I have to confess I never actually thought I would be a cruise person, so when my husband suggested a cruise to Alaska I didn’t know what to expect. But WOW, there is something about Alaska that gives me ABSOLUTE CHILLS! It’s the kind of place that deserves a spot on everyone’s bucket list, so if it’s not already on there — respectfully, you’re wrong! Now let’s get to the good part and talk about the best Alaska cruise travel tips.
Keep reading for the best Alaska cruise travel tips including how to find the best Alaska cruise prices, which cruise route to take and everything else you need to know before visiting.
Why Take An Alaskan Cruise?
My favorite way of exploring a new place is by car, because we can travel more freely so the thought of boarding a ship and being limited to spending a few hours in each place seemed like a total deal-breaker to me. But Alaska is much bigger than people actually realize. It’s bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. That is A LOT of ground to cover.
And let’s talk about what you can see from a ship that you can’t see from a car. Alaska has some of the most beautiful coastline in the world filled with breath-taking landscapes, spectacular hidden fjords and glaciers and jaw-dropping wildlife. Here is just a taste of what you can expect to see when sailing away on your Alaskan cruise.
I love a good hike, but the reality is there are just some incredible views of Alaska you can only admire by boat. Alaska is surrounded by approximately 1,800 islands. Many of these are uninhabited, but in pristine condition. And that’s not all! Alaska’s rugged coastline includes secret coves, coastal mountains and snowcapped peaks and deep, lush forests that are simply too difficult to access by foot.
Did you know there are approximately 664 glaciers in Alaska?? That is nearly 10 percent of Alaska that is covered in frozen bodies of ice. These glaciers will leave you absolutely SPEECHLESS!!! Most Alaska cruise lines will include a stop at one of the many iconic glaciers found along the shores of Alaska. Some of the most popular glaciers that are seen by cruise include Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm Fjord.
If you’re on a quest to spot some sightings of Alaskan wildlife, the cruise life is for you! You can often spot humpback whales, orcas, gray and blue whales swimming along side cruise ships. Although a little bit harder to spot, you can see bears, moose, deer and wolves in their natural habitats as they make their way to the water’s edge. Puffins can be found along the southwest coast of Alaska in the summer months. And I can’t forget to mention eagles that fly overhead. I still can’t believe you can see all of this from the comfort of a cruise ship!!
INSIDER TIP: If you want to see otters, they are extremely difficult to spot by cruise ship but you can often spot them hanging around smaller boat docks as you sail into the different harbors.
Some of the most charming fishing villages in Alaska can actually only be accessed by boat! Even Alaska’s own capital city can’t be reached by car. What makes these towns so compelling you ask? The fresh seafood for starters (although I am not a big fan of sea food myself). And these towns have some of the BEST views of the water where you can spot even more wildlife!
How to Find the Best Alaskan Cruise Prices
If you’re dying to go to Alaska, but not sure you can find a reasonable rate on an Alaskan cruise or just want to snag some last minute cruise deals I’ve got you! I am a sucker for a good deal, especially when it involves travel and here is one of the best alaska cruise travel tips I can share with you:
- The first place you want to check out is this website right here. We have scored some fantastic deals using this website! This can also be helpful if you don’t have a destination in mind, but know you want to catch a cruise somewhere. They provide the most reasonable rates for different cruise lines around the world.
- Once you find the rates and the dates you are looking for, you are going to want to cross-reference with the cruise line itself. Often times these cruise lines are running their own promotions.
- Call the cruise line directly and see if they will price match with the best rate you have found, 90% of the time they are more than willing to price match.
Other ways to save on costs: Alaskan cruises generally sail from May to September. You will find the best rates if you book at the end of their season, so think late August and early September. Another way to save on costs is to book an inside room. Although not ideal, it motivates you to spend more time on deck taking in the views.
Best Month to go on an Alaska Cruise
If states were people, I imagine every state would be super jealous of Alaska because Alaska has it all! From sightings of northern lights in the winter months to an outdoor paradise in the summer months, you can find something to do here all year round. But the Alaska cruise season doesn’t start until May and goes through September. The good news is whale watching season lasts throughout the duration of this season. Now let’s get to the best of what you can find in each month:
- MAY: This is considered the shoulder season, which means you have a better chance at finding good deals on cruises and excursions and less crowds. The weather is cooler this time of year (40 to 53 degrees). This is also your best chance at seeing orcas and gray whales. And if you’re a fan of fishing, King Salmon season starts in May.
- JUNE: Peak season begins, which means prices are steeper for both cruises and excursions. It’s much easier to see glaciers this time of year as the weather starts to get warmer and makes it easier for captains of the ship to navigate through the waters that lead to the glaciers. You may even get closer access to the glaciers, because of it. This is also the time of year you can spot orcas and gray whales.
- JULY: You’ll get the maximum amount of daylight as summer solstice rolls in. Smooth sailing through the inner passages and fjords to see glaciers. your best chance at seeing blue whales. The salmon season starts to come to an end.
- AUGUST: Although still considered a part of peak season, you start to see good deals towards the end of August. This month is also the beginning of the northern lights, and although difficult to see you may get lucky! It’s also your best chance at seeing blue whales.
- SEPTEMBER: This month is also considered shoulder season and chances are you can snag the best deals at the tail end of the season. You should also expect cold weather and fewer crowds. What is especially cool about sailing in September is that your chances of seeing northern lights is far greater than earlier in the season!
What Is The Best Alaska Cruise Line?
Alaska is considered one of the best cruise destinations in the world, and you can find dozens of big cruise ships competing for your business so what’s the best one? This depends on a few different factors like budget, travel style and preferences. So let’s break it down by some of the most sought after categories shall we…
Let’s face it, the cost of travel can add up quickly especially for more popular destinations like Alaska but luckily there are some great budget-friendly cruise lines to choose from.
Radiance of the Seas is an older ship that falls under the umbrella of Royal Caribbean and provides one way voyages to Alaska with routes often starting in Vancouver and ending in Seward. Because these cruises are one-way, you will often find much more reasonable rates.
Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America have been sailing Alaska longer than many of their competitors, and because of this they often will run great promotions on their older ships.
So you want to make sure you don’t get bored on those long days at sea? Let’s talk about the cruise lines that really know how to show their guests a good time with the best entertainment and activities you just don’t want to miss!
Norwegian Cruise Lines is a big fan of pulling out all the stops to make sure their guests get the highest level of entertainment! Don’t believe me? Let’s talk about some of the activities they have on board: a two-story race track, water slides, laser tag, a ropes course and so much more!
Ovation of the Seas is another great cruise line that provides some truly unique entertainment on board like a surf simulator, skydiving sessions with iFly, a ropes course and a robot bar tender!
Squeezing in some relaxation time while on a family vacation can be difficult, but not if you’re sailing on one of these family-friendly Alaska cruise lines.
Disney Wonder, that’s right, DISNEY sails to Alaska!! I can’t imagine a better way to take in the views of Alaska than with a sprinkle of Disney magic. Families are prioritized on this cruise line as the ship provides the best programs to entertain children while parents find some time to step away and relax.
Carnival Spirit actually has a partnership with Dr. Seuss, which means you may find a Dr.Seuss theme breakfast one morning or a fun story time session with some Dr. Seuss books. But what really makes this cruise line so family friendly is the three hang-out spots designed for children and teenagers.
If you’re really looking to treat yourself and want to experience a little luxury while sailing through Alaska, check out Seven Seas Explorer. This ship limits the guest count to 750. All rooms found on board are suites. You will also find gourmet restaurants and a two-story spa and gym facility. The price does include airfare and gratuities.
Seabourn Odyssey is another smaller ship that carries 450 passengers making this more of an intimate cruise experience that provides you with the utmost care. You can even find some cool expeditions they provide on board like kayaking and zodiac craft tours.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly luxury option, Celebrity Cruises has won numerous awards over the years for its refined design and comfort. You can find beautiful spaces all over their ships, elevated dining and so much more!
For all my solo travelers out there that don’t want to feel like they stand out in a sea of families, head over to Norwegian Bliss. This cruise line has 82 studio options designed for one guest. And you’ll find that these rooms are located in an area of the ship that has private lounge access that encourages mingling with other guests.
The other option worth checking out is Quantum of the Seas. You can also fin studio room options of this ship with the added bonus of requesting a studio with a balcony!
I have to confess that narrowing it down to the best Alaska cruise line is impossible, because the truth is you have so many great options to choose from and based on your preference above you can’t go wrong. We sailed with Princess cruise lines our first trip to Alaska and sailed with Celebrity on our second trip to Alaska, and we really enjoyed both.
How To Find the Best Alaska Cruise Excursions
If you really want to see the best Alaska has to offer, you absolutely have to make room in your budget to go on some excursions! These tours and excursions are often led by locals and they give you just a taste of what it’s like to see Alaska through the eyes of a local. Most people will book excursions directly through their cruise line and this provides a guarantee in terms of getting a refund if an excursion gets cancelled or if your cruise line is running behind on docking in port and you need to reschedule. Additionally, some cruise lines will offer exclusive tours and discounts to their guests.
Another option is to use a third party to book your excursions, the advantage of booking third party is that you can often find more excursion options and more reasonable rates. The 2 third party platforms I often use are Viator and GetYourGuide, although we used our cruise line to book all of our excursions for the guarantee they provide.
How much should you budget for Alaska cruise excursions? This varies widely depending on preference, but given our own experience on the 2 different cruises we took to Alaska I would recommend $750 per person for a 7 day cruise itinerary. However, if you can only budget for 1 excursion I highly, HIGHLY recommend splurging on the Misty Fjords National Monument Flightseeing Tour. There is nothing like Misty Fjords National Monument, it’s truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen!! You can find more information on this tour here.
Best Alaska Cruise Route to Take
Alaska is one of the most scenic cruises you can take, and the good news is that no matter what Alaska cruise itinerary you choose you can’t go wrong! We have done the two most popular cruise routes to Alaska: Vancouver to Seward and Seattle round trip. There are advantages and disadvantages to both routes, but I have to admit I do have a favorite. More on that below!
- Vancouver to Seward that include stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point: This is a one way cruise itinerary, which means you have to make sure you arrange transportation to take you to the Anchorage airport which is 2.5 hours away from the Seward port but most cruise lines provide an option to take you to the airport by bus at an added cost ($40/per person). I have to confess this was our favorite route though. We found it to be far more scenic. We also used it as an excuse to rent a car from Seward and go check out Denali National Park. This was a 5 hour drive though, so we stayed the night in Talkeetna.
- Seattle Round Trip with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier and Victoria: We loved the convenience of being able to fly in and out of Seattle, and the airport is just 30 minutes from the cruise port. Most of the stops were the same as the Vancouver route with the biggest difference in glacier routes. We really enjoyed Hubbard Glacier and honestly didn’t notice a huge difference from Icy Strait Point.
Other Alaska Cruise Travel Tips
As you plan to embark on your journey to Alaska, you may have other questions about what to expect and what to plan for your Alaska cruise so here are just helpful tips to make your planning easier.
- Is it worth it to book a room with a balcony on an Alaskan cruise? We got a deal on a room with an obstructed view our first time visiting Alaska and our second time we booked an inside room to save on costs. Tbh, I wish we would have splurged for a balcony room. There is something so special about waking up to see Alaska wilderness and glaciers right outside your window. Some cruise lines have a bidding option where you can actually place a bid on a room with a balcony and you may be lucky enough to snag it at a better deal. If you can’t swing a balcony room, don’t sweat it! We ended up spending a lot of our time outside on the decks taking in all the views.
- Are there any Alaska Cruise Lines that are dog friendly? I wish the answer to this was yes, but sadly you have to leave your cute pup behind because there are currently no dog-friendly cruise lines to Alaska.
- What animals can I expect to see on an Alaska Cruise? You can expect to see whales, porpoises, orcas, bald eagles, otters and puffins. If you have binoculars you may even be able to spot bears, wolves, deer and moose from the shore lines.
- What kind of food can I expect to see on an Alaska Cruise? Any food imaginable! The good news is the cost of the cruise includes access to buffets that serve all kinds of delicious food. If you’re looking for more of an elevated dining experience on board you can make a reservation at one of the many premium restaurants most cruise ships have on board. You can expect to spend anywhere from $30 – $75 per person.
I hope my Alaska Cruise travel tips help as you plan on exploring one of the most beautiful places in the world! Safe travels!