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ALASKA , CRUISES , NORTH AMERICA , UNITED STATES · June 11, 2018 Last Updated on July 24, 2024

A FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE TO TAKING AN ALASKA CRUISE

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If you have never taken a Alaska cruise  before then you absolutely should! Cruises are an amazing way to visit a destination and maximise how much you see whilst you are there.

After taking two cruises in Alaska I have collected a bunch of tips and advice that I think will help first timers to plan for the cruise, make the most of their time on board and above all have fun! My most recent cruise was with Carnival Cruises in Alaska and in this guide I share my top tips for joining an Alaskan (or any other) cruise!

1) Packing For An Alaska Cruise

First things first, before you even start thinking about what items to pack for your Alaska cruise you probably are wondering if you can take a suitcase, or if you should have a soft bag for a cruise. Cruise cabins are not huge, but they are well designed to maximise the space and provide large wardrobes, plenty of drawers and usually space to store your hard shell suitcases.

On our recent cruise with Carnival we had two large suitcases (around 20kg each) and we had plenty of space to hang up all of our clothes and store the cases in the wardrobe. However, if you prefer travelling with a soft bag this will also ensure you can tuck it away in a wardrobe too.

In terms of clothing for an Alaska Cruise, definitely bring warm items and most importantly a windbreaker jacket. Even when the sun is shining and warm (which we were lucky enough to have through the week), the wind on the upper decks can be chilly. One of the best parts of an Alaskan cruise is that there is usually a beautiful landscape to enjoy as you sail so you will want to be on deck for most of it.

Bring some hats, gloves, good walking shoes or boots, and other warm weather gear for your day trips. A rain jacket and umbrella is also advised as Alaska weather can often be overcast and rainy so be prepared for that.

For the evenings, there will be at least two “elegant” evenings where everyone on the cruise dresses up for dinner and drinks. Men will wear full suit and tie or even a tux and women can wear their best dresses. So make sure that you bring a couple of elegant outfits for these evenings, and if you like to dress up it’s nice to do this even on the casual nights!

2) Selecting A Cabin Type For Your Alaska Cruise

For most people cabin selection will be based on your budget but there are a few things to consider when selecting your room and whether its worth upping your budget a little to get a room you truly love. There are a variety of state rooms, and I think the first choice is whether you want an interior room (no windows), a sea view room (has a window), a balcony room or a suite with balcony.

If you are claustrophobic or get a little seasick, then going for a room with a window or balcony is essential. We enjoyed a balcony room and found this was such a great way to be able to enjoy the sailing days, relaxing on the balcony, book in hand, waiting for a whale to swim by!

The second consideration is which part of the boat you want to be on, the back, middle or front. Honestly, I personally don’t think this is as much of a consideration as selecting which room type you go for. The selection of which location is usually based on what you want to be close to, but with activities on board all over the boat you will be walking from one end to the other no matter what.

One thing to check if possible is that you are not in a middle corner room. Our room was on a corner in the middle of the ship where the next section of cabin rooms and balconies jutted out farther than ours to one side. This meant we had a large wall next to our balcony completely obscuring the view to the left and front of the boat so could not see anything ahead of us when we were sailing.

Here are some excellent Alaska cruise options to explore!

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3) The Best Time Of Year To Go On An Alaska Cruise

This Alaska cruise was my second time visiting Alaska, and both times I visited in mid-May and was blessed with absolutely amazing weather with sunshine and clear skies everyday.

Based on my experience I would definitely recommend going in May, however if you are interested in seeing the salmon season and capturing photos of the bears fishing for salmon this is later in the season between mid-July and mid-August.

4) Tips For Boarding Your Cruise

Boarding a cruise is probably the only part of a cruise that can be a bit slow. You will receive information beforehand about boarding times and what time the ship departs, these are important to follow – the ship will not wait for you so make sure you know your ship departure time and have flights that arrive in plenty of time to get you through the airport, to the dock and through the boarding process. Personally I would advise arriving a night before so that you do not have to worry about this.

Once you arrive at the port, boarding can be slow. There will be several lines to hand in your luggage, show your passports, check in and then waiting for your boarding group to be called to get onto the boat. As long as you are prepared for this, it’s really not a big deal and just know that you will spend a few hours getting on board – but once you are on-board the fun begins!

If you don’t want to line up then you could purchase priority boarding which allows you to skip the queues and be first on-board the boat. This really is a wonderful luxury and I would recommend it!

5) Once On-Board Insider Tip

My first timer’s tip for once you get on-board the boat is not to head straight to your cabin, but to take a tour of the entire boat and get yourself acquainted with everything on-board. When we arrive in any new travel destination we always take a walk and familiarise ourselves with the area, and on-board a cruise is no different.

Also, depending on the cruise you are taking this gives you an opportunity to get ahead of the other guests and book yourself into your preferred restaurant or pick the excursions before everyone else does.

6) Picking Your Cruise Activities & Excursions 

Perhaps the hardest part of the cruise is deciding which activities to take and making sure that you get the ones that you want. In your cabin you will find a detailed document with all the excursions available and there are a lot!

My suggestion is to go through your Alaska cruise activity packet and star the ones you think appeal to you, and there are usually a few slightly different variations of each trip. For example, there will be whale watching, whale watching with lunch, and also whale watching with both a glacier trek and lunch, so it’s hard to know what to select. Read these carefully and choose the one that sounds best, keeping in mind the price and time of each excursion.

Once you have your general picks, head down to the activities desk and have a chat with one of the representatives. They usually have their favourites and will help you decide between the myriad of options available.

In Alaska, I suggest that you do the following activities on the port days:

• Juneau: Helicopter and glacier walk
• Skagway: White Pass and Yukon Full Day trip
• Ketchikan: Lumberjack show or the flight-seeing seaplane

7) Seeing The Wildlife In Alaska

A big part of visiting Alaska is making sure that you see the wildlife. One of the great things about taking a cruise is that you can see this right from the boat. When you are on-deck or wandering around the boat, the on-board naturalist will call attention to any wildlife that is seen throughout the cruise.

In Alaska this will include orcas, humpback whales, dolphins, sea otters, eagles and even bears if you are lucky! When you are in your cabin, check the TV channel schedule and tune into the naturalist channel so that you hear when something has been spotted from the side of the boat and you can either quickly head to your balcony or, if it’s on another side of the ship, run up to the main deck.

8) WIFI On Board

Wifi on board cruises is available at an addition fee and depending on whether you need it for work you can make a decision on whether you think the additional cost is worth it to you. It’s also worth noting that the Wifi is relatively slow so make sure to finish any urgent work or large downloads/uploads before boarding the ship. I personally think taking a cruise in Alaska and having the opportunity to switch off from your phone to enjoy your surroundings is a good thing!

Another note is that whilst you are travelling by cruise you will likely travel into international waters and your cell provider may charge you some hefty fees if you have your service turned on, so make sure to turn off your roaming and stick to airplane mode whilst on board.

9) Cruise Hygiene

With so many people on board, viruses, coughs and colds can spread quickly among passengers. A good rule for you is to bring some handbag sized hand sanitiser and use the hand sanitiser provided around the boat and in the buffet areas every time you see them.

On a cruise you really can’t wash your hands too many times, so be sure to keep yourself healthy by practicing good hygiene.

10) Alaska Lectures 

When you go on holiday you probably don’t picture yourself sitting in a lecture theater, but on an Alaskan cruise you absolutely should! Rangers come on-board when the ship sails through glacier bay and going to the on-board education sessions are a great way to learn a lot about the area, how these glaciers evolved, whether they are advancing or retreating, the wildlife in the area and lots more.

The details for these lectures, along with all the fun activities available on board, are given to you each day in your cabin.

11) Use The Carnival Cruise App

One of the really helpful things on the cruise was the Carnival App which details everything you need to know about what’s happening on board, the daily activities, ship port times, etc. We found this app really helpful to plan what we wanted to do on board.

With so many options it is hard to keep up with the daily schedule, but the app allows you to favourite things you are interested in so you can be reminded of the times and not miss out on anything fun you want to do!

A First Timer’s Guide To An Alaska Cruise Wrap Up

I hope you found this Alaska cruise guide helpful. You can also check out 10 Reasons To Visit Alaska On A Cruise which has more useful information and you can explore these Alaska Cruises  to book.

Taking a cruise though Alaska is truly an unforgettable, bucketlist adventure. If you want more cruise inspiration read 20 Cruises To Take Before You Die . Happy exploring!

We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Alaska on a cruise. If you have any questions about the destination, please leave these in the comments below.

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Please visit our Contribute page for guidelines and to submit your article.

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This article is a paid partnership with Carnival Cruise line, as always all opinions are my own and reflect my true experience on the Alaska cruise. This website is a free resource and to keep it free for our readers we may use affiliate links in our articles. Please see our Disclosures for more information.

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Cardiff Cruises says

July 10, 2018 at 5:46 am

Awesome article!! I appreciate your article you have shared here excellent information. It’s helpful for us. Thanks for sharing this article.

April 21, 2019 at 12:05 pm

Your photos are so great! Would love to see more!

Nallely says

August 3, 2019 at 11:30 pm

Did they require a passport for re-entry into the US, do you leave the us ?

We Are Travel Girls says

August 3, 2019 at 11:40 pm

Hi Nallely,

Some of the cruise routes do leave the US and enter Canada, either departing to/from Vancouver or making a stop in Victoria. If your route includes Canada as a stop then you will need a passport. Other routes are “closed-loop” and only visit Alaska without any Canadian stops so for those routes you would not need a passport (assuming you are a US citizen). I recommend checking with your specific cruise and they should have more information on visa requirements. Thanks for reading!

– Becky, Founder of We Are Travel Girls

October 16, 2019 at 8:22 am

Thanks for this informative post. We have never been on a cruise before and are currently looking at booking an Alaska cruise next summer. Your article is so helpful!

January 13, 2020 at 8:09 am

I have heard that Carnival cruises in the Caribbean are a younger party crowd. Is the atmosphere different on Alaskan cruises?

January 13, 2020 at 8:57 am

The general crowd was older and more relaxed on our Alaska cruise. Most people were interested in doing day trips from the port, getting dressed up for evening dinners and seeing the glaciers, and it was not at all a party crowd. I hope that helps!

Thanks for reading,

Becky, Founder of We Are Travel Girls

Virginia Nelson says

June 24, 2023 at 1:42 pm

I loved this article! We are leaving for an Alaskan cruise this August. I am 71 young and do not tend to dress up much. Plus I’m a little fat 🤨. Not to bad but self conscious. What are options for dressy dinners? I’m from Minnesota so I’m set with warm clothes! It’s just the dressing up I’m not good at. I don’t want to embarrass my husband or our traveling companions. Btw I’m usually a nice dresser just nothing fancy. Thank you.

Vanessa Rivers says

June 26, 2023 at 9:41 pm

Hi Virginia! Thanks for reading, glad you liked the article! You don’t have to dress up too fancy on a cruise. Black slacks and a silk top or sweater or a dress and sandals (depending on if your destination is warm or cold). I’m sure you’ll look great no matter what you wear! Hope you have the best time! X, Vanessa Rivers, Co-Founder – We Are Travel Girls

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• Princess Cruises

Alaska cruise in early May - Good idea?

By Geoffa30 , June 6, 2021 in Princess Cruises

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We have never sailed to Alaska but are thinking of booking an Alaskan cruise in the next couple of years. We’re flying in from the U.K. so ideally would prefer a cruise of longer than seven days. I’ve spotted the one below in May 22 on the Sapphire Princess. Hoping any Alaska cruise connoisseurs might be able to comment on whether cruising in Alaska right at the beginning of May is a good idea. Also, what do people think of this itinerary? It’s also offered in mid-September 22 but on the Grand Princess. I understand that May and September are the shoulder months so less busy and cheaper but are they best avoided for weather etc.? All opinions welcome. Thank you.

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In my view, early May is too early.  I would lean towards the late summer cruise in September when the weather is more likely to be welcoming.  I understand that’s all a matter of opinion and it’s easy enough to put on sweaters and jackets.  I suppose if you’re interested in views of mountains still covered in snow and that sort of thing... go early.  Coming from Ottawa, seeing a lot of snow and ice in early May is not something that particularly excites me.

I've been to Alaska twice, once the 1st week of May, and once the 2nd. The first cruise the weather was warm enough not to wear ajacket, the second one was cold and rainy. You can't figure Alasa weather. It changes rapidly.

I agree with previous poster, no way to judge.   I took a positioning cruise from California to Alaska, late April, early May, weather was awesome, luck of the draw.  We were 1st ship of the season, no other ships, it was great.  I bought short sleeved tees as I wasn't prepared for warmer than normal. 

I haven't been to Alaska in awhile, but I would do first cruises or last, never what is considered ideal time to cruise.   

Our first cruise to Alaska left about May 15.  Weather was warm and perfect.  No bugs.  We have been twice in Sept. and had some rain and cold weather.  However, we saw more wildlife in Sept including bears.  All three trips were great.  Your itinerary looks very nice to me.  You will love the trip

1 hour ago, d9704011 said: In my view, early May is too early.  I would lean towards the late summer cruise in September when the weather is more likely to be welcoming.  I understand that’s all a matter of opinion and it’s easy enough to put on sweaters and jackets.  I suppose if you’re interested in views of mountains still covered in snow and that sort of thing... go early.  Coming from Ottawa, seeing a lot of snow and ice in early May is not something that particularly excites me.

September has (historically) the most rain and potential bad storms of any of the cruising months to Alaska.

I have gone Mid-May many times and they have all been wonderful. I have never gone early May but would be willing to do so. I would pick early May over mid-September in a heart beat.

As far as cruising months, May has the least amount of rain and every month after has more potential for rain (historically).

Have gone to Alaska  twice in early May and loved it . My college  roommate's daughter  was a Park Ranger  in Denali  and recommend  going  then. There was snow cover in some areas, spectacular  waterfalls  due to melting snow, foliage  was just blooming and crowds of tourists  minimal . IMO a great time to go.

We did the first Alaska cruise of the season, early May, in 2015 and it was wonderful.  There was still ice and snow in many areas and it was breathtaking to see!  The weather was mild, but a couple of days were quite warm.....no jacket required.  We did an August sailing the following year and it was a bit disappointing.  Scenery was not as spectacular and lots of mosquitoes!  However, most people prefer the later sailings, so something for everyone.

We’ve been mid to late May twice, and it was nice. Still snow on the ground and lots of bear cubs with their mommas.

This isn't exactly your question, but this itinerary is nice because it includes Sitka, which the rest of Princess' itineraries don't include.  I've been to Alaska the last weekend in May and the weather was perfect with few crowds.  

westcoaster

May is a great time for Alaska cruises.  Days are longer (for example, sunset in Juneau is around 9 pm in early May vs. 8 pm in late August).  There is more snow in the mountains in May, so the scenery is even more spectacular.  There are fewer bugs in May than there are later in the summer.

May is a bit cooler than later in the summer, but the difference is not huge.  On the other hand, there tends to be much less rain in May.   Rather than relying on anecdotal reports on the weather, if you look at the long-term averages based on National Weather Service data, you will see that in places like Juneau, Skagway, and Glacier Bay, there is half as much rain in May compared with August. 

koolforkatz

I worked on cruise ships many years ago, and did two full seasons in Alaska. I would pick May over September. Alaska’s weather is unpredictable but generally May is drier than September. Plus you will see more snow and ice whereas September is greener. We’ve cruised in May and didn’t even need jackets when we were at Columbia Glacier. 

Amazing itinerary, by the way. You’ve got me thinking now, lol. 

Thanks everyone for the responses so far. Certainly looks like May could be a good time to visit. We’re more swayed towards May because we’re familiar with Sapphire Princess.

Princess has started releasing 2023 itineraries recently. Any opinions on when Alaska 2023 might be released?

Wishing on a star

Okay...  I haven't read the other opinion and responses.

But, we cruised in late May, so here are my thoughts.

FIRST:  I just did some quick searches, and I don't think it is pulling up all of the sailings right?

I had looked at the Majestic sailings, and this time I didn't see them showing up.

So, make sure you search different ways to see all sailings.

When I put in just the month of May only... that seemed to be working.

When I selected several consecutive summer months, I don't think it was working.

May CAN be dryer, based on the weather averages.

But, on the coast, on a cruise ship, it can be rainy and cloudy and cool almost every day.

The coastline is a Maritime Rainforest climate.

The very beginning of May might be early, and I wonder about excursions...

Back when we cruised, a lot of things didn't begin until mid to late May???

So, you might want to double check.

We really enjoyed the pre-cruise smaller boat tour of Prince William Sound before boarding!

Once you go inland, like on excursions, that can be different.

The only sun we saw on our late May 7-day cruise was when we drove inland over the mountains to Canada to Carcross and Emerald Lake.  (it really was emerald)

Secondly, if this matters to you...  I would consider two consecutive 7 days, or the addition of the Land Tour, on a newer ship.  You would get most of the same ports.  On the NorthBound and Southbound Voyage of the Glaciers. (on Majestic?  with its nice covered solarium are which would be welcomed in Alaska in May!) ) you would get both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, two stops at some other ports....  At Juneau for example, you could go Whale Watching on one port day, and do something different on the second port day.

Look at each ship.

I was excited to see the Majestic move to Alaska. (if it remains there????) As it has the really nice covered Solarium.  Not sure if Sapphire has that or not?

Hope this helps!

We have done 8 Alaskan cruises and ALL were in May, never had any issues, horrid weather can hit Alaska ANY month of the year but the BEST thing about May is the snow melt is in full force so waterfalls and rivers run high and fast, the mosquito's are not out yet AND its less expensive to cruise in May, especially the 1st 1 or 2 cruises

2 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:     Look at each ship. I was excited to see the Majestic move to Alaska. (if it remains there????) As it has the really nice covered Solarium.  Not sure if Sapphire has that or not?   Hope this helps!

The Sapphire has the solarium. It is a great ship.

I have been to Alaska more than a dozen times in May and have received sunburns.  There can be sun in May in the ports and at the glaciers.

If there are cruise ships coming, there will be excursions.

You can also departure from San Francisco. Same basic stops but due to distance it is 10 days  (more sea days).  Check airfare.   Also, I consider May better because of few children as school is still in session.

Finally, Glacier Bay National Park is truly IMHO the main event. If you change cruise try to keep it on the itinerary.   

We are booked on the May 10 and May 20 cruises in the Ruby. 

Cruise Raider

We've cruised up to Alaska a dozen times (yes, it's our favorite itinerary).  So far, we've gone once in early May, once in mid-May, once in mid to late August, once in mid to late Sept and the rest in the first week of Sept.  

Our worst weather sailings (we still had a blast) were the ones in mid-May and the one in mid to late September.  

Our best weather ones have been in late August and early September.  The early May one we went on was actually surprisingly nice.  But one thing to keep in mind is that the very early season sailings are oftentimes precluded from getting up close to the glaciers due to ice in the water.  

Early Sept is my favorite time to go and we've always had great luck in terms of weather and if you are a shopper, there are so many deals to be had.  Don't forget to take your sunscreen and layers with one waterproof layer in the event of rain. 

13 minutes ago, tcdcruiser said: You can also departure from San Francisco. Same basic stops but due to distance it is 10 days  (more sea days).  Check airfare.   Also, I consider May better because of few children as school is still in session.   Finally, Glacier Bay National Park is truly IMHO the main event. If you change cruise try to keep it on the itinerary.    We are booked on the May 10 and May 20 cruises in the Ruby. 

They will see far more Alaska with their itinerary. Less sea days but Alaska. If they are coming from UK - they probably want to see Alaska.

9 hours ago, Geoffa30 said: . I understand that May and September are the shoulder months so less busy and cheaper  

This. Go in September and you can see salmon run which is a bonus.

disneyochem

We love to cruise to Alaska in May for all of the reasons people have mentioned (weather, price, crowds, etc).  You will miss some things (such as salmon runs) but IMO it is worth it.

I think this itinerary is great!  We cruise (except for 2020...) two or three times a year to Alaska and I would pick this trip!  In fact, I sent it to my hubby to consider.

Your visits to these ports are long enough to do some truly wonderful excursions depending on your interests.  A great mixture of ports and glacier visits!  You get to visit ports that are usually not included in a 7-day cruise—Sitka, Prince Rupert.  I think this cruise will give you a great taste of southeastern Alaska.  

An Alaska cruise is not about the ship but the ports!  Enjoy your planning!

Agree with the May, yea sayers!  There is the possibility the ship may be unable to get up as close to the glaciers as the ice burgs that have already formed are not melting as fast, but it will still be wonderful. seals will be having babies on the ice flows that float by as well.  SOOOOOO glad you are doing the Vancouver departure. The trip on the east side of Vanvouver island is so much nicer than leaving from the USA and going up the west side of the island where you don’t even see the shore.  you are in for a wonderful treat of a trip. 

We have cruised Alaska 5 times, all in May or last week of August (we try to avoid the kids) While I have heard May can be variable we have always had good weather, even hot in Skagway once.  Ketchikan may be rainy (twice for us).  Bring layers, it is obviously cold viewing the glaciers.  Late August was wonderful for grizzly sitings on sunset tours.

Also glad you are doing the inside passage out of Vancouver, our favourite part of the cruise...we even forgo the dinner so we can enjoy the sailaway and most of the incredible scenery along the inside passage. Exceptional!

We will be back when this hideous disease is done.

Enjoy youselves.

I have traveled to Alaska in May, middle of summer, and late September.  Your itinerary is outstanding.  Especially if you are flying from the UK to Vancouver roundtrip.  I would spend a few days in Vancouver before getting on the Sapphire.  Good choice of ship.  

The only down side is that some of your Glacier days may be hampered by too much ice.  You may not be able to get too close to the glacier.  

The weather is lovely in May.  

43 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:     The only down side is that some of your Glacier days may be hampered by too much ice.  You may not be able to get too close to the glacier.     The weather is lovely in May.  

Glacier Bay usually doesn't have ice problems. Hubbard glacier and Tracy Arm can. Though I missed Hubbard in July - so one never knows. Going later doesn't guarantee glacier access.

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Complete Guide to Taking an Alaskan Cruise (What It’s Like)

When it comes to cruising, there is nothing quite like sailing to Alaska. It’s difficult to explain exactly what it’s like to sail to the 49th state, surrounded by mountains, wildlife, and amazing natural beauty. That’s because no matter how many photos or videos you see, it simply doesn’t do it justice.

Maybe you’ve sailed the Caribbean, but we can tell you that the experience of sailing Alaska is completely different in what you see, the experience onboard, and even your other passengers. In fact, there are many people who may not have any interest in cruising, but do consider taking a trip to Alaska.

Whether you’ve sailed dozens of times or never stepped foot on a ship, there’s plenty to know about taking a cruise to this part of the world. Below, we cover a cruise to Alaska from bow to stern, including everything from costs to tips and much more.

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Answered: Why Take an Alaskan Cruise

First things first, why take an Alaskan cruise? What’s so special about sailing to this part of the world? And if you’re interested in seeing the state, why not just visit by taking a flight?

Let’s start with why you would want to visit Alaska in the first place. No matter where you’ve traveled before, there’s little doubt that the landscape of Alaska compares — or beats — anything you’ve ever seen.

The state is one of the last unspoiled places in the United States. Mountains rise literally out of the water. Wildlife, including whales and bald eagles, are abundant. Even glaciers are a regular sight on many cruises.

In short, Alaska is one of those “bucket list” destinations that just doesn’t have an equivalent. It has to be seen to be believed.

That’s also where taking a cruise offers a better experience than a traditional vacation.

Unlike places in the continental United States, much of Alaska is not easily accessible via car. That means seeing multiple locations — even if they are relatively close to each other — often means traveling by plane or boat.

With a cruise, you have the ability to easily travel between different ports of call, allowing you to see much more in a short time. Being on the water, you’re also able to get up close to the scenery.

Most cruises in the Caribbean are in port for the day, and then head to sea each evening — meaning there isn’t much to see in between. In Alaska, even when you’re sailing, there’s still plenty to experience. The Inside Passage, which is the inner route that takes you all around the southeast of Alaska, takes you right next to the stunning landscape all day long.

In other words, if you’ve ever wanted to experience the state, there is no better way to do it than by cruise ship .

The Atmosphere on Board

One major difference of a cruise from Alaska compared to other cruises is the atmosphere onboard.

Head to the Caribbean and you’re likely to have a big sail away party, pumping music, free-flowing drinks, dancing, and more. And while there’s plenty to do on the ship when sailing in Alaska, the atmosphere is decidedly more subdued.

In part, this is due to the weather. While we wouldn’t describe sailing to Alaska during the summer season as “cold,” there are definite chilly moments. For example, it might be 75 and sunny one day, but other days it might be 50 degrees and raining. Especially if the ship is sailing (which creates a strong breeze), then this isn’t exactly “hang out and party at the pool” weather!

As well, you’ll find a different crowd on a trip to Alaska than a trip to the Caribbean. Now, you might be under the impression that Alaskan cruises are filled with older passengers. While older passengers are well represented, you’ll likely find the crowd remarkably diverse. All ages are on the cruise, and passengers from all over the country and the world.

That said, we’ve found the crowd does have fewer young adults that make a trip to the Caribbean more lively. All in all, expect an atmosphere that’s a lot quieter than what you would see on a four-day cruise from Miami.

Cost of Sailing Alaska

One thing that cruising is known for is offering great value. Instead of paying for airfare, a hotel room, entertainment, food, and more, it’s all included in one price that’s typically much lower than all of those put together. (Though since the return of cruising, prices have definitely moved higher.)

That’s definitely the case for Alaska, where the cost of arranging travel to all the ports you visit would be considerably higher for most people than taking a cruise. That said, in general you’ll find that a trip to Alaska will be more than a cruise to the Caribbean.

Cruises to Alaska can vary greatly, but even a good deal will typically be $600-$700 per person as a minimum for an interior cabin. Trips during the peak months can start higher than that. Of course, then you have port fees and taxes, as well as gratuities, onboard spending, and more.

Remember that most trips last a week, meaning there aren’t many opportunities for inexpensive, short getaways like you see from ports in Florida. As well, you have to factor in things like shore excursions, which tend to cost more than on a cruise to elsewhere.

And then there’s also the cost of airfare. Most cruises to Alaska depart from Seattle or Vancouver. Since most of the country lives far from these ports, you’ll have to consider airfare and transportation to the port.

All told, we think $2,000-$2,800 per person for a 7-day cruise to Alaska is a good estimate — not including airfare . You can cruise for less (or more), but this should give you an idea of what you’ll pay. For a more detailed breakdown on costs, read our article here .

Departure Ports

As mentioned, if you’re cruising to Alaska then you’re most likely departing from one of two port cities: Seattle or Vancouver.

Seattle (Pier 66): Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, Pier 66 is the starting point for cruises from Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas. The centrally located port is convenient in that it’s easily reached by public transportation, making it relatively simple to get there from the airport.

Seattle (Pier 91): A few miles north of Pier 66, Pier 91 is where most cruises depart from the city. Here you’ll find names like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess and others setting sail. It’s on the northern side of downtown, offering a great view of the city as you depart to head north. The facility is a little harder to get to, and you’ll need a ride like a taxi or Uber.

Vancouver (Canada Place): The last of the “big three” terminals that bring the most passengers to Alaska, Vancouver’s Canada Place sits right on the edge of downtown. From here, you’ll sail around Vancouver Island before heading up to Alaska. For those from the U.S., flights to Vancouver tend to be more expensive, which is something to keep in mind when searching for cruises.

Ports of Call in Alaska/Canada

There are a number of places that you can visit on an Alaskan cruise, with most week-long trips working in a visit to four ports and viewing a glacier from the ship. So you can take multiple cruises before you hit all the available ports of call. Below we’ve highlighted some of the most common ports.

Ketchikan : The closest Alaskan port to the continental United States, this town is still a healthy 700-mile cruise from Seattle. Here you’ll find a downtown that’s near the docks in what’s known as the “Salmon Capital of the World.” There’s also a good bit of native history, including a number of areas to see totem poles (both original and recreated). But be sure to bring a rain coat — the area is essentially a rainforest, receiving more than 150 inches of rain per year!

Sitka : Sitting protected in Sitka Sound on the west side of Baronof Island, Sitka offers up a lot of history to visitors. First it was the home to native peoples prior to Russians arriving in the fur trade. But it was also here that the Russians handed over Alaska to the United States in the mid 1800s. Today you can tour the quaint town and still see signs of Russian and native influence, including St. Michael’s Cathedral and Sitka National Historical Park, complete with countless totem poles. ( See our guide to Sitka here .)

Skagway: Possibly the farthest north you’ll go on most cruises, Skagway’s claim to fame was as a starting point to head to the Yukon during the gold rush. Today, it’s kept that feel with a small but bustling downtown that looks right out of the turn of the century. Except today, it most definitely caters to tourism, with all sorts of storefronts and restaurants. One popular excursion is to take a train up into the mountains where the scenery is amazing. ( See our guide to Skagway here .)

Juneau: Alaska’s capital city, Juneau sits at the base of Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts. The town is split into two sections, with ships docking in downtown. From here you can take an excursion to see the Mendenhall Glacier, explore the city (including a visit to the capitol building), grab a bite to eat, or do some souvenir shopping, and more. We like that there’s a real city here — not just a spot built for tourists.

Victoria: Due to U.S. law, a foreign vessel (which most cruise ships are) must make a stop at a foreign port before returning to the United States. If sailing from Seattle, that stop is usually in the city of Victoria, British Columbia. Here you’ll find a gorgeous city that’s a must-see. We’d recommend doing some sort of tour to be able to see all the sights quickly, followed by a stop in the downtown harbor area to see the Legislative Assembly building, the Empress Hotel, and the Royal BC Museum.

Arms & Glaciers: In addition to actual ports of call, many ships work in a sailing tour through an arm of a fjord and a view of a glacier. Here, the walls of the mountains narrow even more, putting you right in the middle of the beauty of Alaska. Then, you get to see a glacier at the end of the cut, along with ice in the water along the way. It’s a neat experience you can only get a few other places on the planet.

Excursions in the Last Frontier

What can really set a cruise to Alaska apart from any other cruise you’ll take are the shore excursions. It’s no exaggeration to say that excursions in Alaska allow you to do things that you simply can’t do anywhere else.

Glacier Tours: Many cruises to the state offer a route that takes you past a glacier on the ship (it will be listed on the itinerary). Even so, one popular thing to do is go explore the glacier in an up close and personal way. This can include everything from helicopter rides that land on the ice to kayak trips to the foot of the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau.

Wildlife Viewing: Whales, eagles, and bears? Alaska is famous for its wildlife and there’s no shortage of viewing opportunities no matter what you want to see. Just cruising between ports you might see whales, but there are also excursions that take you whale watching in hot spots. Bald eagles can be seen in the wild, but Sitka provides a sanctuary where you are guaranteed to see them. There is also a sanctuary to get a look (safely) at bears.

Sightseeing Tours: Of course, the reason you go to Alaska is to see the sights, whether it’s touring an amazing natural landscape or a historic city (or most likely, a combination of both). Any port you dock will offer some sort of tour of the area, ranging from walking to a motor coach to a train ride. These are typically affordable and a great way to see a lot of things in a short period of time.

You can check your cruise line’s list of excursions to see what your options are. In addition, you can also play it by ear. The ports you visit will have booths setup on land where you can go and explore your options — so don’t feel like you have to book something on the ship.

Tips & Things to Know About Sailing Alaska

While we have a full list of dozens of tips and things to know about sailing to Alaska , below we cover some of what we think are the most important items.

Be Ready for Long Daylight Hours (Messes With Your Sleep) Maybe you “know” that daylight hours during the summer in Alaska are long. It’s another thing to experience it. Depending on the month you visit, the sun can rise as early as 4 a.m. and not go down until closer to 11 p.m. That means you end up getting up earlier and staying up later. After a few days, don’t be surprised if the lack of rest catches up with you.

Be Selective on the Ship You Sail (Indoor Areas Are Important) Perhaps nowhere is it more important to pick the right ship for your cruise than when cruising Alaska. Here, weather is such a big factor. Days can range from 75 degrees and sunny to 45 degrees and rainy. That’s why we suggest a larger ship with more covered spaces, such as indoor pools and covered recreation areas. These provide more areas to enjoy instead of feeling “stuck” inside the ship while you’re sailing.

Dressing Can Be Hard (Layers Are a Must) Keeping in the theme of weather, you’ll likely find that it’s a little harder to dress for Alaska. When it’s warm and sunny, it is literally t-shirt and shorts weather. But cool and rainy… along with wind while the ship is moving? You’ll want to be bundled up with a hat, gloves, and jacket. And sometimes, those two can occur on the same day. It’s well-known, but dressing in layers is a must when you head to Alaska.

Excursions Are Pricey (But Worth It) Excursions were mentioned above, but we didn’t mention price. If you’re used to sailing the Caribbean, be prepared for sticker shock. The outings here are typically much higher priced than elsewhere. You can still find things to do under $100 per head, but most trips run at least $150 in our experience, with high-end excursions like helicopter tours running $300+ per person.

Don’t Miss the Scenery Between Ports Sail to the Caribbean and the schedule is typically stop in a port, enjoy the day, and then get back on the ship. Once the ship departs, there’s not much to see as you sail to the next port of call. In Alaska, there’s always something to see… and it shouldn’t be missed. Whether it’s sailing next to mountains or doing some whale-spotting as the ship cruises, there’s quite a bit to experience even between ports.

Balconies Are Worth It, But Don’t Fret Yes, if you’re going to get a balcony cabin, then Alaska is a great place to do it. There’s plenty to see the entire trip, and it’s nice to be able to simply step out on the balcony to take in the view.

But even if you don’t get one (they are more expensive), you will have plenty of opportunity to see the scenery. Ships have lots of open deck space for you to watch the mountains and water go by, so it’s not a huge loss if you don’t have your own private balcony. As well, with the long daylight hours, an interior cabin (which gets plenty dark) may help you sleep better.

If You’re On the Fence About Alaska… Book it. You Won’t Regret it Finally, if you’re still wondering if you should or shouldn’t take that cruise to Alaska, we say do it. It certainly can be a large amount of money to spend. But personally, sailing to Alaska is unlike any other cruise we’ve taken. It’s a chance to experience a landscape you can’t really visit any other way. You get to see and do things that you just don’t get anywhere else. We have yet to hear anyone be disappointed with a cruise to Alaska. It’s doubtful that you would be the first.

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• How Alaskan Cruises Differ From Caribbean Cruises (And It’s NOT Just Colder)

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Pop Culture

A viral nine-month world cruise saw plenty of drama, but not the kind you'd expect.

Rachel Treisman

TikToks by passengers on the Ultimate World Cruise — screenshot by NPR — capture the highs and lows of the nine-month journey, which ended last week. @drjennytravels/@anthonyantoine1021/@brooklyntravelstheworld hide caption

When Royal Caribbean’s “ Ultimate World Cruise ” sailed out of Miami and into social media virality in December, it promised an unforgettable nine months:

For passengers, a once-in-a-lifetime journey to all seven continents.

And for viewers, a 360-degree stream of on-board drama, as told from the perspective of a rotating cast of characters (since people could join at any point for one or more segments of the trip ).

Many of the roughly 650 full-timers on board started posting videos to TikTok and Instagram, filming their routines at sea and explorations on shore. And a handful of existing content creators — firmly rooted on land, from New York to California — studied and synthesized those videos to report on the cruise in real time.

How a world cruise became a 'TikTok reality show' — and what happened next

They recapped the week’s events, introduced new characters, chased down rumors using their onboard contacts and speculated about what kinds of spectacles lay ahead. One even made a bingo card, with squares ranging from an early departure to a pirate takeover.

The potential for drama was so high, and the content so ubiquitous, that fans began referring to the cruise as a “TikTok reality show,” even as some worried that online hype would warp or otherwise worsen passengers’ real lives.

Last week — after 274 nights, more than 60 countries and many millions of social media views — the cruise came to an end. Which means it’s finally time to ask: How did it live up to the hype?

“This absolutely should have been a reality TV show. It would have won so many awards,” said Kara Harms, who runs a travel and lifestyle brand and covered the cruise on social media — she created two bingo cards, the first of which took only a couple of weeks to get to bingo.

NPR caught up with several people who were either on board the ship or following it closely on social media.

They all spoke of forming lifelong friendships, marveling at world wonders (either firsthand or vicariously) and generally expanding their cultural horizons. They also confirmed that the experience wasn’t without drama.

“I mean, you cannot stick that many people together in a small space and not have there be drama,” said passenger and TikTokker Jenny Hunnicutt.

But it wasn’t necessarily the kind that people had expected, like romance rumors or interpersonal beefs. The bigger scandals came from much heavier external factors — like politics, war and literal forces of nature — that passengers had to weather during their time together.

The ship rerouted a leg of its trip to avoid the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea, got delayed by climate protesters in Amsterdam and narrowly missed a massive earthquake in Taiwan. Passengers had to be evacuated from Iceland’s Blue Lagoon because of volcanic activity. And on board, many followed — and increasingly fought over — the many twists and turns of the fast-approaching U.S. presidential election.

“I think they definitely started with the more light, fun things like running out of wine or the boat’s flooding from a storm or stuff like that,” Harms explained. “And then they really launched into the realities of what happens when you sail a ship around the world for nine months: You're gonna encounter a lot of real things that happen.”

The real lives behind TikTok’s reality show

When NPR first spoke to content creators in January, just weeks into the cruise, the anticipation — and some anxiety — was apparent.

While passengers were excited about embarking on an adventure, some were apprehensive about their overnight internet fame and how it would affect the dynamics on board.

Many embraced it, said Hunnicutt, who notes that some content creators on board started going viral before they’d even met each other. That buzz brought them together in those early days and set in motion some lasting friendships.

“With the reality show comparison, we definitely leaned into that online in the beginning,” she said. “But this wasn't a reality show that we had signed up for and signed a contract, right? These were real life. So there was always that … you have to be very mindful of others.”

Videos from and about the cruise captivated social media for the first several months of the cruise, which creators say is an impressive amount of time for a trend to hold viewers’ attention.

As interest in the cruise spread across social media, two influencers who had been watching from land got sponsorship deals to come on board for brief stints — and promised to take their many followers behind the scenes with them . By the time both had come and gone, audience interest began to dip (one passenger points out this was around the time the ship arrived in China, where the international version of TikTok is unavailable).

Harms cut back on her cruise content but still kept tabs on what was happening on board.

“By this point, I have spent a lot of time forming these parasocial relationships with all these people on the cruise, but also some actual relationships, like DM’ing some people on there and forming semi-close friendships,” she explains.

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He fell ill on a cruise. before he boarded the rescue boat, they handed him the bill.

As time passed, and the passengers and creators on land grew closer, the cruise coverage took on less of a gossip-rag feel.

Multiple people told NPR that once the initial frenzy calmed down, TikTokkers realized how the social media speculation could impact passengers’ real lives, for better or worse. The handful of land-based creators ended up working together to decide whether to amplify certain stories or link back to certain videos.

“You just really want to make sure that people trapped on the boat with a bunch of strangers are having the best time possible, because at the end of the day, they paid money to be here, and it's an experience and it's a vacation for them,” Harms added.

Beth Anne Fletcher, a photographer who gained a sizable following covering the cruise from her home in Derbyshire, England (“as far away from an ocean as you can possibly get” in the UK), estimates she’s made some 300 videos about it this year.

Of those, videos about people and the “so-called drama” tended to perform the best. But after hearing from viewers who wanted to follow along with the actual travel, she started making location-focused recaps too.

“For me, it was never about, I want to continually go viral,” Fletcher said. “It was more about, well, these people are living their best lives, and for a lot of us who might never have the opportunity to travel like this, it's a way for us to see the world through all of these different eyes ... And there’s only so much drama that can happen in nine months, surely.”

Fletcher got to board the cruise for a day during its sole stop in England in July and meet the passengers she’d spent so many months getting to know virtually.

She was shocked by how big the ship felt in real life. The 13-deck Serenade of the Seas is 965 feet long and 106 feet wide, according to Royal Caribbean.

“I was like, ‘OK, so this ship is actually big enough that if you don’t like people, you could easily not see them,’” she adds.

Passengers agreed it was fairly easy to steer clear of the more gossip-minded travelers.

Several content creators on board said the highlight of the trip was meeting people and making friends — and while social media played a role in that, it ultimately didn’t make or break their experience.

Take passenger Amike Oosthuizen , who had done some influencing before the cruise and, at the beginning of the year, spoke of pursuing it as a career afterward.

But last week, from her hotel room in Miami, she recounted how her TikTok account had been blocked just weeks before the end of the cruise: Someone reported it for selling counterfeit Chanel goods, which she said she was “obviously not doing.”

It was devastating, she said, especially because she lost a lot of videos — and memories — that she hadn’t saved off the app. She doesn’t regret all the filming, editing and posting she did, which she says taught her practical skills. But in hindsight, she wondered if some of that time would have been better spent living in the moment.

“It just showed me actually how volatile social media is,” Oosthuizen said. “I really do like doing social media, but I don't know if it is always like a thing I would want to do permanently.”

Now, about that drama

The world cruise wasn’t an isolated bubble. Some world events hit passengers especially hard.

“The big one that comes to mind that involved all of us was the big itinerary change and how the ship became a democracy,” Hunnicutt said. “We had to vote on which route we were going to choose when we were unable to sail through the Middle East.”

The ship was originally supposed to sail through the Suez Canal in May, but the cruise line announced earlier this year that it would be rerouted due to disruptions in the Red Sea, where Iranian-backed Houthis have been attacking ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Royal Caribbean gave passengers two options : “Immersive Africa,” a more scenic route that would stop at multiple ports along the continent, or “Africa & Greece,” which would aim to get the ship around Africa and to Eastern Europe as quickly as possible but involved many more days at sea.

“People were campaigning, people were sharing their opinions,” Hunnicutt recalled. “It was quite dramatic.”

Some of the people opposed to stopping in Africa made generalizations and arguments that their fellow travelers perceived as racist — like classifying the whole continent as a whole and saying there was “nothing to do there.”

The passengers voted overwhelmingly for the first option, to see more of Africa. But Hunnicutt says a fair number of people got off the ship for that portion — some rejoined in Italy, others did not.

This 3-year cruise around the world is called off, leaving passengers in the lurch

“When you travel for nine months, things are going to change, like the state of the world is going to change,” Fletcher said. “So, many people were, ‘Let’s go with the flow,’ but others weren't. And I guess, again, that’s just representative of real life.”

Another area of growing tension was U.S. politics.

Fletcher said some people had been wearing MAGA hats and shirts on board all along. But the existing political divide on the ship became more apparent in the spring when former President Donald Trump was convicted on felony charges .

Things escalated over the summer after a passenger wore a “ Let’s Go Brandon ” hat. The rhetoric on display made some passengers uncomfortable, sparking a conversation about free speech and whether Royal Caribbean should draw a line.

Fletcher said lots of passengers started responding by wearing shirts and hats in support of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Harris wasn’t even in the running when they first got on the ship, a sign of just how much things changed during the journey. (A passenger picked up the merch in bulk while on shore in the final weeks.)

“Luckily, I guess there wasn't that long left of the cruise, otherwise perhaps it might have become more of an issue,” Fletcher says.

More cruise content is coming soon

Once the cruise ended, there was a sense that the floodgates might open and some newly unencumbered passengers might spill the tea about their neighbors that they’d been sitting on for months.

Some promised they would reveal secrets back on land. In recent days, one TikToker teased, posted and then removed several videos’ worth of anonymous gossip.

The people NPR spoke with said they didn't think there was much tea worth spilling. For the most part, they said people aren’t trying to burn bridges, but maintain the relationships they formed on the cruise.

“I would go as far as saying I met some of my best friends in my life on this cruise,” Oosthuizen said.

Oosthuizen, who is from South Africa, now has offers to crash with people scattered across the U.S. Hunnicutt and her husband plan to stop at new friends’ homes during their road trip from Florida to Las Vegas. Fletcher plans to watch the upcoming live-streamed wedding of the daughter of a cruise couple she became close to from afar.

And then there’s the reunion cruise.

In an onboard announcement just days before the cruise ended, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley revealed there will be a seven-day reunion cruise in Alaska — which the world cruise did not visit — in September 2025.

“It’s a little bit of a part two of the Ultimate World Cruise because we know circumstances were the way they were,” he said, adding it will be on the same exact ship.

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I played 'survivor' in someone's backyard. now i'm hooked on live reality games.

Oosthuizen and Hunnicutt say they and most of the people they know are planning to go — many bought tickets before they even got off the ship. Fletcher, who says she never dreamed she’d want to go on a cruise before covering this one, may try to make it (otherwise, she says, she’ll “definitely be cruising virtually”).

“The crazy and exciting thing is that anyone can book that cruise; it’s not just for world cruisers,” Hunnicutt said. “So I believe that we will have followers that come join us on that cruise … people are just so excited and engaged with this experience.”

Another reason to look forward to the reunion: That’s where Royal Caribbean plans to announce the details of their next Ultimate World Cruise . Bayley said passengers on the reunion cruise will get first dibs on rooms.

What does that mean for the so-called social media reality show?

Hunnicutt says she still has cruise content to post, like recaps of her favorite places and vlogs from days when she was too busy to edit. Fletcher is already turning her attention to another developing cruise drama: A ship scheduled for a three-year world cruise has been stuck at its home base in Belfast since May.

But Harms is skeptical any future world cruise coverage will reach the same viral heights as the original.

“I think what happened was really special and unique and unprecedented in the way that we create content online, and I honestly don't think it can be replicated again,” she said. “Who knows? But I think that sometimes it's nice to just have a special moment and then button that up and move on.”

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