When it comes to cruising, Alaska is on so many people’s bucket list, and for good reason! I was lucky enough to go on my first Alaskan cruise this summer with my family, and it was an experience I will never forget. For avid cruisers who have never experienced Alaska, you can expect this to be much different from your usual cruise experience. Alaska is made for adventure, and you can expect your day-to-day itinerary to feel a bit busier than it might be on your typical Caribbean cruise. That being said, when you sit down to plan your Alaskan cruise it’s normal to feel overwhelmed with all of the options and activities available to you and your family. Not to fear! Here at Mystical Dream Travel we are very familiar with Alaskan cruises and are here to help you navigate the questions that can come up while planning. To get you started, below are my “Top 5 Must Do’s” to experience when cruising Alaska.
#1 Balcony, balcony, balcony! Let’s talk about the basics first, your stateroom! Alaska is much more of an investment than your average Caribbean cruise, and you should make sure you can do it right. Get the Balcony! Alaska is one of the most scenic places to cruise, and throughout the day you can see pine-lined coastlines, glaciers and even wildlife! One thing I found on my cruise, was that the common spaces, especially those with a view were always extremely busy. Not only was it nice to be able to open my balcony door in the morning and see the Alaskan coast immediately, but also if I wanted a break from the crowds I could have that reset time on my balcony and not feel like I was missing out on anything. If you’re going to Alaska you will want to experience as much as possible and the moments of “downtime” are crucial, and in Alaska, there is always something to see. Whales were spotted from the cruise ship 2 different times on our sailing. If you’re going to splurge on any aspect of the trip it should be your stateroom category.
#2: Say yes to a Kayaking Tour! If you’re able book a Kayak tour at one of the ports on your itinerary- do it! I found that most ports offer these. We did our tour in Sitka. When picking your tour read carefully about what is offered. I suggest booking a tour that takes you away from port so you can experience as much as that particular port has to offer. We saw a mated pair of bald eagles and some local starfish while we were on the water. For people looking for active excursions this really hit the mark. If the act of kayaking is too strenuous for your party a small boat tour or a Zodiac boat tour would be a great alternative. You will get to experience the ocean from a different vantage point that that of a big ship. If stopping in Sitka, try to make it into the town as well! I had some of the best seafood of the whole trip in Sitka
#3: Whale watching in Alaska is extra special! Yes there is a high probability that you will see whales from the cruise ship, but if you can see some of the local pods up close and personal you should absolutely do it! My family is from California and my Mom LOVES whale watching, so needless to say we’ve been a bunch. Alaska took the experience to another level. We chose to do a whale-watching excursion in Icy Strait Point and the waters there are gorgeous. The waves were so calm that our boat was able to get closer to the family of whales than I had ever been before!
#4: A Glacier Tour is a MUST! Walking on a glacier is a very common excursion, and it is not to be missed. If possible, I recommend choosing a Glacier tour on one of the glaciers that experiences less traffic. Most people do the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, but that glacier sees foot traffic upwards of “700,000 “ people a year. The reason for this is because of accessibility- it is fairly easy to access this glacier with bus tours, hiking tours and even lake tours. If you choose a less accessible glacier you might have to take the road less traveled which adds an element of adventure, and at times can give you a more private experience. We chose Taku Glacier in Juneau, and to get there we took a short helicopter ride and then traversed the perimeter by airboat. You can ask anyone in my family and they will tell you this was the most memorable experience of the trip. We were the only ones in the helicopter and the guides made us feel like we were having a true VIP experience. The best part was landing on top of he glacier in our helicopter and getting to walk around by ourselves for a short time. It was incredibly peaceful and I felt like we got to experience the true heart of Alaska.
#5 You can’t leave without trying local foods! The food on the cruise ship will be extravagant, but allow for some time to experience the local fare in an Alaskan pub. Research your ports before you go and see what they’re known for. I had some of the best fish and chips and seafood chowder of my life at a small pub in Sitka! If you drink alcohol, don’t leave Alaska without trying a “duckfart”- this is a layered shot of whiskey, Kahlua, and Baileys. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s delish! If you stop in Ketchikan there is a famous donut shop called Jellyfish Donuts, and this place had a line around the block the entire time we were in port! They are famous for their salmon donut, which is surprisingly yummy. You will also find a lot of excursions that allow you to experience a traditional Alaskan salmon bake. Whatever direction you go in, experiencing the local fare is half of the fun while cruising the different ports.
I can tell you from personal experience that cruising Alaska is a once in a lifetime experience, and definitely the best way to see as much of Alaska as possible in one trip. I can’t wait to go back! There are so many options when cruising Alaska, I highly recommend doing your research, and booking with your favorite Mystical Dream Travel Agent. Let us handle the stress of vacation planning, answer all of your important questions and craft the vacation experience you are lookin
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