Cruising Alaska

Crusing Alaska is one of the most common ways to see the 49th state. There are so many cruise options from which to choose that it can be overwhelming to select a route, cruise line, month, and excursions. Here is a guide that may help guide some choices that best fit your needs.

Route & Cruise Goals

Before choosing a cruise line, it is important to ask yourself these questions about the route and general cruise goals before going down the rabbit hole of cruise line research:

• How long do I want the trip?
• Do I want to do a land / sea (cruisetour) or just sea?
• From where do I want to start / end?
• Are there any ports or sights that are important for me to see? (Ex: Glacier Bay)

Answering these questions will help you as you begin to narrow down your list of cruise lines

Cruise Line 

There are so many cruise lines to choose from that it can be overwhelming. I’ve been on Alaskan cruises on both Carnival and Princess. Other options include Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruises, and Seabourn. 

Many of the cruise lines are very similar but each has certain features that set them apart. I think it helps to evaluate them on the following:

• Start / End Port
• Ports to Visit
• Length of Trip
• Entertainment
• Food
• Ship Options
• Schedule
• Pricing

If you answer the questions above and evaluate on this criteria, it will become pretty clear which cruise is right for you. For example, if visiting Sitka is important to you, this will rule out several cruise lines. Also, some cruise lines are known for great entertainment, fancy meals, or for being very family friendly. Do your research to find what is best for you. 

To do research, I would recommend looking directly at the company websites, their social media, and Cruise Critic. Reading reviews about the cruise line can be a huge help in making an informed decision. 

Ship

Once you determine the cruise line, you can even read reviews specific to your cruise ship. People will often post the daily schedules and menu details to help you get a feel for what to expect. 

Wikipedia can even help you know about the history of the ship – how old is it, when was it last dry docked, has it had any prior cruise issues, etc. If you are torn between two ships, researching the two ships can help break the tie. If you find that one has great reviews and was newly renovated while the other is a little older, it may help make the decision easier. 

Month

Cruises in Alaska typically only occur May – September due to the cold weather during the winter months. Peak summer months (June, July, August) are known for better weather, but that time frame also has larger crowds due to summer vacation and family travel. I’ve been in both late June and early August. The weather was great both times. 

When packing, layering is important. On the scenic cruising days at glaciers, it can get very cold. At ports though, it can become warm. I recommend packing light jackets / sweatshirts and just one heavier jacket for time at glaciers. Also, be sure to prepare for the possibility of wet weather. A fleece-lined, water-resistant jacket can pull double duty.

Room

Once you have the cruise line, ship, and date selected, it’s time to choose your room and officially book the cruise. You can choose the front, back, or mid-ship. Mid-ship is more stable and a wise choice if you are prone to sea-sickness. I also enjoy mid- ship because you are always half-way to wherever you are going and close to the main elevators. 

If you are choosing between the front and back of the ship, look at the ship layout to choose your location wisely. For example, is it more important for you to be close to the main dining area or theatre? No matter where you end up, it won’t be far from something fun!

Before you book, search your ship and the specific room number you are looking at booking on Google or YouTube. Many people record trip diaries or room videos so you can see exactly what your room will look like. Even if you can’t find your exact number, you can usually find a neighboring room. One time, I was able to find my exact room and see what the “obstructed view” from the lifeboats would look like. It was a great find that helped me decide that the obstruction was not significant enough to keep me from booking the room.

Also, I highly recommend getting a room with a balcony. It is so enjoyable to wake up to a new port each day, view the glaciers from your own balcony, etc. 

Excursions 

Once you’ve booked the cruise, it’s time to start choosing excursions. Check out my city guides for details for ideas on what do to in each port. 

It may seem like the decisions are never ending, but it is worth spending the time and effort in advance. After making these decisions, all that is left is to have fun on the cruise! 

Once you are on the ship, be sure to look at your daily guide. It will help you know what activities will be occurring the following day. My advice is to attend events – see the magicians, go to the shows, play trivia, go to events with the naturalists, etc. If you don’t like an onboard activity, you may always leave, but you might be surprised by how fun certain activities can be.

Some activities will require booking shortly after boarding the ship – certain tours, fine dining, etc. Talk to an employee soon after boarding to learn about additional opportunities that you could not sign up for until boarding the ship. You can always say no, but I find it helpful to be in the know and make a decision about an opportunity as opposed to finding out I missed out on something fun!