Planning Your Alaska Cruise? Start Here

Posted onAuthorChris Owen

Alaska is a destination all Americans should see at least once in their lifetime.  Once they’re in the land of the midnight sun, the reason will be clear.  But we have to get you there first. Planning your Alaska cruise is a bit more involved with many more choices, options, and variables than other sailings you may have been on.
Alaska cruise

Planning Your Alaska Cruise
How Will You Do It?

First, the different ways Alaska can be seen by ship, regardless of the cruise line.
  • Escorted Cruise and Land Tour is the most complete way to experience Alaska.  Escorted versions can go from the North to the South or from the South to the North with the land package varying from three to five days either before or after the cruise. 
  • Round Trip Seattle or Vancouver is less expensive- I have done this too and also liked it very much.  These are 7- to 14-day sailings that would not have a rail option or get very far inland but offer a good overview of Alaska. This is a great choice anytime but an especially appropriate option for first-time visitors.
  • North to South, no land tour is the most economical way to go- You can fly to Fairbanks and get on a 7-day cruise that goes south, ending in Vancouver or Seattle.  Personally, I prefer Seattle because you don’t end in a foreign port which makes getting back into the country a bit easier.
  • South to North, no land tour is also economical- This is the reverse of the above, plain and simple.
  • Cruise And Land Tour- A DIY version of the Escorted Cruise and Land Tour noted.  Same thing, no escort.
  • Small Ship Alaska- A different experience,

Alaska cruise

On any of them there will be the opportunity to see wildlife, view glaciers and so on.  On the Cruisetour options, escorted or not, more is included in the price.  That understood, no decisions made, we move along to who we will see Alaska with. That’s next in this Planning Your Alaska Cruise series.  Until then, we have some other Alaska resources:

Planning Your Alaska Cruise
Jump Ahead

LEARN MORE about your Alaska cruise options:

Here is more yet with a video from National Geographic that shows Veteran photographer Michael Melford in one of the most pristine, remote places in Alaska.