Alaska cruise

[mrs. z]

Want to take a 1 week cruise to Alaska next year. Live in Florida. Don’t know anything about it and feel overwhelmed already. Where do I start getting information/ideas. Please help!!

Edited January 15, 2019 by mrs. z

[dyeadave]

Cruise critic is a good place for ideas about which ship, ports, etc.

Then go over to Trip Advisor and the people over there will do a good job about. What to do once you get here and how to go independent ashore.

DD

[Northern Aurora]

mrs. z:  First, go to the top of this forum index page and read the trip reports (organized by year).  It really doesn't take that much time to skim through them, and you will quickly come to an understanding as to what you want to see and do.  And many of the reports have lots of photos.  Also, drop by your local library and check-out some travel books (i.e., Fodors and such).  

[PekingeseLady]

Then start googling everything.  The ports you may go to, Ketchican, Juneau, Skagway etc.  Google ships to, different ones that go there.  I'll then click on Images and just start imagining, LOL   Like said above search for Alaska reviews here on CC.  Good Luck, 1/2 of the fun for me of cruising is CC and Google, before we go.  Happy Crusing!!!

[Melinda Brasher]

First of all, I wouldn't worry too much about choosing the itinerary:  all of them are amazing.  That said, I think my highest priorities would be Glacier Bay and Skagway (and Ketchikan, but they pretty much all go to Ketchikan).  Hubbard Glacier is amazing, but it's not as common. 

 

Pics of Glacier Bay:  https://www.melindabrasher.com/2014/09/glacier-bay-alaska.html

 

If you decide to take a one-way cruise, be aware that they don't really start or end in Anchorage.  They start or end in Seward or Whittier.  So factor into your plans the time/money of getting to Anchorage.  I've done a few back-to-back cruises, which I really liked.  Basically, you leave from Vancouver, go up to Seward or Whittier, spend the day there, then cruise back down to Vancouver.  It's 14 days of heaven.

 

If you like animals, plan to spend time on deck watching for marine life.  You'll most likely be rewarded.

 

Don't take heavy clothes, but take several layers, plus hat, gloves, and scarf for glacier-viewing days.  

 

If you like to hike or walk in nature, you're in for a huge treat.  Here are some pictures:

Skagway:  https://www.melindabrasher.com/2014/09/skagway-alaska-upper-dewey-lake.html

Ketchikan:  https://www.melindabrasher.com/2017/02/deer-mountain-trail-ketchikan-alaska.html

Whittier:  https://www.melindabrasher.com/2017/05/portage-glacier-hike-from-whittier.html

Juneau:  https://www.melindabrasher.com/2011/08/mendenhall-glacier.html

 

There's lots more information on my blog (click on the Alaska label) and in my book, "Cruising Alaska on a Budget; A Cruise and Port Guide."    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPYP75F