Alaskan Cruise

Alaska, is by far, one of my favorite places on the planet. Everything in Alaska is truly amazing and larger than life.

I highly recommend taking a cruise to enjoy so much of what Alaska has to offer. In saying this know I am not a big cruiser. Alaska has been my only cruise to date, not including a week long scuba diving live aboard in the Galapagos Islands.

We traveled with Celebrity Cruises, choosing a land tour and cruise package.

We started in Anchorage, which has an international airport (ANC) and most cruisers will use this as either their starting or ending point.

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska with a population of almost 300,000 (2020). During the summer months you can experience the "midnight sun" as Anchorage can average 18 hours of sunlight in July. Anchorage offers several of the big hotel chains and smaller options for your stay.

From Anchorage we jumped on a bus bound to Talkeetna Depot and boarded a train to Denali where we spent a couple relaxing nights at a lodge. There are many optional activates in the Denali area, we choose an educational trip to Mount McKinley and a visit to a dog sled kennel, DogGoneIt. There were so many wonderful things to learn and see. I fell in love with the Denali Honey Bees, saw beautiful moose, caribou, and learned about a plant called fireweed, properly named because it is the first plant to grow back after a fire.

Now for the actual cruise! We had upgraded out suite to Aqua Class which included a better location on the ship, special dining options, use of the spa, and most importantly a balcony. The one thing I would highly recommend when booking an Alaskan cruise is choosing a room with a balcony. If you don't feel you can afford a balcony, absolutely go with a lower priced cabin, you will still enjoy the same sights, sounds, and smells as everyone else on the ship. There is so much to see along the way, and having a balcony give you the opportunity to avoid the crowded decks and enjoy the scenery. I spent many mornings having coffee with a pod of humpback whales or witnessing a bald eagle dragging a humongous fish ashore, flapping and splashing the whole way. One of the most amazing experiences, in my life, was the calving of the Hubbard Glacier. Our ship spent well over an hour just experiencing the sounds and sights of a glacier calving. It was a picture perfect day and something I will never forget.

The food on the ship was really pretty good and was available 24/7 to include room service, which we did take advantage of. We were a group of eight and had a set meal time where we would enjoy our dinner meal together every evening. It was a great time to share our day if we didn't happen to spend it together. Our group would meet every night at the martini bar to grab a ice cold cocktail before dinner.

The ship also offered warm blankets and hot drinks if lower temperatures happen to grace the deck.

Ports and Sights along the way. From Anchorage we boarded a bus to Seward where we embarked on our journey heading south. Our first incredible sight was the Hubbard Glacier in all its glory. Seeing and hearing the glacier calf is truly something everyone should experience. Our next stop was Juneau. Here you have a variety of excursions to choose from, or just explore the town at your own pace. We took a helicopter to the Mendenhall Glacier, this was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. Then we stopped in Skagway where we boarded a train to go learn more about this mining community and the gold rush. Skagway is a town with a colorful history and tons of character. Next up, Icy Straight Point, here is were we encountered so many whales. This stop is about the excursions, as there is not much of a town to speak of. We enjoyed whale watching, but honestly, if I had known I would see so many whales from the ship I would have gone with something else, but it was still a beautiful excursion and we saw many whales. The final stop in Alaska is the quaint town of Ketchikan. I loved this town and all its charm. There are loads of shops and restaurants to enjoy. Our final days onboard were spent cruising to Vancouver, B.C. If I were to plan this again I would spend a day or two exploring this beautiful city.

Packing Tips

Be sure to check the ten day forecast before you start packing. Temperatures in Alaska can be all over the places, so the key is to plan layers. A great base layer is a thin merino wool. Merino wool is a natural fiber that is thin and soft. Merino wool does not retain odor so it will most likely not need to be washed during your adventure. Be sure to bring a winter hat and gloves, a down puffer jacket, a rain jacket, and some comfortable waterproof shoes. A hoodie or thin fleece jacket is also a good idea along with some jeans or warm pants. Casual shirts or t-shirts are also great for day excursions as Alaska is an outdoorsy, casual place. If temperate are warmer you might throw in a pair of shorts. We dressed nice for dinner, so you might want a couple dressier outfits you can change up with scarfs or sweaters, but wear what makes you comfortable.