12-Day Denali Explorer - Pre-Cruise Cruisetour
As the largest ship in our fleet, Norwegian Bliss is custom-built for the spectacular. The stunning Observation Lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows, featuring 180-degree views designed to feel one with the great outdoors. Or head outside and stroll along the quarter-mile promenade known as The Waterfront®. Every seat boasts the best view in the house here, meals are served oceanside, and sunsets are best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand. Imagine exhilaration while exploring the wilds of Alaska. Imagine relaxation upon finding your slice of paradise in The Caribbean. Ready for action? Zip around hairpin turns on the Bliss Speedway, enjoy a playful day at Horizon Park or putt a quick nine of mini golf. With a wide-range of dining options– including a complimentary 24-hour eatery and Specialty Dining standouts like Cagney’s Steakhouse and La Cucina, mealtime is always a great time. There’s one word to describe the experiences awaiting you on one of Norwegian’s grandest ships: Bliss.
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Advisor take
Independent notes from a TNW Travel advisor
- Best for
- Travelers who match the vibe tags shown on this page.
- Not ideal for
- Travelers who need itineraries, cabins, or activities outside what this ship offers — confirm with your advisor.
- Cabin recommendation
- If pricing allows, compare balcony and midship locations before booking — they tend to offer the best comfort-per-dollar for most travelers.
- Booking tip
- Ask a TNW Travel advisor to confirm current fare, taxes, fees, cabin availability, and promotions before deposit.
Starting prices are estimates and can change until confirmed by the supplier. Final fare, taxes, fees, promotions, and cabin availability are confirmed by your TNW Travel advisor before booking.
Page last updated: Jul 22, 2026
Itinerary
- 1Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop for this oh-so cosmopolitan city. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World's Fair.
- 2At SeaAT SEA
- 3Sitka is a charming island community surrounded with stunning mountain and seaside panoramic views. The vast and rich wildlife boasts sightings of whales, brown bears, deers, sea otters, and various birds flock here. This destination offers superb fishing, and plentiful historical attractions.
- 4This is why visitors come to Alaska—to see glaciers as magnificent as Dawes—and getting there is half the excitement. From Stephens Passage, your ship will turn into the glacially carved fjord of Endicott Arm, the southern sister fjord to Tracy. However, Endicott is special. It’s the fjord less travelled, and at its head, Dawes Glacier. But first, the 31-mile fjord. Sheer granite walls. Plunging waterfalls. Spruce and hemlock trees clinging to the steep sides. It is the definition of pristine. Look for “bergy bits,” floating chunks of glacial ice, some looking more like sculptures, some with resting seals on top. Keep an eye open for bears, mountain goats and whales, too. As we approach the glacier, listen for thunderous cracks and have your camera ready. Dawes is an active tidewater glacier that recedes daily causing calving, where huge hunks of ice plunge into the sea. At 600 feet tall and a half-mile wide, this blue-hued, powerful glacier may be the highlight of your Alaska cruise.
- 5Venture “where the north wind doesn’t blow.” Known for this famous saying, Icy Strait Point is the ideal landing spot for adventurers seeking a new experience. Breathtaking and exciting, Icy Strait Point truly takes you where the wild things are. It’s one of the few places in the world where wildlife outnumbers the human population. A trip here certainly satisfies your taste for adventure. Take a cruise from Icy Strait Point and enjoy Alaska's awe-inspiring scenery and the many excursion options that Norwegian Cruise Line has to offer.
- 6Thanks to its abundant rainfall, Ketchikan is surrounded by some of the world's most lush wilderness. 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 during your Alaska cruise to Ketchikan (Ward Cove).
- 7Positioned 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.
- 8Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop for this oh-so cosmopolitan city. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World's Fair.