Alaska cruises return for first time since pandemic began
This wild and icy land is welcoming back its first passengers since 2019.
Long a favourite cruise destination for Australians, the icy wilds of Alaska are back on some lucky passengers’ horizons.
Royal Caribbean Line was the inaugural cab off the rank to depart Seattle this month for the 49th State, becoming the first cruise ship to arrive in ports such as Juneau and Sitka since 2019. The operator was quickly followed by Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess, Carnival and Silversea, with Norwegian Cruise Line scheduled to set sail in a week.
The US cruise industry has adopted a host of health and safety protocols, with passengers required to be fully vaccinated.
In May, US President Joe Biden approved legislation allowing ships to travel direct from Washington state to Alaska, bypassing Canada, which still has a ban on the vessels.
It’s all systems go. Passengers will be visiting the colourful town of Ketchikan, exploring Glacier Bay and the dramatic Endicott Arm.
According to Celebrity Cruises, more than half (53 per cent) of international bookings made by Australians for the 2022-23 season are for Europe and Alaska.