Planning a cruise to Alaska is much different than preparing to sail in the Caribbean or Europe. Alaska’s calling card isn’t its beaches or high culture, but its vast wilderness. The 49th state owns half of U.S. national park land
In addition to experiencing lively frontier towns, fascinating Gold Rush, and Alaska Native history, you’ll sometimes explore rugged places where you want to spend quality time outdoors. Prepare to be amazed by the scenery, wildlife and some local characters you encounter along the way. Proper preparation will ensure you have a true Alaskan experience and not just a cruise to an amazing place.
I have been to Alaska over 20 times, all but two of which were on cruise ships. I’ve even written books about Alaska cruising and my favorite Alaska attractions. So I feel confident that I have mastered traveling in Alaska. Here, I’ll share my best Alaska cruise tips to help you get the most out of your Alaska cruise experience.
Choose the ship that’s right for you
UnCruise Adventures operates adventure-themed tours in Alaska on smaller ships like the Wilderness Adventurer. cruise adventure
Choosing the ship that’s right for you is the key to a great Alaska cruise experience.
You can cruise Alaska on a cruise ship with less than 100 passengers, the most luxurious cruise ship, or on the world’s largest cruise ship with over 4,000 passengers. When it comes to attractions and activities on board, size matters. Ask yourself: Do you want a casino, a Broadway show, or an amusement park ride?
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Cruise Line
Size also affects where you go in Alaska. If you’re happy to visit quintessentially famous ports such as Juneau, Skagway, Ice Channel Point, and Ketchikan, a larger ship will serve you well. If you want to go somewhere more off the beaten path, you may need a small boat to get there.
Cruise lines like Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures offer itineraries that spend a week entirely in the wilderness. You won’t find these on other ships and cruises.
Reward your inbox with the TPG daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts
Consider early season and late season cruises
Most cruise ships visit Alaska between late May and Labor Day. That’s when tourist towns and attractions are in full swing.
However, there are some advantages to traveling early and late in the season. The biggest benefit is lower prices and smaller crowds during the off-season.
The slow season of spring is an opportunity to see how the people and local wildlife of small Alaska towns wake up after a long winter, or how they prepare for the colder months. The downside is that you’ll need to pack for colder weather, especially after April and mid-September.
RELATED: The Best Time to Cruise in Alaska
Book early
The number of ships in Alaska seems to be increasing every year, resulting in more cabins available each week. In this market, however, waiting for last-minute discounted fares can be risky.
The cheapest interior cabins and most luxurious suites tend to sell out first. If you wait, your options may be limited.
Also consider that Alaska is a market that’s quite far from anywhere, which means most travelers will arrive by plane, resulting in limited space on planes as the season progresses.
For most people, it makes sense to book an Alaska cruise six months to a year in advance. Look for early bird deals from cruise lines.
Related: The Best Alaska Cruises for Every Type of Traveler
Choose a balcony cabin
David Goldman Photo/Getty Images
As a follow up to the above, if you can afford a balcony cabin, book one.
Yes, you can grab your binoculars and head to the cruise ship’s open-air deck to view snow-capped peaks, boreal forests, glaciers, and everything else you can imagine in the wilderness.
But there is something magical about waking up in the morning, putting on your bathrobe, standing on your deck, feeling the cool air, taking deep breaths and communing with nature on the Last Frontier.
Planned Arrival Embarkation City Pre-Cruise
As part of the necessities of long-distance travel, you can reduce worries about punctuality and get rid of the potential stress of traffic delays by arriving at your embarkation city a day or two before sailing.
You’ll most likely start in Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia, both world-class cities perfect for exploring.
If you’re flying to Alaska to board the ship, consider spending the night in Anchorage to explore attractions such as the Smithsonian’s collection of 600 Alaska Native objects at the Anchorage Museum.
Packaging for all weathers
The weather in Alaska is inevitably colder and warmer than you expect. One day in the summer, you might find yourself taking off your clothes on a sunny mountain hike. The next day, you’ll be shivering near the glacier.
The key to your Alaska cruise packing list is bringing and wearing a variety of clothes. When you head out on tour, consider starting with three layers of clothing, such as a T-shirt, sweater, and outerwear. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, as is rain gear, especially in July and August.
Don’t forget to use bug spray to repel Alaska’s prolific mosquitoes, and bring sunscreen and sunglasses for the midnight sun, as well as a swimsuit for the boat’s heated pool or hot tub. Bring binoculars or a zoom lens so you can spot bears and other elusive creatures.
Sound the Northern Lights Alert
Cavan Pictures/Getty Images
The Northern Lights appear in Alaska’s skies year-round, but during the summer’s midnight sun combined with several hours of darkness, the Northern Lights are too bright and there isn’t much opportunity to see them.
Your chances increase in late August, when the hours of darkness are longer.
Staying up late staring at the night sky is like watching paint dry. Fortunately, your ship will have a wake-up call sign-up list if lights appear in the clear sky. Your cabin phone will ring and you’ll need to be ready to get out quickly, as the sight of the lights is often fleeting.
You can increase your chances by heading before or after your cruise to Fairbanks, which is inland, close to the Arctic Circle and the world’s premier Northern Lights viewing location.
Shore excursions and travel budget
The best natural sights and activities are often far away from Alaska’s ports. Plan your budget to include shore excursions or private tours. Book in advance as the coolest ones sell out first.
Take in glacier views from a seaplane and then land on the water near the boat, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Land on a glacier by helicopter and explore crevices and fissures on foot, taking your journey into the stratosphere.
RELATED: 6 of the Best Cruise Ship Shore Excursions in Alaska—From Helicopter Hiking to Whale Watching
These experiences are just the beginning of what you can do on an Alaska cruise. Explore by kayak, mountain bike, historic railroad, small whale watching boat, canoe or even zip line. Visit an Alaska Native village, learn the stories behind the totem poles, and explore the history of the Gold Rush.
Or, try my favorite Alaskan experience: snorkeling in the frigid waters of the Intracoastal Passage, where starfish and other creatures are incredibly colorful. Alaska is the perfect place to try new things.
Hiking
Brian Arnold/EYEEM/Getty Images
Whether you want to visit museums, historic sites, shops or restaurants, you can easily explore all the port towns. Doing research ahead of time will help you target what you really want to do and see. Tourist offices and park service offices provide maps and on-the-ground advice.
I highly recommend planning a walk out of town as well. Hiking trails provide an opportunity to get out into the wilderness, take a deep breath, and feel one with nature. One of the most popular trails from Skagway takes you up the mountain to a stunning glacial lake.
Stay for a cruise
Since you’ve traveled so long to reach Alaska, it makes sense to visit some of the interior areas of the 49th state. Cruise lines like Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, which send six ships to Alaska each year, offer 10- to 17-night packages that combine weeklong cruises, multi-day land tours and hotel stays, making it easy to plan a long-distance trip to Alaska.
Known in the cruise world as “cruises,” these itineraries can take you to Denali National Park and Preserve, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai Fjords, and Wrangell-St. Elias, the largest national park in the United States. In addition to Alaska, you can follow your interest in gold rush history and take a boat trip to Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Eat and drink locally
Whether it’s at an upscale or casual restaurant, you’ll want to try a taste of Alaska. Of course, seafood is plentiful, too: Indulge in giant king crab legs and crab bisque at places like Juneau’s famous Tracy’s King Crab Shack (featured on “Top Chef”). Try wild Alaskan salmon or halibut, which are on most restaurant menus. Also look for Alaskan shrimp and scallops.
Reindeer sausage is a quintessential Alaskan flavor, and locals often eat it with mustard bread. You may also find sausage in omelets, as a side dish for breakfast or as a topping on pizza. You can purchase sealed packages to take home.
Food tours, such as Juneau Food Tours, target locally owned establishments and offer opportunities to meet local chefs and food producers.
Pair your meal with local beer or vodka, gin, rye and other beverages distilled in Alaska. Even if you just order a soda and hit up a dive bar like Kito’s Kave in the fishing town of Petersburg or the Pioneer Bar in Sitka, you’re bound to meet interesting locals and ask some tough questions, like: How do you spend the winter? Have you ever seen a bear? What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught? Get ready to hear it.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
