Alaska Cruise : 6 Things You Need To Get Right

[@BruceJSkelly]

We were standing in the rain, elbow to elbow with our fellow passengers on the top deck of our ship cruising Glacier Bay, when I realized that we were directly above our cabin. We Went down to our cabin ordered up a carafe of coffee, an assortment of cookies and relaxed on our balcony, enjoying the sights without getting wet.

[@savannah115]

I'm a ranger at the Mendenhall Glacier. This is only my opinion, but if you have the option, I'd take the city bus and walk to the Glacier. It's cheaper and it allows you more time to explore. I can't tell you how many people tell me they didn't have enough time to spend at the site. (Disclaimer: Just my personal advice; not endorsed by my employer) ETA: Juneau had a rough year without the ships. If you can, try to buy from the businesses that say they are owned by Alaskans in the window. That goes to the community!

[@SadhuTravels]

Thank you for these valuable tips. Nothing like supporting local businesses which retain most of their earnings in the community.

[@sheilalarson8964]

I am booked on an Alaskan cruise and was planning on doing just that. I have been to the Mendenhall Glacier before but want to go back and spend more time there. Beautiful way to spend the day!

[@MelissaHiatt]

Thank you for the tip!! It's great to hear from a local. We are planning on visiting the Glacier and was wondering about transport. It's good to know that the city bus takes you there! We definitely prefer supporting the local businesses when we're on a cruise.

[@A6662Y]

Qw 👌🏻

[@HydnBB2]

Going in June. Can’t wait ☺️

[@glacierblue456]

This was such an interesting video! I'm a Juneau local and agree with the tips in this video! I thought I'd throw in my two-cents about what I think is worth your time in walking distance from the ships. Food/Drinks: There's a new, small, cluster of staple summer food stands/trucks at the intersection of S Franklin St and Front St. If you ask any local where "the big blue clock" is and walk in that direction you'll run right into them. There's also a high concentration of locally/Alaskan Native owned businesses in this same area. If you're of legal drinking age, there are a few distilleries right up the hill from the same food trucks that are definitely worth checking out if you're into that kind of thing! If you're not into drinking then Heritage Coffee is a nearby, local staple. Museums: The Sealaska Heritage Museum is located about two blocks over from the food stands. You can learn more about the Indigenous cultures of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people as well as see some beautiful artwork. There is currently (end of June 2021) a large construction project for a new art campus right across from the building so just keep that in mind. Happy cruising!

[@Tricky_Adventures]

Alaska was one of my favorite cruises (Princess). A great one for a first cruise in case you don't know if you will like cruising, since there is a huge amount to do off ship. Agree in getting a balcony, Glacier Bay, and the rest of his tips. I often don't for Caribbean cruises, but for Alaska definitely worth hanging out on your balcony and checking the scenery. I went some years ago (like 8 years I think) and it was the best. My advice is based on that experience. Tip #1: Vancouver is a great starting off point. I went there like 3 days early, allowed me to check out things in Vancouver than leisurely board the ship. Just don't overdo it walking in Stanley Park. Tip #2: Juneau: Went with an excursion of Mendenhall Glacier with Whale Watching. Did the excursion because time is tight if you do both and you want to have them wait on you rather than miss your boat (if you booked them yourself) plus the price was no different I found than off boat, so it was a good value. Tip #3: Ketchikan: If you want to check out the totems, there are two sites at opposite ends of town. In the middle of town is the shops, etc and the cruise ship docks. There is local buses that run along the main route between the two sites that costs $1. If you don't have children to slow you down and you don't doddle you can take the bus to one site, then across to the other site and see both, then go back to the middle to see a bit of the town and be close to the ships so you don't have to worry about missing the boat. The totem sites are quite cheap. The excursion you could get from the ship would only allow you to see one of the sites due to time (group time) and cost much more than you could do yourself. Fodor's book "Alaska Ports of Call" was a great book with lots of useful tips and info on what to do in the ports. Highly recommend it.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching and also adding these tips! Much appreciated :-)

[@hellokitty2848]

Thanks for the tips!!

[@sandramagill3877]

Your recommendations are spot on. I lived in Alaska for 6 years and have cruised back 3 times. Just make sure everyone dresses in layers to adjust for the weather of the day. Another reason to cruise in May, it is before the mosquitos come out (aka the unofficial Alaskan State Bird)

[@Motochick203]

When is the best time for northern lights??

[@sandramagill3877]

@@Motochick203 the best time for the northern lights is winter. In the summer in Juneau, for instance, you have 18 hours of daylight. Then deep twilight. It is not dark enough to see the northern lights. In the winter you only have 6 hours of daylight.

[@Motochick203]

@@sandramagill3877 thank you. I was hoping you would have said sept.. as sept is the last month royal caribbean does the cruises to alaska

[@sandramagill3877]

@@Motochick203 September is a possibility. The days are getting shorter rapidly. The later in the month, the greater the possibility. At least on a cruise, you won’t have trees and other houses blocking your sight as I had. One thing to look forward to, the North Star seems so close, I always felt that I could just reach up and pluck it from the sky.

[@CowboyBike06]

@@Motochick203 - You should fly up one winter to Fairbanks, Alaska and check out the various hotels, cabins, and AirBnB, that cater to those wishing to try to view the Northern Lights. There are many places, because we have a large number of Japanese that come up to view them as well. Also, you can take the Alaska Railroad train on an Aurora viewing trip. Be sure to book the domed cabins. Fantastic views. I’m unsure if this is an issue in the winter or not. Double check. If you have any questions about Alaska I may be able to help or at least point you in the right direction. To view the Aurora’s should be on everyone’s bucket list. They take our breath away every time. The most spectacular are when the Aurora’s are red, as that is very rare to see. I’ve only seen them once. They were gorgeous! Happy Traveling!!

[@angelaterranova1577]

This was great! Looking at Alaskan cruise in 2023 to celebrate my kids college and HS graduations!

[@Melbert30]

We did it for my daughter’s HS graduation in 2019 and it was great! Your whole family will love it!

[@kylelloyd7940]

Missed these types of videos. I completely understand the need for the news updates but seeing a cruise/voyage video feels back to normal! Great vid

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks. I do looking forward to being able to move back to doing more cruising only videos!!

[@28PapaDuck]

I truly hope cruises start back up soon, I'm not counting on it though. I just lost my Mom in December and my Dad now feels lost. My sisters and I are trying to find things for him to look forward to, and doing a cruise together is one of them. So here's hoping! Stay safe everyone!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Sorry to hear. I hope too that things do start to align as we head into 2021 more. Though looking a bit bleak at the moment. Hopefully soon.....

[@AuntK68]

Our first-ever cruise was to Alaska almost a year after my Mom passed, and it was a great thing for my Dad to be able to help plan, look forward to, and experience. So sorry for your loss, hoping your Dad is finding those moments of joy in daily life again.

[@Richard2003]

In Juneau while the others in my party took a copter ride over the Medenhall glacier, I took a $30 bus ride to it. Was a fantastic time.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great tip!!!!

[@JGlennFL]

We did the same. We were able to hike right up to the waterfall at the base.

[@RichardRogovinDC]

@@tipsfortravellers And no need to pay the cruise line. Plenty of booths right off the ship to buy the bus tickets.

[@happysweety123]

Thank you for sharing. Do you remember schedule in the morning or afternoon?

[@happysweety123]

@@RichardRogovinDC Thank you for sharing.

[@jasonpresley690]

In Ketchikan take one of the Red Trolly tours. They take you to the backside of one of the bear sanctuaries. We got so close to watching bears feasting on Salmon as well as Eagles flying all over the place. And it was only like $45/person. We did some expensive excursions in Alaska but this was probably the best one.

[@WordTree0358]

Would you like to tell where to buy the ticket of Red Trolly tours?

[@jasonpresley690]

@@WordTree0358 immediately when you get off the cruise ships there are booths for all kinds of excursions. One of those is for the Red Trolley tour. The Red Trolleys are everywhere

[@WordTree0358]

@@jasonpresley690 I will go to Alaska in the May and Good to know the information that you gave. Thank you very much!

[@Rudy-te4rn]

Haven't done an Alaska Cruise yet but your video was a real eye opener with worthwhile tips.

[@phyllislowry6265]

I went ob Princess from Vancouver , inside passage & it was one of the best cruises I ever took. It was 15yrs ago though. Alaska is beautiful . I went in July & it was chilly with some rain.

[@neutrino78x]

I heard humpack whale songs only one time, but it was amazing! I was a sonar tech on submarines, I heard this live on sonar....of course I was listening to all the sounds in the water for tactical reasons, and I came up on one bearing and I heard the whale songs!!! So beautiful. :)

[@PhillProbst]

Biggest tip I would have is to consider a land/sea combo tour, which includes a land section by rail and/or motor coach with visits to Denali and stays at lodges on land combined with the inside passage tour component.

[@tacrewgirl]

I'd recommend doing a cruise and then renting an RV in Anchorage for a week and doing your own thing vs a bus tour. It's much cheaper and gives you freedom.

[@daphnekivinen9482]

I was fortunate to have 5 cruises to Alaska. 7 weeks all totalled. I am so happy that I went when I did because each cruise was decidedly less enjoyable when it came to customer service. My first cruise, I was treated like a princess. My last cruise was not so good. Early month cruises have less trained staff. Towards the end of the season they have their act together.

[@chriswilliams6568]

In 3 cruises to Alaska, we only ever took the Mendenhall excursion, well worth it. It is about a 20 min drive from Juneau. Other than that we walked around the towns. We do not spend money on helicopters or dog sleds, and we had driven the distance from Whitehorse to Skagway before, so did not book the White Pass Rail tour. Thanks again, good video. In 2014 while docked in Skagway, we were treated to whale watching right below our balcony, a mum and baby Orca were there for over an hour.

[@kays749]

I've done six Alaska cruises, and I can attest all your advise is spot on.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Nice! I am due back this year though not sure that will happen as it is at usual start of season which seems optimistic...

[@ernop350]

how much would you say you spend on an average cruise 😱

[@benafel]

I just booked my excursions on my 2023 Alaska cruise/land tour. This video helped me make decisions and helped me persuade my husband to splurge on some choices. We can afford it, but we are both frugal.

[@loupoulain8103]

Juneau and Ketchikan are great towns for exploring on foot.

[@Right-is-Right357]

We took the last cruise of the season (21st Sep) from Vancouver, on Holland America and enjoyed it thoroughly. We were lucky to have great weather at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Glacier Bay was great too! The greatest advantage of this last cruise is that the ports shut down for winter and you get some super deals - 50 to 70% off! The shopping on board is a pleasure. Everything is on clearance sale. Alaska Cruise is a Must on every cruising enthusiast's bucket list.

[@perrikennedy8134]

If all goes well, my first cruise back after shutdown will be a return to Alaska. Fingers crossed!

[@tipsfortravellers]

🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@wendychen2828]

Same!!! 🤞🤞🤞 originally we were going may 2020....and well. ....we all know what happened next.....

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I’m booked for Princess September 5-12. 🤞

[@golfnut2599]

we did a 14 day cruise/land tour on Holland America and we highly recommend it, and yes you must get a balcony, for us this was trip of a lifetime, we had no budget

[@tipsfortravellers]

That sounds like a great trip! Glad you agree on the balcony point as it does take some convincing for some that it is worth the $$$

[@ayensworld]

I can't wait for my cruise to Alaska next year. It will be my first time in Alaska. Thanks for the tips!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great video Gary! Our family is hoping to go to Alaska in 22 and your video was so helpful

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks, great to hear it was helpful.

[@BirchLeafPhotography]

The glacier in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier. It was named after one of my ancestors. The name Mendenhall comes from Mildenhal, which is a town/area near Ramsbury, Wiltshire, England. That is where the family name originated so being a Brit, you may have heard of it. Also, the totem park is Ketchikan is Totem Bight (no "R") park. Those paddlewheel images of the Discovery II are actually in Fairbanks, which is nowhere near the places in this video. It's in the interior of the state so if you do a land/sea excursion which includes Fairbanks, you can go on those. I work at one of the tourism centers and just wanted to add those little bits

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for adding this!! Much appreciated !!

[@JGlennFL]

Another great video! We cruised Alaska in mid-June 2014 on Disney and stopped in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, along with cruising Endicott Arm (we were scheduled to go up Tracy Arm, but there was a large chunk of ice blocking the entrance). I pretty much agree with everything you said except the balcony cabin. The cost difference (minimum $2K for us) and the fact there is a view from just about everywhere on ship were the deciding factors for me. I even saw porpoises and an orca from the exercise bike in the gym and a humpback whale from the adults only restaurant during brunch. Also, something to keep in mind is that these ships were mainly designed to cruise in warm weather, so bundle up if you go.

[@wanderingstormjen]

My first cruise ever (to Alaska of course!) is set for the end of August 2022. And I already booked my train ride for Skagway!! Videos like this were instrumental in helping me plan. Thanks for all you do Gary!

[@LCLand]

Skagway is my favorite sail away. Don’t miss it 🥰

[@lidnatva]

How was it?

[@wanderingstormjen]

Sadly Skagway had to shut down their port due to rockslides before I made it there. Was super bummed. We ended up in Icy Strait which was still pretty but I sure miss that train ride

[@lidnatva]

@@wanderingstormjen I am still hesitant about Alaska cruise, you think it's worth it?

[@PuenteAJ]

Did most of the trips in 2019 on 14 day Alaska cruise. A wish I had for 40 years. Loved it, want to go back. Went with Princess, they were fantastic,not a single complaint. Great recommendations Gary, agree with them all. We were lucky in Juneau, got to see mama bear catching salmon for 2 cubs, while on a trip to the glacier Park. .

[@randyw9266]

Our recent cruise on Holland America was outstanding in every way!

[@Amber86queenbee]

I planned what was meant to by my first Alaska cruise (cancelled) based on your original Alaska videos. Your advice was so very helpful and I love that you are still covering how to plan by location - sometimes it helps to have goals and we will travel again soon. 🙏 Edit: And my choice is Princess or Holland America departing Whittier to Vancouver - as you get both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier (which you can get on a small boat tour for it). A few days based at Girwood first gives you the opportunity to do glacier dogsledding or flight seeing over Prince William Sound (which you see on the northbound) and reviews seem to imply the weather is better for choppers more mainland.

[@luvtravel6207]

Woooo I just paid for my Alaska excursions! You have to know you’re going to spend more on these excursions but for me it’s a must do!

[@tammy_oh_nevermind]

Loved this, thank you! Alaska is my happy place. Can't wait to get back. ☺

[@tipsfortravellers]

Me too 👍🏻

[@davidszakacs6888]

Tracy Arm takes you right up to the glacier. On the way, in season, you’ll see orcas hunting seals. In Juneau, be sure to visit Alaskan Brewing.

[@NWRCB]

You should mention that the White Pass and Yukon railway goes into Canada (hence the Yukon in the name), The train stops in British Columbia on the Canadian side, but you can do a side trip from there into Yukon Territory, that's what we did on Princess.

[@rickcudmore8156]

We have cruised to Alaska twice, both times out of Vancouver. First time in Sept 2013 on Princess 7 day round trip, it rained all 7 days but we were prepared. Cruised June 2019 on Celebrity 7 day to Seward, it rained 5 of 7 days. Yes, be prepared for the weather and have a budget as excursions are expensive.

[@JoeFrohlich]

This is the best video I have seen on this Alaska trips.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks!

[@punstress]

I have my mind set on Holland because 1) their ships are not only classically beautiful, but every one is purpose built for Alaska, with a low bow that passengers are allowed to use for viewing glaciers, which gets them very close to the water where they can see sea life below. 2) Being among the few cruise lines grandfathered in to access Glacier Bay, they not only go in but they can spend the whole day as opposed to others that spend half-days there. 3) Being among the first, they get the best positions at the port, so you are closer to the destination and don't have to trudge three football fields away. 4) They have longstanding relationships with local experts and do things like bringing naturists, native Alaskans, and husky pups aboard. 5) If I do partake of the cruise tour, their hotel is better positioned deeper into the park to better see wildlife and Denali. That's all I can think of for now. I did attend a presentation by a Holland rep that gave so many details. Princess would be my second choice, mostly because they have much the same status as Holland but I find their ships unimpressive. Then Cunard, although I haven't heard any feedback about their recent return to Alaska, because, well it's Cunard.

[@michaelh2716]

My wife & I will be on the Crown Princess in June 2023!!! Thanks for the Video!

[@quinntacony9577]

I cruised on Disney Cruise Line and it was amazing!! Definitely recommend

[@toothybj]

We went on an Alaskan cruise several years back and it was amazing! We went in July & managed to squeeze in 3 tours in Juneau: (1) Mendenhall Glacier, (2) Glacier Gardens, and (3) Salmon hatchery. We also did Salmon fishing in Ketchikan (caught several, including a ~20 lb King) and a kayak excursion at another port. Definitely going again!

[@girlfriendsguidetotraveling]

Alaska cruise is one of the best destinations!

[@tipsfortravellers]

agree!!!

[@krissiaa.2732]

As a former crew member that did the Alaska Itinerary for almost 2 years, I confirm that booking a shore excursion is a "Must" to enjoy Alaska, please note that the most beautiful landscapes are not accesible by land, only by helicopter, float plane, or smaller boats. So do not skip those! Except for Juneau where you can just take the tramway to the top of the mountain, or go to the glacier by bus, most of the ports are tiny boring villages, not much to see or do around the port unless you go on an organized tour! Also as he already said on the video the weather is very unpredictable so cancelations on "flight tours" can happen, have always a plan B in case of bad weather / cancelation.

[@AmyThrash]

Wow, thanks for this information! What about northern lights? - is Fairbanks the only place to see them?

[@krissiaa.2732]

@@AmyThrashI think is pretty unlike to see them from the ship, in those 2 years I never got the chance to see them, however once my former collega's post photos on social media! I guess you just have to be lucky, I have heard the best place to see the northern lights is Lapland in the winter.

[@abbyhall6588]

Good points about Holland America and Princess. Budgeting advise is vital. A lot of tourists are surprised about the higher costs in Alaska. Valdez is pronounced with a long E, Valdeez, that'll be a dead giveaway of tourists vs locals.

[@dianaschulz6593]

Great information. Booked our fist cruise to Alaska in May 2022.

[@irishinusa1615]

Great information Gary, Thank you. We have now moved our 2021 to Alaska to May 2022. Felt it a safer bet. 👍🤞🤞🤞

[@tipsfortravellers]

Fingers crossed!

[@PhillProbst]

When we took our Princess cruise about 10 years ago there was a 3rd option ... land/sea. The cruise we took involved a flight to Anchorage where we boarded the Princess cars on the Alaska railroad for a trip to Princess' Denali lodge. The excursions involved visits to Talkeetna and flights around Denali (aka Mt.McKinley). The return departed from Whittier and cruised through the inside passage with visits to glaciers, Juneau, Skagway, & Ketchican, finally arriving in Vancouver B.C. For the flight home.

[@cindycho5699]

What are your thoughts on first seating versus second seating dining on an Alaska cruise?

[@sherrellbennett1333]

We went to Alaska on a Princess cruise on Sep. 22, 2018. The weather was kind of a disappointment. It was mid 70's the whole time. LOL! I expected to see lots of snow but didn't see hardly any! All of the heavy clothing we bought for the trip was wasted. But it was FABULOUS!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Nice problem to have for sure!

[@laurendoerr]

We went in 2011 on Carnival Spirit and had a aft wrap balcony cabin and another normal balcony cabin on the other side of the ship. (we travel as a family of 4 so always have 2 balcony cabins). The aft wrap was VERY much worth it for that trip. Between the 2 cabins we had balconies on 3 sides of the ship and it was amazing. We did a private whale watch and saw a mother humpback teaching her calf how to feed so lots of jumps. We saw a big pod of orcas as well and they came right up to our boat. We did the dog sledding as well in another port. Overall that trip was the single best vacation we have ever been on (and we travel a lot). We spent a couple of days pre cruise in Seattle and that was great. The Lincoln Park Zoo was the best zoo we have ever been to and we have been to zoos all over the country and even some out of the country.

[@malundy]

I guess it depends on your ideal for a cruise. Mine isn't one of these huge cruise ships. We did Alaska but chose an adventure type cruise on one of the Uncruise boats. We chose to do half the cruise and sailed from Ketchikan to Juneau in May. In retrospect we wished we had booked the full trip. By cruise liner standards the rooms are on the primitive side but no one spent time in their rooms except to sleep. One thing we liked was that it was a small boat. In fact, combined crew and passengers could all fit in one lifeboat on a Holland line ship. Small boats can go places that big cruise ships can't. The main thing is the focus on nature with shore excursions and being able to get up close because the boat is small. They were able to take out on zodiac type boats to look at a glacier (from a safe distance) and we could feel the swell when the glacier calved and also explore the shore line. Another shore excursion was a stop at a small Inuit town. It's always iffy what sort of wildlife you'll see, but we were warned that in May we were not likely to see any bear as it was early for them - we didn't. The food was excellent, the crew terrific, and the small number of passengers made it a more intimate experience. If I wasn't retired on a fixed income I'd love another Uncruise adventure cruise.

[@ricklaplante1687]

Wife and I did our very first cruise in May of 2018. Round trip to Alaska out of San Francisco, we live 20 minutes away. It was a awesome trip for our first cruise. Rained one day. Can't say one bad thing about this cruise. One funny moment, while going back through customs in S.F. we were asked "Was this your first cruise "? I guess all our gift backs gave it away. Lol.....

[@heatherjones6647]

For a different experience try Canada's own Maple Leaf Adventure Tours out of Vancouver. They specialize in all kinds of inside passage cruises, including Alaska, and have 3 very different small boats to choose from. You can even book an entire boat for your extended family which makes it a very Covid safe option. I plan to go on their Haida Gwaii tour in May 2022.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Nice tip, thanks !

[@sallyshort7255]

The tram in Juneau is now called Goldbelt Tram. I visited there May 2021.

[@shantia_30]

I have an Alaska cruise in August! I hope it doesn't get canceled. I'm so excited!

[@tipsfortravellers]

🤞🤞🤞

[@hettytravels]

Great video....agree with the others that it is nice to see this type of video again. I did a two week land and sea on Princess via Tauck. I had an absolute fabulous time.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks! Appreciate as always you watching 👍🏻👍🏻

[@andreatamayo7215]

Omg. So many decisions to make. I definitely want the dog sledding. I love dogs❤️🐶will start saving now.

[@karichucko6243]

Appreciate all the recommendations. We attended the Great Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan (despite our travel agent trying several times to talk us out of it) and thoroughly enjoyed it! In Skagway we caught a ferry over to Haines where we played golf at Valley of the Eagles-a nice little 9 hole executive course. We are booked in June 2022 and very much looking forward to visiting this beautiful area again.

[@rozlin313]

I've been to Alaska twice out Vancouver and also flew to Anchorage. A BF and I also did the 4 day train followed by the cruise. Trying to get hubby to go. These trips were awesome. Interesting and sad to see the changes in the glacier due to global warming. For a 3rd cruise I'd love to go out Seattle.

[@chriswilliams6568]

if you go out of Seattle, make sure it goes up the inside passage, much more scenic than sailing round the west side of Vancouver Island.

[@davedove67]

I did a couple of Inside Passage cruises with Holland America, but neither one went to Skagway. The Lumberjack Show is a hoot!

[@cindybridges3046]

Thank you! These tips are VERY informative for me. I plan to take a cruise to Alaska when we resume cruising again and will apply these tips when planning.

[@TheSeanBampton]

9:08 ummm..... LOL Thanks again for the great info Gary. Living on Vancouver Island gives us a great perspective of nature and I've been to Alaska a few times with the Military. One day we'll get up there on a cruise.

[@andreas4268]

Thank you Gary! We are going to Alaska in 2022 and from what you have said we are spot on with our planning! So excited to go! Love your reviews!

[@tedkim3326]

Great video but many things suggested are not allowed for quite some time due to the fact that you can only do cruise line excursions and you are not allowed to venture off on your own.

[@MichellePavel]

Hi Gary, do you have an updated version of the Alaska inside passage? Are there any cruise liners that go both ways, from Vancouver and back? Thank you 🙏

[@msdltv]

This really helped me to understand the cruises to Alaska a lot better. Thanks!

[@cherylkoski7184]

Agree.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching

[@danielgaskell5490]

Thanks for the ship-side advice and route excursion insights! Still the vlog for CRUISING!

[@Captain-Cosmo]

Just booked the Majestic Princess in September!

[@penelopepitstop762]

Great video, thank you! It is my dream to cruise to Alaska some day. My husband has a friend who immigrated to Juneau, who he hasn’t seen in 30 years, so we would have a personal tour guide there and he has been asking us to come for a visit!

[@DJ_afroASH]

Haha just watched your live today I asked you a Alaska base question and this one pops up! It’s like YT knows! :)

[@TheCyberadam26]

Great video Gary! I cannot wait to return to Alaska and do the White Pass Railway again. Also if you like seafood, Tracy's Crab Shack is a must eat destination while visiting Juneau.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for the tip!!

[@PhillProbst]

The land/sea options are listed on the Princess site under "cruisetours", as opposed to "cruises".

[@anakerose]

We've had 2 Alaska cruises cancelled for 2020 & 2021. Fingers crossed for May 2022 (14nt roundtrip Vancouver on Sapphire Princess). We've been twice already and I'd go a hundred times! We love going out to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Totem BIGHT (not Bright, say it like bite).

[@tipsfortravellers]

100x seems like a great number to aim for when it comes to Alaska :-) I am sure by May 2022 things will be sorted.... please!!

[@NoMapsNeededTravel]

We Love and I mean LOVE Alaska here at No Maps. We have been on 2 Alaskan Cruises and Sept 2021 will be our first with Princess ( we have done Holland America before) Excited to see Alaska especially Skagway (Agree with your Gary that it’s our fav port also)

[@tipsfortravellers]

Nice. I also have drown HAL and this year is due to be Princess... though not sure if it will happen but hoping things change and move fast to make it so!

[@biblicalgodisonlytruegod]

BEST for me was SEA PLANE ... “Misty Fjords” excursion name. You fly over snow capped mountains ...then LAND in a small lake surrounded by nature. Talk about being in the middle of nowhere! The pilot urged us to get OUT of the plane and stand on the pontoon! I also did the helicopter landing on top of a glacier ($500.) GLACIER WATER IS DELICIOUS!!!

[@devon7584]

Thank you for this! Alaska is at the top of my list of places to cruise to, and I appreciate this information and suggestions.

[@wisskier]

Diaz Cafe in Ketchikan rocks!

[@ericd.5586]

Great video with info going for my 50th bucket list TY

[@ianleaver4967]

Brilliant informative video, thanks Gary.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks :-)

[@lottieconnor4913]

All of your videos are extremely informative and are helping us prepare for our very first cruise. We are going to Alaska on Silver Seas Muse this summer. Can you please address what type of lanyard is best to get and, do we carry our original C. vaccine card with us or, just a copy? Thank you so much for your help.

[@gtjgtj8334]

Gary Enjoy your videos even though I don't post a lot. Very interested in Alaska. Again Thanks

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching. Much appreciated!

[@azadvantage]

Great tips! Thank you so much! I’ve never thought about whether to stay on the port side or starboard side when going on a northbound or southbound cruise. I will remember that when I am booking!

[@adamrobinson8620]

Dammit, my wife and I were accepting we might never get back to the USA because of the pandemic and uncertainty over health insurance, and then you remind me how beautiful Alaska is! Not helping! :) Absolutely second your recommendation of the White Pass Railway. We just bought tickets on the day...figured there is no danger of missing the ship since it’s all one train. If someone could only do one cruise in their lifetime, Alaska would be a really good choice.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Sorry for the video :-) :-) Agree on your tip!

[@deborahmohammed1762]

What about the Northern lights, can you see them in late August??

[@cindys8410]

We are planning to go to Alaska next year and have NEVER been on a cruise before. Thank you so much for the helpful info. Just one question for traveling in late May: Is it better to start with the land trip first and then cruise south or start in Vancouver, cruise, and then do the land? Any advantages of one over the other? How many land days are optimum, as both cruise lines offer varied packages?

[@lanabanana73]

I wish this had been answered, as I have the same questions!

[@cindys8410]

@@lanabanana73 After talking to many people about this, almost everyone said to do the land tour before the cruise. That is what we booked and decided to start mid-June with the land part. We are doing 7 days land and then 7 days cruising going south. I can let you know in early July how it all turned out.

[@CP140405]

I second the vote for the White Pass and Yukon rail trip. As a kid I rode it from Whitehorse to Skagway way back when it was a working railway hauling ore concentrate down from Whitehorse. One thing to remember is that even if you are on cruise in/out of Seattle, you will be in Canadian waters and probably stop at either Vancouver or Victoria. A passport is a real good idea!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Agree 👍🏻

[@CP140405]

And... if flying in/out of Vancouver for an Alaska cruise, (other than arriving a day or two early of course) one tip is to take the "Skytrain" from the airport terminal (it's on the domestic side so you may have a bit of a walk from arrivals) directly downtown. It will take about 1/2 an hour, is very inexpensive and will drop you within an easy walk of several hotels in the downtown core.

[@stevencasteel6799]

You missed one beautiful place with interesting history and art; Sitka.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great tip!!

[@lorraineperrault5401]

I really want to take a cruise to Alaska, but just the thought of packing all those winter clothes. Ugh! How do u do this?

[@hellokitty2848]

Quick question (I hope). Cruising from Seattle going up to Icy Strait, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria. We booked a port side room per recommendation of our travel agent. Is this correct? Thanks for all the tips. Will be doing some of these excursions you recommended.

[@namasivayamm9234]

Wonderful video thankful to you, your useful information.

[@edwardklein5770]

Lots of good tips, as usual. I've got a few to offer from my 2016 Alaska sailing. We did a one way sailing on Royal out of Vancouver. For the one way, I definitely recommend going north bound. The sights and stops continue to get better and our last activity day was visiting one of the glaciers...though I can't remember which one we actually sailed into. Our trip was a total of 2 weeks, with one week being the cruise. We spent a few days in Vancouver in the beginning and had lots to see and do there. We spent another four days in Alaska after the cruise, which included a visit up to Denali National Park. In Juneau, our time in port was something like 10 hours. There was a car rental place near the port and I booked a minivan ahead of time. We drove to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center ourselves and took our time (probably about three hours) at the visitor center and hiking down to Nugget Falls. We took my parents and it was nice not being rushed with them. It seemed like a lot of the bus tours only had about an hour there and people were rushing around to get to the glacier and back. After Mendenhall, we were able to drive further north to the Shrine of St. Therese - a beautiful and calm space where we were again able to linger and take our time. I don't remember where I picked that tip up from, but renting that vehicle in Juneau was definitely was of the smartest things I did for that trip. Also, think about what you want from the ship/cruise company. We had sailed several times on Disney when my kids were younger, but their Alaska cruises were much more expensive than Royal Caribbean. For what I would have paid for a single balcony room with four of us on Disney, I instead was able to bring my parents - we got a balcony for them, a balcony for my wife and I, and an inside room across the hall for our kids, who were teenagers at the time. It was a fantastic experience and I'm glad we were able to do something for my parents that they wouldn't have been able/willing to do on their own.

[@maurieshakespeare5835]

Great video Gary!! I did a 14 day roundtrip Vancouver with Crystal in 2016, an amazing journey.

[@tipsfortravellers]

That trip sounds great!

[@drewmurphy6101]

As somebody who's been on multiple Alaskan cruises with Holland America I'll give some tips. 1. From personal experience, I was never really in my room and paying extra for a room with a view was a waste. 2. Whale watching can be done,for 'free', from the ship. Paying extra for the excursion isn't a Guarantee to see whales. Lets face it, you're on a ship for 7 days, take time to sit and watch for them. 3. Do research beforehand for excursions. In Ketchikan, there are many small museums that charge just a few bucks and you can see tons of local culture. Also, many excursion prices are inflated because they'll transport you to and from. Save the money and just walk. Skagway is tiny and easily walkable.

[@chriswilliams6568]

Can’t walk to Mendenhall, it is about a twenty minute drive.

[@burningblue1254]

I work onboard for Princess and I disagree with Gary about a balcony. Alaska and Canada/New England are 2 of our cruises that I don't think a balcony is worth the extra money (although we are glad to book you one). Why? Because on a moving ship you need a minimum temperature of 25 degrees on a sunny day with no wind to sit out on a balcony in summer clothing. Unless you are prepared to wear fall/winter clothing, its too cold to be on the balcony. Just go up top to watch for a few minutes or sit in the lounge areas with a view.

[@chriswilliams6568]

@@burningblue1254 the most important issue of having a balcony is to get fresh air, whatever the weather. Plus if an outbreak occurs it becomes even more important.

[@burningblue1254]

@@chriswilliams6568 Wow, good point about the outbreak. I could tell you stories about that. There was a Japanese couple on the Diamond who made a suicide pact. Fresh air is very important. Just so you know, previously about 50-60% of cruise ship air was fresh, but now all cruise ship air will be 100% fresh. I love balconies too. I shared an inside cabin with another crewmember for 3 years. 100 sq ft. I am just saying that a person could save a few bucks by getting an oceanview and just going up top for the scenery. The weather there is a coin toss. May and September especially can be brutal. Sometimes there was still snow in May and September the water gets rougher.

[@catherinecrawford3058]

I would add that the time to book is NOW. people are booking much further in advance than is normal.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Definitely for 2022!

[@melaniesirote1518]

Can you suggest a good whale watching tour pls?

[@mewilson66]

What do you mean when you say the port side dfaces the town?

[@jeffross5424]

saw the map...you'll get more of the inside passage out of vancouver return and less ocean travel back

[@jeffross5424]

...also...it depends on our BC premier's decision to allow tourism once the vaccine is out and with the american way with 40+% not wanting to get the vaccine, you'll need 70% of the population to start vaccinating to start the herd immunity and due to that, american's might not be visiting canada anytime soon

[@tipsfortravellers]

Agree :-)

[@tipsfortravellers]

Agree, the season in Alaska all hinges on what Canada and BC specifically decide and require!!

[@jeffross5424]

@@tipsfortravellers or if americans decide to vaccinate...i wouldn't be surprised if we allowed in countries with proper vaccination proof, unfortunately american's still won't be allowed to cross the border or enter due to whats going on there

[@chriswilliams6568]

@@jeffross5424 actually it is a federal decision as to whether we open up borders.

[@Codenamex47]

So fortunate to do an inside passage cruise in Summer of 2019. Our first real cruise and we loved it.

[@raymullen3583]

Three years ago We did the land -Sea on Princess Star and out of the 35 cruises we have been on was the greatest' But we are lookin at Holland American for the next..... J&R Nags Head

[@tipsfortravellers]

Nice! I really like HAL for Alaska. I am booked with Princess next to try them out in Alaska. Though, I suspect I will have to reschedule it as was moved from 2020 to 2021 but is mid-May which suspect may be too early for things to be running and back....

[@raymullen3583]

@@tipsfortravellers Thats about were We are at with Alaska in 2022 , Hoping things Quit Down by then.... J&R

[@peyo670]

i booked a cruise to alaska at the start of october on the encore. do you think it will sail? and you said the season end in september?

[@priceandpride]

Thanks Gary!