Four-star rated cruise ships departing from Seattle in July include the Norwegian Star, the Carnival Spirit, the Golden and Sapphire Princess, Holland America Oosterdam & Westerdam and Royal Cruise Line's Rhapsody of the Seas.
The Norwegian Cruise Line's Star was recently updated in 2010 and the Carnival Spirit, Holland America Oosterdam and Sapphire Princess were refurbished in 2009.
Four-star rated ships have above-average entertainment, dining and child facilities. They tend to appeal to a wide range of passenger types and ages, and offer the best bargains for seeing the sites of Alaska.
These cruises include five port stops in cities such as Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Ketchikan, Alaska and Victoria, Canada.
The Norwegian Pearl and Celebrity Infinity offer high-end cruise vacations, which include various entertainment options, lectures and education about Alaskan ports of call. Both ships offer a seven-day trip with five ports of call in Alaska and Canada. Each stop in Alaska's capital city of Juneau.
The Norwegian Cruise Line's Pearl has a bowling alley aboard, and the Celebrity Infinity has a complete sport deck including table tennis, basketball and volleyball. The average passenger age is generally above 40.
Holland America's ship the Amsterdam offers two 14-day round trips from Seattle in July. Both sailings aboard this four-star rated ship offer ten ports of call, adding Tracy Arm, Icy Strait Point, Homer, Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska to the typical trip.
The Amsterdam was built in 2000, and updated in 2005. The ship features a culinary arts center aboard, and has one deck devoted to suites, with a private concierge and dedicated lounge area.
