Alaska Cruise Tips

One of the crowning features of an Alaskan cruise, when compared to other destinations, is the fact that you are constantly surrounded by the beautiful landscape. This gives your cabin choice a greater impact on the overall experience of your cruise. If you value a private place to take in the sights of the mountains around you, make sure you consider your cabin’s location. On a northbound itinerary, the starboard side of the ship will be facing the land. Conversely, on a southbound trip, the port side of the ship will be facing the land. In the same vein, if you are able to upgrade to a balcony cabin, your viewing experience will be enhanced even further. The balcony cabins facing the land will book up much quicker than the others on the ship, up to and exceeding a year prior to departure, so make sure to book early in order to get the most out of your vacation. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!

Of course, the glaciers are not Alaska’s only natural points of attraction. The wildlife of Alaska is equally as impressive. Your Alaskan cruise would not be complete without a whale watching tour. Pods of orcas will be in their greatest numbers in May and June and whales from June to September. Juneau and Sitka are two notable ports to take a whale watching tour to get up close to these giants. You will be constantly surrounded by amazing wildlife in Alaska. Bald eagles will soar around you. You can even spot large groups of them in the trees if you have a sharp eye! To get closest to the animals of Alaska, your best bet is to take another step further into Denali on a cruise tour. With dedicated guided nature tours in Denali National Park, there's no beating a cruise tour for getting in touch with the wilderness.

One difficult part of planning a cruise to Alaska is the weather and how to prepare for it. The weather can be unpredictable in Alaska during the summer. Be prepared for a rainy day because you are likely to have one during a week-long vacation. That being said, Alaska is not as cold as you may expect in the summer. A sunny day on your Alaska cruise is likely to be in the 80s. The temperature will likely dip down into the 50s or 60s at night, though, so it is not a bad idea to keep a light jacket handy. The Alaska cruise season does stretch from April to September, so the sailings in April, May, and September tend to be a bit colder and more likely to see rain, but this is counteracted by lower pricing and less crowds. In short, be prepared for a wide range of weather because you will see many sides of Mother Nature.