Hey fam! Since taking my Alaskan cruise, I’ve had many people asking questions about how to do it. Below are my top ten tips for planning a cruise to Alaska.  

  1. Do plan ahead. Unlike cruising to the Caribbean, which you can do all year round, the season to cruise to Alaska is short. It’s only from late April to late early October.
The scenery in Alaska was breathtaking!

2. Do schedule your cruise according to the weather. The best time to go to Alaska depends on what type of weather you want. If you want cold weather, go at the beginning or the end of the season. If you don’t mind rainy weather, the rainy season starts in August and lasts through September. If you want sunny and relatively warm weather, your best bet is to travel in June and July. My cruise was from June 29th through July 6th 2022 and the weather was perfect. Not a speck of rain the entire cruise.

3. Do pack for a wide range of weather. The weather in Alaska can vary greatly. The recommendation is to pack for every possibility. So bring clothes for hot weather, rain and cold weather. I brought mostly jeans, tee shirts, a few hoodies, one packable down coat, earmuffs and gloves. I did not wear the coat, earmuffs or gloves on this trip.

4. Don’t bring boots. Most of the blogs I read and vlogs I watched recommended bringing boots. My personal opinion: don’t bother. Unless you’re hiking or going when the weather is cold, you really don’t need them. Tennis shoes are fine for most activities.

5. Do fly in a day early. Save yourself the stress of flying on the day of embarkation and arrive a day early. If you’re flying out of Seattle, you’re in luck. The weather is great, the food is amazing and there are so many affordable things to see and do.

The beautiful Seattle skyline.

6. Do budget for excursions. The excursions are expensive. Especially if you plan to do any that are unique to Alaska, like dog sledding or hiking on a glacier. Be forewarned and budget, budget, budget.

7. Don’t despise small ships. Most cruise lines send their smaller ships to Alaska. And those smaller ships tend to also be their oldest ships. But don’t let that discourage you. What they may lack in amenities they usually make up for in service and entertainment. The Norwegian Spirit had live music every night on my cruise.

Bridal Veil Falls

8. Do eat in Alaska. I regret not signing up for any eating excursions in Alaska. I figured I could just eat in port but the lines were long and I didn’t have time to wait. So book the salmon bake excursion, sign up for a foodie tour, patronize the local restaurants and try some of that fresh Alaskan salmon! 

9. Do bring your whole family. Alaska is a great trip for the whole family. I saw many multi-generational families on this cruise. If you’re concerned that it will be too active for the parents or the kids will be bored, think again. Between the ports and activities on the ship, there is something for everyone.

Photo Point Summit

10. Don’t be afraid to go solo! Alaska is a great itinerary no matter when you go or who you go with. The scenery, wildlife, people and food make it a must see destination. Don’t let the lack of travel companions keep you from experiencing The Last Frontier. TAKE. THE. TRIP!