BRAND NEW: Alaska Cruise Tips and Tricks You Need to Know in 2024

for many taking an Alaska cruise is a  bucket list trip we've sailed on all   the major cruise lines at various points  in this season and over these years we've   learned quite a bit about traveling way up  North so whether you're a seasoned Cruiser   or this is your first sailing we put together  this video of our expert Alaska cruise tips   and tricks to ensure your cruise is smooth  sailing so let's dive [Music] [Applause] in welcome board Cruisers I'm Don B from eat sleep  Cruise where we help you see the world one p at a   time Heidi and I have been traveling to Alaska for  over 10 years and based on those experiences we've   put together this video that covers everything  you need to know from picking the right Alaska   cruise to booking your trip packing making the  most of the onboard amenities as well as Shore   Excursion tips this video will help you through  every step of the cruise process of course if   you have any questions at all please leave them  in the comment section below and we will be sure   to answer them when taking an Alaska cruise it's  really about the destination so our first Alaska   cruise tip is to focus first on the itinerary we  do get a lot of questions about what's the best   cruise line or the best cruise ship in Alaska and  we have some tips for picking those later on in   this video but for us it's more important that  you pick an itinerary that has the destinations   and the ports of call that you really want to see  there are basically two main options when it comes   to itineraries there are one-way cruises which  begin and end at a different port or a roundtrip   cruise that begins and ends at the same Home Port  we have sailed on both itineraries and there are   pros and cons of each route so decide what's  most important to you and review itineraries   across several Cruise Lines closely the most  common Alaska cruises are 7 Days in length and   are roundtrip sailings that depart from either  Seattle Washington or Vancouver British Columbia   there are more options for roundt trip cruises  and they're easier to plan but they typically   visit less destinations as they can't go as  far north however these itineraries tend to   have more family-friendly ship options with more  onboard amenities and attractions generally oneway   sailings are from Seward or woodier Alaska  to Vancouver British Columbia or vice versa   sailing Northbound or southbound routes oneway  sailings may visit more ports of call but between   airfare cost and the additional travel days that  might be needed these cruises can cost more money   and be more difficult to plan also these sailings  tend to be on older smaller ships odds are you're   going to Alaska to see some glaciers depending on  the itinerary most cruise ships will offer Scenic   cruising at least one day there are a variety of  glaciers that ships can visit during the sailing   perhaps the two most popular Glacier Cruis cring  spots are Hub Glacier and Glacier Bay National   Park you should know the difference before picking  your cruise itinerary there are others too like   the Dos Glacier or the Sawyer Glacier again  we've Cruis on inas that have visited many of   these popular viewing spots if you're a firsttime  cruiser our cruise tip is to pick a traditional   7-Day roundtrip cruise that stops at Glacier Bay  National Park while you can't go wrong with most   itineraries Glacier Bay of affords the opportunity  to see multiple glaciers over the course of   several hours plus we think the park rangers do  a fantastic job with the onboard enrichment and   activities that complement the scenic sailing  into and out of the park it is true that almost   all major cruise lines now sail to Alaska so if  you're already loyal to one particular brand one   of our tips is just find a ship offering itinerary  that suits you and stick with that cruise line   if you're new to cruising it might be overwhelming  trying to decide between cruise lines and cruise   ships several lines claim they are the best in  Alaska but honestly there's no one best Alaska   cruise line or a cruise ship it really depends on  your travel party what you want to do and see and   what ship amenities are important to you Brands  like Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean   offer more diversity for multigenerational  families Carnival Cruise Line and Disney   Cruise Line are also popular choices for family  cruises to Alaska especially if you have younger   children couples may want to consider Princess  Cruises Celebrity Cruises or Holland America   line in fact Princess Cruises and Holland America  line have the most ships sailing the region there   are also luxury Cruise Lines or small boutique  cruise ships with 100 passengers or less giving   Cruisers a completely unique experience while  you're comparing the cruise ship options one very   important Cruise tip is to find a ship with prime  viewing areas some ships poast multiple outdoor   platforms or Decks that give Cruisers ideal views  to the scenery other ships have enclosed spaces   and observation lounges but in the warm Comforts  of the ship some ships actually have both so you   can go in between these areas depending on the  weather along with researching what viewing areas   are available check out the other amenities  on the ships that might interest you and your   family is there an enclosed pool on the ship is  there a spa or a thermal Suite what are the you   centers or activities for junior Cruisers like not  to mention each Cruise Line has various offerings   for restaurants entertainment and onboard  activities with such a diversity of cruise   ship sing the region even within Brands themselves  you should review the cruise ship amenities before   you decide on one most major Cruise Lines release  itineraries up to 2 years in advance for our trips   we tend to book anywhere between 8 months to a  full year in advance the biggest reason you should   book a cruise early is to secure the best prices  as specific sailings begin to fill up prices will   go up popular room categories and locations  book up quickly as well booking your cruise   early you'll have a greater selection of cabins  you'll also get your preferred dining times of   course this will also Al give you more time to  pay off the cruise and to plan all aspects of   your trip having a cruise booked in advance always  gives you something to look forward to as well now   speaking of paying off that cruise one of the most  important Alaska cruise tips is always knowing   the cruise cost so you can budget accordingly when  Alaska cruise planning you should know that Alaska   Cruise vacations are a bit on the pricey side when  compared to Caribbean cruises so don't get sticker   shock a last Cruise costs fluctuate considerably  depending on a few factors the cruise line and   cruise ship the Alaska cruise itinerary and the  time of year will all weigh heavily on pricing   not to mention the tours you pick the add-ons and  additional costs like drink packages or Wi-Fi but   we recommend Cruisers budget between $2,000 to  $5,000 a person for an Alaska cruise so it's not   unreasonable that a family of four could spend  over $10,000 for a week long Alaska cruise now   if you need more help budgeting for your Alaska  cruise you in luck cuz we have a complete video   right here on YouTube that walk you through all  the costs associated with taking Alaska cruise   and how much you should budget for each category  even if you've cruised before we recommend using   a travel agent to book your Alaska cruise a good  travel agent can help you decide on some factors   listed above a season travel advisor will also be  able to offer recommendations and suggestions to   customize your Alaska cruise your travel parties  preferences they can also save you money on this   pricey Alaska cruise as well in addition to  helping you find the best itinerary and ship   travel agents might have access to discounted  Cruise fairs or advisers might offer additional   perks like onboard credit free gratuities or  specialty dinners these additional perks can   be combined with any promotions from the cruise  lines several of the major Cruise Lines offer   various Fair options some Cruise Lines let you  lock in a lower rate by booking what is called   a guaranteed cabin this will ensure you get  a cabin in a specific category like a balcony   cabin but the location of the cabin is not known  until closer to the sale date we often select this   option as a great way to save money of course  if you want a specific cabin or location or a   prone to motion sickness this option is probably  not good for you many cruise lines also offer   upgrade packages that you should consider pre-  Cruise programs like H recer lines have it at   all Celebrity Cruises all included or Princess  Cruises Princess plus and Princess Premier   packages provide additional savings opting for  one of these packages lets Cruisers save 50% or   more before the Sailing by bundling add-ons like  a drink package Wi-Fi shore excursions or service   charges we often opt for these packages to save  money and to make our cruise more inclusive again   working with a travel agent can help you navigate  the different Fair options available for your   sailing to find one that's right for you we also  always recommend Cruisers opt for travel insurance   for any trip but given the cost and often long  travel distances getting travel insurance for an   Alaska cruise makes even more sense travel delays  loss luggage or other travel hit cups could put a   damper on your long AWA the trip not to mention  they could be very costly to rectify without   coverage travel policies and plans do vary so make  sure to compare the benefits and options while the   cruise lines do offer travel insurance we suggest  you examine various providers to see if there are   plans that better fit your needs if you have the  vacation time and the finances you should consider   extending your Alaska cruise with a cruise tour  many Cruise Lines sing the region offer add-on   land packages these land portions can varying  length and visit more interior locations beyond   the typical Southeastern Alaska ports of call with  a cruise tour guests can enjoy a scenic train ride   a stay in a lodge and visits to places like Denali  National Park Fairbanks or Anchorage the Alaska   cruise season tends to run from late April early  May to the end of September into early October   historically the cheapest time to cruise is during  the beginning and the end of the crew season this   is usually referred to as the shoulder season  we've sailed several times during the shoulder   season and have taken advantage of some great  deals this is true in both may and September   however when sailing during these times of year  the weather can be more unpredictable further when   visiting during this time of year all of the tours  and shore excursions may not be running some shops   and restaurants may also be closed not to mention  some Wildlife may not be as abundant so just   remember that when booking if you want to avoid  the crowds when sailing to Alaska the shoulder   season is also an ideal time to cruise with many  schools still in session in May and most schools   back in session by September there are fewer  families and less tourists overall in Alaska   when sailing during this time of year we have  never had any issues with crowds fewer ships tend   to be sailing during this time especially earlier  in the season with several ships repositioning to   the region by June not only are there less people  on board there are less cruise ships at the ports   of call as well we actually prefer cruising during  shoulder season for this reason however we will be   honest for the best weather Cruisers will want to  sail in the middle of the season during our Alaska   cruise in July we had several sunny days with  temperatures actually reaching into the 70s it   was warm and sunny enough to use the outdoor pools  and whirlpools of course there's no guarantees but   typically the middle of the summer offers the  best weather it also offers the most sunlight   so Cruisers can make the most of the time spent  ashore as well as during Scenic cruising but   with the best weather comes the highest prices  July and early August tend to be the most   expensive time to cruise to Alaska along with  the fjords snowcapped mountains and Glaciers an   Alaska cruise is all about the wildlife during our  cruises we've seen humpback whales bald eagles sea   otters and bears depending on when you Cruise you  might have better chances of seeing some wildlife   of course again there's no guarantee you'll spot  any of these creatures during your trip while they   are found in the Gulf of Alaska during the entire  cruise season you have a better chance of spotting   humpback whales during the months of June and July  traveling from late June through early August will   also increase your likelihood of seeing Bears  especially if you take tours that depart from   Juno or catch aan luckily bald eagles are around  through the entire crew season in various stages   of development but you have the best chance of  seeing adult Eagles teaching young ones to to   fly in August a perk of sailing towards the end  of the Alaska creu season is the chance to see   the Northern Lights the Aurora season is generally  from the end of August until mid April typically   you have a better chance of seeing the Northern  Lights further north in Alaska as cloudy skies   are common in Southeast Alaska still you could get  lucky during the Alaska cruise season the sunsets   earliest in September the skies are the darkest  making for the most ideal viewing conditions   depending on your embarcation Port you will likely  need to arrange airfare you should also consider   booking a pre-cruise or post Cruise hotel's day  while we always recommend flying in a day early   it's even more important when cruising to Alaska  as many will be traveling a good distance to reach   the embarcation ports so you don't want to risk  flight delays or cancellations plus Seattle and   Vancouver are both great cities that deserve some  time for exploration you should check with the   cruise line or your travel ADV visor to see if  there are any promotional airf fars this option   might also offer some peace of mind in case of  air delays as the ship will usually wait for you   or the cruise line will arrange to get you to the  next Port of Call for free while many debate what   state room you should select on Alaska cruise  we have always stayed in a balcony cabin for us   we think it's worth splurging on this upgrade  yes many ships have viewing decks and lounges   and of course we recommend finding the ship that  has these amenities but being able to to see the   scenery at any time of day just a few steps from  your bed is worth it for us yes a balcony cabin   will cost more though it's truly breathtaking to  admire the natural landscapes from the Comforts of   your balcony on an Alaska cruise for US citizens  a passport is technically not required for closed   loop cruises a cruise that begins and ends in the  same Us Port thus if you're cruising to Alaska   roundtrip from Seattle a birth certificate  and government issued ID are the only forms   of documentation required IR ired however just  because you don't need a passport to go on the   cruise doesn't mean that you might not need one to  enter one or more of the ports of call during your   trip for instance you may need a passport for  some Alaska cruise excursions shore excursions   that visit Canada like the White Pass Railway and  Skagway do require a passport to participate much   like shore excursions another one of our expert  Alaska cruise tips is to always book onboard   packages and make reservations before boarding the  ship this is one of the easiest ways to save money   on a cruise these add-ons include anything from  beverage packages and Specialty dining to Wi-Fi   and other experiences not included in your cruise  fair if you have a flexible dining option many   Cruise Lines let you make reservations pre Cruise  as well of course if you plan to D at specialty   restaurants you'll want to pre-reserve those too  Prime Dining times do fill up quickly when not   docked at a Port of Call most Cruise Lines offer  a variety of onboard talks and lectures these are   not your typical Port chopping presentations but  rather enrichment programs that provide valuable   information about the history culture and Wildlife  the ports of call you'll be visiting these talks   are informative fun and educational part of your  cruise that should not be missed the onboard   naturalists or historians really make that cruise  much more enjoyable as we mentioned earlier if   you're cruising through Glacier Bay National Park  Park ranges will actually come on board the cruise   ship these individuals will offer narration and  informational sessions that are definitely worth   attending you're going to do and see a lot during  your Alaska cruise so make sure to get some sleep   there will be early morning calls into your port  and glaci sightings that will have you up at dawn   with up to 18 hours of daylight during peak season  we want to take in all the Majestic views until   late in the evening as well the extra sunlight can  affect your natural sleep cycle so you may want to   consider taking some midday naps or bring some clo  pins to ensure your balcony drapes block out the   light if you head to bed early one night to get  some extra sh ey in short the time of year you Cru   Alaska will dictate to some degree what items you  will need to include on your Alaska cruise packing   list the type of excursions you book should  also factor into what you pack however the most   important Alaska cruise tip we have is to pack  layers given the fluctuations in temperature which   in our exper experience can be 30° or more in  one day you'll need plenty of clothes and varying   degrees of warmth layers that can be easily packed  and taken on and off during the day are preferable   lightweight vest or packable puffer jackets  midweight tops and even thermals might make sense   depending on your own tolerance for cold it's  also a good idea to pack a water resistant day   bag to easily store these extra layers when going  ashore speaking of weather and packing make sure   to bring a pack able rain coat and some waterproof  shoes or boots it will rain during your cruise   lightweight waterproof pants might also be a  smart investment especially if you plan on hiking   or doing waterbased tours like kaying if you're  lucky the rain will only pop up here and there but   Katch a can is one of the rainiest places in the  United States after all even if the day starts off   Sunny be prepared for some fog and Rain to roll in  eventually don't let the damp weather impact your   trip though just be prepared paed with the right  gear another Alaska cruise tip is don't forget   your bathing suit while the weather is not exactly  Beach friendly the Pools and Hot Tubs on the ships   are still open as is the spa and thermal Suite  you might even get lucky enough with the weather   to enjoy the outdoor pools think of how perfect it  would be to enjoy the Alaskan scenery at sailway   while being gently massaged by the warm water  jets of a hot tub so while there are definitely   Essentials you need to bring on your Alaska cruise  whatever you do don't overpack we can speak from   personal experience on our first Alaska cruise we  didn't know what to expect so we headed to Seattle   with three suitcases weighing in at nearly 49 lbs  each we can tell you from personal experience and   selling throughout the Alaska Cru season you  won't need as much out ofwar as you might think   we recommend only packing a few warmer layers  and water resistant gear to go ashore many of   those adventurous tours will provide warmer layers  boots and the necessary accessories so check first   before packing those items of course everybody's  body temperature regulation is different but we   tend to find ships to be actually warm so make  sure to pack some lighter weight items to wear   on board long sleeve te's and t-shirts and even  a pair of shorts might do additionally multi-use   items will help you get a couple wears out of your  outfits if all else fails self-service laundry is   available on many cruise ships as as well so you  can even wash clothes when they get dirty during   your trip while we have gotten better at packing  we still haven't figured out how to travel in just   carry on yet with all your gear and potentially  wet garments packing some magnetic hooks is a   must for those new to cruising the walls of  your stateroom cabin are magnetic so one of   our trusted Cruise cabin hacks is to bring some  magnetic hooks these come in handy to hang bags   hats and those outer layers we often place  these on the wall opposite our bed or on the   other side of the bathroom these magnets can also  be used to post tickets flyers or paper dailies so   they're easy to read and don't get lost on the  desk another trusted cabin hack is to bring a   packable over-the-door shoe organizer but this is  not for your shoes we hang this lightweight unit   in our state room to hold a number of items from  toiletries to medications small ICS sh Excursion   tickets and documents suntan lotion jewelry  and other accessories it's the perfect size for   many small objects that can clutter your desk or  bathroom believe us we take one on every trip and   it always comes in handy with onboard enrichment  early morning Glacier viewing and long days import   you may want to consider not purchasing a Wi-Fi  package on your Alaska cruise while internet on   cruise ships is constantly improving the signal in  Alaska is not always the best it can be impacted   by weather and interference from Landscapes  further most of your ports of call will be in   the United States and likely covered in your sell  service you will want to check your provider's   coverage area prior to sailing if you do use  your cell phone while in Port make sure to put   it back into airplane mode once you set saale you  don't want to incur any expensive roaming charges   while the ship is out to sea it don't have to be  the captain of the ship but learning some basic   nautical terms is especially important before a  cruise to Alaska often times announcements will   be made for wildlife sightings and during Glacier  viewing knowing starboard side versus port side   will ensure you don't miss out on anything port  side refers to the left side of the ship when   facing forward an easy way to remember this is  that Port has four letters as does left starboard   is the right hand side of the ship when facing  the front now when you hear there's been a whale   spotted on the starboard side of the ship you can  just grab your gear and go unlike a Caribbean or   Bahamas cruise where we recommend Cruisers stay  on the ship at one port of call when sailing to   Alaska we suggest you get off at every single stop  we always like having a game plan for each Port of   Call yes we're over planners of course you don't  have to book shore excursions in every port many   of these Alaska cruise ports are walkable if  you just want to explore the down town area or   the cruise lines often have shuttles into town  as well we spent days wandering downtown catch   a can browsing the shops and local restaurants  on Creek Street we've also walked the streets   of Juno or taken our own transportation to menen  Hall Glacier National Park the same can be said in   places like Skagway or icy straight Point there's  plenty to do in these ports of claw that don't   necessitate a Shore Excursion or an all day tour  however there are many thrilling and exciting sh   excursions that you shouldn't Miss this typically  we book excursions in at least half the ports of   call and we do our own self-guided expiration in  the others now we discussed budgeting earlier in   this video and one reason Alaska cruises are so  expensive are the shore excursions so if you have   your heart set on experiences like Glacier hikes  helicopter tours or dog mushing rides make sure to   budget accordingly many of these experiences  can cost upwards of $500 a person or more   of course you don't need to spend that much money  on a tour but some of these activities are bucket   list items for many we typically book one or two  big ticket excursions per Cruise then we opt for   more reasonably priced tours or just spending  the day exploring with lunch or some shopping   but we would suggest budgeting at least $100  per person per Port so with three or four ports   per Cruise don't be surprised if your family  spending thousands of dollars on excursions   on a recent Alaska cruise we spent over $1,000 a  person on tours but we were able to finally do one   of our once- in a-lifetime tours that we've been  trying to do for the past 10 years because it just   kept getting canceled on us since an Alaska cruise  is a once in a lifetime trip for many Travelers   shore excursions do book up quickly waiting a  book on board the ship or delaying until the   actual Port of Call is a risk we would not take  the last thing you want to hear is the Excursion   you've been waiting for all year is already sold  out we suggest booking your short excursions early   as you can always cancel if something pops up  keep an eye on your online Cruise planner as   most Cruise Lines will periodically run sales  on items like shore excursions also you should   investigate local tour providers and thirdparty  tour vendors as they often offer smaller group   tours and sometimes cheaper prices of course  the food on your ship is going to be delicious   and many Cruise Lines do Source local seafood  from Alaska but when in Alaska you should eat   like an Alaskan this means you should indulge  in the plentyful options ashore salmon baks   and Alaskan kid crab are just some of the fresh  local Specialties that you should sample during   your cruise of course you'll need some beverages  to wash down the food as well some recommendations   and popular tourist stops include the Red Dog  Saloon in Juno Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juno   and the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway there's also  the popular Creek Street with shops and rest   and ketchy can but again these are just some of  the recommendations while cameras on smartphones   have come a long way over the years they won't do  the scenery and wildlife in Alaska Justice if you   want great photos to last a lifetime we recommend  bringing a camera with a zoom lens if you don't   own one you can always rent one we rented a zoom  lens for our camera during our last trip to Alaska   and we're so glad we did you can also rent other  equipment like action cameras 360 cameras and   accessories like like stabilizers you can rent  these online for your cruise at a fraction of   what it would cost to buy them you should also  invest in some binoculars they don't have to   be expensive but a pair of binoculars is crucial  when scouting the area for wildlife of course you   can also rent these online as well of note some  premium Cruise Lines do provide a pair in each   cabin now that you know our 35 expert Alaska tips  and tricks we bet you're ready to book that next   Cruise whether it's a Mediterranean cruise Alaska  cruise or Caribbean cruise there are many Cruise   mistakes we see even season Travelers still making  luckily many of these Cruise mistakes can easily   be avoided and in our recent Cruise tips video  we show you exactly how to avoid them that way   you're one step ahead of everyone else on board  and your Alaska cruise will be smooth sailing

Channel: Eat Sleep Cruise

Views: 48,702

Keywords: Alaska Cruise Tips, Alaska Cruise Tips and Trikcs, alaska cruise, cruise to alaska, alaska cruise tips and tricks, alaskan cruise tips, tips for alaska cruise, alaska cruise excursions, alaska cruises, tips for alaskan cruise, cruise tips and tricks, what to know about alaska cruise, first time alaska cruise tips, first alaska cruise, alaskan cruise tips and tricks, eat sleep cruise alaska, eat sleep cruise, alaska secrets, alaska cruise guide

Id: nRpcsK8ZFvQ

Length: 27min 57sec (1677 seconds)

Published: Sun May 19 2024