chain of shakers without spilling a drop . Drinks are served on an ice-covered bar top .
Another go-to place is the Sky Lounge , a large space at the front of the ship with a stage , dance area , bar and floor-to-ceiling windows for the best views from inside the ship . Come here to sip cocktails including signature drinks named after horoscope signs , take part in a trivia game or magic show , dance to late-night DJ beats or just kick back and enjoy the view .
ALASKAN ADVENTURES While the onboard amenities are impressive , most people cruise in Alaska to marvel at the natural wonders and experience the historic towns . Each port offers plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the local culture and landscape . But the trip begins before stepping foot on the boat . For those on a southbound cruise , most people fly into Anchorage and then drive or take a train or bus to Seward , where the ship departs . The Seward Highway
is an incredible introduction to Alaska with stunning scenery around every turn . This two-hour route passes by the Turnagain Arm ’ s dramatic shoreline and the striking Chugach Mountains and Kenai Peninsula .
For those with extra time , several stops along the way can add to the experience , including Potter Marsh at the southern end of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge to see migratory birds , beavers and moose ; Beluga Point lookout to try to spot the white whales ; the 200-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center , which cares for injured and orphaned animals including moose , bears , wolves and reindeer in fenced natural habitats ; several parking lots to view the majestic blue-green Kenai Lake , which was formed out of glacier water ; and numerous hiking areas to explore .
Once on the ship , Hubbard Glacier is the destination during the first full at-sea day . As the ship approaches Disenchantment Bay , chunks of ice can be seen floating in the water . Keep an eye out for harbor seals and
Clockwise from top left : Alaska ’ s stunning scenery ; kayaking adventures ; an aerial tram in Juneau ; a train ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route sea lions , too . The air is decidedly colder as the ship approaches the awe-inspiring glacier , which has a bluish hue because the ice absorbs the light ’ s red or long wavelengths while the blue or short wavelengths are scattered . Head to the helicopter landing pad on the boat ’ s bow for a prime lookout or simply have a seat on your private balcony , the pool deck or in the solarium . Windows here can open for an unobstructed view for photos and close to keep you warmer ; grab one of the throw blankets available to bundle up . As a naturalist narrates over the speaker system , the ship will spin in a circle to give everyone a good view no matter what side they ’ re on . Or , opt for an excursion on a smaller vessel to get a closer look at the glacier , which stretches about 7 miles wide and 76 miles long . Surprisingly , Hubbard Glacier is actually growing thicker while most glaciers around the globe are retreating .
After visiting the glacier , the ship continues south overnight and then pulls into its first port city , Juneau , which offers plenty of shopping and dining as well as seaplane tours and more . For incredible panoramic views , take the Goldbelt Tram , which rises 1,800 feet up Mount Roberts from the dock through the rain forest — one of the most vertical tramways in the world — to the Mountain House with a gift shop and the Timberline Bar & Grill to enjoy lunch and a beer . Once at the top , optional hiking trails take visitors through a forest dotted with totem poles and vistas of a waterfall in the distance . Notably , the aerial tram is owned by Goldbelt Inc ., an urban Alaska Native business that seeks to honor and preserve the Tlingit culture .
Another must-try place in Juneau is the Alaskan Fudge Co . with more than 22 creative flavors like Inside Passage ( chocolate filled with peanut butter ) and Mount Juneau Mint . Visitors can watch the fudge being made in the shop . Tracy ’ s King Crab Shack is also popular for locally caught crab legs , bisque and crabcakes , but the line can get long . Another option is The Hangar on The Wharf with over 20 beers on tap , Alaskan seafood , burgers , steaks and pasta in a converted airplane hangar with views of the water .
The next stop on the cruise is Skagway , where visitors can stroll through the historic downtown , visit the Red Onion Saloon and Brothel Museum , sign up for a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad , try panning for gold or spend time at a musher ’ s camp to learn about the Iditarod and hold a sled dog puppy at Alaska 360 ’ s Dredge
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : ERIC LINDBERG PHOTOS ; COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES ; SHARON STELLO ; COURTESY OF WHITE PASS & YUKON ROUTE COLLECTION
66 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM