Having sailed to Alaska multiple times, I can tell you that it’s very different than any other cruise you might take. And over my time, I’ve picked up some of the best tips and things to know that most people never share.
Here’s what you’ll want to know before you sail… or even book your trip.
Don’t Stress too Much About the Itinerary (Except for This)
You might see people online fretting over one Alaskan itinerary or another when trying to pick a cruise. I’m here to say that if you’re sailing a traditional 7-day trip, you can stop worrying. Truth is there aren’t that many different Alaskan cruise ports. It’s usually a grab bag of Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Skagway with some trips sailing to one or two others in the southeast of Alaska.
The thing is that yes, there are differences in these ports but really they are pretty similar in that they are all in the same part of the country with similar — though certainly not identical — scenery. I definitely have some ports I enjoy over others, but what’s most important is just getting to see Alaska at all. When I’m booking, I don’t fret too much over the stops on the list.
Where I do take notice is if there is a trip to an arm or a fjord for scenic cruising. I’m talking spots like Dawes Glacier and the Endicott Arm. These special scenic routes are the best of the scenery you’ll visit and it’s the entire reason to visit Alaska. So be sure to look for those routes with scenic cruising more than looking at specific ports.
Know that “Good” Weather Is Relative
My first cruise had some of the best weather you can imagine. Rainy and windy on the way up to Alaska and then blue skies every day after. It is absolutely not always like that.
In fact, my last trip was overcast most of the time but the rain that was predicted all week held off until one of the last days. Even so, I overheard several people talking about the great luck the trip was having with the amazing weather.
All that is to say that if it’s not raining, then consider it good weather in Alaska. Maybe you’ll luck out and have blue skies, but prepare for clouds if not worse.
How to Save a Ton on Getting to Port
I figure on my most recent cruise, I saved about $120 in getting back and forth from the airport to the cruise ship. In fact, I spent only $12 round trip for two people.
The key is to use Seattle’s public transportation to get to the ship if you can. The Link rail system has a stop at the airport and the route heads straight to downtown. A one-way ride is only $3 per person. At one point I checked Lyft and it was charging nearly $70 for the same ride.
All you have to do is buy a ticket, hop onboard and wait for the Westlake station. The train is clean and comfy and the ride only takes about 30 minutes to get to downtown Seattle where you’ll get off.
From there, you can walk to Pier 66 through the famous Pike Place Market… it’s about 10 minutes. If sailing from Pier 91, you will want to catch a ride via Uber or Lyft to that port, but the price will be much lower going from here.
Ditch the Phone Camera for a Real One
Let’s talk a bit about what you’ll see and how to remember it. I think an underrated aspect of sailing Alaska that’s not talked about as much is the wildlife you’ll likely see, even if you don’t go on a special whale-watching excursion or something similar.
During my most recent cruise, bald eagles were flying everywhere, I saw otters in Sitka and in Ketchikan, and multiple times whales breached within sight of the ship.
But when I travel, I use my phone to take pictures and video. It’s great for most things, but anyone that’s tried to take a photo with a phone at a distance knows you wind up with a tiny dot that you can’t make out despite it looking clear to the naked eye.
For that reason, if you’re wanting to remember the wildlife, you just have to take a legit camera with a good lens to capture the image how you actually see it.
You’ll Have Cell Service in Port
One thing that’s really nice is that yes, your phone should work in port. If you travel the Caribbean, you’re dealing with multiple countries and you don’t always have service available unless you have an international plan.
In Alaska, there is cell service available in all the ports of call that you’ll visit but just know it’s not likely to be as fast as you’re used to back home. I personally use Mint Mobile, which is on the T-Mobile network. My first trip in 2022 my phone didn’t work while people with the major carriers were able to use there’s.
My most recent trip my phone did work but the speed was pretty slow. Still, I was able to check in back home and use data. So if you’re thinking about getting expensive wi-fi on the ship to keep in touch back home, you can save your money.
The Three Most Important Aspects for Picking a Ship: Indoor, Indoor, Indoor
Cruise lines love to brag about all the waterslides and go-karts and swimming pools they can fit on a cruise ship. In Alaska, all those outdoor features mean practically nothing. Get good weather and you might want to sit in the sunshine and soak it in. But you’re likely not going to be taking a dip in the pool, but maybe the hot tub.
If the weather is cool and overcast or rainy, you won’t even want to be outside on the pool deck. That’s why when booking you want to pay way more attention to the ship than you might if headed somewhere warmer.
For one you want to be sure there’s a lot to do indoors — especially if sailing with kids. The ideal is to sail on a ship with an indoor pool area or solarium that will allow you to relax and feel like you’re outside even while staying indoors and comfortable. Remember, outdoor spaces are a major part of the ship so if you can’t go out, you’re cutting down the public space available by a big chunk.
Balcony Is a Must? Actually, Oceanview Is a Good Idea but Interior Rooms Are Ideal for Some
I think the general rule of thumb is that if you are sailing to Alaska, you have to get a balcony. I’m actually not so sure.
Yes, a balcony is nice. It’s your own spot to look out at the scenery any time you want. But don’t be surprised if you don’t use it that often. Frankly, it can be cool, especially if the ship is moving, giving a strong breeze. It’s doubtful you’re just going to sit outside and watch the scenery like you would in the Caribbean.
Instead, I actually think that an oceanview is more ideal. It gives you the view for a lower price tag without worrying about the cold or rain. Remember, there’s always the pool decks if you want to get outside.
But if you’re a light sleeper then even an interior room may be for you. The days in Alaska are long. It can start getting light around 5:00 a.m. and dark around 11:00 p.m. Even if you draw the curtains in the room, light can still get in. But with an interior cabin, it gets pitch black.
Be Ready for Time of Day to Play Tricks on You
Along the lines of having to deal with long daylight hours, you should know that the time and day can really mess with you, especially if you live on the east coast.
Let’s start with the long daytime hours. As I mentioned, expect it to start getting light around 5 a.m. if not earlier. It gets dark around 10:30 to 11 at night. And when you start to see that dimming with the evening light, you still have several hours of daylight left. I find it completely throws off your daily rhythm.
Add on top of that the fact that Seattle is on Pacific time, which is three hours behind the west coast, but Alaska is another hour earlier. So if you go to bed normally at 10 p.m. on the east coast, it’s 6 p.m. on your cruise, and it’s not getting dark for another five hours.
Sleep masks, alarm clocks and other sleeping aids are smart to bring.
Port Times Are Nothing Like the Caribbean
Another thing to know about Alaska cruises are that port times are way different than you might be used to. My first cruise to the region was on Royal Caribbean and they were slightly different such as getting to Juneau at 1 p.m. in the afternoon and arriving in Victoria at 4 p.m.
My most recent Alaska cruise with Norwegian was even wilder with arriving at three different ports at 6 or 6:30 a.m. In Juneau we left at 1 p.m. and in Victoria we were in port from 8 p.m. to midnight.
This isn’t so much a tip but something that you should know as it’s a little strange to be off the ship before 7 a.m. to go explore a port.
Some Alaskan Ports Are Getting the “Caribbean” Treatment
Few people take an Alaskan cruise as their first trip. It’s far more common to sail the Caribbean first. I will tell you that it’s a completely different experience than the Caribbean, not just in the scenery but the atmosphere on the ship, which is much less of a party and also visiting places that are cities with tourism rather than just cities built solely on tourism.
But I’ve noticed that the cruise lines are starting to have an impact on the atmosphere in ports. With more ships and tourists are more kitschy souvenir ships and even more private spots like Icy Strait Point which aren’t actual real towns but instead built for the cruise ships.
It’s a bit disappointing because it means lots of people aren’t seeing the real Alaska, but a much more touristy version of things. Still, it is relatively easy to get outside of these spots and see a more authentic side of life.
Where to Go for Cheap Souvenirs
If you head to Alaska, souvenirs are a must and trust me, there’s no shortage of places to buy everything from t-shirts to shot glasses and everything in between.
But if you want a deal, then I have a couple of suggestions. First, if you are headed to Ketchikan and your ship is docking at Ward Cove, then the store there is massive. If you live in Texas like me, then it’s essentially an Alaskan Buc-ees with anything you can imagine for a souvenir and the prices are among the best I found in any port.
If you aren’t stopping there, then don’t worry. Instead, when you’re in a port then scout out a grocery story. Any town will have one or more likely several. I’ve found they often have a souvenir section and at least for basic stuff like hats and t-shirts, they are considerably cheaper than what you find in other shops.
Be Ready for Sticker Shock on Excursions
Speaking of money, one thing that might give you sticker shock are the shore excursions. Now, I always tell people to do at least one excursion on their cruise — no matter where it goes — because it gives you the chance to do and see things you just can’t experience back home.
But even I have a problem swallowing some of the prices. Whale watching is going to run about $300 per person. So a family of four is dropping more than a grand for a few hours. That’s more than it would cost to visit Disney for an entire day. A helicopter tour of the glacier in Juneau is upwards of $600 or more. Even this gondola ride up the mountain is $50 per person for the 5-10 minute ride up.
If you have the means, then no doubt you can do some amazing stuff in Alaska. Honestly, I tend to explore on my own as the towns are walkable and you see some cool stuff that most tourists don’t see.
Shuttles Are Readily Available
And one final tip you’ll want to know is that free rides are available in most of the cruise ports. If you’re looking at the map of a port, you’ll likely notice that the actual cruise dock is typically located outside of town, and sometimes quite a distance. The exception is Juneau and Ketchikan, but even there you’ll find one dock that’s a ways away.
The good news is that there are busses that run continually back and forth from the dock to the town so you can get a free ride in many cases. There is an exception for Icy Strait Point where the round trip bus ride into Hoonah is $10 per person. And there’s another fee when you visit Victoria in Canada and want to get a ride into town.
No matter, just know that you don’t have to fool with catching a taxi or calling an Uber/Lyft. It’s super easy to get into town and back without spending a fortune.
