New Carnival route: Los Angeles to Alaska and back

Cruise giant Carnival has announced plans for a voyage from the Los Angeles area to Alaska and back — a first for the line.

The Miami-based cruise operator says the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle will depart Long Beach on Sept. 2, 2017, on a 14-night, round-trip sailing that features stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Sitka in Alaska as well as Vancouver, British Columbia.

The trip also will include a day of cruising in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Carnival's first visit to Icy Strait Point, a hub for whale watching and other outdoor activities.

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The voyage will allow Southern Californians to cruise to The Last Frontier without first flying to Seattle or Vancouver, the traditional starting points for Alaska cruises.

Carnival will offer 38 additional seven- and eight-night sailings to Alaska during the summers of 2017 and 2018 out of Seattle and Vancouver. Those trips will take place on the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend.

Carnival's announcement comes two months after sister line Princess unveiled plans for its first cruise from the Los Angeles area to Alaska.