A cruise is by far the easiest and most efficient way to see Alaska. It’s also effortless, as your ship transports you through pristine scenery from one spectacular setting to the next, providing an elevated experience along the way.
A little insider knowledge with these Alaska cruise tips will help you get even more out of this extraordinary place.
Here are our top tips for an Alaskan cruise to help you plan the ultimate vacation.
Best Alaska Cruise Tips and Tricks for First-Time Travelers
One of the best Alaska cruise recommendations is to visit this state for the first time with a cruise.
You can experience breathtaking views of iconic glaciers like Hubbard and Mendenhall from the deck and marvel at dolphins and whales dipping in and out of the surf alongside the ship.
Once you dock, there are scores of popular cities and quaint towns to explore, helping you savor Alaska’s rich history and culture as it was intended: slowly and surely.
Consider a Cruisetour
Anchorage
Add a land-based portion to your sea voyage with an organized Alaskan cruisetour, which shows you the best of the 49th state. During the cruise element, you’ll explore the Inside Passage and the coastal towns of southeast Alaska, while the land section might take you to the wild beauty of Denali National Park, the landscape dominated by the ice and granite mass of North America’s tallest mountain.
You’ll visit intriguing towns and cities, from cosmopolitan Anchorage to boho Talkeetna, staying in an upscale wilderness lodge in the park and traveling by motorcoach and scenic train.
Some itineraries take you as far inland as Fairbanks, following the trail of the early gold prospectors, while others might explore the snowy majesty and emerald lakes of the Canadian Rockies.
Follow the Rules
Brown bear in Tongass National Forest
This is advice everybody should take seriously. Alaska is real wilderness, not a theme park, and the rules are there for your safety — and that of the wildlife.
You’ll need some flexibility to travel in Alaska. July, for example, is salmon spawning season, and tasty salmon means hungry bears. As such, you may find that a lot of the forest trails could be marked off-limits with “Do Not Cross” tape because of bear activity, especially if you’re near a salmon spawning river.
Bottom line: don’t take your safety for granted while visiting Alaska.
Best Time To Cruise Tips
Juneau
The Alaska cruise season runs from May to October. Summers are short here, and every month brings different experiences.
In May and June, the wildlife is starting to become active, and the days are getting longer. You’re likely to see a profusion of spring flowers and some animals with their young. If you want to visit Denali National Park, it’s not ideal to visit Alaska in May for this purpose, as the park won’t open until June.
One of the best times to travel is in late June, just before the busy peak season, when it tends to be dry and sunny. July and August are the warmest months and the weeks when bears are most active, as the salmon are spawning.
The Alaska cruise season comes to an end with cruises in October. While temperatures are cooler then, it’s still an enchanting time to travel as you witness the autumnal ochres and reds of the tundra and the first dusting of snow on the mountains. You’ll get a chance to see the Northern Lights shimmy across the dark sky from September, which is a bonus to any journey.
Ship and Cabin Tips
The best Alaska cruise advice on offer is to enjoy the cruise life in style. Fill your shore itinerary with as many memorable sights and your favorite activities to make the most of your excursion on shore.
Choose Your Itinerary
There are advantages to any Alaska cruise route you choose. A round-trip voyage might take you from either Vancouver or Seattle, Washington, to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria in Canada; a perfectly comprehensive exploration of Alaska with dazzling scenery from start to finish and the opportunity to spend time in either city before or after the voyage.
If you want to explore places further north, like Seward, the gateway to the craggy beauty of the Kenai Fjords National Park, and the mighty Hubbard Glacier, you should opt for a one-way voyage from Seward, flying from nearby Anchorage to Vancouver, Canada. Either way, though, you’ll see majestic glaciers, incredible scenery, and the wild animals of Alaska.
Book a Veranda Stateroom
Celebrity Cruises Veranda Stateroom
One of the best Alaska cruise tips is to book a balcony stateroom. Wherever you are, the views from the veranda are incredible. You can’t beat the experience of stepping out of bed onto your private balcony in the early morning, breathing in lungfuls of invigorating Alaskan air, and taking in the scenery all around you.
The best possible way to start your morning is by savoring towering mountains, dense forests, and, with luck, the uplifting sight of dolphins playing alongside the ship riding the bow wave.
Your balcony is a wonderful space later in the day, too; a cruise to Alaska is pretty action-packed, and sometimes, you’ll want to enjoy the peace and quiet of your private space as the ship slips its moorings and edges off the dock, bound for another stunning location.
Get the Best Views from the Ship
Hubbard Glacier
With a bit of planning, you can position yourself on the ship for the most beautiful views at the right time. For example, you’ll want to be near a window at sunset, when the ship sails the smooth waters of the forested, island-speckled Inside Passage.
If you love Italian classics at Tuscan Grille, a specialty dining restaurant that spans the aft end (the back) of Celebrity Eclipse® and Celebrity Solstice® or runs along the side of the ship on Celebrity Millennium®, book a window seat for dinner. Time it for around sunset or earlier, and enjoy dreamy views of the ship’s wake and the pristine scenery.
Head for cocktails at the popular Sunset Bar, or take your morning coffee in the Sky Observation Lounge for uninterrupted forward views. Set up camp on the Lawn Club (on Celebrity Solstice and Eclipse) for the best views, while lounging on the grass with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Fleece blankets are provided on deck for cooler days.
Enjoy a Drinks Package on Board
If you like to keep the beverages coming while on board and taking in Alaska’s phenomenal sights, Celebrity offers some terrific packages for the discerning traveler. No need to worry about puzzling over a complicated bar tab either. Just pay once, then sit back and relax for the rest of the trip.
Port and Excursion Tips
The fun doesn’t stop on board. You can keep the good vibes going for longer by planning some thrilling shore excursions and visiting unforgettable landmarks to experience Alaska up close.
Plan Your Shore Excursions
An Alaskan cruise can be pretty busy if you pack your vacation with back-to-back shore excursions. While these are undoubtedly the best way to savor your time here, and the only real way to make it out into the true wilderness, you can still mix it up and do your own thing as well as enjoy the tours in certain ports.
For example, Ketchikan is a pretty compact place, making it easy to wander along quaint Creek Street, the former red-light district, teeming with craft stores. In Juneau, you can whizz up the Mount Roberts Tramway to see your ship and the surrounding mountains from up above before heading into town.
There’s Sitka, too, which is a friendly little Alaskan town where you can stroll around independently. Downtown Seward is a cool, fun place to have a relaxing lunch or sample some craft beers.
If free roaming isn’t your thing and you want to see bears close up, try a guided hike, head out on a kayak tour, or go whale watching with an expert. Join some expert-led Alaskan shore excursions for the best experience.
If you’re traveling with kids, at least one zipline adventure will likely feature on your itinerary. Ziplining is available at several ports, although Icy Strait Point is arguably the most thrilling option.
Denali National Park
Then there are the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities you won’t want to miss out on, like meeting working huskies at a sled dog kennel outside Juneau. Soar over the Tongass National Forest in a helicopter that lands on a glacier and go trekking on the ice. Or go clattering along the contours of narrow valleys along historic routes like the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad.
The sky’s the limit when exploring Alaska with an exciting cruise tour.
Support the Local Economy
Denali National Park
If you’re looking for thoughtful or amusing gifts for friends and family back home, you can buy some cool souvenirs in Alaska.
There’s no shortage of retail opportunities in each port, either. Look for the Alaska Grown or Made In Alaska logos. When you buy local, you’re supporting the economy of towns that rely on a very short tourist season.
Locally made jewelry is a great buy, too, especially pieces made from signature Alaskan jade. You can’t go wrong either with some locally made Christmas tree decorations, wood carvings, vacuum-packed Alaskan salmon, boxes of chocolate “moose poop,” or just good-old-fashioned clothing.
“Bear claw” salad servers made from wood (not actual bear claws) are a typical Alaskan gift, as is a bottle of birch syrup, the state’s answer to maple syrup.
Try Alaskan Cuisine
Alaskan King Crab
No trip to Alaska is complete without sampling the delicious local produce. You’ll be able to try Alaskan dishes on board your cruise, but there are a few classics to sample in port, too.
In Juneau, Tracy’s King Crab Shack does the ultimate crab bisque, as well as whole buckets of king crab legs with melted butter. If you’re a foodie looking for one of the best things to do in Ketchikan, visit the Alaska Fish House for all things fish, as the name suggests — fish tacos, fish and chips — and the restaurant’s signature smoked salmon chowder.
You can sample Alaskan salmon on a shore excursion, too. Book a tour that includes a salmon bake, for example, from Juneau. You can also kayak the ice-strewn bay in front of the Mendenhall Glacier and then feast on grilled salmon in a forest clearing and grill marshmallows over a fire pit.
Don’t Forget Your Binoculars
Whale-watching in Alaska
One of the most useful tips for Alaskan cruise fans is to bring more than one pair of binoculars unless you want to be haggling constantly about whose turn it is to take a look. Alaska is known for its magnificent wildlife, but sometimes, it’s all about going the distance from the comfort of your vantage point.
You might spot a bear foraging on a beach or snoozing in a tree, so getting a close-up view is invaluable. A distant whale blow becomes even more exciting if you can zoom in and try to identify the species.
Take the Kids
Gold-panning in Fairbanks
Alaska is a fantastic destination if you’re cruising with kids. Kids love the wildlife and adventurous activities that offer a great bonding experience. You can kayak, go whale-watching, embark on a bear hunt, zipline, mush husky dogs, or hike up or down some of the state’s best trails.
Other things kids will love include panning for gold, riding on steam trains, salmon cookouts, and if they’re very lucky, helicopter and seaplane rides.
Alaska is an educational experience, too. Park rangers often come on board when you’re visiting parks like Glacier Bay or natural wonders like the Hubbard Glacier, supplying fascinating information in kid-friendly language. To sweeten the deal, all of Celebrity’s ships also have excellent kids’ clubs to give parents some well-deserved downtime and rest on board.
Denali National Park
If you’re planning on traveling with children, note that kids may not be as excited as you are about spending hours on end scanning the water looking for distant whales. Make sure to plan your vacation together, as a family, to keep everybody happy.
Packing and Clothing Tips
Preparing for the unexpected with Alaska is paramount — and that goes doubly for the weather and whatever winds up in your suitcase.
Pack for All Climates
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Layers are your friend in Alaska. While July and August can get quite warm — up to around 67 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime — the weather can change in minutes. You’ll need base layers, a couple of fleeces, a lightweight (preferably waterproof) jacket, gloves, and some decent walking shoes.
A windproof item is ideal for the time you’ll spend on deck, even if the ship is sailing and you’re out looking for whales, or if you’re floating silently toward the face of one of Alaska’s colossal glaciers.
If you book excursions like kayaking, the tour company will provide the necessary equipment, but bring along closed-toe shoes, which are essential for activities like ziplining. Include a swimsuit in your suitcase as well. While you might not take a dip in Alaska’s icy water, there’ll be plenty of opportunities on board to enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool or relax in a hot tub.
Pack a few smart casual outfits and a couple of evening-chic accessories to dress up for special occasions, which is perfectly fine for evenings. You don’t have to wear anything as formal as tuxedos and ball gowns — unless you want to, of course.
Bring a Dry Bag
The state gets a fair amount of rain and mist between May and September, although you’d be pretty unlucky if it rained all day during the summer in Alaska.
Still, bringing along a roll-top dry bag, ideally with straps so you can wear it as a backpack, is a worthwhile accessory for going ashore, as you’ll be carrying cameras, phones, and other equipment.
Having a dry bag is even more useful if you’re planning on joining a kayaking excursion or heading off on a small boat where you’ll want to protect your gear from the spray.
Photography Tips
Humpback whale in Alaska
Taking pictures while in Alaska is a must. Depending on what kind of traveler you are, you can either use your smartphone or bring along a camera with good zoom settings on it. Either way, you’re gonna want to document this experience and remember it for years to come.
Remember Your Zoom Lens
While a smartphone will certainly capture your Alaskan adventure, a zoom camera can bring out the real detail: from the colors on the head of a bald eagle to the tail of a humpback as it dives.
A wide-angle zoom lens is the best option if you don’t want the hassle of constantly changing lenses while taking photographs in Alaska. The light in Alaska is so beautiful that it’s worth bringing a quality camera, from shooting the ethereal morning mist on the water to a salmon-pink sunset.
Budget Tips
Scheduling the perfect cruise to Alaska also means bringing the right currency along when doing your laundry or tipping the wait staff at local restaurants.
Bring the Right Currency
Locals and visitors use US dollars (USD) in Alaska, even if you’re visiting Juneau, Anchorage, Skagway, or Ketchikan, or anywhere else in the state. If you’re traveling internationally, make sure to exchange your currency in advance.
Tipping in Alaska isn’t obligatory, but is socially acceptable and expected. If you’re feeling generous, bring small amounts of cash and tip between 10-20% at restaurants or for local tours.
ATMs and electronic payments for debit and credit cards are readily available throughout Alaska. You can also change foreign currencies in any of the local airports, banks, and money marts across the state.
Use Ship or In-Port Laundry Services
No need for you to worry about how to do your laundry, either. Celebrity has got you covered with full laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services available on board.
If you feel like using a self-service laundry option during a land excursion, there are plenty of laundromats available on shore, too.
Inspired to start planning your next exploration? View our range of exciting Alaska cruises and prepare for your next and greatest trip.
