Alaska is unique – offering incredible beauty and variety all in one state! And you can easily get a sampling of the Last Frontier with Celebrity Cruises itineraries. When to travel? Summer! So, when my birthday rolled around and my husband asked what I’d like to do this year, I said “a cruise to Alaska.” Cruises are a great way to see Alaska’s coastal mountains, glaciers, marine wildlife, and towns. Day tours and excursions get you away from the crowds and into the real Alaska you came to see. But taking these tours may require some extra effort—and money. After all, many of Alaska’s most dramatic sights and wildlife can be accessed only by plane or boat. But I am here to tell you that it is well worth the investment in your travel experience.
Now, I have heard from several friends queries along the lines of “I’ve thought about Alaska but is it too slow?” First off, traveling is what you want to make it – go-go-go, relaxing, adventurous, etc. Secondly, and because it was my birthday, I wanted some luxury and some adventure! I got both.
There are many different cruise itineraries to choose from, some including land tours in Denali National Park, Seward, Anchorage, and other spots. Visit celebritycruises.com to view the 2025 offerings. We opted for a roundtrip from Seattle, Washington abord the gorgeous Celebrity Edge for several reasons.
One – Celebrity Edge was the first in their line of “Edge Class” ships, which truly revolutionized the cruise ship industry with its design and features…. and the first cantilevered floating glass-sheltered platform at sea – the Magic Carpet – that extends from the ship’s starboard side, providing the ultimate dining and lounge space, and is also lowered and used as a tender platform. The unique “outward facing” design of this ship seemed a perfect fit for taking in incredible views of the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife.
Celebrity Edge Magic Carpet (photo courtesy Celebrity Cruises)
Two – the itinerary was stellar, with lots of cruising time through Alaska’s Endicott Arm Fjord and the Inside Passage, a complex labyrinth of fjords and bays where whales and sea lions (who doesn’t love sea lions) spend the summer months, as well as stops at Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Seattle. Many cities in Alaska, including Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, have enacted ordinances protecting sexual orientation and gender identity. Overall, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride at events around the state, and there is a vibrant tradition of local drag shows in the major cities. These locations, along with Celebrity Cruises, embrace diversity and equality, and to me, that’s a win-win.
Three – Seattle is one of my favorite cities. So friendly and welcoming to all. While the city has changed a lot of over the years, Seattle still has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in the country, with an estimated 10% identifying as part of the queer community. We flew into Seattle via Alaska Airlines and enjoyed a couple of days pre-cruise, visiting some of our favorite haunts…
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- Biscuit Bitch (1909 1st Ave near Pike Place Market; 2303 3rd Ave in Belltown). This sassy LGBTQ forward establishment has the freshest, best biscuits (and gravy) in town! I love the Sausage Bitchwich (buttered biscuit sandwich with egg, cheddar, pork sausage patty, and Bitchy Sauce) and a side of Country Gravy.
- Unicorn & Narwhal (1118 E Pike St in Capitol Hill). Not one, but two, carnival themed bars, each packing its own vibe into one location offering whimsical food and drink options. Unicorn Helmets, Claw Machine, Photo Booth, Arcade with Pinball Machines, and weekly events like Drag Queen Bingo, Geeks Who Drink Trivia, Karaoke, and more await you!
- Starbucks No. 1 (1312 Pike Place, Pike Place Market). Starbucks changed the way we consume coffee beginning in 1971, along the cobblestone streets of historic Pike Place Market. It was here where Starbucks opened its first store, offering fresh-roasted coffee beans, tea and spices from around the world for its customers to take home. Their name was inspired by the classic tale Moby-Dick, evoking the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders. No food options served here, just coffee and merchandise. Get there early in the morning if you do not want to wait in a long line.
- The Pink Door (1919 Post Alley, near Pike Place Market). Since 1981, The Pink Door has become a way of life that pairs good food with a sense of community, culture, and generosity of spirit. Fresh, simple, and seasonal, is on the menu at this Italian restaurant with an unbeatable view. Nightly entertainment can range from trapeze artists swinging above the dining room, to cabaret, tarot card readings, or live music. And if the atmosphere and entertainment doesn’t get you excited, the food definitely will! My suggestions? Try the Grilled Figs with Prosciutto and Goat Cheese; the Clams and Mussels in white vermouth, garlic, parsley, and a touch of cream; and the Lasagna Pink Door made with fresh spinach pasta layered with besciamella, pesto and topped with marinara sauce. In summertime they have lovely outdoor patio seating, perfect for a lunchtime Aperol Spritz and a Panni.
Creek Street, Ketchikan, AK
First stop, Ketchikan. A seafood lover’s dream! Known as the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’, Ketchikan is also the ancestral home of the Tlingit people, who have carved the world’s largest collection of totem poles. If you’re up for an adventure, take a canoe and nature trail excursion through the rain forest or a wilderness exploration followed by a sumptuous King Crab feast you’ll long remember. When visiting Ketchikan, you must wander the historical buildings on Creek Street, a pedestrian boardwalk built on wooden pilings above Ketchikan Creek. This former red-light district, where bootleggers made midnight deliveries through hidden trap doors connecting the creek to the bawdy houses, is now home to shops, eateries, and the famous Salmon Ladder. It’s amazing to watch the Salmon swim and jump upstream in order to lay their eggs.
Another staple of Ketchikan is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. You had me at Lumberjack! These world-champion athletes bring a thrilling competition of skill and strength – wielding seven-pound axes, six-foot razor-sharp saws, tree-climbing gaffs, and more. The one-hour performance is packed with burly lumberjack action – log rolling, axe throwing, chopping, and sawing.
All this is making me thirsty! Back to the ship for a Martini, shaken not stirred, in the Martini Bar, in anticipation of dinner in Luminae, the private restaurant exclusive to The Retreat (suites) guests, and featuring signature dishes from Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud.
Early to rise the second day to experience cruising Alaska’s Endicott Arm Fjord. Sailing through its 30-mile-long stretch, you can’t help but be amazed by the untouched beauty of the surrounding granite mountains, verdant valleys and numerous waterfalls. Bundled up like Artic Nomads, we watched the ship navigate the deep blue water and drifting icebergs, up to the Dawes Glacier. Standing over 600 feet tall and a half-mile wide, this very active icecap is known for its spectacular calving displays which noisily produce huge, chunky icebergs that float in area waters. Along the way we spotted harbor seals, whales, sea otters, and bald eagles. Bring your binoculars and keep a watch!
Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier
Next stop, Juneau. Here is your chance to check off one, if not two, Bucket List items – a helicopter flightseeing tour of the 12-mile-long Mendenhall Glacier and Dog Sledding on the Glacier. This is an unbelievable thrill of a lifetime experience and worth every penny. The ariel views of Juneau’s Icefield are spectacular. The helicopter lands, dropping us onto the snowpack on top of the glacier, and the sound of excited Alaskan Huskies is in the air. They are anxious to get to sledding! Just the expanse of ice all around is mind boggling. MUSH! Off we go – gliding across Mendenhall Glacier with our furry companions. After an exhilarating ride, we get to hang out at the dog camp, chat with the professional dog musher, and cuddle with the adorable puppies!
The colorful gold rush history, beautiful setting, and a lot of cruise ships makes Skagway one of the most interesting and popular towns to visit in the Inside Passage. Located on traditional Tlingit land, Shgag̱wéi means “bunched up or roughed up water” and refers to the whitecaps that form from strong winds. Back in 1987, Skagway began as the starting place for more than 40,000 gold-rush stampeders who headed to the Yukon primarily by way of the Chilkoot Trail during the Klondike Gold Rush. Skagway is very welcoming and there is so much fascinating history to take in. This small-town bustles with cruise ship passengers ducking in and out of the various shops in restored 19th-century buildings.
White Pass Railroad
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad runs vintage locomotives through the famously steep Chilkoot Trail and offers sweeping mountain views during its climb toward Canada. This historic narrow-gauge railway is a must to venture into the wilderness and see the trail the gold-rushers used to haul over 1,000 pounds of supplies (each) into Canada in search of gold. Spectacular sights along the way include Glacier Gorge, Dead Horse Gulch, and Bridal Veil Falls. At the top of the steep climb at 2,888 feet is White Pass, which is also the international boundary between the United States and Canada.
A day at sea provides some time for me – a luxurious Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage followed by a scalp and foot massage helps work away any built up stress from all that walking! I follow it up with a sojourn to the Hammam, Celebrity’s take on a traditional Turkish Bath. Relaxed, polished, and ready for a celebratory night, our reservation is waiting at Fine Cut Steakhouse – an elevated experience of sophisticated ambiance coupled with the choicest cuts of meat and freshest seafood. A walk through the Casino to test my birthday luck (which wasn’t too bad) and a nightcap at Eden bar round out the day of pampering and luxury, as EDGE sails onward to our next destination….
Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada is nestled between the tranquil waters of the Salish Sea and the mighty rainforests of Vancouver Island. Arguably one of Canada’s most picturesque cities, Victoria boasts colorful gardens, a lovely harbor, magnificent architecture and a rich British ancestry that can be glimpsed through its horse-drawn carriages, tearooms and double-decker buses. A visit to Victoria is not complete without a stroll through The Butchart Gardens, considered one of the world’s top display gardens with over 700 varieties of plants that are in bloom between March and October. And my personal favorite is a visit to the Fairmont Empress Hotel, opened back in 1908, inviting celebrities and royalty to experience its grandeur. Be sure to take advantage of Afternoon Tea. If something stronger than tea is on your mind, have a proper Gin and Tonic at the bar, made with Empress 1908 Indigo Gin. Empress Indigo touts a breathtaking hue, that contains eight signature botanicals, including exotic butterfly pea blossom.
Alas that time has come – the dreaded last night and need to repack and get ready to travel home. But Celebrity makes packing/retrieving of your luggage easier with Port Valet. Simply fill out a form in the cruise app and your flight boarding passes and luggage tags are delivered to your cabin. Once tagged, they pick them up, transport them to the airport, and send them on for pickup at your final destination. This was brilliant! No fuss, no muss, and no need to wrestle with your over-packed bags. This really made disembarkation a breeze.
With a quick goodbye wave to Seattle and the Celebrity Edge, we hopped in our car to the airport. We cannot wait to cruise Alaska again. I’m already looking at brochures…. And remember, Celebrity Cruises supports, embraces, and practices, inclusion, diversity, and equality, so remember that when booking your next adventure.
And yes, our luggage was there when we arrived home!
Last modified: October 30, 2024
