About Alaskan Cruises

Most Alaskan cruises originate at the port cities of Seattle and Vancouver. Getting to the port from your hometown can be half the fun of an Alaskan cruise. Some cruise lines offer combination rail/cruise packages that include a railroad trip through Canada to Vancouver before setting off for Alaska.

Both Seattle and Vancouver have international airports, but flying to a city within your own country is generally easier and less expensive. Setting aside time to tour the city from which your cruise departs is how many Alaskan travelers choose to extend their vacations.

In addition, many cruises are one-way service, meaning that the ship cruises to (or from) Anchorage, Alaska. This means that flying into or out of Anchorage is another leg of the journey for many, and seeing urban life in Anchorage becomes a part of the experience.

Much of the time on an Alaskan cruise is spent aboard the ship, and a wide variety of entertainment options are offered to help pass the time at sea. Most ships include casinos, film screenings, stage shows, comedians and musical acts.

Sport and fitness also are emphasized. Most ships have an exercise room and also may offer golf simulators, putting greens, swimming pools and yoga classes.

On the other hand, indulging in the on-board dining may be hard to resist. Like their tropical counterparts, Alaskan cruises are noted for their extensive food offerings. Formal dinners as well as buffets are available, many times featuring native seafood.

There are several cities and towns where Alaskan cruise ships routinely dock. These include Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and Ketchikan, known as the salmon capital of the world. From Ketchikan, passengers can visit nearby Misty Fjords National Monument, where many of Alaska's best picture postcard views originate.

Another site worth exploring is Alaska's capital, Juneau, where every summer more than 1 million cruise passengers stop. Tour buses circulate throughout Juneau, and taxis and other everyday conveniences are available. Juneau is also a good place from which to explore Alaska's glaciers. Railroad trips into Canada originate in Skagway, taking travelers into the Yukon territory to explore rails constructed during the Klondike gold rush.

Some Alaskan cruises offer on-board nature lectures to prepare passengers for the wildlife and wilderness they will encounter. Coastal glaciers are visible at various points along the coast, and sightings of such marine life as whales and seals are common.

Helicopter trips are one of the best ways to see the Alaskan wild. In some cases, helicopters land directly on glaciers, where passengers can disembark for an icy walk or a ride on a traditional Alaskan dog sled.

Longer excursions, including the option to explore inland Alaska and Canada by train, are also easily accessible and are included as optional excursions by many of the major cruise lines.

Most Alaskan cruises are offered during the summer months, from May until September. Finding the best price, or an opening at the last minute, is easiest in early spring or mid-autumn. During the midsummer months, temperatures can be in the 60s and 70s, so bringing only winter clothing would be a mistake.

Many of the common concerns about an Alaskan cruise are unlikely to be a factor. Seasickness is rare on modern ships, cold weather can be avoided by traveling during the summer, and children are welcome on most cruises, with a variety of activities offered specifically for kids and families.

For passengers who plan to enter Canada at some point, either during a side excursion or as part of a Vancouver departure or arrival, it's important to ensure that your passport is in order and that you don't have even minor offenses that might make passing through customs difficult or even impossible.