By Jennifer Zimmerman
Alaskan glacier view
Some residents of Alaska would have you believe that a cruise is no way to see their state. But perhaps they've never actually been on one of those
cruises. The Princess cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage is a great way to see the state while being spoiled by spalike services and tons of delicious food. And with Princess, it's easy to add on to your
cruise vacation to see other Alaskan sights, such as Denali National Park and Kenai Fjord. There's also the perk of departing for the cruise from the gorgeous city of Vancouver, British Columbia. It's no surprise that some people take the cruise more than once.
Features
The Alaskan Glaciers cruise stops in Juneau and Skagway, as well as touring Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. There is nothing like Glacier Bay National Park, a crystalline world that you can visit only by boat. You can see whales frolicking and glaciers calving at the same time. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is quirky and easy to explore. Be sure to stop by the world-famous Red Dog saloon while you're there. Skagway has great shopping and gives a real feeling for what Alaska must have been like during the Gold Rush era. And College Fjord is simply gorgeous.
Pros and Cons
Dall sheep
The worst part about being on the cruise is that it's more difficult to see the wildlife of Alaska. Whatever animals you see are guaranteed to be at a distance, unless you see them on one of the many excursions Princess provides. The excursions are great, if your resources are fairly extensive. But you can have a wonderful time on the cruise even without expensive excursions. You can learn a lot from the on-board naturalists.
The food on the Princess line is excellent. What's special about the Alaskan Princess cruises is that they have a lot of Alaskan specialties. Consider skipping the reindeer chili, though.
Weather can be a problem on Alaskan cruises. Even though the cruises run in the summer, an Alaskan summer can be a lot like a Seattle winter: rainy and 50 degrees. Rain can make the shore excursions and explorations a lot less fun, so be prepared with rain gear and layers.
Bottom Line
Unless you are an avid outdoors person who wants to trek 20 miles in the snow, a cruise to Alaska is a perfect way to see the sights. Princess cruises have great food and nice rooms, and booking early almost always gives you an upgrade. Make sure to secure a balcony so that you can take advantage of the views.
With many of the cruises, there aren't many days when you're simply "at sea," so if your ideal cruise is one where you just sit on deck and visit the restaurants, don't bother to go all the way to Alaska. A cruise to Alaska is much more suited to someone who wants to explore new places.
Resources
About the Author:
Jennifer Zimmerman is a former teacher who has been writing and editing for the last three years. She has written numerous articles for eHow, Travels and Prefab and edited scripts and reports for DWJ Television and Inversion Productions. She is a graduate of Boston University and Lewis and Clark College.
Photo Credits:
Justin Zimmerman
Jennifer Zimmerman
