How to Plan the Best Alaska Cruise

Table Of Content

• Hotels
• Royal Caribbean Blog is your ultimate source for Royal Caribbean coverage.
• Use Seattle airport’s port valet service when disembarking in Seattle
• Don’t forget to pack short sleeve shirts and sunscreen
• If you haven’t booked shore excursions yet, book them ASAP
• The Best Private & Small Group Shore Excursions for Your Alaska Cruise

Kids can hang out in the youth lounges while parents hit the spa or try a wine-tasting class. Everyone can come back together for dinner and evening entertainment or onboard activities suitable for all ages. If you've got active teens who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices. The Alaska Travel Experts for 25 years, Alaska Tour & Travel specializes in custom vacations to Alaska's most spectacular Interior destinations... Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip.

Hotels

Their agent status lets them book a lot of individual parties under discounted group rates. While many don't directly "see" the positive impacts of the cruise industry in Alaska, the economic impact is felt from Ketchikan to Barrow. Please share your name and email address with us to receive news of special offers and events.

Royal Caribbean Blog is your ultimate source for Royal Caribbean coverage.

Plus, because you can cancel add-ons for a full refund up to 48 hours before your sailing, you have flexibility in case you change your mind on these purchases later on. Therefore, booking a flight too early in the day could cause you to miss the flight if you encounter delays. Stressing over making it to the airport in time is not worth it; instead, the general rule of thumb is to avoid booking flights before noon. More often than not, flight prices will increase significantly as your travel date approaches. Waiting to see if the price drops almost always results in paying more for your flight, so it’s important to get your flights booked to avoid wasting money.

Use Seattle airport’s port valet service when disembarking in Seattle

We work with agents and advisors to provide the best Alaska experience for your clients. Look to UnCruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Hurtigruten and Lindblad Expeditions for the best adventure cruises. Many people trek to Alaska to commune with nature, but there's also history here that you shouldn't overlook.

Don’t forget to pack short sleeve shirts and sunscreen

From breathtaking scenic coach tours to the iconic Alaska Rail Road and self-drive packages – we have every option covered to complete your dream... The web sites for ASTA and CLIA are good places to look for agent listings. They don’t just work with one or two cruise lines, which would limit your options. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, so there’s no harm in reading articles and watching YouTube videos to help you prepare for your Alaska cruise. If you made it to the end of this article, chances are you’re already following our final tip on this list, and that is to read as many tips as you can about Alaska cruises before you set sail.

If you haven’t booked shore excursions yet, book them ASAP

Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities. Smaller ships can reach ports of call and destinations that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships, allowing you to explore more remote settings and communities. For an even more customized experience, consider a private cruise on smaller ships like yachts and sailboats. These cruises offer the benefits of a wider range of itineraries, shore excursions, departure dates, and availability and take you to all of the must-see stops along the way. They feature a wide range of amenities including multiple dining options, on-board entertainment, fitness centers, pools, different room types to choose from, and plenty of room to spread out and explore. These ships often feature complimentary shore excursions, kayaks and bikes for guest use and onboard scientists and naturalists.

Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean all have extensive kids clubs aboard their ships that cater to all ages, from babies to teens. Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises, or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival. Older kids will love the rock climbing walls, video game stations, sports courts, go-karts and laser tag on Royal Caribbean and NCL ships.

Both have fantastic itineraries that take passengers not only to the Inside Passage, but also to Anchorage, Denali National Park, the Yukon, Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Ships in all price ranges sail a variety of itineraries, so don't let budget stop you from visiting. If luxury is what you're after, you can find lines that will go overboard pampering you on your journey north. For these itineraries, you'll need to fly into or out of Anchorage and take a train or bus to/from the cruise departure ports, which can take an hour or two. Additionally, you'll have one day spent cruising the Inside Passage and one focused on "scenic cruising," where you can enjoy the landscapes but won't go ashore. This is not nearly as boring as you might think since you'll see incredible sights like Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve or Hubbard Glacier.

7 Best Cruises to Alaska, According to Travel Experts - Good Housekeeping

7 Best Cruises to Alaska, According to Travel Experts.

Posted: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Juneau

Having packed only long sleeve shirts and pants for my Alaska cruise, I regretted not bringing more lightweight clothing. If you live in a warm climate or don’t wear winter jackets often, consider purchasing gently-used cold weather gear at a thrift shop or on eBay. There’s really no need to spend hundreds of dollars on new winter gear just for an Alaska cruise, especially if you’re traveling with children who will quickly outgrow clothing. If you’re unsure what to pack for an Alaska cruise, check out our comprehensive packing list. You’d be surprised by how many activities you can fit into a pre-cruise stay in Seattle or Vancouver. Even if you arrive at 3PM the day before your cruise, you will have around twenty hours in either city before embarkation begins.

Whether you're traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports won't disappoint. If your flight doesn’t arrive until 11PM the night before your cruise, it probably isn’t worth it to travel to the city center. Instead, consider a hotel near the airport so you can simply land and head straight to bed. For those arriving earlier in the day, though, it’s worth it to find a hotel downtown for easy access to tourist sites. Starting in 2024, Uncruise Adventures will be offering a winter cruise, where winter sports and northern lights viewings are all part of the package! Running February through March, this is a great option for travelers looking to experience Alaska during the winter months.

We believe extraordinary vacations begin with careful planning, that's why we are devoted to ensuring our clients always have the best possible experience—both before they leave and while they're away. Alaska Tours is proud to celebrate over 30 years as one of Alaska’s leading travel companies. Based in Anchorage, our experienced and knowledgeable Alaskan team of experts have helped hundreds of thousands of visitors plan memorable vacations, group trips, and cruise-based fun in America’s 49th state. For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dog-sled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. Alaska's capital city is interesting because no road leads from here to the rest of the state.

While a balcony is not a requirement on an Alaska cruise, there’s no denying a balcony cabin is nicer than an interior cabin on such a scenic itinerary. If you booked an interior or oceanview cabin for your 2024 Alaska cruise, consider upgrading to a balcony before your sail date. Speaking of excursions, it isn’t necessary to book excursions through Royal Caribbean. While booking shore excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website is convenient, you might find more options (or lower prices) by booking through independent tour operators. Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive multi-day Alaska cruise package or simply a day cruise to see wildlife and glaciers, there are many options to choose from. She managed one of the first cruise-only agencies in the country way back in 1981.