours prior to the cruise departure date, but only if the Offer has not been accepted by Celebrity and if the Credit Card has not been charged (the “Offer Period”). If Guest modifies or cancels the Offer during the Offer Period, the original Offer will be voided, and if applicable, replaced with Guest’s modified Offer. Voided or cancelled Offers will not be reviewed.

Modifying or Cancelling the Offer or Booking by Guest After Celebrity Accepts the Offer

If Celebrity has accepted the Offer, the Offer cannot be modified or cancelled, and Guest must pay the Total Amount regardless of whether Guest subsequently modifies or cancels the booking.  If Celebrity has accepted the Offer and Guest modifies or cancels the booking, the Upgrade and the Offer will be cancelled. Celebrity will have no obligation to invite the Guest to submit a new Offer on the modified or new booking or to apply the Upgrade to the modified or new booking or to issue a refund or credit of any kind.

Modifying the Booking by Celebrity

If Celebrity for whatever reason re-books the Guest or any person associated with the booking to another cruise departing on a date that is different from the original booking date, Celebrity, in its sole discretion, may transfer any Offer made in relation to the original booking to the new booking, subject to availability of the upgraded stateroom category.

General Terms

By submitting an Offer, Guest agrees to the terms and conditions of this Program. Offer to participate in the Program is non-transferable and applies only to the Guest and booking identified in the email invitation. Any promotions associated with the original booking will remain in effect. The Upgrade will not be eligible to receive any promotions or benefits that are applicable to the stateroom had it been originally booked at that stateroom category. Each offer is considered on an individual Offer basis, meaning that Celebrity may not invite or accept Offers of staterooms traveling together. If bookings that are traveling together are upgraded, Celebrity does not guarantee that the upgraded staterooms will be close together. The terms and conditions of your original cruise booking will remain in effect following the acceptance of an Offer or if an Offer is not accepted. This includes terms and conditions pertaining to cancellation, penalties, changes, the Captain’s Club program.  Accepted offers will earn Captain’s Club points at the original stateroom category purchased, and not the category of the upgraded stateroom. Upgrade does not include any additional promotions. If you purchase an Upgrade Celebrity Cruises cannot guarantee a specific cabin number assignment within the upgraded category. Your cabin number will depend on space availability.  Celebrity reserves the right to modify and change these Terms and Conditions in its sole discretion at any time without notice. These Terms and Conditions apply in conjunction with Celebrity’s cruise ticket contract, website terms of use, privacy policy, all of which are incorporated into and form a part of these Terms and Conditions. Celebrity reserves the right to cancel the Offer at any time, correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions, and change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. ©2020 Celebrity Cruises. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.

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The 8 top alaska cruise lines of 2024.

Discover the best lines and itineraries for your type of travel style.

The Top Alaska Cruise Lines

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

A cruise vacation to Alaska is a profound adventure. The spectacular natural beauty, rugged wilderness, massive glaciers and endless opportunities for wildlife viewing make a trip to the 49th state a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many travelers. As an added bonus, cruise ships can reach remote parts of the state, including Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: one of the most significant (and picturesque) marine and wildlife sanctuaries in the world.

With the ever-growing popularity of the destination and an extended cruising season (some lines now travel to Alaska between April and October), more ships are heading north to the shores of The Great Land. With these expanded itineraries, there's more than ever to think about when booking your Alaska cruise.

To assist in your decision-making process, U.S. News listed the top cruise lines to consider across five categories, including the best options for families , luxury-seekers and adventurers. U.S. News consulted data provided by Cruiseline.com and the results of our 2024 Best Cruise Lines rankings to help develop this list of the top cruise lines sailing to Alaska.

• Best Overall: Holland America Line; Princess Cruises
• Best for Families: Norwegian Cruise Line; Royal Caribbean International

Best for Couples: Celebrity Cruises

• Best Luxury: Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Silversea Cruises

Best Small-Ship Expedition Line: UnCruise Adventures

Find your perfect cruise

Best Overall: Holland America Line and Princess Cruises

Holland america line.

Courtesy of Holland America Line

Alaska cruise ships: Eurodam , Koningsdam , Nieuw Amsterdam , Noordam , Westerdam , Zaandam Departure cities (cruises and cruisetours): Anchorage , Fairbanks and Whittier, Alaska; Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia Starting from: $379 per person for seven-night Alaska Inside Passage cruise on May 1, 2024, or Sept. 22, 2024. Round-trip from Vancouver.

Holland America Line has been cruising Alaska's pristine glacial waters for more than 75 years – longer than any other cruise line. On top of that, the line features more voyages to Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve than its competitors. Seven-night round-trip sailings depart from either Seattle or Vancouver, while cruisetours – Holland America Line 's sea- and land-based packages – leave from several cities and extend each trip to nine to 18 days.

If this will be your first visit to Alaska, consider booking the comprehensive 14-day Yukon + Denali cruisetour. This Alaska adventure includes a voyage aboard Koningsdam, plus a three-night stay at Holland America's exclusive lodge in Denali National Park, where you'll have the opportunity to see Alaska's big five: moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep and wolves – and book bucket list activities like flightseeing over Denali. If it's a picture-perfect day, your pilot might even be able to land on the tallest mountain in North America, also known as "The Great One." Other excursions include meeting dog mushers from the Iditarod, landing on the Yanert Glacier, heli-hiking or embarking on a covered wagon adventure on the Alaska tundra. The Yukon Territory portion of this trip is exclusive to Holland America; while there, visit the mining town of Dawson City and learn about Northern Canada's Klondike Gold Rush of August 1896.

Another highlight of sailing Alaska with Holland America is the Alaska Up Close program, which immerses guests in an array of expert-led lectures and excursions on board and shore. When it comes to dining , Holland America is the only cruise line to achieve the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification, which means cruisers will enjoy certified sustainable wild Alaska seafood on board (think: Alaskan king crab legs and fresh salmon). You may also have access to culinary excursions in partnership with Food & Wine magazine, as well as special offerings like Alaska salmon bakes.

Cruisers should also consider one of the Holland America's new itineraries for 2024: the 28-night Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice voyage aboard Westerdam, round-trip from Seattle. This sailing, which departs on June 9, 2024, features highlights like crossing the Arctic Circle; celebrating the summer solstice in Nome, Alaska; and watching Kodiak bears – the largest bears in the world – on Kodiak Island.

Insider tip: Sample Holland America Line's famous Dutch pea soup while glacier viewing on the outside decks. The crew passes around mugs of the warm soup in this Holland America tradition that gives a nod to the line's heritage – and keeps guests warm on chilly summer days in Alaska.

Princess Cruises

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Alaska cruise ships: Grand Princess , Sapphire Princess , Royal Princess , Ruby Princess , Majestic Princess , Discovery Princess , Crown Princess Departure cities (cruises and cruisetours): Seattle; Anchorage, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia; San Francisco ; Fairbanks, Alaska Starting from: $398 per person for seven-night cruise from Anchorage (Whittier, Alaska) to Vancouver on May 18, 2024

Princess Cruises has a long history in Alaska, boasting more than 50 years of sailing to the Great Land. Cruise itineraries last between seven and 14 nights, and many visit the Inside Passage. Princess Cruises also owns and operates five wilderness lodges for guests of its cruisetours, plus exclusive "Direct to the Wilderness" rail service to those properties. The line's wide selection of cruisetours includes independent adventures and off-the-beaten-path destinations, like Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, the largest national park in the U.S. For travelers seeking the highest level of service and the most time on land, the Connoisseur cruisetour is a good option, including up to 10 nights ashore following the seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. The Connoisseur trip is hosted by a tour director and includes select sightseeing outings and most meals in the fare.

Princess' special programming, North to Alaska, offers guests unique insights into the history and culture of the region with visits from local Alaskans, photography sessions, demonstrations on lumberjacking and excursions like Cook My Catch, where guests will go fishing (with a guide), then bring their fish back for chefs to prepare for dinner at one of the designated Princess lodges.

There are two new Princess cruisetours to consider for 2024. The 15-night National Parks Tour includes a seven-day cruise, visits to five national parks, scenic rail travel and a total of eight evenings across four Princess wilderness lodges. Meanwhile, the Katmai National Park Tour is a nine-day adventure that takes guests to the famed Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park & Preserve to see bears feasting on wild salmon in Alaska's wilderness.

Insider tip: While visiting Denali National Park, be sure to check out the Princess Treehouse at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Built by Pete Nelson of Animal Planet's "Treehouse Masters," the treehouse offers a different perspective of Denali and features "Sappy Hour" and other fun activities.  

Best for Families: Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International

Norwegian cruise line.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Alaska cruise ships: Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Jewel , Norwegian Sun , Norwegian Spirit Departure cities (cruises and cruisetours): Seattle ; Vancouver, British Columbia; Seward, Alaska Starting from: $349 per person for seven-night sailing between Seward and Vancouver (itineraries visit Hubbard Glacier and Skagway, or Glacier Bay, Skagway and Juneau). Available on Norwegian Jewel in April, May and June 2024.

Norwegian Cruise Line has one of the longest seasons in Alaska, extending from April through October. The line operates two of its larger ships in Alaska: Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. These ships feature a plethora of onboard activities to keep kids and adults entertained, like racetracks, laser tag, mini-golf, complimentary kids and teen clubs, video arcades, themed parties, live performances and more. Families will also enjoy entertainment by Nickelodeon, character breakfasts, salmon bakes and sessions with a park ranger who comes on board to narrate the Glacier Bay passage. You'll find many spacious room options on board perfectly suited to larger families – especially in The Haven, the line's exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept. In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line offers select cruise deals where third and fourth guests sail free .

There are two new Alaska shore excursions for 2024: the Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Trek and the Fly-In Norris Glacier Hike and Packraft. The first outing takes place in Juneau , where you'll paddle a 12-person canoe across Mendenhall Lake to reach the towering glacier. Prepare to be surrounded by the spectacular setting of Tongass National Park, a 400-foot waterfall and an Arctic tern nesting ground. The second excursion, also in Juneau, takes participants on a flight into the Alaska wilderness via floatplane; you'll then paddle across a pristine glacial lake and hike the surface of Norris Glacier. Unforgettable sights along the way include densely forested mountains; the mouth of the Taku Inlet, a waterway that offers access to Juneau Icefield; and plenty of wildlife, including sea lions and bald eagles.

Also new for 2024 is the option to take the Denali Talkeetna Explorer tour after your cruise. (This cruisetour previously only took place prior to the voyage.) The 13-day sea and land package, Denali Talkeetna Explorer – Northbound Cruisetour, is available on three dates in 2024 in combination with a Norwegian Jewel sailing. The package includes a seven-night cruise; a total of six nights in Fairbanks, Denali and Talkeetna; a stop at the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline; a riverboat cruise in Fairbanks; a visit to an Iditarod dog musher's kennel; a deluxe glass-domed Alaska Railroad journey between Fairbanks and Denali; and more. You'll also have free time to book optional shore excursions like whitewater rafting, park tours, helicopter flightseeing and other outdoor adventures.

Insider tip: If you're sailing on Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Encore, be sure to grab a front-row seat in the Observation Lounge when sailing in Glacier Bay Park & Preserve. This expansive space on Deck 15 at the bow of the ship offers breathtaking panoramic views from the comfort of inside the ship. 

Royal Caribbean International

Alaska cruise ships: Radiance of the Seas , Quantum of the Seas , Brilliance of the Seas , Ovation of the Seas Departure cities (cruises and cruisetours): Seward, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia; Seattle Starting from: $439 per person for seven-night cruise on Radiance of the Seas, Seward to Vancouver on May 24, 2024

Royal Caribbean International offers seven-night cruise-only Alaska options (some featuring the Inside Passage) and extended cruisetours (lasting nine to 13 days) with land portions before or after the voyage. Cruisetours may visit Denali National Park & Preserve, among other highlights. The line also offers select "kids sail free" itineraries, which will appeal to families.

If you want nonstop entertainment while on board, choose one of Royal Caribbean International 's two larger Quantum Class vessels: Quantum of the Seas or Ovation of the Seas. Both megaships accommodate approximately 4,900 passengers. If you prefer a smaller ship, consider booking one of the Radiance Class vessels, which hold a maximum of around 2,500 guests.

Quantum Class ships have multiple outdoor attractions that provide panoramic views of the scenery. For example, the surf simulator, FlowRider, affords views of magnificent snow-capped mountains and glaciers all around the ship. If you're adept at rock climbing, this is another chance for optimal scenic viewing – at 40 feet above the deck. Additional entertainment includes free-fall skydiving at RipCord by iFly, outdoor movie nights, live performances and musical entertainment, bumper cars, an escape room, a sports court and indoor pools for those cool Alaska summer days.

Insider tip: For more awe-inspiring vistas, take a ride on North Star. Exclusive to Royal Caribbean (on Quantum and Ovation of the Seas), the glass-enclosed capsule rises 300 feet above sea level while suspended over the ocean.

Read: The Most Affordable Alaska Cruises

Celebrity Cruises

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Alaska cruise ships: Celebrity Summit , Celebrity Edge , Celebrity Solstice Departure cities (cruises and cruisetours): Seward, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia; Seattle Starting from: $397 per person for seven-night voyage on Celebrity Summit, Seward to Vancouver on May 17, 2024

Adventure-seeking couples will have many options to choose from during Celebrity Cruises ' 2024 Alaska season. The line's six- and seven-night cruise-only itineraries include up-close views of the Dawes Glacier in the Endicott Arm Fjord and the Hubbard Glacier, the world's longest tidewater glacier at 76 miles long. For an in-depth exploration of Alaska's interior, Celebrity's cruisetours extend the trip to a maximum of 13 nights and feature small-town destinations like Talkeetna, Alaska – the quirky village that inspired the 1990s television show "Northern Exposure." There are also themed tours centered on wildlife viewing and national parks, as well as culinary tours highlighting the flavors of Alaska.

Couples will also find plenty of adult-focused activities and entertainment on board, no matter which vessel they choose. Each ship offers a spa, multiple bars and lounges, and an excellent selection of complimentary and specialty restaurants. Celebrity's three Alaska-bound ships carry between 2,158 guests (Celebrity Summit) and 2,908 passengers (Celebrity Edge). Celebrity Edge, the newest of the ships, offers immersive entertainment and especially beautiful public spaces – like Grand Plaza, a three-story venue at the heart of the vessel.

For extra privacy during your couples' vacation, consider splurging on a suite or villa in The Retreat. This all-inclusive space features luxurious accommodations; a private lounge; a sundeck (unavailable on Celebrity Solstice); and a private restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat. The swanky culinary venue serves dishes curated by renowned French chef Daniel Boulud. In addition, you'll have a team of attendants, butlers and concierges to indulge every whim.

Insider tip: Book your Alaska cruise on Celebrity Edge. The outward-facing design of the ship and expansive outdoor spaces, including the Magic Carpet, offer guests excellent viewing opportunities of Alaska's vast landscapes, calving glaciers and wildlife, including humpback whales in the Inside Passage and around Juneau and Sitka.

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Best Luxury: Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises

Regent seven seas cruises.

Alaska cruise ships: Seven Seas Explorer Departure cities: Vancouver, British Columbia; Seward, Alaska Starting from: $4,699 per person (all-inclusive) for seven-night cruise, Vancouver to Seward on May 1, 2024

Regent's Seven Seas Explorer will spend the 2024 season in Alaska, with the first sailing embarking from Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 1, 2024. The line offers 20 seven-night voyages and two 14-night sailings between May and September. The 746-passenger ship provides an in-depth exploration of Alaska's wilderness, thanks to the vessel's smaller size and all-balcony suites. Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' all-inclusive fares include free unlimited shore excursions (though select tours come with a fee); complimentary fine wines and spirits; dining at specialty restaurants; 24-hour room service; unlimited Wi-Fi access; prepaid gratuities; free valet laundry service; and more. Depending on the suite category, guests may also receive a pre- and post-cruise hotel stay with their voyage.

Complimentary shore excursions are available in a number of Alaska ports. In Ketchikan, sign up for the Tongass Rainforest Expedition, the Great Alaska Lumberjack Show or the Alaskan Lodge Adventure & Seafest. (Note: Some excursions in Ketchikan, such as the Alaska Fishing & Wilderness Dining option, come with an additional fee.) In Juneau, guests can take the complimentary hiking adventure through the Mendenhall Glacier National Recreation Area, home to black bears, mountain goats and other wildlife. Cruisers can also dine on wild Alaska salmon grilled over a fire at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake.

Insider tip: Take advantage of the complimentary shore excursions during your cruise. These are tours you'd normally have to pay for on a ship that's not all-inclusive – and that can add up quickly.

Silversea Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Alaska cruise ships: Silver Nova , Silver Muse , Silver Shadow Departure cities: Seward, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia Starting from: $3,450 per person for seven-night cruise, Vancouver to Seward on Silver Muse on Aug. 1, 2024

Debuted in August 2023, Silversea's latest addition, Silver Nova, is the newest luxury vessel sailing Alaska for the 2024 season. Silver Nova features an asymmetrical design and advanced technologies that make it Silversea Cruises ' most environmentally friendly vessel yet. With just 728 guests, spacious suites (some affording 270-degree views) and outdoor spaces showcasing The Great Land's pristine wilderness, Silver Nova is an excellent luxury option for an Alaska adventure. Silversea offers seven-night itineraries on its three Alaska ships, plus longer voyages on Silver Muse and Silver Shadow.

Silversea's all-inclusive fares include pre- and post-cruise hotel stays; complimentary nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages; in-room minibars; gourmet dining; all gratuities; at least one excursion per port; butler service in every suite; and other upscale amenities. Complimentary Alaska excursions include a scenic railway tour aboard the White Pass and Yukon Railway in Skagway, the Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest in Sitka Sound and more. You can also visit the Iditarod dogs' summer camp in Juneau. For an additional cost, Silversea offers more exclusive experiences, like a helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier followed by a dogsledding adventure with a team of Alaskan huskies in Juneau, or a remote fly-fishing trip in Sitka.

Insider tip: Spend some time on Deck 10; you'll enjoy unobstructed views of the spectacular scenery from the comfort of the heated pool, thanks to the asymmetrical design of the pool deck.

UnCruise Adventures

Alaska cruise ships: Wilderness Discoverer, Wilderness Legacy, Safari Endeavor, Safari Explorer, Safari Quest Departure cities: Ketchikan, Juneau, Whittier, Dutch Harbor and Sitka, Alaska; Seattle Starting from: $3,600 per person for seven-night cruise, Juneau to Ketchikan (or reverse itinerary) on Wilderness Discoverer; various dates between April and September 2024

UnCruise's expedition-style small ships call on ports and remote areas in Alaska that larger ships can't access, taking guests to locales that the line coins, "UnAlaska." The five ships operating in The Great Land accommodate between 22 passengers (Safari Quest) and 86 guests (Wilderness Legacy), and there are seven-, 12- and 14-night itineraries to choose from. You can also book optional land tours, including a Denali & Talkeetna Wilderness Rail Adventure. Expedition teams take guests on kayaking, skiffing, paddleboarding, bushwhacking, waterfall walks and hiking excursions close to the glaciers and visit secluded areas and waterway passages known for optimal wildlife viewing.

Cruise fares include group transfers to and from the ship; all meals; premium wine, beer and liquor; all nonalcoholic beverages; daily activities; wellness amenities; onboard heritage and expedition guides; and access to guest experts. You'll need to disconnect from your devices in remote areas, as there is no Wi-Fi access on UnCruise vessels.

For a once-in-a-lifetime trip, book the 14-night Alaska's Fjords & Glaciers Bay Adventure Cruise on Wilderness Discoverer, a 76-passenger ship. This voyage includes birding in the South Marble Islands, where you'll see puffins, cormorants, oystercatchers and other bird species. You can also search for brown bears in Corner Bay, bushwhack in old-growth forests, visit the town of Haines to sample local brews and spirits, and more.

UnCruise has introduced a few new cruises for 2024 with a renewed focus on The Great Land. One of these is the Kids in Nature, Wild Woolly & Wow with Glacier Bay cruise. The seven-night, family-focused voyage departs round-trip from Juneau aboard Wilderness Legacy and is available on three dates between June and July. One highlight of the voyage is exploring off-the-grid in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve's "Outback."

A second new option is the seven-night Prince William Sound Explorer with Cordova cruise. This adventure visits dozens of glaciers; the small fishing village of Cordova; the Harriman and College glacial fjords; the islands of Knight and Montague; and multiple places where you can see orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, seals, sea lions, puffins and other wildlife. The itinerary is offered round-trip from Whittier, Alaska, on Safari Explorer throughout the summer.

Insider tip: Depending on your itinerary, you may be able to hop in a skiff directly off the ship to watch bears along the shore hunt for salmon just 100 feet away. This is an Alaska experience you can only have when sailing on a small ship.

Read: The Top Cruises on Small Ships

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, traditional masted sailing ships, river ships in Europe and a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica. She has cruised to Alaska and visited The Great Land in the summer, fall and winter, and journeyed to remote areas by bush plane above the Arctic Circle. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• Alaska Cruise Packing List
• The Top Things to Do in Alaska
• The Top Northern Lights Alaska Cruises
• The Top Antarctica Cruises
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Vacation Ideas for Every Traveler

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