Endicott Arm Glacier Cruising, Alaska. Taken from the Celebrity Solstice, July 2016.

Alaska is addictive!

Alaska cruising is truly an experience that you will likely want to repeat. First, it’s magnificent, and there is so much to explore! Selecting shore excursions is difficult as there are many activities to choose from in the fabulous ports of call. Second, many of the popular, easier to plan round-trip cruises which embark from either Seattle or Vancouver B.C. involve only the bottom, southeast part of Alaska. This limited itinerary can leave you wondering what you are missing out on if you only went further north and onward west. Once you know that the one-way itineraries provide access to less-visited ports of call, there is another cruise to plan!

As of this date, I have cruised three times to Alaska on three different cruise lines, (with a fourth cruise in the planning stages) so consider these as thoughts coming from my highly-engaged but nevertheless limited experience.

SHORE EXCURSIONS

I highly recommend researching and selecting the excursions and activities that you want for each port well in advance. Alaska ports of call have unique opportunities – but usually require some planning. You can splurge on a helicopter ride, or get off a large ship onto a small vessel that will take you right up to a glacier. The photo at the top of this page was taken from the cruise ship, but I know that at times the conditions don’t allow the cruise ships to get as close to the glaciers as we want to get. So if that matters most to you, and you’d be bitterly disappointed if you did not get up close to a glacier, consider investing in an excursion that takes you off the ship and onto a smaller vessel (the experience of stepping off the ship onto the small boat is itself an excursion!) On the small vessel, you will benefit from the knowledge of the naturalists who provide commentary on the wildlife and geography of the area.

We stepped off the Norwegian Bliss onto a small vessel that took us right up to Dawes Glacier. We also saw mountain goats!

WHALE WATCHING

If you are on your first Alaska cruise, be sure to consider a whale-watching excursion. We did one in Juneau, and saw orcas as well as humpback whales. What a day! While you might see whales from your ship, these excursions are likely to get you closer than you can imagine to these magnificent creatures, and naturalists or biologists on board will provide enlightening commentary.

Ketchikan

A port commonly included on most cruises to Alaska, Ketchikan is quite manageable to explore on your own, if you want to do so. You can get a lot of good information here. There are a wealth of varied activities to choose from when visiting this port, located in the Tongass National Rainforest. We have done sea kayaking here, which was great fun! We used Southeast Sea Kayaks, and they did a great job – it was my very first time in a kayak – I grew up in Nebraska, after all!

HIKING: Also in Ketchikan, we have used Wild Wolf Tours for a fabulous guided hike through the rainforest, followed by a visit to a Totem Park. I highly recommend this company and a rainforest hike, especially if you want an alternative to the Creek Street touristy shopping. I think it’s worth the time to stroll the historic fun and shopping on Creek Street, (especially the salmon ladder, and Married Man’s Trail). But, our guided hikes on a secluded rainforest trail with ocean views and waterfalls, strolling under spruce, cedar, and hemlock trees were pretty much heaven. So much heaven that I have done this twice.

On one hike on Lunch Creek Trail, we were transfixed watching a mother bear successfully fish for salmon, followed by her two cubs. I still haven’t fully recovered from the wonder!

Wild Wolf Tours also captivated our imagination with storytelling that brought the Totem Park to life. It was enriching to experience the stories of the Native Alaskans here, with their culture honored and stories shared.

My perfect day on a cruise ship involves an excursion that involves active learning and/or hiking, and experiences that give me a new perspective on the world. But, since I want to be well-rounded in all things, this active learning is then followed by a return to the ship to clean up for craft cocktails, a lovely dinner, and a fun show. I absolutely love this range of experiences in one single day!

When I return to Ketchikan the Misty Fjords National Monument is next on my to-do list. This can be done by helicopter or boat. I am inclined to choose a water route. That should increase the odds of seeing wildlife. 

SKAGWAY

Ah, Skagway. Often visited by cruise ships, whose passengers stop to consider the craze of a gold rush. The big draw here is the train ride that will make all others seem tame: the White Pass Yukon route that began in 1898 from the town then called Skaguay. The train ride is unforgettable and the narration will help you understand not only more about the Gold Rush, but also the extraordinary and daring accomplishments of engineering this narrow gauge railroad.

The dramatic landscape you slowly roll through will stay with you as a memory of wonder. It is suggested to book your train tickets through the cruise line, to coordinate with the times your ship is in port.

On one visit, my husband rented a motorcycle in town to drive up the highway that roughly follows the train up to the Yukon Territory. Trying to use a selfie stick, with limited success!

Skagway is one of my favorite ports to be on deck for the sail-in and sailaway. Again, enjoying those places where land and water meet. Magnificent!

GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK

Many Alaska cruisers believe that if your itinerary doesn’t include Glacier Bay, you have not really had a valid cruise experience in Alaska. I can’t totally agree with that, because as I already explained, you will have fabulous glacier cruising on other itineraries that visit Dawes Glacier or Hubbard Glacier. However. Glacier Bay is definitely an experience to put on your Alaska list.

On a Princess cruise, we cruised for most of a day through Glacier Bay. The night before, we had maps and information delivered to our cabin, allowing us to plan our day. There are strict restrictions on cruise ships entering the park (two a day) and a Park Ranger must board the ship. Ships will do a 180 degree turn to make sure that no matter where you are on the ship, either port or starboard, that you have a clear view of the thrilling landscape. On this cruise, we opted to use the private Sanctuary for the day. Up on the forward decks, we heard several hours of informative narration as we were tended to by attentive staff.

Here is what I think – most of the time, in order to cruise Glacier Bay, you will either be cruising r/t from Vancouver, B.C. or you will be on a one-way (either North or South) itinerary. For most U.S. residents, those embarkation ports will add some logistics to your planning. If you want to keep the air travel simple, the many available r/t Seattle itineraries are likely easier for a first cruise to Alaska. I think that if you do not do Glacier Bay on your first Alaska cruise: 1) you won’t likely feel cheated, especially if you think ahead and plan a special excursion on the day of glacier cruising, and 2) you will likely return to Alaska another time, and can do it then, when you are even more prepared.

ICY STRAIT POINT

Icy Strait Point is located near the village of Hoonah, and this port was conceived as an alternative to the more commercial aspects of some Alaska ports, with an emphasis on direct access to the Alaska water and “wilderness.” It is unique in that it is both owned and operated by the Native Hunah Totem Corporation. Your visit there sustains a community with profound, native ties to the land and water.

To get the most from your visit here, you need to select and book your excursion through the cruise ship prior to arrival. The official website for the port makes this clear. The port itself has a gondola that takes you to the top of a hill, and riding it provides for contemplation of this engineering marvel.

Norwegian Bliss seen from an amazing gondola ride in Icy Strait Point.

We did NOT ride the world’s largest Zip-rider, which reaches speeds over 60 mph on its descent, but we did observe people descending on it, and would say that if you are into that kind of thing, buy your tickets now.  

Click here for a listing of all the Alaska ports, and links to more information.

In summer, keep an eye out for fireweed, a fabulous Alaska flower that tells you when Winter will arrive! (Hint: six weeks after the top blooms!)

What are your favorite Alaska memories or excursions, or what do you have planned?