When most people think of going on a cruise, they usually picture tropical getaways with palm trees and white sandy beaches. However, Alaskan cruises have also taken off in popularity since the end of the pandemic; roughly 1.7 million people sailed to Alaska each of the past two years.
Alaskan cruises are a great way to experience a state most people never get to see, but you’ll want to plan for them carefully. Alaskan cruises tend to be more expensive than cruises of similar lengths in the Caribbean, so you want to get as much bang for your buck as you can.
Pack for the weather
For most Caribbean cruises, it’s shorts and t-shirts, with maybe some formal wear for the nicer dinner options on the ship. The warm weather generally precludes spending too much time worrying about your wardrobe.
Alaskan weather is generally more unpredictable and apt to change rapidly. Plan to dress in layers that you can add or take off as the weather changes. If you go early in the season (April to May) you probably will also want to pack a heavy winter coat. In April, the average high is 48, while lows frequently dip below freezing. Even during the warmer summer months, highs generally only reach the 60s, while lows will dip into the 40s and low 50s.
Also make sure you pack rain gear or water-resistant clothes. Tongass National Forest, which covers much of southeastern Alaska where most cruises dock, is actually a rainforest. Juneau can get 90 inches of rainfall a year. Ketchikan, another popular cruise stop, can get over 120 inches. You’re more likely to avoid the worst of the rainfall if you cruise early in the season, but with an average of 230 days of precipitation a year you will almost certainly see some rain. Be prepared for it.
Spring for a balcony room if possible
Cruisers tend to be split over whether the additional costs associated with upgrading to a balcony are worth it. Some want the extra space and privacy a balcony cabin offers. Others prefer an interior stateroom with the rationale that other than showering and sleeping, they won’t be in the room enough to justify the additional cost.
While it’s generally a matter of personal preference, you should spring for the balcony upgrade if you can afford it for your Alaskan cruise. A lot of the cruises to tropical destinations are on the open seas for days at a time, limiting the amount of scenery that you could potentially see from a balcony.
On an Alaskan cruise, you’re going to be within sight of the coast for much of the cruise. Days at sea can be passed watching countless islands, mountains and even glaciers pass by. Sometimes you can even see wildlife right from your balcony. On cruises that feature a stop by a glacier or go to Glacier Bay National Park, you can enjoy your own personal views instead of jostling for space on deck or in one of the lounges to see the sights.
Make plans to see a glacier
While there are a few glaciers in the continental United States, Alaska has by far the most in the country, giving cruisers a unique opportunity to see one in person. Glaciers are a form of extremely dense ice that slowly moves downhill under the weight of its own mass. They’re amazing to see in person, often appearing as a deep, brilliant blue color.
An Alaskan cruise is a great opportunity to see one of these in real life. If your cruise goes to Glacier Bay National Park, you’ll see several from the deck of your cruise ship, or your balcony if you took the advice in the previous tip. A ranger will even board the cruise ship and explain how they’re formed and why they’re important as the ship stops in front of one of the many glaciers in the park. If you’re really lucky you might even get to see one calving.
If your cruise ship doesn’t go to Glacier Bay, Juneau is another excellent place to get up close and personal with a glacier. Mendenhall Glacier is about 12 miles away from downtown Juneau and there are several excursions that will take you there. Other options are catching a ride with one of the many shuttle services that will transport you to the visitors center or renting a car and making the drive yourself. If you’re particularly adventurous, you can hike a trail right out to the ice. Just make sure you’re prepared for a rigorous, and potentially dangerous, hike in winter conditions and allow enough time to make it back to the ship.
Plan out your itinerary earlier than normal and have a backup plan
You may be used to not planning your port activities until a few weeks before your cruise. You may even wait until you board the ship. While this will generally work with most regular cruises, it would behoove you to do some of your itinerary booking ahead of time for your Alaskan cruise.
In general, there are fewer excursion options for a lot of the Alaskan ports. This is mostly due to the relative lack of population and resources in the areas you’ll be visiting. Many tours and excursions will be booked before your ship even leaves port. If you’re set on taking a whale watching tour in Sitka or boarding the train in Skagway, you should book it sooner rather than later.
You should also research what you can do if your primary excursion gets canceled. As previously mentioned, Alaskan weather is fickle and subject to rapid changes. Have an indoor activity planned in each port that you can pivot to if your helicopter ride gets grounded or the weather prevents you from taking the dogsled tour you signed up for. With a variety of museums, historical sights, and cultural centers there’s plenty to do on a rainy day.
Check out the local options for a tour or excursion
Alaskan cruises tend to be pricier cruises than normal. This goes for the excursions you book through the cruise line as well. By booking directly through a local company you can usually save some money that you can put towards a different experience on your cruise. Booking locally also has some other perks. For example, many local whale watching or guided fishing tours are small enough that it will be just you and your party, allowing for a more intimate experience.
Worried about missing your ship by booking a non-cruise ship excursion? While this is extremely rare, some companies have guarantees that they will get you back to your ship’s next port of call if they fail to return on time. Book through one of these companies if you need the peace of mind that you won’t get stranded. Alternatively, book a local tour that is also used by the cruise lines. If you have other cruise line passengers on your excursions that are booked through the ship, they will wait for them before departing.