Alaska Cruise with Celebrity

[cusematt4]

Hi All,

 

We are planning an Alaska cruise for a milestone birthday - parents with adult kids.  RCL is our favorite line over NCL, and we've never been on Celebrity.  We've been on Princess awhile ago which is fine but have heard decreased quality since Carnival's acquisition years ago.

 

We want the best possible first-time Alaska experience, but we still also want to be on a great modern ship with good food and entertainment. 

 

Does anyone have any experience with RCL vs Celebrity vs NCL vs Princess for a cruise to Alaska?

 

-What's the best way to go about choosing a cruise to Alaska for July or August 2024?

 

-Is July vs August a better time to go?

 

-The ships we are considering are: Ovation of the Seas (we've been on Anthem), NCL Bliss (we've been on Getaway), Celebrity Edge or Discovery Princess

 

-Is there any advantage of going on any of these ships to be able to see more?  They all are similar size

 

-Whats the difference in doing roundtrip from Seattle vs one-way from Seattle vs one-way from Vancouver?  Would we end up seeing a bunch more on a one way trip?  Is there any advantage from leaving from Vancouver vs Seattle?

 

Would appreciate any info for the best possible Alaska experience while also having a great cruise.

 

Thank you.

[1025cruise]

IMHO, Celebrity and RCI are out as they don't go to Glacier Bay.

[Guindalf]

We're headed on our third Alaskan adventure in early September. This time, we're trying Princess.

 

First was on Norwegian Pearl in 2009, R/T Seattle, visiting Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, Victoria, BC and Glacier Bay. Second, in 2019, we sailed on the Celebrity Eclipse and went to Hubbard Glacier and Icy Strait Point instead of Victoria, Glacier Bay and Skagway.

 

Alaska is all about the destination and, in our opinion, there is NO bad way to visit!

[Octavias]

We are scheduled on Celebrity edge for May of next year to see Alaska.  We also wanted a newer ship and the retreat (suite) experience that Celebrity offers or we would have went with a line that goes to glacier bay, which Celebrity does not.   Our cruise is round trip out of Seattle so that we can drive there, we are here in the NW. 

not sure what advantages there might be to a one way vs. a round trip.  I will be curious to hear. 

[keesar]

3 hours ago, cusematt4 said:

Hi All,

 

We are planning an Alaska cruise for a milestone birthday - parents with adult kids.  RCL is our favorite line over NCL, and we've never been on Celebrity.  We've been on Princess awhile ago which is fine but have heard decreased quality since Carnival's acquisition years ago.

 

We want the best possible first-time Alaska experience, but we still also want to be on a great modern ship with good food and entertainment. 

 

Does anyone have any experience with RCL vs Celebrity vs NCL vs Princess for a cruise to Alaska?

 

-What's the best way to go about choosing a cruise to Alaska for July or August 2024?

 

-Is July vs August a better time to go?

 

-The ships we are considering are: Ovation of the Seas (we've been on Anthem), NCL Bliss (we've been on Getaway), Celebrity Edge or Discovery Princess

 

-Is there any advantage of going on any of these ships to be able to see more?  They all are similar size

 

-Whats the difference in doing roundtrip from Seattle vs one-way from Seattle vs one-way from Vancouver?  Would we end up seeing a bunch more on a one way trip?  Is there any advantage from leaving from Vancouver vs Seattle?

 

Would appreciate any info for the best possible Alaska experience while also having a great cruise.

 

Thank you.

If you are looking for the best itinerary, your best choice in my opinion would be Princess.  Princess goes to the better glaciers.    

 

Weather can be hit or miss.  We have been there when the weather in August was in the 70s. We have seen  no bears or other wildlife.  I guess the sign "Bear Left" on the highway was true for us. 😀

[Ferry_Watcher]

Celebrity is already promoting the Edge sailing from Seattle to Alaska (as seen from this billboard near Pier 91 in Seattle).

I will be sailing on the Edge next May just to experience an Edge Class ship.  (I have been to Alaska a few times already).  If I was sailing for the first time to Alaska, I would be looking at which glacier is on the itinerary, and time scheduled at the various port-of-calls.

[SPacificbound]

One way from Vancouver would be my choice, then adding some Alaska Rail after cruise. It's a fantastic way to see more of Alaska.

[curmudgeon98]

There are tradeoffs for everything:

 

  R/T Seattle is substantially more convenient traveling for most people, though the cruises tend to be priced a bit higher.  Itinerary on a 7-day R/T is somewhat constrained, and two of the days will be spent pounding along in the open waters west of Vancouver Island (can be rough sometimes). 

 

 One-way usually involves more expensive/longer air travel.  Traveling through more of the inside passage (but the narrowest section is normally after dark).  More flexibility on port times.  The opportunity to add time in Alaska before/after the cruise.  One day of open-water crossing in Gulf of Alaska.  Seward can be worth a day or two on the Alaska end; Whittier not so much.  

 

Weather is unpredictable.  A limited set of itineraries (generally Princess or HAL) will go into Glacier Bay NP, but most all will feature sailing up close to a glacier (how close is dependent on daily conditions).  Some cruises have really funky port times, because dock space is limited and they only get the morning or afternoon.  Excursions can be expensive, but good ones can add a lot to the experience.  July has longer evenings (those blackout curtains can be important).  I really prefer a ship that has a forward observation lounge in any case, but especially for Alaska.  Nice to have a promenade deck that's a bit closer to the water for wildlife viewing as well. 

[MobiusHky]

On 7/12/2023 at 3:08 PM, cusematt4 said:

Hi All,

 

We are planning an Alaska cruise for a milestone birthday - parents with adult kids.  RCL is our favorite line over NCL, and we've never been on Celebrity.  We've been on Princess awhile ago which is fine but have heard decreased quality since Carnival's acquisition years ago.

 

We want the best possible first-time Alaska experience, but we still also want to be on a great modern ship with good food and entertainment. 

 

Does anyone have any experience with RCL vs Celebrity vs NCL vs Princess for a cruise to Alaska?

 

-What's the best way to go about choosing a cruise to Alaska for July or August 2024?

 

-Is July vs August a better time to go?

 

-The ships we are considering are: Ovation of the Seas (we've been on Anthem), NCL Bliss (we've been on Getaway), Celebrity Edge or Discovery Princess

 

-Is there any advantage of going on any of these ships to be able to see more?  They all are similar size

 

-Whats the difference in doing roundtrip from Seattle vs one-way from Seattle vs one-way from Vancouver?  Would we end up seeing a bunch more on a one way trip?  Is there any advantage from leaving from Vancouver vs Seattle?

 

Would appreciate any info for the best possible Alaska experience while also having a great cruise.

 

Thank you.

Despite being a Celebrity forum, I gotta be honest, I think you're best possible experience is going to be on Princess if you REALLY want to see Alaska.  Let me try to explain. 

 

With regards to the round trip cruises, these are "Canadian" Alaska cruises.  They stay in the inside passage and you'll see a lot of really neat things in places like Ketchikan, Wrangell, Sitka, Juneau or maybe even Haines.  But ALL of those stops are in the Canadian attached areas of Alaska.  You don't actually get to real actual Alaska.  And like someone else said, you don't even get to Glacier Bay.  Which is still south of the main body of the state.  If you just want tourist trap places that are almost more Canadian than Alaskan, that's fine.

 

If you really want to SEE Alaska, all dependent on what you are willing to pay, you are much better off doing a Princess Cruise/Tour on a one-way from Seattle or Vancouver to Anchorage.  Princess owns several lodges around Denali Park so they have a deal where you cruise to Whittier, then a train ride to Denali, spend a couple nights near the park and then take a motor coach to Anchorage.  It's probably the best all around Alaska trip if you don't want to just fly up and try it yourself.   Or even more, go all the way to Fairbanks and see honest interior Alaska.  But no offense to my friends who live in Fairbanks, no one wants to go there....  😆

 

July/August is kind of a wash depending on how late in August.  By the end of August we're starting to hit the rainy season.  Odds are it'll be more overcast and more rain.  The days will be shorter and feel a little closer to what you might be used to.  In July, it should be warmer in the mid 70s normally with some peaks to 80.  This year, it's hit 70 one day all year and today might be the second.  We've been hovering around high 50s to low 60s this summer.  The inside passage tends to be more rain that up in real Alaska.

I only pipe in because a lot of people from outside don't realize how different the inside passage is from the rest of Alaska.  Technically you've seen Alaska, but you haven't really experienced Alaska if you stick to the inside passage.


 

[phoenix_dream]

Sailed to Alaska on Celebrity many times. IMHO Hubbard Glacier provides an excellent glacier experience. I also 100% would recommend cruising one way out of Vancouver. More ports and longer times in port. Definitely add a trip to Denali after if possible. Take the Alaska railroad. Amazing.  Consider booking the land trip on your own or via an Alaska based TA. We did that on our first trip and it saved us $300 pp for 3 days post cruise. As to timing, not much difference between July and August. Our preferred times are actually September or May. Just as scenic and less crowded.

[davekathy]

Looking forward to our (first) Alaska (Dawes Glacier cruise) on the Edge, September 2024. 

Edited July 14, 2023 by davekathy

[cusematt4]

Thanks for all of the info and advice.  You had mentioned one way from Vancouver.  Is there any reason to start there vs starting from Alaska?  Or would going from Alaska one way to Vancouver or Seattle be the same thing? 

 

Also, is there any reason to start/end in Vancouver vs Seattle, or is it the one way that matters most and allows ut to see the most?

 

I'm looking at a number of Princess cruises - in particulr, Royal or Sapphire that leave from Anchorage and end in Seattle.  We could also start from Seattle and end in Anchorage if there's any advantage to that.  Our thinking was to start from Anchorage and do a pre-cruise tour with Princess and then after 3-5 days do the cruise from Anchorage to Seattle.

 

Also, does anyone have advice on how to go about picking the best pre/post cruise tour to see Alaska (train/lodge/Anchorage/Danali combo)?  Per Princess Cruise Lodging/Tours, there are many options to choose from including:

 

-5 or 6 night Explorer Tour options - A balance of structure and time on your own, Explorer Tours feature rail travel with Denali National Park as a focal point, with some activities included on select tours.

-6 or 7 night Escorted Tour options - Travel through Alaska accompanied by a knowledgeable guide to provide local insight and handle all travel details. Some sightseeing and many meals included.

-1 to 4 night Denali Rail Tour options - Ride the famous Alaska Railroad route in glass-domed rail cars with overnights in Denali National Park, South Denali near 

 

Thanks so much.

 

[curmudgeon98]

In general, one-way cruises have to start or end in Vancouver, not Seattle.  This is for obscure labor-law provisions (PVSA).  There are round-trips from both cities.  I don't think there is any particular reason to favor one direction vs the other for one-ways, though I might be willing to take more of a chance with my flight timings starting in Alaska since it would be easier to catch up in case of flight issues.

 

You can get from Vancouver to Seattle by one-way car rental, train, bus, or flight.  It can be a little more complicated and time-consuming than you might think because of the border crossing.  

[MobiusHky]

14 hours ago, cusematt4 said:

Thanks for all of the info and advice.  You had mentioned one way from Vancouver.  Is there any reason to start there vs starting from Alaska?  Or would going from Alaska one way to Vancouver or Seattle be the same thing? 

 

Also, is there any reason to start/end in Vancouver vs Seattle, or is it the one way that matters most and allows ut to see the most?

 

I'm looking at a number of Princess cruises - in particulr, Royal or Sapphire that leave from Anchorage and end in Seattle.  We could also start from Seattle and end in Anchorage if there's any advantage to that.  Our thinking was to start from Anchorage and do a pre-cruise tour with Princess and then after 3-5 days do the cruise from Anchorage to Seattle.

 

Also, does anyone have advice on how to go about picking the best pre/post cruise tour to see Alaska (train/lodge/Anchorage/Danali combo)?  Per Princess Cruise Lodging/Tours, there are many options to choose from including:

 

-5 or 6 night Explorer Tour options - A balance of structure and time on your own, Explorer Tours feature rail travel with Denali National Park as a focal point, with some activities included on select tours.

-6 or 7 night Escorted Tour options - Travel through Alaska accompanied by a knowledgeable guide to provide local insight and handle all travel details. Some sightseeing and many meals included.

-1 to 4 night Denali Rail Tour options - Ride the famous Alaska Railroad route in glass-domed rail cars with overnights in Denali National Park, South Denali near 

 

Thanks so much.

 

I don't think there's any real benefit to starting south and cruising up versus starting with the tour and cruising south.  Both work.  Maybe, if anything, you are more gradually exposed to Alaska if you cruise north first?  Maybe?  But I'd think a better judge would be to find out what your flights would cost to fly home from Anchorage vs from Seattle and take the cheaper route.  Might help to know that almost every flight (not every, but almost) flies through Seattle to get to the lower 48.

 

We gave my parents a Princess cruise/tour for their 50th a few years ago.  The only reason we selected the cruise north option was because when they ended in Anchorage we picked them up and they spent a month with us before going home.

 

If you goal is to see as much of Alaska as you can pack into one trip, the 6 or 7 night is probably the widest range of sights.  You don't get to Fairbanks, but Denali, Cooper Landing, Seward, and Anchorage is a decent cross section of the populated areas of the state.  The sad fact is, Alaska is HUGE.  People often don't realize how big this place really is.  Cooper landing to Denali Park is 330 miles.  That's essentially the distance from Chicago to St. Louis.  And that's only about 1/3 the length of the state from Homer to Deadhorse.  Glacier Bay is over 400 miles south of Anchorage and that's as the raven flies.  Ketchikan is nearly 800 miles south of Anchorage as the raven flies.  And Deadhorse is 630 miles north of Anchorage in a straight line.  It's not really possible to see everything in a single trip.  This map might put things into perspective.  The inside passage is the equivalent of traveling around Georgia and Alabama and never even getting to Tennessee.  

 

So pick your highlights on this trip.  What do you really want to see?  The more time you spend, the more you'll get to see, but the more money you'll spend.  The nice part of the guided tour is that you'll have someone along with you who knows the state and can give you interesting details.

If this is a once in a lifetime trip, never to be repeated...  See a glacier.  Ride the train.  See Denali.  Try to see a river.  Cooper Landing fits that bill.  Ideally you'd want to see a fishing village, but the best shot there would be Homer and none of the cruises got o Homer.  So Seward would have to do.  And if possible, see some wildlife.  Denali is probably you best bet for wildlife.  Best time for bears is gonna be around the salmon runs.  That's usually late June and early August, but that changes so much it's impossible to set your trip by the salmon.

[Travel-and-See]

I've been on 2 different Alaska Cruises, both with Celebrity. 

 

Last year I took the Solstice on a RT from Seattle, we passed the Dawes Glacier and stopped at Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. 

 

This year I took the Millenium from Seward Alaska to Vancouver, we passed the Hubbard Glacier, and stopped at the same ports with the addition of Icy Straight Point. 

 

Both were FANTASTIC trips but I definitely preferred the one-way itinerary. If you sail a round trip then you have 2 sea days (one coming and one going) to get quickly from Seattle up to the Alaska ports. This to me, shrinks your Alaska cruise down to 5 days when you think about it. The Dawes Glacier was beautiful but you had to wake up early in the morning to see it because we passed it the same day we were going to Juneau which also cut our visit to Juneau short.  By contrast, the Hubbard Glacier we had plenty of time to anticipate and enjoy it once we arrived.  Plus you get an extra port day, Icy Straight Point.  

 

By arriving in Seward, or departing from Seward, you can easily add a train ride on the Alaska Railroad which is a wonderful way to start or end your trip. 

 

As a bonus... look at the prices. The prices for the one-way trips seem to be much cheaper than the Round trips offered. 

 

I've only sailed in Alaska with Celebrity so I can't compare but I had a great time and would certainly go again.  I'm honestly considering another trip to Alaska this year if the timing works out,  Celebrity has decent deals but right now NCL has some insane deals for the same routes.   

[bigbenboys]

We have done many Alaska sailing. My favorite was Seward to Vancouver. My favorite glacier is Hubbard. I also like ziplining at icy strait point. 2nd would be Vancouver round trip. Cruising the inside passage between Vancouver BC and Vancouver Island. Less chance of ruff seas. Having a full day in Victoria gives you the option of seeing Butchart Gardens outside of Victoria. My least is out of Seattle. You dont go to Hubbard Glacier or Icy Strait Point or the inside passage. Your stop in Victoria is at 5:30 in the evening.

We like sailing Alaska late May or June. You dont want to sail to early in the season as sometimes their might be to much ice for the ship to get close to the Glaciers. While I have not seen it. I've been told you can get more of a haze in the air later in the season. Photos from June 2022. Sunset and Hubbard Glacier. Sunsets are later in Alaska. The boat in the photo is an excursion that leaves from the cruise ship.

Edited July 14, 2023 by bigbenboys
added info

[Northern Aurora]

Just a few random thoughts from someone who actually lives in Alaska and has done at least 7 Alaska itineraries.

 

My preference is the one ways itineraries between Seward and Vancouver, followed by the RTs out of Vancouver.  We have done the RTs out of Seattle when it was convenient since we were visiting Seattle.

 

Princess is not my favorite.  While they own lodges both at the Denali National Park entrance and the McKinley View Lodge (much farther south of the DNP entrance and a 45 minute drive from Talkeetna) that also means that they are tied to certain itineraries for their land trips.  And I am of the opinion that anyone who visits DNP short changes themselves when they don't go into the park as far as Eielson Visitor's Center (mile 66);  In 2021 the NPS closed the single road into DNP at mile 42 due to the road issues at the Pretty Rocks area.  While there are funds to bridge the problematic area it is anticipated that the road will not be open the entire length until 2025 at the earliest,  But Princess is still selling land trips which include the Denali experience.

 

Instead of a cruise line sponsored land trip I would suggest that folks consider a DIY trip.  Select what you want to see and do.  Alaska is easy to navigate.  And if folks want to get really creative consider flying to Kotzebue or Utqiagvik. 

[Texed]

10 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Instead of a cruise line sponsored land trip I would suggest that folks consider a DIY trip.  And if folks want to get really creative consider flying to Kotzebue or Utqiagvik. 

 

Fly to them?  I can't even pronounce them!  😂

[MobiusHky]

44 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Just a few random thoughts from someone who actually lives in Alaska and has done at least 7 Alaska itineraries.

 

My preference is the one ways itineraries between Seward and Vancouver, followed by the RTs out of Vancouver.  We have done the RTs out of Seattle when it was convenient since we were visiting Seattle.

 

Princess is not my favorite.  While they own lodges both at the Denali National Park entrance and the McKinley View Lodge (much farther south of the DNP entrance and a 45 minute drive from Talkeetna) that also means that they are tied to certain itineraries for their land trips.  And I am of the opinion that anyone who visits DNP short changes themselves when they don't go into the park as far as Eielson Visitor's Center (mile 66);  In 2021 the NPS closed the single road into DNP at mile 42 due to the road issues at the Pretty Rocks area.  While there are funds to bridge the problematic area it is anticipated that the road will not be open the entire length until 2025 at the earliest,  But Princess is still selling land trips which include the Denali experience.

 

Instead of a cruise line sponsored land trip I would suggest that folks consider a DIY trip.  Select what you want to see and do.  Alaska is easy to navigate.  And if folks want to get really creative consider flying to Kotzebue or Utqiagvik. 

You say that like you're the only one here from Alaska... LOL!  Just messing.

 

Totally agree with you on the plan your own trip being better than the cruise options.  If that's a possibility.  My thought was that the OP was looking for cruise only and that was the best shot for seeing the sights.  Of course, it's not our money we're playing with either.

 

Can you imagine an L48'r in Kotzebue?  LOL, that would be a sight to see.  Might as well send them to Diomede or Adak.  LOL!!!
 

[cruisewiththekids]

49 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Just a few random thoughts from someone who actually lives in Alaska and has done at least 7 Alaska itineraries.

 

My preference is the one ways itineraries between Seward and Vancouver, followed by the RTs out of Vancouver.  We have done the RTs out of Seattle when it was convenient since we were visiting Seattle.

 

Princess is not my favorite.  While they own lodges both at the Denali National Park entrance and the McKinley View Lodge (much farther south of the DNP entrance and a 45 minute drive from Talkeetna) that also means that they are tied to certain itineraries for their land trips.  And I am of the opinion that anyone who visits DNP short changes themselves when they don't go into the park as far as Eielson Visitor's Center (mile 66);  In 2021 the NPS closed the single road into DNP at mile 42 due to the road issues at the Pretty Rocks area.  While there are funds to bridge the problematic area it is anticipated that the road will not be open the entire length until 2025 at the earliest,  But Princess is still selling land trips which include the Denali experience.

 

Instead of a cruise line sponsored land trip I would suggest that folks consider a DIY trip.  Select what you want to see and do.  Alaska is easy to navigate.  And if folks want to get really creative consider flying to Kotzebue or Utqiagvik. 

With the road closure at Denali, would you recommend skipping a visit while the road is closed?   And if so, do you have suggested alternatives for 2 - 3 days post-cruise from Seward?

[MobiusHky]

37 minutes ago, Texed said:

 

Fly to them?  I can't even pronounce them!  😂

Kotzebue's pretty easy.  Utqiagvik is the one that trips people up. Used to be Barrow, but they changed the name back to the Inuit name.  Think UUT-kee-ah-vik.

[MobiusHky]

6 minutes ago, cruisewiththekids said:

With the road closure at Denali, would you recommend skipping a visit while the road is closed?   And if so, do you have suggested alternatives for 2 - 3 days post-cruise from Seward?

Doing your own trip or with a cruise?  Cause it's very different.

 

I personally think it's worth the trip to see Denali even with the road closure.  But only if you are free of the constraints of the tour group.  You don't need to spend all day there so without the rigid tour, you can drive in and then drive somewhere else.  Combine a stop in Talkeetna and make it a day trip.  The drive is semi-boring a lot, but it has some highlights.

 

For 2-3 days?  I'd personally steer you toward heading out to the Kenai Peninsula and hitting Soldotna and Homer.  You can spend 2-3 days on Kenai alone pretty easy.  Unless you plan to fly to places.

Edited July 14, 2023 by MobiusHky
Added info.

[BSinPNS]

We found there were several advantages of taking the southbound trip from Alaska to Vancouver.  Based on recent reports, boarding in Alaska avoids the multiple ship problems in Vancouver that are more prevalent at the beginning of the season.  If you do the ground tour in Alaska (which we would highly recommend), you will meet several other travelers on the coaches/train giving your family members others who they will see again on the ship.  Also, the land tour is far more active and generally the first and or second days are sea days giving you a chance to catch your breath.  

[garyl62]

In 8 days we'll be leaving on Celebrity Land/Tour 10B which is 13 nights total, 6 on land, 7 cruising southbound from Seward to Vancouver.  We'll start the land portion with a night in Anchorage, then spend 2 nights in Denali, 1 night in Alyeska, and then 2 nights in Homer before boarding the ship and doing the typical southbound itinerary of Hubbard's Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Straight Point and Ketchikan before traveling the inside passage to Vancouver.  It will be our first trip to AK so I can't comment on other lines or itinerary's but I'm planning to do a limited "Live from" thread so follow along and I'll try to post some highlights and details each day.  Maybe it could be helpful to the OP or anyone else trying to get some information about a similar trip.

[Northern Aurora]

Just now, cruisewiththekids said:

With the road closure at Denali, would you recommend skipping a visit while the road is closed?   And if so, do you have suggested alternatives for 2 - 3 days post-cruise from Seward?

 

Other folks will have different opinions, but this opinion is from someone who lives about two to two hours and fifteen minutes drive from the entrance to DNP.  Prior to the single road being closed in August 2021 we visited DNP at least once a year.  We haven't gone down since the closure.  I personally really like the vistas past the Pretty Rocks area (where the road closure is) and particularly like Polychrome Pass overlook (mile 46) and the trails around the Eielson Visitor's Center.

 

Regarding alternatives, I would not suggest using Anchorage as a base to explore south central.  Anchorage is essentially a generic community with mountains photo-shopped in the background.  And Anchorage is experiencing a very serious (if not extreme) problem with homeless folks who have addiction issues too.  When working I would periodically fly down to Anchorage and be in the downtown area.  The current situation is nothing like it was prior to 2014 or so.  Panhandling is amazing.  

 

An interesting area to consider visiting is the Wrangell -- St. Elias National Park and Preserve.  The Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located within Wrangell -- St. Elias NP&P.  A side trip to Valdez is also interesting with a boat excursion with Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruises.  Consider researching this area.

 

Another alternative would be to stay on the Kenai Peninsula.  Seward is one of the south central communities where Alaskans go for recreation.  We love to take excursions into Resurrection Bay (Kenai Fjords National Park); our favorite vendor is Major Marine.  Exit Glacier is easy to visit and of course there is the SeaLIfe Center.  The beautiful community of Homer is about a four hour drive from Seward.  Homer is another gem of a community with a funky arty feel.  So some additional considerations to research.