| With this said, you can't
use the excuse "There are just not
enough daylight in the day." Longer days
give you even more opportunities to see
wildlife and enjoy the natural, pristine
beauty of Alaska. Back to
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Is
a stateroom with a balcony really worth it?
A cruise to Alaska is about enjoying the
unspoiled natural wonders of America's last,
great frontier. What a better way of enjoying
it than from the privacy of your own private
balcony stateroom. There is nothing like
having a balcony on a cruise to Alaska.
Unlike cruises to the Caribbean or Bahamas,
the view on an Alaska cruise is always
changing. It's not just water, ocean, water,
ocean. When you're sailing along the Inside
Passage or College Fjord, you have an almost
constant view of mountains, wilderness,
glaciers, or quaint waterfront communities.
You never know when you may see humpback
whale or a pod of Orca whales.
Private balconies are also a great way to
escape the crowds. When sailing in Glacier
Bay or College Fjord, the decks are packed
with hundreds upon hundreds of passengers
crowding the ship's railing to snap a picture
of a seal resting on a piece of floating ice
or video tape a calving glacier. You can
enjoy the same view from your own deck chair
while having a cup of coffee - but without
the crowds.
Balcony cabins seem bigger as well. With a
balcony, it's almost as though you have floor
to ceiling window to the most magnificent
views in the world. If you're already
spending the money and taking time to go to
Alaska, treat yourself to a balcony as well.
So the answer is "yes." A balcony
stateroom is worth it.
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What
will I see on my Alaska cruise?
An Alaska Cruise not only gives you the
opportunity to see Wildlife, Wilderness,
Mountains and Glaciers, Alaska's natural
beauty, but it also gives you a chance to
enjoy attractions and museums that pertain to
the Native American Culture and Gold Rush
History that is unique to the area.
On an Alaska cruise you may see:
- Wildlife - moose, caribou, dall
sheep, grizzly bears, puffin, seals,
humpback and killer whale, eagles and
more.
- Mountains - 7 of the tallest
mountains in North America are
located in Alaska and the Yukon, some
of which are visible from your cruise
ship.
- Wilderness - rafting trips, salmon
bakes, horse backing trips, fishing
tours and hikes can take you into
some of the most beautiful wooded
areas you'll ever see.
- Glaciers - Depending on your
itinerary you will see one or more of
these glacier areas: Glacier Bay,
Hubbard Glacier, Sawyer Glacier in
Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier,
or the glaciers College Fjord.
- History - All of Alaska is rich with
Native American and Gold Rush
history.
You'll see many of these right from your
cruise ship, on your own or when taking
various shore excursions in the different
ports of call.
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Will
I get to see Mt. McKinley?
Mt. McKinley, North America's largest
mountain at over 20,300 feet is located in
Denali National Park, in the interior region
of Alaska between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Tours in Denali National Park are available
to those travelers adding land tours to their
cruise plans.
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When's
the best time to see whales?
Whales begin their Northbound migration
Alaska in February with the the cows and
calves beginning around April and continue
their trek through May. If you visit Alaska
between June and early September, you may see
Humpback and Minke Whales, Orcas, Pacific
White-Sided Dolphins, Dall's and Harbour
Porpoises. Between June and July, you have
your best chance of seeing bubble-netting
Humpbacks.
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What
should I wear on an Alaska cruise?
The key word for dressing for an Alaska
Cruise is "Layering." Casual
sportswear including windbreakers, pants and
jogging suits are well suited at both sea and
ashore in Alaska. Remember to bring a sweater
or jacket for cool evenings. The weather is
unpredictable and you should plan on bringing
a rain resistant jacket for shore side
activities. Light gloves, a hat or visor and
sunglasses are also recommended. You'll also
want comfortable walking shoes and sandals
with a rubber sole as you explore the shores
of Alaska.
Alaska cruises tend to be more casual than
other destination. However, many cruise lines
still observe formal nights and resort-casual
nights. Smart Casual is similar to what you
would wear at home going out to dine at nice
restaurant and can include skirts/dresses,
slacks, sweaters and blouses for ladies and
pants and open neck shirts for men. A jacket
and tie are optional. In the dining area,
items such as cutoff t-shirts, halter tops
and torn jeans are not permitted.
In the evening, ships vary as to dress. As
on shore, attire is dictated by occasion. For
the Captain's Gala, for example, you'll
probably want to wear something more formal,
such as a dark suit, or cocktail dress;
perhaps even a dinner jacket or gown.
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Should
I bring my kids?
Absolutely! Alaska is not only a fabulous,
unforgettable vacation destination full of
cool, high adventure activities, it's also an
unbelievable educational opportunity for the
kids. If your children are active and love
adventure, they will enjoy an Alaskan cruise.
Several of our cruise line partners who
sail Alaska cater to and provide facilities
and services for families with children of
all ages including toddlers, youth, tweens
and teens. This includes expansive kids
programming, kids facilities, kids menus and
even special shore excursions and activities
for the kids.
Most cruise lines have cabins that can
accommodate three, four of five passengers in
one cabin. This means that children can often
travel at substantially reduced rates when
they share a cabin with their parents, making
it more affordable to take the whole family
to Alaska.
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Which
side of the ship is best for viewing
glaciers?
This is one of the most common questions
ask of our agents. While we can understand
that one may think that the right side of the
ship (starboard side) is better for scenery
on a Northbound cruise and the left side
(port side) better on a Southbound cruise but
this isn't true. When cruising the Inside
Passage, there is scenery on both sides of
the ship and when you are entering the fjords
in Alaska, the viewing will be equally good
from both sides of the ship over the duration
of your cruise vacation. In other words,
during your cruise, you'll see scenery from
both sides of the ship.
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Can
I bring my wheelchair to Alaska?
The cruise lines will do their best to
accommodate wheelchair passengers wherever
possible. Many of today's modern cruise ships
are built with numerous wheelchair-accessible
staterooms that include wide doors and large
bathrooms with roll-in showers with
handrails, hand-held shower heads, and
fold-down seas and stools. They will also do
their best to accommodate wheelchairs on
shore excursions as well. Many of the rail
cars used by Holland America and Princess are
accessible to the lower levels including the
dining, restroom facilities and viewing
platforms. Whenever possible, they will use
motor coaches or vans equipped with
lift-platforms to assist passengers in
boarding and departing the coaches.
All cruise lines require advance notice of
wheelchair passengers for all travel in order
to ensure appropriate accommodation. Note
that while all guests are provided assistance
in boarding and departing the cruise ship,
motor coaches and rail segments on the land
tours, passengers with disabilities must be
able to travel independent of assistance in
other situations or travel with a companion
who is capable of providing assistance.
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Can I go
fishing?
If you love fishing, you will love Alaska.
There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy
full- or half-day fishing excursions in all
the Alaska ports of call. You can fish for
King Salmon, Pink & Silver Salmon,
Sockeye, Halibut, Rainbow Trout, Char, and
Steelhead depending on time of year and the
port or city. This is one of the most popular
activities on an Alaska cruise. Not only is
it a high adventure sport that gives you a
chance to land "the big one," it
also combines the benefit of exploring some
of the most beautiful scenery in Alaska, and
maybe some glacier viewing or whale watching
depending upon your fishing guide and tour.
Fishing excursion tours can be booked
through the cruise line or independently
through the Alaska Visitors Center. These
tours are fully guided and all gear is
included. If you have good day, which we hope
you will, you can have your fresh catch
packed and shipped back home. The cost of the
fishing excursion is typically between $150
and $300 per person, depending on tour
details. Packing and shipping your fish home
will be additional.
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Is
Alaska affordable and a good vacation option?
Yes! There are cruise vacations to suit
every budget, from the cost-conscious to the
most luxurious. Even more important, a cruise
offers the best travel value for your money.
Your fare includes all meals, your cabin,
onboard daytime activities, nighttime parties
and entertainment. So for once, you'll know
what your vacation will end up costing you
before you go. (Your only extra expenses will
be drinks, gratuities, optional shore
excursions, and personal services such as
massage or hairstyling.) You'll be amazed at
the value.
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When's
the most affordable time to go to Alaska?
There are two seasons for Alaska -
Shoulder Season and Peak Season. Shoulder
Season includes cruises in May, the first
week of June, the last week of August and all
of September. Peak Season is most of June,
July and August.
Peak Season tends to cost more because the
weather is better and that is when more
people can travel. The kids are out of school
and that's when folks take their family
vacation. Since demand higher, so are the
prices. However, if you can travel in
Shoulder Season, when demand is lower, you
can take advantage of special promotions and
pricing.
While pricing may May and September but
Alaska is certainly no less spectacular.
Whether you cruise when the Inside Passage is
blanketed with spring wildflowers or ablaze
with fall foliage you'll be awed at Alaska's
natural wonders.
Cruise Lines will also offer early booking
discounts if you book your cruise by their
Early Booking deadlines.
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Is
the casino open during an Alaska cruise?
Gambling is not legal in the state of
Alaska. However, the cruise lines will open
the casino during the period when you are
sailing in the international waters. Hours
will vary depending on routes and ports of
call. At all other times, the casino will be
closed.
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Will
I get seasick in Alaska?
Cruising the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay
or through College Fjord is like sailing on
glass. Not only are the waters in these areas
smooth, today's modern cruise ships are quite
large and contain hi-tech stabilizing
devices. In the unlikely event you experience
motion discomfort, there are a number of
over-the-counter solutions to ease your
concerns. These include Bonine, Mecklizine,
Dramamine, Transderm Scope Patches, and
Seabands. Please consult with your physician
or pharmacists before taking any medication.
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How
do I book my Alaska vacation? Can I book it
online?
An Alaska Cruise Vacation is a very
complicated vacation. It's more complicated
than booking an airline ticket, hotel, rental
car or a short cruise to the Bahamas. An
Alaska cruise vacation can truly be vacation
of a lifetime. It can be a significant
investment of both time and money. Therefore,
we highly recommend you enlist the services
of a professional reservations specialist at
the Alaska Visitors Center to help you choose
the right Alaska cruise for you.
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Do
I need a passport to go to Alaska?
All cruise companies recommend travelling
with a passport. It is the most secure and
flexible identification document you can
carry. Although Alaska is part of the United
States, there are portions of your cruise
that may include travel to Canada. As a
result, you will be required to provide
proper proof of US citizenship. Even when
your plans do not include Canada travel,
there are emergency situations where a
passport can be a great asset. Please note
that it is the passenger's responsibility to
provide acceptable proof of citizenship.
There are no refunds to passengers denied
boarding due to the lack of proper documents.
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Should
I Purchase Shore Excursions?
Shore excursions are optional, guided
tours in a cruise ship's port of call. They
are offered in all Alaska ports and cities
and are a great way to enhance your cruise
experience while seeing more of the places
you visit. An organized Shore Excursion can
maximize your time ashore and eliminate the
need for making time-consuming arrangements
while in port. These tours are led by local
residents, who's expertise and first-hand
knowledge of the history and folklore of a
local attraction can offer colorful insights
and anecdotes that you just cannot experience
on your own with a city map and guide-book.
Often these trips allow only limited seating,
so it is important to plan ahead. Every
cruise line has guided tours available in
each port of call, highlighting the places to
sightsee, shop and experience local culture.
As a convenience to their passengers, they
provide a complete list of shore excursions,
descriptions, and prices in advance with your
cruise documents and on their websites to
help you decide which tours you can take. You
can them pre-book them prior to leaving home
and guarantee your space.
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When
should I book my Alaska Cruise?
The number of cruise ships sailing to
Alaska is restricted to minimize the impact
on Alaska's natural environment and tend to
fill quickly especially in July and August.
Even so, 'early bird' discounts can be found
and we recommend taking advantage of these by
booking as early as possible. Balcony cabins
are very popular on an Alaska cruise and tend
to sell out before inside state rooms.
Families wanting cabins close together or
'quad' cabins (able to sleep 4) should also
book as early as possible.
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How
do I Arrange Airfare?
When traveling to Alaska, you may purchase
your airfare on your own, use frequent flier
points or you may elect to buy it through the
Alaska Visitors Center as part of your cruise
vacation. Let your Alaska Visitors Center
reservations specialist know your airfare
needs as it is an important component in the
planning of your Alaska journey.
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Should
I purchase travel insurance?
We highly recommend purchasing trip
cancellation coverage. In the event that your
trip is cancelled due to a medical emergency
in your immediate family, you will recover
the non-refundable portion of the cruise
price. This coverage includes any
pre-existing medical conditions as long as
its purchased within 14 days of placing your
initial deposit. Additional coverage is also
available for baggage protection, emergency
evacuation and medical.
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