Alaska Cruise Guide: Top Tips for Your Alaska Vacation

This Alaska cruise guide will explain what to expect from an Alaska cruise, how to plan one, and simple port guides for where to visit.

I am a huge fan of cruise travel. Its a great way to sample a destination and visit remote destinations, while relaxing along the way.

I’ve taken cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, and even Antarctica. One of my favorite cruises was an Alaska cruise that departed from Seattle then visited a few ports in Alaska and British Columbia.

Whether you are planning an Alaska cruise or just daydreaming about it, follow this Alaska cruise guide for all the essentials to planning your Alaska vacation.

Alaska is a stunning state that has untouched wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is a must-visit destination for everyone, and a cruise is the best way to see it.

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Choosing the Right Cruise Line for your Alaska Vacation

The first step in planning an Alaska cruise is choosing which cruise line to travel with. With many competing cruise lines, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

Here are some recommendations of cruise lines I love and have heard great things about. Most cruise lines follow the same itinerary and offer great benefits so you cannot go wrong.

Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise

Royal Caribbean International is always our go-to cruise line. Their ships, food, and customer service keep me going back time and time again.

Many of their Alaska itineraries are on board the Ovation of the Seas or the Quantum of the Seas which are a destination within themselves.

Our Alaska trip was on board the Ovation of the Seas and we were blown away by the ship. The 270 Lounge in the back of the ship provided panoramic views as we cruised.

The bionic bar was a fun first for us and is a symbol of the innovation that is occurring on board the Royal Caribbean ships.

Even during the multiple sea days, Royal Caribbean cruises will keep you entertained as the ships are basically floating resorts.

From kids clubs for the young ones, couples massages for the newlyweds or wine tasting for seasoned travelers, Royal Caribbean has something for all ages.

For a different cruise vacation, check out this European itinerary including a week-long cruise from Venice or this guide to a Southern Caribbean cruise.

Disney Alaska Cruise

Disney Cruise Line is a great option for families. I have experienced a Disney cruise in the Caribbean and it lived up to the Disney standard of exceptional service. Kids and families alike will be wowed by the special touches such as characters and themed dining.

As with Royal Caribbean, you can expect an amazing vacation on and off of the ship. The ship has a packed itinerary with activities for all ages and there are many excursion options for on land.

Some other great cruise companies are Carnival cruise line, Norwegian cruise line and Holland America line.

Choosing an Embarkation Port to Visit Alaska

The next step in planning your Alaska cruise will be choosing to depart from Vancouver, Seattle, or a port in Alaska. Some items to consider when making this decision are:

• Travel costs- research the cost of traveling to each location. For us, leaving from Seattle was a no brainer since we are from Seattle. Some Alaska cruises are one-way so consider the implications of booking two separate flights versus a roundtrip ticket.
• Itinerary- the northern-most embarkation ports naturally visit more ports since there is less transit time to reach Alaska. Even though we visited less ports from Seattle, we were able to see all the places we wanted which are described below.
• Pre-Cruise Exploration- Many people will fly into their embarkation port a couple days prior to the cruise. Choose a port that you want to explore! I may be biased but I think Seattle is a great place to stay a few days. If you do, be sure to check out these 8 Unforgettable Seattle Activities.

Alaska Cruise Packing Guide

Now that you know who to cruise with and where to cruise from, next up is figuring out what to pack. My number one piece of advice is layers, layers, layers.

Weather in Alaska is always unpredictable. It may be 40 degrees, 80 degrees and rain all within the same day.

The best way to prepare for this uncertainty is to layer up. I suggest a light underlayer such as a t-shirt or cute tank. Next up, have a warm fleece or light jacket.

On top, wear a raincoat. Even if rain in the forecast, it can come out of nowhere and you don’t want to get caught soaking wet.

For shoes, bring a comfy pair of walking shoes (I love these), a cute pair of shoes for dinners, and some easy slip on shoes to wear around the boat.

Do not forget your swimsuit to dip in the pool (if the weather is good enough) or to soak in the hot tub.

We found ourselves in the hot tub at the end of each day to decompress and peacefully take in the views from the beautiful Royal Caribbean solarium, an adults-only indoor pool deck.

Guide to Alaska Ports

Now to the most exciting part of this Alaska Cruise Guide: the ports! Lets be honest, the ports on an Alaska Cruise are all stunning.

The following ports are where we visited on our Alaska cruise and they were the perfect mix of nature, culture, and adventure.

Fun Fact: All Alaska cruises will include one stop in Canada due to a regulation that cruise ships cannot start and end in the United States without stopping at an international port. This stop typically takes place in Victoria or Vancouver.

Juneau Port Guide

Juneau is a great cruise port that showcases some of the best aspects of Alaska. There is an adorable downtown with shops, bars, and restaurants. There is also stunning nature with beautiful fjords, plentiful wildlife, and nearby glaciers.

Whale Watching: Juneau whale watching is unparalleled by any other destination. Hop aboard a boat and set out in the beautiful Alaskan fjords to search for whales, seals, eagle’s and the nature of rural Alaska.

When booking a whale watching tour, elect for a small-boat option that allows for better views, smaller crowds, and a more personalized experience.

I love this tour that includes snacks, drinks, and a naturalist guide. You can also snag a good deal by purchasing a day-of tour in port. Just be warned that the tours may be sold out on busy days.

Glacier Tour: If you want to splurge, you cannot go wrong with a canoe tour of the Mendenhall glacier. In our ever-changing world, glaciers are a rare site that you will not have many opportunities to see.

This canoe tour is guaranteed to have amazing views of the Alaska wilderness and will create some very insta-worthy opportunities (if you are into that kind of thing). The tour also includes all the gear you need, which will save space in your suitcase.

Skagway Port Guide

There is one thing you must do in Skagway- the scenic railway. Hop on board the train right next to the cruise terminal and escape over the Yukon pass where gold miners traveled back in the day. Get a history lesson and see some of the most beautiful views in the world.

Tip: Go out on the platform outside the train cabin. Feel the fresh Alaska air and have unobstructed views of the passing wilderness.

Once you are back in Skagway, walk around the charming mining town. This is a great place to pick up some souvenirs or taste beer at the Skagway Brewery.

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier

While this is not a traditional port, it is a stop on many Alaska cruises. Weather permitting, the cruise ship will enter a narrow fjord and approach the Dawes Glacier.

Make sure to wake up for the approach where you will see the clear water, lush trees and potentially wildlife. If you have a balcony, soak in the approach there with a cup of coffee or head to a lounge with a good view watch there.

When the ship approaches the glacier, it will do a 360 spin to allow views from all different angles and different spots on the boat.

I recommend staying in one spot to see the full area surrounding the glacier. For the best shots of the Glacier, bring a camera with good zoom (my iPhone didn’t quite do the job I wanted).

140+ Instagram Captions for Alaska Travel

Victoria BC Port Guide

Though not in Alaska, our final port was a great end to the trip. From the port, walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf Park to see the colorful house boats and cute shops. This dock area is one of my favorite stops in all of British Columbia and there is nowhere else quite like it.

After the park, continue walking to “downtown” Victoria and swing by the Fairmont Empress Victoria for high tea.

This is a world-famous activity that is sure to leave you feeling oh so classy and royal. Their selection of teas and small bites is impressive and delicious.

Spend the afternoon walking around Victoria then take a cab back to the ship to round-out your Alaska cruise trip.

Alaska Cruise Guide Summary

I hope this Alaska Cruise Guide will encourage you to book your trip soon. While an Alaska cruise isn’t your typical sunny summer vacation, it is one you won’t forget.

An Alaska cruise will be full of adventure, beautiful sites, and unique experiences. It is rare to find a place that is as untouched as Alaska and everyone needs to experience it at least once in your life.

Check out my other cruise guides here.