Carnival Cruise Line is preparing to launch another three-ship deployment that will sail 49 Alaskan cruises this year following the success of its 2022 Alaska season. Carnival is adding new experiences to its popular shore excursions this season and preparing to welcome one of its latest additions to the fleet, the Carnival Luminosa, into US waters for the first time.
Carnival Miracle will begin her Alaska season on 23 April 2023, with a 14-day voyage from Long Beach, California. She will subsequently operate from her seasonal home port of San Francisco, with 10-day cruises that include calls to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, a new destination this season.
In Seattle, Carnival Spirit will depart on 2 May 2023, followed by Carnival Luminosa on 4 May 2023, to complete the season’s start. Carnival will provide six-, seven-, and eight-day sailings from Seattle. These voyages visit the popular ports of Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Victoria, British Columbia, and the Tracy Arm Fjord.
Carnival Luminosa will carry guests on a 23-day Carnival Journeys voyage from Brisbane, Australia, where she has been based since entering the fleet in November 2022. Passengers travelling on the Carnival Luminosa from Seattle will enjoy many unique features that the ship adds to the Carnival fleet, including a Cloud 9 Spa that spans two decks and has one of the fleet’s most large thermal zones.
The ship received many upgrades after joining from sister brand Costa Cruises last year. Like her sisters Carnival Spirit and Carnival Miracle, the vessel has a sky dome over the pool deck, allowing guests to enjoy the area regardless of the weather.
“I can’t wait to welcome our guests onboard our stunning Carnival Luminosa, which will join her beautiful sisters, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Miracle, for this year’s Alaska season.” “There is no better way to view Alaska’s awe-inspiring wonders of nature than by cruise ship, and we anticipate bringing more than 100,000 passengers on board this year,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The start of the season is a good reminder that it’s not too early to start thinking for next year.”
Carnival has had an overwhelming response for the forthcoming season, and Alaskan sailings for next year are also on sale. In 2024, between two outstanding transpacific cruises that include calls to Japan and Hawaii, Carnival Luminosa will rejoin Carnival Spirit in Seattle, conducting seven-, eight-, and 14-day sailings, while Carnival Miracle will return to San Francisco, Calif., offering 10- and 11-day cruises. For the 2024 season, the three ships will sail 53 cruises, making it Carnival’s largest-ever Alaska deployment.
Carnival curates the best local experiences, from whale viewing in Juneau to ziplining in Skagway so that guests can choose the suitable excursion. Carnival is adding two new excursions for Carnival Miracle cruises to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, this season, which include:
- Khutzeymatten Grizzly Bear Exploration mission: For a full-day trip over towering cliffs, lush woods, and a vibrant estuary ecosystem, guests will board a 72-foot catamaran tailored for animal viewing. They will glide softly through Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary, home to around 50 grizzly bears, with a good chance of seeing one.
- Exchamsiks Exploration: Guests will enjoy a lunch of fresh wild local salmon cooked over a campfire and served beneath 4,000-foot cliffs while exploring British Columbia’s temperate rainforest and rich rivers by jet boat and on foot.
The new excursions join a vast selection of options available to guests visiting major Alaskan ports, including:
- Juneau: The Mendenhall Glacier and Wildlife Quest, which sails aboard an Alaskan-built, high-speed expedition vessel, provides an unparalleled opportunity to see humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, porpoises, seals, eagles, and a guided tour of the iconic Mendenhall Glacier.
- Skagway: The Ultimate Yukon and White Pass Railroad Journey put passengers on a motor bus to marvel at the scenic Yukon River, its surrounding chain of lakes, and the rustic town of Caribou while listening to their guide relate tales of the Klondike Gold Rush.
- Ketchikan: During the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, Crab Feast and Cocktails, tourists may see – and taste – much of what makes Alaska unique. A sightseeing tour and Dungeness crab supper follow as visitors take in the breathtaking mountain, forest, and coastal scenery.
Add fun to The Last Frontier by engaging in special activities for children and families.
Carnival cruises to Alaska include Alaska-themed content for children and families. Carnival offers something for all age groups designed to promote connection and engagement with the meaningful experience of an Alaskan sailing, from the Great Alaskan Deck Party to a digital treasure hunt that allows visitors of all ages to gather photographs of the greatest vistas throughout their journey. Some of the exciting activities and memorable learning opportunities designed exclusively for Alaska cruises include:
- Wildlife, Nature, and Culture: Camp Ocean is frequented by local naturalists who provide an overview of Alaskan wildlife. Teens will learn how to photograph beautiful Alaskan scenery and have their questions about native wildlife answered by Club O2 and Circle C experts. Children and adolescents may also learn to square dance and express their talents through crafts.
- Family Ice Fishing Challenge: Everyone in the family may envision themselves as ice fishermen. Instead of trout, each team fishes for points in a game everyone can enjoy.
- Family Lumberjack Challenge: Visitors may compete to see who the best lumberjack in their family is.
Each of the three ships in Alaska this season carries around 2,200 passengers. It has many popular Carnival venues, such as Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Eatery, and RedFrog Rum Bar. Guests will also be entertained by Playlist Productions, Piano Bar 88, and The Punchliner Comedy Club.
