Cruise vacations are a fantastic way to explore the far reaches of our planet while still enjoying all of the conveniences of home. You will spend your days cruising the glorious high seas and adventuring from port to port, seeing incredible landscapes, wildlife, and people. A cruise to Alaska is one of the finest opportunities to get out into the wilderness and yet still have a warm and safe place to bed down at night. The ships that you can take are outfitted with all sorts of exciting activities, as well as fine food and drinks. Here are a few examples of terrific Alaskan cruise packages that will give you ample amounts of both relaxation and adventure. Seven Days Aboard the Norwegian StarSail away to Alaska’s Inside Passage aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship the Norwegian Star. Your seven-day journey will begin at the picturesque Canadian city of Vancouver. It might be a good idea to arrive in Vancouver a few days early to take advantage of all that the city has to offer. This city has a diverse population of people who have moved there from all around the world. Explore different cultures at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC or take the kids along to learn about their surroundings at Science World. Once you set off into the inside passage your first stop will be the Alaskan town of Ketchikan. This town has the largest collection of standing totem poles in the whole world! But don’t spend all your time in the town. The nearby Misty Fjords National monument is a gorgeous landscape full of rocky mountaintops and an abundance of wildlife. After a stop in Juneau you will set off for Sawyer Glacier. The twin glaciers, North and South Sawyer, are at the end of the Tracy Arm Fjord. Keep an eye out for the numerous black bears, wolves, and harbor seals. You may even get lucky enough to spot a mountain goat, although they typically stick to the higher elevations. All the way up the passage you will port at the town of Skagway, Alaska. Though the town only has about 1,000 permanent residents, it hosts more than 900,000 visitors during the busy summer tourist season. Jack London writes about the town in his book The Call of the Wild and Skagway’s rough and tumble past is still celebrated today. From there you will make a stop at Prince Rupert, British Columbia before returning to Seattle, Washington. This trip will surely be an unbelievable adventure you will never forget. Ten Days on the Ms ZaandamExplore the other side of Alaska on Holland America Line’s cruise ship the Ms Zaandam. This particular trip begins inland at Fairbanks, Alaska. While it may seem strange to begin a cruise so far from the sea, this is so you can appreciate Denali National Park in all its glory. This incredible park is comprised of over six million acres of land. People from all over Alaska and the world come to Denali to view the wildlife, mountain climb, dogsled, and cross-country ski. You may see wolves, grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, and moose. From there it is off to Anchorage and then Seward where you will board the ship and set sail. After a stop at College Fjord you will head up into Glacier Bay. From the dock of the Ms Zaandam you will get a chance to see the beautiful inlets, lagoons, and islands of Glacier Bay. Keep an eye out for Humpback Whales, Orcas, a wide variety of seals, and even Dall Porpoise. You will then head to the town of Haines, Alaska. Rafting the Chilkat River and hiking around the Takshanuk Mountains are two great outdoor opportunities. But if you are strapped for time, the Davidson Glacier is pretty easily accessible. So are Lutak Inlet and Chilkoot Lake. Sea lions, orcas, and seals are commonly found at Lutak Inlet, so bring your camera!After seeing Haines it is off to Juneau, Alaska, the capital of the state. Take in a play at the Perseverance Theater, the only professional theater in Alaska. The Alaska Folk Festival and the Juneau Jazz Festival are other great opportunities if your timing is right. Juneau is also very close to the nearby Mendenhall glacier. You can even explore the glacier by way of a dogsled ride that locals offer to tourists!Leaving Juneau you will journey into the Inside Passage. After a stop in Ketchikan you will finish up your adventure in Vancouver, Canada. These are just two of the many thrilling options for Alaskan cruises. If you have a thirst for the outdoors but still like to sleep in a nice warm bed at night, a cruise of this magical land might be just the thing for you.