If you have an Alaska cruise this year, our Alaska cruise tips and tricks will ensure your trip is smooth sailing! Our 25 tips for Alaska cruises are based on our several trips Way Up North! These tips will help with your Alaska cruise planning.
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TIPS FOR AN ALASKA CRUISE:
0:00 Introduction
1:10 Book Your Cruise Early
1:50 Budget Appropriately for Your Cruise
3:00 Picking the Best Time to Cruise to Alaska
4:00 Cruise During Shoulder Seasons
4:18 Seeing the Northern Lights
4:48 Picking the Right Cruise Line
6:00 Compare Cruise Ships
6:45 Selecting a Cruise Itinerary
8:24 Consider a Cruise Tour
9:00 Use a Travel Advisor
9:40 Upgrade to a Balcony
10:55 Pack a Passport
11:32 Arrive to Embarkation Port Early
12:20 Budget Extra for Shore Excursions
13:15 Book Tours Early
14:24 Purchase Packages Pre-Cruise
15:23 Pack Layers
15:50 Bring a Packable Raincoat
16:20 Pack a Bathing Suit
16:40 Bring a Camera and Binoculars
17:35 Attend Talks and Enrichment
18:25 Skip the WiFi Package
19:08 Taste Some Local Cuisine
19:50 Get Some Rest
20:26 Learn Basic Nautical Terms
ALASKA CRUISE TIPS AND TRICKS
We are back with our list of expert tips for an Alaska cruise in 2023. These 25 Alaska cruise hacks will ensure your trip way up north will be truly unforgettable. We have several Alaska cruise tips and hacks for first time cruisers. But, even if you have take a cruise, a cruise to Alaska is completely different.
When taking an Alaska cruise, make sure to budget accordingly. Among our tips for Alaska cruises is to make sure you set aside more money for the cruise fare, shore excursions, and related travel. To make your Alaska cruise planning easy, you should arrive a day early to the departure point as well. For many, getting to the homeport will take some extend travel. Thus, you will want to make sure you have extra time if there are any flight delays.
Before your Alaska cruise, you will want to do research to ensure you pick the right ship and cruise line. Luckily, there are a variety of cruise ships in the region for all types of cruisers.
TIPS FOR AN ALASKA CRUISE
Among our Alaska cruise hacks is to find a ship with plenty of viewing areas, including observation decks and lounges. Also, another Alaska cruise tip is to ensure your cruise ship has an indoor pool.
When Alaska cruise planning, we suggest you consider cruising during the shoulder seasons. These are the first and last month of the cruise season in Alaska. This will help save money. Although, we do think it is worth upgrading to a balcony, especially for an Alaska cruise.
While there is no one perfect itinerary, our Alaska cruise tip is to pick a roundtrip cruise from Seattle, WA if this is your first visit to the Last Frontier. Plus, try to find an itinerary that visits Glacier Bay National Park as the views are amazing!
We have several Alaska cruise packing tips as well. Most important of these Alaska cruise tips is to bring plenty of layers. Don’t be surprised if you find temperature swings of 30 or 40 degrees in one day. Plus, it will rain in Alaska. So, have a lightweight, packable raincoat. You should also have a water resistant day pack so you can bring those extra clothes with you when going ashore.
Additionally, you shouldn’t forget your bathing suit either as there will be chances to use the hot tubs, pools, and ship’s thermal suite.
Another Alaska cruise hack is to attend the ship’s lectures and enrichment sessions, these are some of the highlights of the trip.
Finally, you should consider passing on the ship’s WiFi, but we do recommend splurging on some of the local cuisine. When else will you get to eat Alaskan King Crab?
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So you've decided to take your first Alaska
cruise that's amazing because you'll truly have An unforgettable vacation but even if you sail out
to the Caribbean or the Bahamas before a cruise to Alaska is quite different but don't worry we
have you covered because we've put together Our list of the 25 expert Alaska cruise tips and
tricks every Cruiser needs to know in 2023 up next Thank you Welcome aboard Cruisers I'm Don B from
eat sleep Cruise will help you see the World one port at a time and one of
our favorite destinations is Alaska We've sailed there multiple times
with several different Cruise Lines Actually made an Alaska cruise tip video last
year but several things have changed plus we have Even more tips to ensure your cruise to Alaska
is truly memorable of course if you still have Questions after watching this video please leave
them in the comment section below and we'll be Happy to answer them so let's Dive In if you're
watching this video in early 2023 and you plan On cruising Alaska this year and haven't put
your cruise yet well it better get planning Most major Cruise Lines release itineraries up to
two years in advance for the Alaska cruise season And while anytime is great to book a cruise
we always suggest looking as early as possible The reason you should believe early is to cure the
best price as specific sailings begin to fill up Prices will also go up popular room categories
and location to book up quickly as well looking A cruise early you'll have a greater selection of
cabins and you'll also get preferred dining times Of course this will also give you more time to pay
off the cruise and the plan aspects of your trip Now when planning your Alaska cruise
you do need to budget appropriately You should know that Alaska Cruise vacations
are a bit on the pricey side when compared to Caribbean cruises so we don't want you to get
sticker chopped Alaska cruise cause fluctuate Considerably depending on a few factors those
include the cruise line the itinerary and the Time of year which all weigh heavily on
pricing if you have flexible vacation Time choosing the right time to cruise to
Alaska may have a big impact on your budget So when planning you do need to keep in mind
that you'll be paying for things such as the Cruise Fair airfare or transportation to
and from the cruise port and then there Are additional costs such as shore excursions but
taking everything into consideration we have found That a typical seven night Alaska cruise cost
somewhere between two thousand to five thousand Dollars per passenger when factoring in all the
costs in the description down below we link to Our complete guide that helps you budget free
Alaska cruise that way you know the true cost Now if you didn't already know this Alaska is
a seasonal Cruise destination this means you're Only able to Cruise Alaska during select months
of the year which hopefully kind of makes sense The Alaska crew season generally runs from late
April early May through the end of September
June through August is considered the peak season
while the April early May and September early October are considered the shoulder season
when determining the best time of year to Cruise Alaska you'll need to consider things
such as the weather Wildlife price and crowds Mid-summer usually offers the best combination
of average temperatures rainfall amounts hours Of daylight and Wildlife siding wow mid-summer in
Alaska might have the warmest temperatures and the Most Wildlife sightings it also means increased
crowds and definitely increase prices particularly July and early August are the busiest times to
visit Alaska this of course coincides with school Breaks and summer vacations these months are
usually the most expensive to cruise to Alaska Thus one of our expert Alaska cruise tips and
tricks is to cruise to the region during the Shoulder season this will save you money and
there'll be fewer crowds we've crucial region Late in the season a few times now and still had a
great Alaska cruise and saved a boatload of money Another perk of sailing towards the end
of the Alaska crew season is a chance To see the Northern Lights the Aurora season is
generally from the end of August until mid-april Typically you have a better chance of seeing the
Northern Lights further north in Alaska as cloudy Skies are a common in Southeast Alaska still
you could get lucky during the Alaska cruise Season the sun sets the earliest in September
where the skies are darkest making for the most Ideal viewing conditions over a million Cruisers
traveled to Alaska each year with that said more And more cruise lines and ships are selling in
the region from family friendly cruise lines To a luxury high-end cruises this small Ship
Adventure cruises there's truly no best single Cruise line or a best ship in Alaska truthfully
it all depends on your travel party's preferences Brands like Norwegian Cruise Line and
Royal Caribbean offer more diversity For multi-generational families with some
of the newest Amos Innovative ships in the Fleet cruising this region these might be
the best Alaska cruise picks for families Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line
are also popular choices for family cruises to Alaska couples might want to consider Princess
Cruises on America line or Celebrity Cruises In fact Princess Cruises and Holland America
line have the most ships sailing in the region There's also luxury cruise lines like Viking while
this trip might cost more it does include a shark Surgeon each Port of Call beer and wine at meals
free Wi-Fi and no up charges or specialty dining If you're Adventure traveler several small ship
cruise lines like unquist adventures and American Queen voyages also Cruise in Alaska with such a
diversity of cruise ships sailing the region even Within Brands themselves you should review the
cruise ships amenities before you decide on one Once you've narrowed down your search to a cruise
line or two compare the ship's offerings to find The one that's a good fit for you and your family
while the flashy bells and whistles on new cruise Ships might be important for some and Alaska
cruise is really more about the destination
One of our expert Alaska cruise tips is to look
for ships with good viewing areas like indoor Observation lounges also consider whether the
ship has an indoor pool or indoor amenities for Your kids while the weather is often warm
enough to enjoy the outdoor attractions That's not always the case and as you'll soon
find out it does often rain in Southeast Alaska The same is true about your Alaska cruise itiner
there's no one perfect Alaska cruise itinerary It does really depend on your travel party's
preferences the most common Alaska cruises are Seven days in length and our round-trip sailings
that depart from either Seattle Washington or Vancouver British Columbia there are also one-way
sailings that generally cruise from Seward or Whittier Alaska two Vancouver British Columbia
or vice versa a Northbound and southbound roots Regardless of the itinerary you choose Opera
ports of call you'll probably visit include Juno Ketchikan and Skagway as well as Victoria British
Columbia some ships also visit Sitka Andes or icy Street Point most ships also have at least one day
of Scenic cruising where you'll sell past Majestic Glaciers and fjords perhaps the two most popular
Glacier cruising spots are the Hubbard Glacier And Glacier Bay National Park you should know the
difference before picking your cruise itinerary And back on our blog we have a complete article
that gives you a breakdown between these two of The most popular Cruise itinerary if you're a
first-time Cruiser to Alaska one of our expert Tips is to stick to a traditional 7-Day round-trip
Cruise if you can find one that cruises through Glacier Bay National Park we highly recommend that
as well the views are amazing your Alaska cruise Will certainly be an unforgettable experience
with several days in Port and Scenic cruising With glaciers and fjords what could be better
well more time to explore Alaska of course If you have the vacation time and quite honestly
the finances you should consider extending your Alaska cruise with a cruise tour many Cruise
Lines sailing the region offer add-on land package These land portions and varying length and
visit more interior locations beyond the Typical Southeast Alaska ports of call with a
cruise tour guests can enjoy a scenic train ride Stay in a lodge and visit to places like
Denali National Park Fairbanks or Anchorage Now if all this is starting to feel a little
overwhelming don't worry our next tip is really Here to help even if you've cruised before we
highly recommend using a travel advisor to book Your Alaska cruise a good travel advisor can help
you decide on some of the factors listed above And don't worry we're not travel advisors so
we're not here trying to sell you something but we Always use one in booking our cruises a good trial
advisor can help you save money on this pricey Alaska cruise in addition to helping you find the
best deal travel agents often offer additional Pearls that can be combined with any promotion
from the cruise line these add-ons can include Things like free specialty dinner free gratuities
onboard credit and more now this next tip might be A bit controversial but we're sticking to our guns
and recommending that you upgrade to a balcony
Once you've picked your perfect ship and
itinerary you need to choose your cabin category And we really believe that upgrading to a
balcony in Alaska is worth it there are many Reasons to book a balcony on any cruise but we
find the Splurge the most beneficial in Alaska Yes a balcony cabin will cost more than an inside
stateroom or an Ocean View cabin though it's truly Breathtaking to admire the natural landscapes from
the Comforts of your balcony on an Alaska cruise You can be sipping hot coffee or cocoa while
sailing past fjords or be on the lookout for Wildlife while getting ready in the morning
sample a in hopes of spotting the Northern Lights especially if you're cruising later in the
season the possibilities are endless of course if You decide not to upgrade to a balcony there
are still plenty of viewing areas around the Ship if you pick the right vessel for U.S citizens
a passport is technically not required for closed Loop cruises and those are cruises that begin and
end in the same U.S port thus if you're cruising To Alaska a round trip from Seattle Washington a
birth certificate and government issued ID are the Only forms of documentation required however just
because you don't need a passport to go on the Cruise doesn't mean that you might not need one to
enter one or more ports of call during your trip For instance you may need a passport for some
Alaska cruise excursions short excursions that Visit Canada like the White Pass Rail and
Skagway do require a passport to participate And of course if you're doing a one-way
cruise that starts and ends in Canada you can Ask what they are too so regardless of itinerary
or the short surgeons you're thinking of doing one Of our tips is the cruiser region with a passport
depending on your embarkation Port you'll likely Need to arrange airfare you should also consider
booking a pre-cruise or a post Cruise Hotel stand While we always recommend flying in a day early
for a cruise it's even more important when Cruising in 2023 given flight cancellations and
delays plus Seattle and Vancouver are both great Cities that deserve some time for exploration
themselves you should check with the cruise Line or your travel agent to see if there are any
promotional airfare offer many cruise lines now Offer packages that include airfare this option
also offers some peace of mind in case of air Delays as the ships will usually wait for you if
you booked your flights through the cruise line Now when it comes to budgeting-free cruise you've
probably noticed already that an Alaska cruise is Not cheap these cruises can run double
or more compared to a Caribbean cruise Likewise shore excursions and tours in
Alaska can also cost you a pretty penny This is especially true if you book some of the
once in a lifetime tours during your trip when we Think of one of our best Alaska cruise experiences
it was a helicopter ride to the Mendenhall glacier However tours like this can cost 500 or more per
person the White Pass in Yukon root Railway and Skagway is the number one elastic Cruise Excursion
and that costs around 140 per person round trip Other Alaska Shore Excursions include float
plane rides for the fjords Wildlife tours zip
Lining Glacier exploring or dog sledding and
depending on your appetite for adventure all Of these should not be missed thus another
one of our Alaska cruise ships is a budget Quarterly for your Shore Excursion so you
don't miss out on these amazing experiences Likewise we always like having a game
plan for each Port of Call this often Means reserving shore excursions and tours well
in advance this is especially true in Alaska Since Alaska cruise for many is a once in a
lifetime trip shore excursions do book up quickly We never recommend you wait to onboard
the ship to book your short search And you certainly shouldn't wait until the
actual Port of Call to book a tour the last Thing you want to hear is that the Excursion
you've been waiting for is already sold out So we suggest booking your short excursions well
in advance and of course you can always cancel if Something pops up you can always check your cruise
Line's online planner as most Cruise Lines will Periodically run sales on items like sharks
versions of course you can investigate local Tour providers and third-party tour vendors
as they often offer smaller group tours and Cheaper prices of course you don't have to
bookshore excursions in every port of call Many of these Alaska cruise ports are walkable
if you just want to explore the downtown area Or the cruise lines often have shuttles into
town as well but either way you should have A game plan for each stop on your cruise board
so you don't miss out on all the fun like your Shore excursions we also highly recommend that you
book onboard packages and make any reservations Required on the ship before boarding this is one
of the easiest ways to save money on a cruise Some of these add-ons might include things
like beverage packages specialty dining Wi-Fi and other experiences not including your
cruise fare like the Spa if you have a flexible Dining option on your cruise many Cruise Lines
let you make reservations Free Cruise as well Of course if you plan to dine in specialty
restaurants you want to pre-reserve those too Prime Dining times do fill up quickly don't get
stressed out about packing for your Alaska cruise Even though it's all together different than what
you would typically pack for a Caribbean cruise The time of year you cruise to
Alaska will dictate to some degree What items you'll need to include
on your Alaska cruise packing list Type of shore excursions you book will
also factor into what you need to bring But regardless of when you Cruise or what you plan
to do ashore the most important Alaska cruise tip And layers given the fluctuations in temperature
which in our experience can range from 25 to 30 Degrees in one day you'll need plenty of
clothes and varying degrees warmth layers That can be easily packed and taken on and
off during the day are preferable it's also A good idea to pack a water resistant day bag to
easily store these extra layers when going Shore And speaking of weather and packing make sure to
also bring a packable raincoat and some waterproof
Shoes or boots yes it will rain during your
Alaska cruise if you're lucky the rain will Only pop up here and there but Ketchikan is one of
the rainiest places in the United States after all Even if the day starts off Sunny be prepared
for some fog and Rain to eventually roll in Don't let the damp weather impact your trip
though just be prepared with the right gear But while you're putting together that
suitcase don't forget your bathing suit While the weather is not exactly Beach friendly
the Pools and Hot Tubs on the ship are still open As is the spa in thermal Suite you might even get
lucky enough with whether to enjoy the outdoor Pools clothing is not the only gear you should
pack for a cruise this trip is one you'll want To remember forever while cameras on smartphones
have come a long way in years they won't do the Scenery and wildlife in Alaska any justice if
you want great photos to last a lifetime we Recommend bringing a digital camera with a zoom
lens if you don't own one you can always rent one We rented a zoom lens for our camera during
our last trip to Alaska and I'm so glad we did If you don't even own a digital camera anymore
you can also even rent that as well too Likewise you should invest in some binoculars
for the trip they don't have to be expensive And honestly you can also rent them as well but
a pair of binoculars is crucial when scouting out The area for wildlife now you do want to check
with your cruise line because some premium and Luxury Cruise Lines do provide binoculars in each
cabin or on contemporary Cruise Lines some have In categories include upgrades like binoculars
when not docked at a Port of Call most Cruise Lines offer a variety of on-board talks and
lectures isn't that your typical Port shopping Presentations but rather they're enrichment
programs that provide valuable information about The history culture and wildlife of the ports
of call you'll be visiting in our experiences These talks are informative fun and educational
part of your cruise and should not be missed The onboard naturalists and historians really make
the crews that much more enjoyable plus if your Ship is cruising through Glacier Bay National
Park a park ranger will actually come on board The cruise ship he or she will offer a narration
about the history of the park as well as point out That several glaciers while sailing and then later
in the day often offers an informational session That's worth attending as well onboard
enrichment early morning Glacier viewing and Long days in Port you might want to consider not
purchasing a Wi-Fi package on your Alaska cruise While internet on cruise ships is constantly
improving the signal in Alaska is not always The best it can be impacted by weather and
interference from landscapes further most Of your reports of call will be in the United
States and likely covered in your cell service Of course you'll want to check with the provider's
coverage area prior to sailing if you do use your Cell phone while in Port make sure to put it back
in the airplane mode once you set sail you don't Want to incur any expensive roaming charges while
at Sea as your cruise ship will sail far enough
Away from land that you will lose cell service
now the food on the ship is always delicious But when you're in Alaska you should probably
try to eat some of the Latin cuisine on land This might mean you indulge in
the plentiful Seafood available Salmon bakes and Alaskan king crab are some
of the fresh local Specialties that should Sample during your cruise of course you'll need
some beverages to wash down the food as well So you might want to try a locally brewed beer and
there are some popular tourist stops that include The Red Dog Saloon in Juneau Tracy's Crab Shack in
Juneau and the Red Onion Saloon as Skagway there's Also the popular Creek Street with shops and
restaurants in Ketchikan of course you can always Check the Facebook groups or other online forums
for other recommendations for local eateries These seven days will be packed so
you need to make sure to get some rest You are going to do and see a lot during Alaska
cruise we want to make sure also get your sleep They'll be early morning calls into port in
Glacier sightings that will have you up at dawn With the Sun out until 10 pm during peak
season you'll also want to take in all The views until late in the evening plus
the potential to see Northern Lights these Early mornings and late evenings mean you
should make use of downtime to squeeze in a Few extra hours of shut eye whenever you can
this is one Adventure you don't want to miss You don't have to be the captain but but you
should probably learn some basic nautical terms This is especially important for an Alaska cruise
oftentimes announcements will be made for wildlife Sightings and during Glacier viewing knowing
starboard side versus Portside will ensure you Don't miss out on anything Portside refers to the
left side of the ship when facing forward an easy Way to remember that is or has four letters as
does left starboard is the right hand side of The ship when facing the front and fortunately I
don't have any good tips on how to remember that But now when you hear there's been a whale
spotted on the starboard side of the ship You can just grab your gear and you know exactly
where to go now of course if you're still need Some more help planning your Alaska cruise
we have you covered along with several Alaska Cruise reviews for cruise lines like Norwegian
Cruise Line princess and Hall America line here On our Channel we also have our complete Alaska
cruise planning guide there we give you more Details on things such as how to pick the right
chip how to pack free Alaska cruise as well as Guidance on how to make the most of your time
on board the ship and ashore our Alaska cruise Planning guide video is the best next step
to help you plan the perfect Alaska cruise