While many independent travelers will find some aspects of ‘cruise life’ a bit stifling, there are plenty of reasons to take an Alaskan cruise, most notably the two ‘Cs’: comfort and convenience. When you cruise Alaska, a state that could take months, if not years to thoroughly explore, you get a chance to see many of the top sights all in one convenient vacation! Here’s a quick profile on America’s hottest (or coldest) cruise destination:
Typical Alaska sailing months: May-September
Best itinerary to choose: Anything that includes a sail through Glacier Bay!
Traditional route: Sailing the Inside Passage which typically starts from Seattle or Vancouver and makes stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and sails through Glacier Bay. You can sail from North to South or vice versa…whatever cruise itinerary you choose, you’ll be impressed by Alaska’s natural beauty.
What you can expect, weather-wise: Sunshine at times, but prepare for clouds and occasional rain showers. Temperatures hover around 55 to 65 degrees for daily highs in the Inside Passage, for example. Bring your windbreaker and umbrella!
Typical shore excursions you might experience: Hiking, helicopter tours, animal encounters & wildlife excursions, cultural immersion, whale watching, float-plane adventuring, lighthouse exploring, fishing, glacier treks, kayaking, and dog sledding (just to name a few!).
Daylight or always night?: June will have the longest days with 18 hours of daylight, August a good 16 hours, but September boasts a nice 14 hours at the end of cruise season.
Seasonal highlights: Wildflowers bloom along the Inside Passage and larger animals tend to migrate during spring. Early June, expect to see calving glaciers, Orca whales, and Pacific White-Sided Dolphins. A midnight sun is best seen from late-June to late-August. And for fall foliage & bald eagles, September is your sweet spot!
Popular cruise lines that sail Alaska: Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, and Holland America.
A case for cruising: Nothing like waking up and stepping out onto your balcony to incredible views of glaciers, snow-covered mountain tops, and blue ocean waters! No better way to be submerged in the beauty of the Last Frontier.
Ready to set sail on an exciting Alaska cruise? Contact me today!
Written by Casey Cote: Casey Cote is a travel agent with Destinations to Explore. She loves planning incredible vacations at no cost to you. To book your next cruise, all-inclusive resort vacation, family getaway or honeymoon, contact at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com. You can also find her on Facebook!