Alaska Cruise Tips
Cruising to Alaska is truly a trip of a lifetime. It is much different than cruising in a warm climate. The weather can be sunny and warm, cold and rainy, or like most times, something in between. But no matter the weather, it is beautiful beyond all expectations.
You are going to Alaska to see the beauty this majestic state has to offer. I have put together some tips that will help make the most of your Alaska cruise.
1. Upgrade to a balcony cabin if possible
Yes, it costs more than an interior room but in Alaska, it is worth every cent. The views are breath-taking and there is nothing better than sitting on your balcony, sipping a cup of coffee or tea, watching the majesty of Alaska right outside your cabin.
If you pick a deck that is lower than those in the public areas you can see wildlife and the sights from a closer perspective.
If a balcony is just not in your budget then just spend as much time as possible on an open deck.
2. Bring a good pair of binoculars
You may count on your phone for taking great photos but do not rely on it to show you what is going on farther away. If you do, you will miss whales, eagles, bears and even calving of the glaciers.
Get the best binoculars you can afford. I was surprised at how expensive they can be. I know there are some great birding binoculars but remember a lot of the time you will be on a ship that is moving.
Taking that into consideration I purchased the Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular. They are 8 x 42 magnification and come with a nice carrying case. They are reasonably priced and were great on our cruise. In fact, I bought two so my husband and I would each have our own.
The link above takes you to my page on Amazon. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission if you purchase something through my page. I would never recommend anything that I do not personally think is a great product.
3. Do not sleep in
This magnificent state enjoys an incredible amount of daylight in the summer months. According to Alaska.com, the sun rises in Juneau at 4:00 am in July and sets about 10:00 pm. Don’t waste time catching up on your sleep because you will miss so much.
Go to sleep at a reasonable hour, set your alarm, grab a cup of hot coffee or tea and look with wonder at nature’s beauty. It will be all around you.
4. Go to the naturalist talks and presentations
This is one of my Alaska cruise tips that is worth repeating. Do not miss the presentations from the naturalist. Naturalists, living in Alaska will come aboard the ship in different ports and offer talks about all things Alaska. These take place on the ship and are listed in the daily planner each ship offers.
The ones we saw were informative and educational. All were wonderful. Be sure to read the daily cruise planner to see when and where this will be offered.
5. Explore every port
On some cruises, it is nice to stay on the ship when in a port. The ship is not crowded and can be very relaxing. Do not do this on your Alaska cruise.
Plan your excursions. Save for excursions. Pre-book excursions. Alaska excursions can be very expensive. This is a time to splurge, step out of your comfort zone and see things you can not see anywhere else.
Each port has so much history. Read about it ahead of time. Read about it in the daily newsletter on board the ship. Get out, walk the port and marvel at all there is to see.
6. Eat and drink local cuisine
It is always fun to eat the food the local area is known for. In Alaska that includes salmon, halibut, crab and reindeer sausage. Also, you will find wild berries, craft beers, and Alaska coffee. Remember, the ports you visit are fishing towns.
Be adventuresome. On our trip, I tried the salmon, halibut, and crab; and also a couple of local craft beers. Everything I ate was wonderful! Next time I will get out of my comfort zone and try the reindeer sausage. Well, at least a taste;-).
7. Be prepared for rain
Almost every article on cruising in Alaska will tell you to dress in layers. Yes, that is so true. It will also probably rain for some portion of your cruise. You need to be prepared.
I purchased a packable, hooded rain jacket one time when I was at Costco. Know that I did buy a size up so it could easily fit over the packable puffer coat I also picked up for this cruise. I am so glad I had both. I did not bring an umbrella as I find them a nuisance.
Pack comfortable water-proof shoes. There is a lot of talk on Alaska discussion boards about this. Some like hiking boots, some prefer rain boots while others just pack their athletic shoes. However, you should pack what will be comfortable for you. You can also spray non-waterproof shoes with a product that will make them water-resistant.
I took a pair of waterproof, lightweight hiking shoes that I picked up at REI. I think my regular athletic shoes would have been fine, but we did not encounter too much rain.
8. Take lots of photos
Okay, if you spent too much time behind the camera you will miss out on a lot. However, if you do not take enough photos you will have a hard time remembering all the beauty you saw on this awesome trip.
I do not normally take my Canon DSLR but for this cruise, I brought it and was so happy I did. Just look at this photo of the bald eagle. It was taken while on a train ride in Skagway.
Another of our Alaska cruise tips worth passing on – look for golf balls in the evergreen trees. Look more closely and you will see that is actually an eagle. It worked!
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