How to Pick an Alaska Cruise

If you're planning your first Alaska cruise, you've probably typed some version of this into Google or Facebook:

“What is the best cruise line for Alaska?”

It sounds like a logical place to start, right?

One person says Princess. Someone else swears by Holland America. Your neighbor loved Norwegian. Your kids see pictures of a newer Royal Caribbean ship and want that one. Then you discover there are different departure ports, different glaciers, different ports of call and one-way versus round-trip cruises.

Suddenly, choosing a cruise feels like a part-time job. You may have even gone from being excited about planning your vacation to thinking this is one more thing you need to figure out.

So I'm going to make your starting point much simpler: Don't choose the cruise line first.

When I help someone plan an Alaska cruise, one of the first things I look at isn't the cruise line, it’s the itinerary. That's because Alaska is one of those destinations where the ship is less important than where it takes you.

Start with the Alaska experience you want

If you’ve sailed the Caribbean before, you know there’s going to be days at sea, where the ship itself may be a huge part of your decision. You might compare pools, waterslides, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife.

Those things can certainly still matter in Alaska, especially if you're traveling with children or teenagers. But they aren't where I would start.

For Alaska, I'm looking at questions like:

• Which glacier-viewing experience does the itinerary include?

• Which ports does it visit?

• How much time does it spend in those ports?

• Are there particular excursions or experiences that are important to you?

• Does a round-trip or one-way itinerary make more sense?

• Do you want to combine the cruise with a land trip into Alaska's interior?

Those answers can quickly change which cruise I recommend.

What about Glacier Bay?

Glacier Bay is probably one of the first names you'll encounter when researching Alaska cruises, and there's a reason for that. Access by large cruise ships is tightly controlled by the National Park Service.

The National Park Service currently authorizes only a few cruise lines, and allows no more than two cruise ships in Glacier Bay per day. Princess and Holland America have significantly more allocated prime-season entries under the current contracts than the other authorized lines.

That doesn't mean you need to choose an itinerary with Glacier Bay to have an

incredible Alaska cruise.

I didn't. Glacier day was actually my favorite day of my Alaska cruise – of any cruise, in fact - and we didn't sail Glacier Bay.

I loved sailing down the Endicott Arm fjord and watching the scenery unfold around us, as we approached the Dawes Glacier. It was quiet. It was relaxing. There wasn't somewhere we needed to be or an excursion we needed to catch. There was plenty of mulled wine and hot chocolate. All I had to do was relax and enjoy it as we drifted by hanging glaciers, small icebergs, and other scenery.

And that's something I think gets lost when you're researching Alaska online and

encountering endless lists of things you supposedly have to do. There isn't one correct way to experience Alaska. My perfect glacier day doesn't have to be your perfect glacier day.

Would you rather see Alaska from the ship, or experience it from shore?

This is one of the questions I'd rather ask you than, “Which cruise line do you like?”

When you picture Alaska, what excites you more? Is it standing on deck surrounded by mountains, watching glaciers and looking for wildlife?

Or are you dreaming about what happens when you get off the ship, like whale

watching, dog sledding, hiking, flightseeing, fishing, riding a scenic railway or exploring an Alaska town?

(Most people want some of both, of course.)

But knowing which experiences are most important helps me evaluate an itinerary very differently. A Vancouver departure may sail the protected waterways east of Vancouver Island, while many Seattle cruises travel west of the island in the open Pacific. That can mean calmer water and significantly more scenery from the ship when departing Vancouver.

None of this means the cruise line doesn't matter. It absolutely does. Once we've narrowed down the itineraries, then I want to talk about the ship.

• Who's traveling?

• Are there kids or teenagers who need plenty to do?

• Is this an adults-only trip?

• Would you prefer a quieter, more traditional cruise experience or a ship with lots of activities and entertainment?

• How important is dining?

• What type of cabin makes sense?

• Are you planning to spend most of your time exploring Alaska, or do you want the ship itself to be a significant part of the vacation?
  

Those questions help us choose between the cruise lines and ships that offer the right Alaska itineraries for you.

So, which cruise line should you choose for Alaska?

My answer is: Let's not decide that yet. First, let's decide which Alaska you want to

experience. Then we'll find the itinerary that gives you the best opportunity to

experience it.

And then we'll find the cruise line and ship that fit you. Because the goal isn't to book the cruise line someone on the internet says is “best.” It's to come home feeling like you chose the right Alaska vacation for you.

So I'll leave you with two questions:

What sounds more important to you - relaxing glacier and scenic cruising days,

or incredible experiences in port?

And perhaps more importantly:

When would you like to go?

If you already have dates in mind, let's start there. And if you're still looking at all the choices and thinking, “I have absolutely no idea,” that's okay too.

Let's schedule a time to connect. That's exactly what I'm here to help you figure

out.

https://calendly.com/mtpmichelle/cruise

Meet Michelle