Here We Come! | Alaska | NCL 12 Day Southbound Rail-Cruise
Southbound from Fairbanks, Alaska
This program is the perfect fit for train buffs seeking a Denali and Fairbanks experience, relaxing travel days and two segments on the rails of Alaska Railroad.
5-Day Pre-Cruise Land Tour. 7-Day Cruise. 6 Ports.
Your Amazing Vacation Includes:
Overnights in Fairbanks, Denali and Anchorage • Enjoy amazing 360º views on Two Deluxe Dome Railcar segments on the rails of Alaska Railroad • Visit an Iditarod Sled Dog Musher’s kennel for a private tour • Explore Denali National Park on a Natural History Tour • Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center • Plenty of Time in Denali for Optional Activities
Tour Highlights:
- 5-Day Pre-Cruise Land Tour + 7-Day Cruise, 6 Ports
- Overnights in Fairbanks, Denali and Anchorage
- Two Deluxe Dome Railcar segments on the rails of Alaska Railroad
- Visit an Iditarod Sled Dog Musher’s kennel for a private tour
- Explore Denali with a Natural History Tour
- Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- Time for optional activities in Denali.
- All tours feature travel on the rails of Alaska Railroad
- All tours are fully escorted by local Alaskan guides.
- Get your camera ready: we guarantee animal sightings.
BEFORE YOU SAIL
Online Check-In can be completed starting at 21 days and must be completed prior to 3 days before sailing.
Things to Do
Check out this post for Airline Check In and Mobile App Links
Where can I see my flights, transfers, hotel, and cruise?
You will receive your flight information from the NCL Air Department which generally follow a “30 day out” policy for sending flight confirmations. It is an entirely different department from the cruise department, and each sends out their own documents rather than consolidating everything in one easy to read itinerary for you. Click here for details.
Please review all of your documents so that there aren’t any last-minute surprises!
Get To Know My NCL
New to cruising or to NCL?
Here is a page full of information.
Flight Issues
What should I do if my flight is delayed and what happens if I miss my outbound flight?
If your flight is delayed on your day of sailing, please follow these guidelines:
- Advise your airline as soon as possible that you are a cruise guest sailing that day. They will do all they can to book alternative flights.
- Ask the airline to contact our emergency number 0208 834 9013 immediately and we will do our best to get you on board. If you miss your flight due to your own error, Norwegian Cruise Line will not cover any additional costs for rebooking.
- Please note that if you miss your outbound flight the airline may consider this a ‘no show’ and may also cancel the return flight. In such cases, any additional expenses for rebooking return flights will not be covered by Norwegian Cruise Line
- What Happens If My Flight Is Delayed And The Ship Sails Without Me?
- Get up to $500 toward additional accommodations, meals and catch-up transportation expenses if you are delayed due to inclement weather, strike, mechanical failure and other reasons as cited in the BookSafe Travel Protection Plan.
When are E-Docs available? Up to 21 days prior to departure.
All E-Docs will be available up to 21 days prior to departure, provided full payment has been received and Online Check-In has been completed. Make sure you bring a printed copy of your eDocs with you to the pier as they will serve as your boarding pass. It is important to download your eDocs ahead of time as they will become unavailable 72 hours prior to sailing. You or your travel professional will be notified via email when your eDocs are ready to be printed. Please reconfirm your flight details.
Online Check-In to eDocs… everything you need to do before your cruise.
Please watch this video.
Gathering Documents
Make sure you have the proper forms of identification needed for your cruise. Give yourself plenty of time to obtain or renew your passport, if necessary. In order to make the boarding process as simple as possible, we strongly encourage you to visit RoyalCaribbean.com/onlinecheckin to check in online and print your SetSail Pass no later than three days prior to your sail date. Additionally, guests should look into any visa requirements for their itinerary. Learn more about required travel documents.
How many suitcases can I bring?
What about Documentation, Visas and Passports?
What can’t I bring onboard?
What time do I board the ship on embarkation day and in ports of call?
What about special dietary needs?
What is My NCL, and what are eDocs?
What not to bring onboard
What should I pack?
When can I pre-book Dining and Entertainment?
How can I book a transfer from the airport to the pier?
What vaccines will be accepted?
Are children allowed to sail on your ships if they are not vaccinated?
What happens if I get sick while onboard?
Will all guests be required to be vaccinated prior to the cruise?
Should I bring on a carry-on bag?
NCL Cellular at Sea AT&T Cruise Package
Drink Package
6 PORTS OF CALL
NCL offers excursions that you can book. I have also provided links to Get Your Guide which will provide you with information on other excursions that may be available. Please book through my links if you are interested.
Specialty Dining: Check on/after 3/10/23 to book.
| Day | DATE | PORT | ARRIVE | DEPART | Non-NCL Excursions |
| 1 | Sat. 7/8/23 | Alaska Airlines Denver to Seattle Flight 643 Seattle to Anchorage Flight 83 Anchorage to Fairbanks Flight 253 Please watch this video. An electronic confirmation with important flight information will be sent to the email on record. | |||
| 1 | Bus from Airport to Rivers Edge Resort Hotel Package | ||||
| 1 | Arrival into Fairbanks | Viator | |||
| 2 | Sun. 7/9/23 | Bus from hotel to city | |||
| Your Norwegian Cruise Line Tour Director will greet you at your Fairbanks Hotel. This morning, enjoy traveling along the rails of the Alaska Railroad to Denali National Park with 360-degree views from your deluxe dome railcar seats. As you travel through the high tundra plateau into the gorgeous scenery of the Healy Gorge and Canyon, be watchful for wildlife during your rail journey. Full bar and meal service are available for purchase during your rail journey. | |||||
| 2-3 | Denali Park Village Hotel | 3:00 pm | Viator | ||
| 2 | Fairbanks/Denali | ||||
| Fairbanks Pioneer Park YouTube | |||||
| 3 | Mon. 7/11/23 | Bus from Hotel to City | |||
| 3 | Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa | 3:00 pm | Viator | ||
| 3 | Denali | ||||
| This morning is open for optional activities in Denali before heading out to learn about the Alaska state sport of dog mushing with an included stop at a local Iditarod sled dog kennel. You’ll be amazed to learn about this fascinating sport, the musher, the dogs, and even get to hold a future champion puppy in your arms. After this authentic visit, we won’t be surprised if you are ready to run “The Last Great Race” yourself. More than just the mountain, Denali National Park is six million acres of wild land. After lunch on your own, your tour will take you into this pristine region of Alaska on the only road into and out of the park. Along the way, enjoy a fully narrated ride learning about the flora and fauna of the area while looking out for the wild animals that roam freely and call this park home. While in this beautiful area, set aside time to experience the solitude and tranquility that vast wilderness can provide. During your Natural History Tour, enjoy the incredible scenery and some of the best opportunities to see wildlife in its natural setting. Overnight: Denali | |||||
| 4 | 7/11/23 | Denali/Anchorage | |||
| This morning travel by motorcoach to the town of Talkeetna and then, you’ll take your second segment along the rails of the Alaska Railroad from Talkeetna to Anchorage in a deluxe dome railcar. As the gorgeous scenery of Alaska rolls past, be watchful for wildlife, as well as glimpses of Mt. Denali, or, as the Alaskans call it, “The Great One.” Full bar and meal service are available for purchase during your rail journey. Overnight: Anchorage | |||||
| 5 | This morning, enjoy a brief city tour of Anchorage and then continue south down the Turnagain Arm along the Seward Highway. This “All-American Scenic Highway” has spectacular views of the Cook Inlet and Chugach Mountains. In dramatic fashion, see where the mountains meet the sea. Stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and get up close to moose, bears, musk ox and other indigenous animals of the region. Taking in orphaned animals and providing quality animal care year-round, the Conservation Center is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Alaska’s wildlife. Animals that cannot be released back into the wild are given a permanent home at the Center. Continue on by motorcoach to Seward to board Norwegian Spirit for your 7-day Alaska Cruise. Avg. Temperature 50 – 62 ºF Avg. Precipitation 2.2 In. | ||||
| 5 | 7/12/23 | Embark Spirit | |||
| 5 | Ship Departs Seward, Alaska | ||||
| 5 | Anchorage/Seward | ||||
| 5 | Seward, Alaska | Viator | |||
| 5 | Best known for its beautiful parks and mountain scenery, Seward, Alaska is not to be missed. There is nearly an endless variety of outdoor activities to enjoy in Seward, from mountain biking and climbing, to rafting, sea kayaking, and dog-sledding, and even skiing, fishing or white water rafting. Explore scenic hiking trails or have a picnic among the pristine landscape. There’s no shortage of enjoyable pastimes in Alaska’s City of Seward. | ||||
| 6 | 7/13/23 | DOCK Keystone Canyon (Valdez), Alaska | 8:00 am | 7:00 pm | |
| 6 | If you’re interested in dramatic landscapes and diverse wildlife, then Valdez is for you. Ideally nestled along Prince William Sound, this picturesque town seems to have it all—towering mountains, wildflower-carpeted meadows, iceberg-dotted waters and expansive glaciers. Feel Free to go a little wild on an exhilarating shore excursion, from fishing and whale watching to glacier hikes and much more. Or explore the town’s Gold Rush history, browse local shops and savor fresh seafood. Avg. Temperature 48- 63ºF Avg. Precipitation 4.0 In. | ||||
| 7 | Cruise Hubbard Glacier | ||||
| 7 | Get up close and personal with the gigantic Hubbard Glacier, North America’s largest tidewater glacier. It’s 1350 square miles of blue ice and one of the most active in Alaska. | ||||
| 8 | 7/15/23 | DOCK Skagway, Alaska | 7:00 am | 8:00 pm | Viator |
| 8 | In a single year from 1896 to 1897, this remote town along the Inside Passage grew from a few tents to a city of 20,000 gold seekers. Today, travelers come in search of other riches – to experience yesteryear along Skagway’s charming boardwalk lined with buildings that replicate those Gold Rush days. Avg. Temperature 51- 64 ºF Avg. Precipitation 1.1 In. | ||||
| 8 | How to spend a day in Skagway | ||||
| 8 | White Pass & Yukon Route Railway This is a must do. | ||||
| 9 | 7/16/23 | DOCK Juneau, Alaska | 7:00 am | 5:00 pm | Viator |
| 9 | Juneau has been called “Alaska’s peak experience,” certainly due in part to its unparalleled glacier viewing from such places as Tracy Arm Fjord, the Juneau Icefields and Glacier Bay National Park. Kayak up one of the area’s many protected waterways, go flightseeing, tour historic downtown or try your hand at panning for gold. The majestic Mendenhall Glacier lies nearly 12 miles outside Juneau, a treck worthwhile. Avg. Temperature 50 – 64ºF Avg. Precipitation 4.6 In. | ||||
| 10 | 7/17/23 | DOCK Ketchickan (Ward Cove), Alaska | 9:00 am | 7:00 pm | Viator |
| 10 | Its Tlingit Indian name, Kach Khanna, means “spread wings of the eagle.” Chances are you’ll see one of these magnificent birds perched atop a Sitka tree. Thanks to its abundant rainfall, Ketchikan is surrounded by some of the world’s most lush wilderness. Avg. Temperature 51- 64 ºF Avg. Precipitation 6.6 In. | ||||
| 11 | 7/18/23 | At Sea | |||
| 12 | 7/19/23 | DOCK Ship arrives at Vancouver, Canada | 6:00 am | ||
| 12 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Viator | |||
| 12 | Positioned between the snow-dusted North Shore Mountains and the rich, blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver blends big-city sophistication with small-town charm. Don’t miss Queen Elizabeth Park – a 130-acre civic arboretum accented with sculptures by modern artist Henry Moore. Avg. Temperature 54- 71ºF Avg. Precipitation 1.4 In. | ||||
| 12 | American Airlines Vancouver to Chicago Flight 1717 Chicago to Cincinnati Flight 3874 |
Get Your Guide Activities
Add-ons
- Shore Excursion Discount – First Guest $50 per port
- Prepaid Service Charges
- 2 Meal Speciality Dining Package
- Internet Package (150 Minutes) per guest
- Unlimited Open Bar Package
INCLUDED TRAVEL EXTRAS
- Gov. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses
- Open Bar Gratuities
- Specialty Dining Gratuities
- Airfare
- Ground Transportation
- BOOKSAFE TRAVEL PROTECTION Standard Coverage
With BookSafe Standard Travel Protection you get:
Up to 100% cash-back reimbursement for covered cancellation causes, or future cruise credit certificates should your cancellation reason not qualify for reimbursement.
Coverage for lost, stolen, damaged or delayed luggage.
Reimbursement of medical and medical evacuation expenses if you become ill or injured while traveling.
COVID Rules
For sailings embarking September 3, 2022 and beyond:
Guests ages twelve and over will be allowed to board unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests age twelve and over will be required to show proof of a medically supervised negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation.
For guests age 11 years or under, no additional protocols or testing requirements apply.
Local regulations may have different requirements to enter certain countries – make sure to check Travel Requirements by Country to understand country specific requirements. Guests may b coole denied boarding if all country specific requirements are not met.
Log on to ‘My NCL’ at www.ncl.com/login to make book excursions, activities and extras and to complete the online registration so you can save time at the pier and receive valuable pre-cruise information to prepare you for your best vacation ever.
Please email me if you have any questions.
FREE AT SEA
- Open Bar Selected
- Specialty Dining Selected
- Shore Excursions Included
- Wi Fi Included
- 2-For-1 Deposits Included
FLIGHTS
- FREE Airfare Included
- Depart: Cincinnati, (CVG)
INCLUDED TRAVEL EXTRAS
- Gov. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses
- Open Bar Gratuities
- Specialty Dining Gratuities
- Airfare
- Ground Transportation
- BOOKSAFE TRAVEL PROTECTION Standard Coverage
With BookSafe Standard Travel Protection you get:
Up to 100% cash-back reimbursement for covered cancellation causes, or future cruise credit certificates should your cancellation reason not qualify for reimbursement.
Coverage for lost, stolen, damaged or delayed luggage
Reimbursement of medical and medical evacuation expenses if you become ill or injured while traveling
COVID Rules
For sailings embarking September 3, 2022 and beyond:
Guests ages twelve and over will be allowed to board unvaccinated. Unvaccinated guests age twelve and over will be required to show proof of a medically supervised negative PCR or Antigen test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation.
For guests age 11 years or under, no additional protocols or testing requirements apply.
Local regulations may have different requirements to enter certain countries – make sure to check Travel Requirements by Country to understand country specific requirements. Guests may b coole denied boarding if all country specific requirements are not met.
Log on to ‘My NCL’ at www.ncl.com/login to make book excursions, activities and extras and to complete the online registration so you can save time at the pier and receive valuable pre-cruise information to prepare you for your best vacation ever.
Please email me if you have any questions.