Seward (Anchorage), AK
Named after the U.S. Secretary of State involved in buying Alaska from Russia, the town of Seward went on to become an important location in the olden days of the Klondike Gold Rush. Teams of dogsleds would rush the lifesaving diphtheria vaccine from here… and today there’s even a race that commemorates that time. But if Seward is your starting point for exploring the region, the region’s big city of Anchorage and its Native American culture is just one of the spots that’s worth a detour. There’s Kenai Fjords National Park with its marine life and dozens of glaciers, while on land the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center welcomes visitors to see the orphaned and injured animals recovering there, including bears, moose, elk, eagles and more. And there’s potential for adventure galore, whether it’s floating down Resurrection River, strapping in for a dogsled ride, or going for a scenic, up-close nature cruise aboard a smaller boat.
A Seward cruise will show you the very best of Alaska’s wild beauty and cultural diversity. Situated at the end of Resurrection Bay, a long fjord on the Kenai Peninsula, the city is surrounded by towering, snow-capped mountains and dense forests of spruce and hemlock. The Kenai Fjords National Park and the vast glaciers of the Harding Icefield are within easy reach. The town itself is bustling all summer long, the waterfront lined with marinas filled with sailboats and fishing boats. The five-mile stony beach of Waterfront Park stretches in front of the town, and it’s common to spot the blow of humpback whales from the shore.
Cruises from Seward take you to some of the most exciting ports in Alaska, including Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point. You’ll also sail up close to the magnificent Hubbard Glacier, and through the serene waters of the Inside Passage, one of the best places to spot whales and dolphins. What’s more, you could take the opportunity to extend your Alaska cruise by choosing one of Celebrity’s spectacular Cruise tours, combining the dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife of Denali National Park with a voyage to or from Seward.
