A great recipe calls for a variety of carefully measured ingredients. To ensure the finished product is perfect there is usually a little flexibility to add a pinch of this or a swap for that. Planning a vacation in Alaska is the same!

Fun Fact

In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States at the bargain basement price of two cents per acre! Even adjusting for inflation, 33 cents per acre is a fine deal.

Alaska is a top summer destination year after year because it offers so many exciting opportunities for young and old alike. Alaska is a unique place to enjoy a family vacation, nature retreat, or a romantic getaway.

Because of the mountains and ice fields, much of Alaska is only accessible by plane or ship. Cruising is a spectacular way to get right into the charming towns and make the most of your vacation.

Planning an Alaska Cruise

As a previous cruise ship employee and Alaska lover, I want to help others experience the magic of America’s last frontier.

If you’re planning an Alaska cruise and wondering how to best spend time in port, read on for my suggestions.

Upmarket cruise options like Uncruise, Ponant, Lindblad, and Hurtigruten will have shore excursions planned for you, and included in your fare. If you’re booked on an all-inclusive line, enjoy your trip!

My advice below is more applicable for folks booked on a mid-range cruise line such as Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Disney, or Norwegian.

To create the ideal Alaska cruise vacation, there are four ingredients. But I’m going on a cruise! How do I only pick 4 things?!

Trust me, it will make sense as we go through it together. Also, with this recipe you can double up on a category based on your desires or budget. This method will give you a well-rounded experience.

Plan your cruise by picking the ports where you will:

1. See wildlife,
2. Get up in the air,
3. Learn about Native Alaskan culture and Alaskan history, and
4. Simply walk around.

This sounds easy, right? But as soon as you dig into the options in various ports, your eyes will start crossing. I’ve included some sample excursions and tours so you can put together the itinerary that will give you the perfect recipe.

Book on your own or through the cruise line. There are pros and cons associated with both options, so that preference is up to you. There is no need to overdo it or spend a ton of money, as there are inexpensive options for all of the key ingredients!

Here are some options: not exhaustive but some ideas to choose from.

Wildlife

Alaska is so amazing for wildlife lovers. In many cities you can see bald eagles perched on street lamps and rooftops right above your head. Some of the places below will guarantee animal sightings and experiences, but please know that wildlife viewing varies by time of the year. Also note that a whale watching trip is not just whales, you have the opportunity to see seals, otters, sea lions, puffins, and more.

• Fortress of the Bear in Sitka
• Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka
• Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward
• Whale watching in Auke Bay, Juneau
• Mushing with huskies in Ketchikan
• Salmon running in various rivers
• Fishing excursions

Birds Eye View

If you can afford a helicopter or seaplane/airplane tour, absolutely book it. There’s no better way to experience the geography and mesmerizing ice fields and glaciers than from above. That way you can truly grasp the enormity and beauty of Alaska. If those activities fall out of your budget (or if you’re too scared), there are ways to enjoy the view by spending less to no money! Sub in a hike to get your altitude fix. There are gorgeous viewpoints on trails that start right from port towns.

• Seaplane through Misty Fjords
• Helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier
• Small plane tour in Skagway or Haines
• Mount Roberts Tram in Juneau
• White Pass Summit Railroad in Skagway, or car rental and drive through the pass

Kill two birds with one stone: take a helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier and add mushing or trekking on top!

Walking

One of the wonderful things about an Alaska cruise is that the towns are small and easy to navigate on foot. If the ship docks in a spot away from the town center (like Sitka), then shuttles will take you into town.

• Historic Creek Street in Ketchikan
• Skagway walk to cemetery, guided tour
• Walk around Mount Roberts, can hike up and down or sub in the tram for a one way trip
• Chinatown in Victoria
• Historic walking tours in Skagway or Victoria
• Stroll through Bouchard Gardens in Victoria
• Hiking trails in every port!

Native Alaskan and/or Historical Activities

• Native village tour in several ports
• Totem Poles in Sitka National Historic Park in Sitka
• Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan
• Tallest totem pole in the world at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria
• Gold panning near Juneau
• Museums: Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak, Sitka History Museum, Tongass Historical Museum in Ketchikan

Bonus activities!

There’s tons of fun stuff to do in every port. Here’s some other ideas to sprinkle in to your itinerary.

• Lumberjack show in Ketchikan
• Dive bars
• Kayaking or canoeing
• Shopping
• Breweries/distilleries
• Eating!

Sample Itineraries

So what does this Alaska recipe look like in action?

Here’s a few sample itineraries for the ports of call. The list does not include scenic cruising days, though some cruises may offer excursions during scenic cruising.

For example, Princess offers a small boat glacier-viewing experience for a fee. During our last Alaska cruise, the water near Tracy Arm had too much ice for the ship to pass through. The only ones on our voyage that were able to see the glacier that day were the guests that had booked the glacier explorer excursion.

Sample 1, from Seattle

• Juneau: float plane
• Sitka: Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor Center, and Sitka National Historic Park tour (with a guide or self-guided)
• Ketchikan: walking and shopping around town
• Victoria: pedicab tour through Chinatown

Sample 2, from Vancouver

• Juneau: helicopter trip to Mendenhall and walk around town shopping
• Skagway: salmon running in river (typically July/August), Chilkoot Wilderness and Wildlife Viewing tour
• Ketchikan: Totem Heritage Center and Lumberjack show
• Tracy Arm: land option only for guests on excursion

Sample 3, from Seattle

• Juneau: gold panning, mushing with huskies, Tracy’s Crab Shack
• Skagway: White Pass and Yukon Route Railway (or rent a car and drive that route), walk to the cemetery
• Ketchikan: Misty Fjords plane ride, Tongass Historical Museum
• Victoria: walk around and have dinner

Sample 4, from Anchorage/Seward

• Icy Strait Point: whale watching trip
• Juneau: visit Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Walter Soboleff Building, take the Mount Roberts tram and walk around the trails
• Skagway: small airplane flight over ice fields, visit Skagway Brewing Company
• Ketchikan: Rainbird Hiking Trail, kayaking trip

Advice

Weather

Narrow down your plan to at least two things in each port. Make a backup plan in case of rain. The weather changes often and you’ll be able to pivot quickly if your helicopter tour is canceled last-minute.

Washingtonians

Victoria, British Columbia is a beautiful city on Vancouver Island. But if you live in Washington, you can easily get to Victoria by taking the Clipper or Black Ball Ferry.

Consider cruising out of Vancouver instead of Seattle. Due to the Jones Act, all ships departing from Seattle will stop in Victoria, sometimes only for a few hours. But the cruises departing from Vancouver do not have that requirement and typically do not stop there.

Getting to Vancouver is a slight hassle but busses, planes, and the lovely Amtrak Cascade train all make frequent trips between Vancouver and Seattle. Plus it’s a great way to extend your vacation: stay a few nights in Vancouver before getting onboard.

Another perk is that ships from Vancouver sail the beautiful Inside Passage, the waterway between Vancouver Island and mainland Canada.

Budget

If you dislike tour groups, are trying to save a few bucks, or are extremely independent, there are ways to plan activities on your own.

Research local buses or shuttles shoreside. For example, travelers can easily take a shuttle bus to Mendenhall Glacier for only a few bucks. There’s also a local bus in Sitka that will take passengers right to Fortress of the Bear for around $5 USD per person round trip. Just make sure to have cash and exact change!

Packing

Not all inclusive, just some items not to miss!

• Rain jacket
• Binoculars
• Bathing suit
• Water bottle
• Beanie
• Tripod

Conclusion

The choice of Alaskan port activities can be overwhelming. To get the most out of your Alaska cruise, make sure to include some of all four of the key ingredients. No matter how you combine them, you are sure to have a fun and enriching cruise vacation!

If you’re thinking of booking a cruise with Princess, reach out to Melissa. She is a Vacation Cruise Planner and she makes the booking process so easy! Plus you’ll get $25 of onboard spending just for booking with her.