Alaska Cruises Demystified

Petroglyph Beach, located near the town of Wrangell, Alaska.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day.  We were chatting about cruises, and he said he had no desire to visit Alaska because it was "too cold."

I've heard the same statement from a number of people over the years; they all want to cruise someplace hot, like the Caribbean or Mexico.  And why not?  There's nothing like a getaway to a sunny paradise filled with warm sand and clear beaches.

Maybe it's because I cut my teeth on Alaskan cruising, or the fact that I have a desire to visit places like Antarctica that are far, far colder, but I've quite enjoyed my three voyages to the region.

 A 'blue berg' floats in the water near the entrance

to Tracy Arm Fjord, south of Juneau.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

While Alaska may lack the warmth of the Caribbean, it makes up for it in terms of raw, natural beauty.  There's glaciers, fjords, mountains, hills, and wildlife - though admittedly I have yet to see the close-up vistas of bears, eagles and whales that the brochures would lead you to believe.

So what should you know about cruising "North to Alaska"?  Here's our hit-list of common misconceptions.

1.  It's Cold and Wet!

Aboard the Zuiderdam in Tracy Arm...in the rain.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

Maybe!  On two of my voyages, we had soaring temperatures and plenty of sunshine for most of the trip.  Out of the three, only one was a total washout.  You're almost certain to get a healthy dose of "liquid sunshine" in Ketchikan, where it rains more often than not - the town gets an average of 3,900 mm of ran each year.  But who cares if it rains the entire time?  For most of the cruise, you're nice and dry inside your floating palace, and personally, I find inclement weather only makes the ship feel cozier.

Tracy Arm in the sun...in May.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

If you're thinking the summer months of June, July and August guarantee sunny weather, think again.  The best weather I ever had in Alaska was in early May on one of the first cruises of the season.  Our voyage in mid-July was a bigger washout than the one we took near the end of September.  What's more, our July voyage was premium-priced.  So if you can, save yourself the money and book the shoulder season.

2.  I'll See Lots of Wildlife!
Outlook Hazy.  I've seen more whales and dolphins off the coast of Puerto Vallarta than I ever have during Inside Passage cruising.  The cruise director usually makes an announcement similar to "there's a bear on the starboard side!", causing half the passengers on the pool deck to crush up against the railings.  If you're like me, you'll probably get there far too late to see much of anything.

3.  The Pools Will be Cold!

 The pool aboard Norwegian Sun...in the Alaskan sun...in May.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Au contraire.  In fact, during scenic cruising of any kind, you may have the opposite experience.  Just watch how fast the hot tubs fill up when you're cruising Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier.  A dip in the pool, even in the rain, can be extremely refreshing.

4. Vancouver Departures Aren't Worth the Extra Cost

 Sailing under Vancouver's Lions Gate Bridge

aboard Holland America's Rotterdam.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Historically, Alaskan cruises started from one port: Vancouver, British Columbia.  But in the late 1990's, Norwegian Cruise Line rattled the industry by announcing they intended to begin operations from Seattle, Washington.  At the time, no cruise ships were docking in Seattle on a regular basis.

A mere eleven years later, Vancouver has lost numerous vessels to Seattle, owing to the relatively low cost of airfare into Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEATAC) compared with Vancouver International (YVR). 

Combine that with a recession, and cruises from Seattle start to look very attractive indeed.

But don't discount Hollywood North just yet: Vancouver still offers a remarkable number of departures on almost all the major lines, and two distinct features are in store for those looking for the "classic" Alaskan Cruise.

 The first is apparent after you depart from the iconic Canada Place cruise terminal.  In order to reach open water, ships must first clear the Lion's Gate Bridge.  Nothing begins a voyage like passing under this impressive structure; I've sailed under over a dozen times, and that initial excitement that comes with passing under the bridge has never faded.

 Sailing the Inside Passage.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

The second important feature of Vancouver-based cruising is the Inside Passage.   Ships departing from Seattle are forced to sail the Pacific Ocean on both sea days, but Vancouver-based cruises feature two days of Inside Passage cruising.  

They are breathtaking.

Whether in the sun or rain, the close proximity to land ensures that passengers are glued to the open decks for most of the day.  The scenery is seemingly endless, and if there's any place you're likely to see wildlife, it is here.

Don't get me wrong; we love sailing from Seattle.  But there's something very special about a Vancouver departure.

5.  My Itinerary Doesn't Have to Stop at Glacier Bay

Simply Beautiful: Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Yes, it does.  Trust us.

Curious about Alaskan cruises?  Stay tuned to From the Deck Chair as we explore this exciting destination further in coming weeks!