ALASKA EASY CRUISING GUIDE
Saturday, December 31st, 2005
ALASKA EASY CRUISING GUIDE
WHAT TO SEE: Legendary beautiful scenery of Alaska- magnificent
coastal fjords, rugged glaciers, vast evergreen forests,
sky-high mountains, 7 of which are the tallest peaks in North
America (to see Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest peak,
you’ll need to take a tour to the shore into the Denali National
Park), abundant land and marine wildlife- moose, kodiak and
grizzly bears, caribou, dall sheep, puffin, otters, seals,
humpback and killer whales, dolphins, bald-headed eagles and
much more. Shore excursions are optional, as well as 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 enrich your
cruise experience with visiting coastal attractions, historical
places, challenging yourself in kayaking, helicopter tours,
mountain biking,…
CRUISE LENGTH: 7 days on average.There are some 11 and 14 day
cruises which include more ports of call and more glacier
touring. There are 2 different kinds of cruises available:
Inside Passage Cruise: roundtrip departure from Vancouver/
Seattle, usually 7 days long. You cruise the inside passage
through the islands offshore from British Columbia and Alaska.
Stops usually include Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway and Juneau. Gulf
of Alaska Cruise (or Glacier Route Cruise): You cruise one-way
northbound from Vancouver/ Seattle or one-way south from Seward,
Alaska. You will see more glaciers on this route and an
additional port or two.
WHEN TO GO: The usual Alaska cruise season lasts from early May
to late September. Alaskan summers are cool, daytime highs in
these months range from 10 to 27 degrees Celsius (50 to 80
Fahrenheit). May and June tend to be the drier months, July is
the warmest one. June and July are the best months to watch
Humpback and Orca whales, White-Sided dolphins. An additional
bonus to an Alaskan cruise vacation is that in summer the days
are much longer than they are further south. This is the land of
the midnight sun. Your longest days will be in June and July (up
to 20-21 hours of daylight) and will offer you many
opportunities to enjoy active glaciers. Early and late season
cruises (May and September) tend to be slightly cheaper and the
ports of call are less crowded. You can check next week weather
forecast for Anchorage here.
ALASKA CRUISE TIPS: Northern weather can be unpredictable.
Consider taking with you and wearing multiple layers of clothes
in response to a wide variety of temperatures and weather
conditions. What to pack : waterproof and warm jacket, a
sweater, light gloves, rain gear, sun glasses and a warm hat for
deck strolling or touring on the shore. You also may find useful
binoculars, camera, camcorder, film, batteries and walking
shoes. If you need a hair dryer, pack one; not all cruise ships
have hair dryers in the cabins. Bargain hunters should look for
last minute deals as the last rooms are often sold at very low
prices. Pick the right cruise ship for your style,- some ships
are more traditional, other more stylish, elegant, some offer
more choices for children, other are more seniors-oriented. The
cruise comparison chart below should help you in making the
correct choice. Check your cruise itinerary, almost every ship
usually includes several formal dress code nights. Dark business
suit or a tuxedo would do the thing. Alaska cruises tend to be
more casual than other destinatons but items such as cutoff
t-shirts, halter tops and torn jeans are still not permitted in
the dining area.Tipping is usually $10 per passenger per day. We
recommend you to book a stateroom with a balcony. Theview on an
Alaska cruise is always changing- mountains, shores, wildlife,
marine animals, glaciers, or quaint waterfront communities. You
can enjoy it from the privacy of your own balcony, escaping
crowded decks. Visit us at
ke.com to see our ALASKA CRUISE SHIPS COMPARISON TABLE. We
wish you a nice and safe cruising!