Alaska Cruise Guide: What Are The Most Important Factors To Consider When Looking For A Cruise?

It is never a bad time to travel to Alaska. The major cruise lines offer cruises throughout the year. The cruise season usually runs from April to September, especially during the summer months. However, the “best” time to go is really subjective.

Many people prefer to go during the summer months due to the warm temperatures. Cruises on a budget prefer to wait until May or September, when fares are cheaper and crowds are smaller. The downside to going out of season is that the weather is more unpredictable and excursions have a higher chance of being canceled. If you want to see the Northern Lights, the best chance to see them is in September. Again, there is a downside to traveling in this time of year due to the choppy Gulf of Alaska, which is not good for travelers who tend to get seasick.

When planning a cruise to Alaska, you’ll find that there are three basic routes that most major cruise lines stick to: round-trip from Vancouver, round-trip from Seattle, and one-way from Vancouver to Alaska. You may also want to consider a cruise tour, which combines an Alaska cruise with a land tour, either before or after the actual cruise. These types of tour packages can range from a 3-5 night tour of Anchorage / Fairbanks / Drenali to a 5-7 night tour of the Canadian Rockies.

If your time is limited and you will not have the opportunity to take a tour before or after a cruise, select an itinerary that includes a shore excursion or two so that you can take a mini-tour, or simply enjoy a day in a city port of Alaska.

Where to visit on your Alaska cruise

You’ll also want to go with an itinerary that gets you as close to some glaciers as possible. The most beautiful glaciers in the world can only be seen around Alaska on a boat. If you dock in Juneau at any point during your trip, consider visiting Tracy Arm Fjord by seaplane. It’s a show you don’t want to miss. Many travelers prefer to plan and book their own excursions, since those offered by a cruise line in a package tend to increase the price considerably.

Going on a cruise to Alaska requires more than just booking the cheapest package you can find. You should consider the departure city (Seattle or Vancouver), the time of year and weather conditions, the route, and the ports of call. An Alaska cruise can last between 5 and 21 days, either round-trip or one-way. While a one-way cruise sounds good, you may end up paying more for airfare back to Seattle or Vancouver before heading back to your own city.

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