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2026 Alaska Cruisetours


PattiPB
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I'm anxiously waiting to book a 10-day Alaskan cruisetour for July 2026. I know the cruises have been released. When do you think they will release the cruisetour packages?

 

I assume I should wait and book the entire package whenever it is released, right? I shouldn't book the cruise now and try to add the land portion later.

 

Thanks for your insights. First cruisetour, third Alaska! 

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IMHO, you will get more bang for your buck arranging your own land tour after a cruise. You can get a longer land tour with fewer people than what the cruise line charges for a cruise tour. I guess it depends on how long a cruise and how,long a,land tour you were planning. If you were thinking of doing this, you need to book a,one way cruise from Vancouver to Whittier. Thats,what I am doing. 

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Thank you! How hard is it to create your own land tour? I'm sure it's cheaper, but I'm wondering if it's much more of a hassle for me. I will be coordinating for about 9 of us (8 adults and one 6 year old).

 

I would appreciate any guidance you can provide.

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A 10 day cruise tour is too short.  A 7 day cruise + 3 days on land?  You may as well plan it yourself.  If you plan to go to Denali you will need a minimum of two nights in Denali.  That will give you one full day in Denali.  Get some advice from a good Travel Advisor.  

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PattiPB, on the other hand, HAL has been doing land tours a lot longer than any of us and has the logistics nailed!  That's part of what you pay for.  And for us, well worth it.  We loved our land tour with HAL.  For you, especially with that large of a group, and I assume your first time, it may be worth it to you too.  But only you would know given your situation and your tolerance for the "hassle" of setting it up.  Many people are totally successful doing it, I wouldn't know where to start. 😉  

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Thank you for that alternate perspective, objko. That was kind of my thinking as well. I've got plenty of time, so maybe I'll do a little research and see how easily it could be arranged myself.  

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5 minutes ago, PattiPB said:

Thank you for that alternate perspective, objko. That was kind of my thinking as well. I've got plenty of time, so maybe I'll do a little research and see how easily it could be arranged myself.  

You can book it with the Alaska National RR - right on their web site they offer pre and post cruise tours or use a good travel agent. But for ease of doing it with such a large group I think HAL would be much easier.

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22 hours ago, PattiPB said:

Thank you! How hard is it to create your own land tour? I'm sure it's cheaper, but I'm wondering if it's much more of a hassle for me. I will be coordinating for about 9 of us (8 adults and one 6 year old).

 

I would appreciate any guidance you can provide.

It’s not difficult. It will require some planning and work on your part but then again, you get to see what is important to you. We did it a few years ago. The cruise docked in Seward. We took the Hal transfer to the airport and picked up a rental car. (For 9 people - 2 large SUVs). After that, the trip is up to you. We spent 1 night in Talkeetna, 3 in Denali, 1 in Fairbanks ( to do laundry and pick up supplies), 1 at a Princess lodge on the way to McCarthy and Wrangell St. Elias and Kennecott 2 nights, before driving back to Seward for 2 nights, then a final night in Anchorage before heading home. Book hotels early - they sell out in summer. We wanted to go to Valdez but couldn’t get a hotel so we went back to Seward. You could cut 1 day in Denali and eliminate Fairbanks and/or Seward to shorten the trip. To me, the thought of a big group land tour on a bus is not appealing at all. Much prefer the freedom of driving but that’s me and you may/will have different opinions. 

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The 2026 Alaska cruise tour brochure is available on Holland America’s web site.  Click on brochures at the bottom of the page.  They do have 10 day Denali cruise tours beginning in Anchorage or Fairbanks.  The DO-D6 series are short tours which include the train to/from Denali.  Easy travel planning for you. @PattiPB

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@PattiPB  Plan to link your bookings so that you will be traveling as a group.  HAL will probably have two groups in the same itinerary with each group together in the rail car and bus.  Book with a TA or a HAL PCC to make sure your group bookings are set up properly.  

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