By Heather Topham Wood
Many vacationers consider an Alaskan cruise a trip of a lifetime and with good reason. When you take a cruise to Alaska, you get to enjoy the amenities of a luxury ship while also seeing some of the most breathtaking sights in nature. You can expect to view glaciers and wild animals in their natural habitat. Before you book an Alaskan cruise, compare the options that are available.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step 1
Determine which cruise lines have cruises to Alaska. Many of the large cruise lines have sailings to Alaska, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Ships that sail to Alaska include the Carnival Spirit, Celebrity Infinity, Norwegian Pearl, Holland America Amsterdam and Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas.
Step 2
View the available dates for your Alaskan cruise. Although Alaska cruises are offered year-round, the best time to cruise there is between May and September, when the weather is warmer and there are longer hours of daylight. Many of the larger animals also migrate during this time period.
Step 3
Review the length of the itinerary as well as the stops it will make along the way. The average Alaskan cruise will last seven to fourteen days. Port cities where the cruise may dock include Juneau, Skagway, Prince Rupert and Sitka.
Step 4
Look at the departure cities for each Alaskan cruise. Review the departure port information for the cruise as well. Popular departure ports for Alaskan cruises include Vancouver, Seattle, San Diego and San Francisco.
Step 5
Browse the available shore excursions. Examples of shore excursions popular for Alaska cruises include Jeep tours, ziplines above the alpines, crab fishing, glacier flights, whale watching and wildlife hiking excursions.
Step 6
Read consumer ratings and reviews for Alaskan cruises. Review sites can help make your cruise booking decision easier by seeing what others say about a particular Alaskan cruise ship and itinerary. Review Centre has a web page devoted to vacationer reviews of Alaskan cruises.
Step 7
Compare the price of each Alaskan cruise. Once you have gathered information about Alaskan cruises, request quotes for sailings. Receive quick cruise rates on the Alaska Cruises website.
Resources
About the Author:
Heather Wood is a freelance writer who provides content to both traditional and new media publishers. She has worked professionally for five years and has appeared in numerous publications, including Gadgetell, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English from The College of New Jersey. Heather enjoys an active lifestyle and spends her free time running and skiing.
