What I Wish I Knew BEFORE My First Alaska Cruise

[@LifeWellCruised]

Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/

[@sharolynwells]

My sister, nephew, and I are planning a cruise out of either Seattle or Vancouver to Alaska. She and I are both handicapped, don't drink alcohol. We're bringing our mobility scooters with us.

[@SamanthaChan-zm7zh]

😮😮😮

[@markjackson5707]

As an Alaskan, my advice is if you can afford it book a cruise that includes a land tour up to Fairbanks or Denali. Coastal and interior Alaska are both incredibly beautiful but in different ways.

[@albertarose1433]

💯 agree. I lived in Anchorage for 15 years and was a driver-guide in Juneau during my college summers. I made several trips to Fairbanks and Denali. I’ve taken the ferry several times but my first Alaskan cruise will be this May Seattle to Juneau and back. I call Alaska my beloved and cannot wait to breathe her sweet fresh air again! ❤

[@gregorypatricks4679]

Been to Fairbanks twice. '19 & '23 Wasn't cruising and was able to spend 4 months each time. The town has Midnight Baseball on June 21st without any lights because they are not needed. Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum is a must see.

[@beckyyoung3395]

Not on a cruise, did a missions trip. Was blessed to see Denali 5 times due to a very clear day.

[@Nancy-w6f]

I am so happy that I had a balcony cabin on the Alaska cruise to watch the wildlife and the beautiful blue ice crash into the ocean. Folks that watched outside got very wet while I could enjoy the incredible experience staying dry on my balcony.

[@Tam-te5nh]

Thank you for mentioning this! That was my #1 thing about the whole cruise & I have people look at me funny because there are so many places to lounge & so much to do, but we’re low key people & I don’t really care to people watch.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s a good point. I didn’t consider the shelter of the balcony

[@paulbjorlin2807]

I have cruised Alaska 26 times and even worked at a Princess lodge in Alaska. I am sure I will go back. I have cruised pretty much every route there is to do in Alaska and when I see a new route I do try to book it. The thing that causes me to keep returning is the fact that the scenery is never the same twice, the towns may be the same however with the change of weather, snow and wildlife it is always different. For those that want to buy Alaskan made products your best bet is to get off the main drags in towns and head a few blocks in where the local shops are and the local people still own the shops.

[@sawchucksaves1867]

Thank you for this great tip from your experience.

[@cynicsupreme]

What was your favorite cruise line and ship?

[@paulbjorlin2807]

@@cynicsupreme my favorite cruise lines for Alaska is Holland America and Princess. The reason is they have been there the longest and they focus specifically on Alaska. As far as a ship goes any Holland America ship and for Princess it has to be one of the older ships that has a walk around promenade deck. The promenade deck gives you a great place to be in and out of the rain yet you still get great views.

[@crazy4dariver]

Retired Military. Head cover, Hand cover, great socks. I was stationed there for 18 months..Shemya. The Rock

[@Tam-te5nh]

Thank you for your service!!

[@rowanmulvey8632]

You were out there! A long way from everywhere

[@helener7545]

Blake

[@jhhjams1234]

Thank you for your service

[@MonicaBerninghaus]

Been there once on flight from Adak where I was stationed back to anchorage! Darn shemya is waaayyyy out there l!

[@idahoadventures5936]

Repeat Alaskan cruiser here. So absolutely beautiful! Love seeing the whales from the ship. Don’t miss out on the onboard lectures so full of knowledge.

[@loreerizzo4591]

What month did you cruise to see whales

[@idahoadventures5936]

@ I have seen them from late June through September

[@dorothywillis1]

One thing I would recommend to any traveler, cruising or not -- if you think it is going to be hot, take a jacket of some sort. If you think it's going to be cold, take one lightweight outfit. If you think it will be dry, be sure that jacket is waterproof and has a hood. If you think it's going to rain all the time, take sunglasses. I darn near froze to death on my first trip to Europe. The next time I made sure I had warmer clothes, but my mother insisted on tucking in one lightweight dress. It turned out I wore that dress almost every day! (Washed it out in the washbasin.) And I will never forget the smug feeling I got on a tour of Leeds Castle in England on New Year's Day when it turned out a day of blinding sunshine and we Californians quietly brought out our sunglasses! Be prepared for the unexpected.

[@tedwalford7615]

Nice story and nice writing! (In addition to the great advice.)

[@dorothywillis1]

@@tedwalford7615 Thank you!

[@magdalenakimmel9508]

My husband and I went on an Alaskan cruise for our 25th anniversary in 2018. It was our first time cruising- we were definitely not prepared. Our cruise was during the first week of July- it rained every day and was bone numbing cold (according to the locals it was unseasonably cold and wet). That aside, Alaska is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and I would not hesitate to do it again. We cruised with Celebrity on the Silhouette, and it was amazing! I’d pack my bags and go back in a heartbeat. I highly recommend that everyone experience Alaska at least once in their lifetime.

[@lyndacorbin5606]

I’m turning 80 this month. Giving myself a trip to Alaska in June - Pathway to Victory. I can walk and climb steps so want to squeeze a lot in my days while I’m in such good shape. I’ve watched several of your podcasts and thank you so much.

[@SDR-z7x]

Happy Birthday, enjoy your vacation

[@JC-yz4ki]

Happy Birthday! Have fun 🤩

[@lindaguida4074]

Do it now!

[@swellysliphe1980]

Happy birthday

[@greenbelle27]

That’s amazing I wish you the best and may Jesus grant you health and a beautiful vacation. He loves you.

[@tinaprice4948]

Alaska is beautiful, visited my cousins a couple of times in Juneau, once we were swimming in a small pond, i must have disturbed some fish and a bald eagle swooped down right next to me and caught a fish, I felt its feather wing tip touch me and the sound of it beating its wings to lift off again was amazing. We also hiked on a glacier, the blue of a glacier is just amazing. I am going on a cruise this summer to finally bring my husband :D

[@kathylazarz9571]

1st time cruiser and 1st time traveling to Alaska!

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Tracey's crab shack now has two Juneau locations. The older one can get quite crowded but the new one is not very much farther on and last year at least mostly undiscovered. Going again in May, this time on the Edge and bringing my wife. We tend not to do excursions. I just want to go ashore, eat the local seafood and drink the local beer.

[@TedsShoptips]

@Lord.Kiltridge excellent tip, thanks

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great to hear & thanks for the tips

[@jlawrence0181]

Two comments: 1) Ship selection to Alaska is critical. We went to Alaska on the old Costa Riviera which was designed for warmer climares. We could not use a number of features of the ship due to the weather. 2) if you are making purchases in port, you can generally send it home in a fixed rate box for under $25 at the local post office.

[@catherinesanchez1185]

The post office !! Easy to forget about them . Easy to take them for granted

[@DenisePiktelis-bf5uq]

We always went in July. Absolutely gorgeous weather. Beautiful flowers. A lot of wildlife. Great excursions. Always book a balcony

[@debbiesmith401]

We did Alaska on NCL last May out of Vancouver. It was cold but amazing. There is so many reputable booths in town to do excursions through. NCL wanted 1000.00 for an excursion ( whale watching ) than we got for 300.00. There were only 5 people in the large 2 decker boat plus 2 environmentalists. Ee were out 1 1/2 hours longer than the ships excursion. It was like a personal guided tour. There is also many safe places to hike.

[@dorothywillis1]

We used our balcony more on our Alaska cruises than on any other. It's so nice to sit there with a hot drink and all wrapped up and watch the scenery go by! One time we took back-to-back cruises on the Island Princess up and back on the same ship. We had to change cabins, but the stewards were very helpful.

[@LifeWellCruised]

What a great idea!

[@dorothywillis1]

@@LifeWellCruisedThanks! And I want to mention I highly agree with your suggestion about taking ziplock plastic bags. I usually take several of different sizes.

[@lisac4100]

Hello, you mentioned it taking over an our to embark in Vancouver but what is your experience embarking from Seattle on the Bliss? Did it take long and would you recommend buying the priority access pass? Thank You.

[@dorothywillis1]

@@lisac4100 Somehow this got attached to me when you really should be asking Ilana! I think you should post it on its own so she will see it.

[@ChasingGrace27]

We did an Alaskan round trip cruise last May and it was one of the best trips we’ve ever done! Dog sledding and train ride up the mountain in Skagway were big highlights. The balcony was definitely well worth it. We definitely felt it certain days with the motion (I can get really bad motion sickness) and my relief band and sitting out on the balcony really helped against that motion sickness. Bonus seeing those glaciers without fighting for the view! We even saw part of the glacier break off while we watched from our balcony!

[@MarianTRitch]

I’m

[@tamekahoyte7868]

Hi which cruise line ?

[@sarahorham3666]

I'm curious as to what releif band you used... I'm going on my first cruise ever and it is to AK but know that I am susceptible to motion sickness. TIA 😊

[@larryt67]

In Juneau, you can take a city bus to the glacier. Less expensive than a tour bus. Helicopter tour are a must.

[@cruisingwithkristie]

Yep. The city bus is less than $5 round trip.

[@francesfox3913]

Does it go out to the visitor center? Didn't on previous trip, pretty long walk as I recall. Local shuttle about $15. I always rent a car for the day.

[@cruisingwithkristie]

There is a 1/2 mile walk to the visitors’ center. What a great idea to rent a car for the day. That way I’m sure you didn’t miss a thing! I’m going to do that this July. Sailing on the Sapphire Princess. 😊

[@bjminak]

I am a 40+ year Juneau resident and yes you can take the city bus but please be ready for a 1.6 mile one way hike to the visitor center from the city bus stop and another 1.6 mile one way hike back. When you get to the glacier area, you'll also want to take one of many trails for hikes that average 2-5 miles round trip so bring good walking shoes. If you want to save 3 of those miles, don't take the city bus but book one of the local tour buses (you don't have to book it through the cruise line). The USFS has limited the number of permits that local companies who take tours to the glacier can have during each season so look online for a company with good reviews and book your tour early. Another thing to understand about the city bus is that if it fills up with tourists going to/from the glacier, some of the locals who are trying to get to work or school or just do their daily routines may get passed by if there is no room on the city bus when the bus reaches that stop. Unfortunately, this happened to a number of locals last year leaving residents in wheelchairs and elders at the bus stop to wait a full hour before the next bus arrived (hopefully not full as well)!

[@bjminak]

@@cruisingwithkristie the hike is actually a 1.6 mile one way from the city bus stop to the visitor center so 3 miles RT.

[@phyllislowry6265]

We went on an Alaskan Cruise about 15 yrs ago on Princess at the end of July., leaving out of Vancouver , inside passage. My father had been stationed at an Army Air Corps base in the Anchorage area. My parents were on a bus tour & the bus driver stopped so my father could get off & walk around for awhile. The guide told the bus why they had stopped & when my father got back on the bus, he received applause. My parents met & were married in Vacouver.My mom was a Ukrainian living in Vancouver with her parents at that time. They had moved from Wostok Alberta. My grandparents moved to Edmonton after my parents were married. I still have family in Vancouver. (my mom was only 17) The scenery in Alaska was unbelievable & it did rain a lot. Definitely take a rainproof poncho or coat, some of the tours provided us with rain gear. In Glacier Bay we saw so many seals & the calving of the glaciers was amazing. We had a lady who spoke from the bridge while we were there & she was amazing.Do take a winter coat as it was cold in Glacier Bay! After we left the ship we spent the entire day in Anchorage as our flight did not leave until 9pm & the cruise line had a hospitality suite available for people. Our plane left 2 hours late due to engine trouble & we saw the Nothern lights which was awesome. We also saw whales on our last day at sea. I definitely recommend an Alaska cruise. There were basically no little kids but a few older kids.

[@icedteamama176]

Thank you for sharing. Which cruise line did you sail with?

[@phyllislowry6265]

@@icedteamama176 We sailed on Princess but it was several years ago.

[@bjminak]

As a long time Juneau Alaskan resident, I think your video did a great job covering all the good tips to know when taking a cruise to AK. I totally agree that there are so many amazing reasons to live here but the beautiful, crisp air is one of the best features. It is that temperate rainforest with all the trees and soft (most of the time) rains that you mentioned that keep the air so amazingly fresh and breathable!

[@Mondaycat7]

Did Princess 10years ago north bound. Pre trip 3 days in Vancouver and post cruise trip to Denali by train with a bus tour back to Anchorage. It was our first cruise, we did that one because we heard it was a must and we didn’t know if we would like cruising. We loved it.

[@sportsMike87]

If you are coming from a cold climate it's not as cold as people say. I found myself sweating inn layers as the temps were in the 50s

[@esciteach7997]

everyone back east (NY) says that!! I can image someone from South Dakota (Alaska will seem "balmy"!!). Alaska not as cold in June as they make it out to be.

[@lindadeters8685]

My best recommendation with adjusting to changes in time zones is : Never think about “ back home it’s this time.” Just jump into whatever time it is currently where you’re at. If this means eating breakfast when your brain says it’s bedtime, just do it. Your body may be tired, but it’ll adjust so much faster.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yes very good idea

[@Tam-te5nh]

I agree! It’s a lot like the time change. If people don’t complain about it a lot, I don’t usually think about it very much & it doesn’t bother me because I’m not dwelling on it. Great tip!

[@sunseekermama]

I completely agree! This is how I adjust to time differences on my vacation. Work's great everytime for me!

[@christianoliver3572]

I picked up and have followed the same advice from Rick Steves years ago and it's true. His thought is that Jetlag hates the daylight. So if possible try to get outside and do some exploring or wandering when you get to the destination so you get that sunlight and also get a good night sleep your first night.

[@icedteamama176]

@@christianoliver3572thank you! Very helpful advice!

[@devinthomas5534]

We loved it so much we are going back in September. The tip we got was end of season has the fewest bugs and we did not experience any. The salmon run is going at that time which was very cool to see in Ketchikan. Also the Arctic Bar is a lot of fun for the adult crowd.

[@monabendin3121]

Alaska was my first ever cruise just last summer (Celebrity Solstice)! LOVED, LOVED, LOVED every minute. Was in Skagway for the 4th of July and thoroughly enjoyed the town’s parade - the locals came out in droves with their dogs, their kids, and their smiles. It was wonderful! I look forward to another cruise to Alaska in a few years will take advantage of going on some special excursions. Your channel has been so helpful to me in planning my next three cruises - thanks so much!

[@monabendin3121]

And I was very happy I had a balcony!

[@Barracudarighty]

I’m actually retiring in southeast Alaska and one reason is the air. It’s so clean and the smell of Alaska is just heavenly. One piece of advice, shop for souvenirs in the small shops. The big shops are stuffed with Made in China merchandise. Every cook needs an Alaskan Ulu knife. There is a great little local art shop in Ketchikan near the Lumberjack show with hand made Ulu knives.

[@heatherharper0224]

I googled the ulu knife to keep my eyes open for it when we go & just realized my parents had one of these in a kitchen drawer pretty much my whole life & I never knew what it was for. I know they've never been to Alaska, so now I'm gonna have to ask how they got it and if there's a story behind that. Mind you, this was back in the 90s before things like Amazon existed & u could have one delivered the next day. Thanks for the tip 😊

[@Voorhell]

We did a southbound itinerary for our first (definitely not our last) Alaska cruise in Aug 22. We spent 4 days doing day trips around Anchorage, and that really helped with the time change too. Doing a one-way cruise, you also get a lot more time in the ports.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Very true! Thanks for sharing

[@MarjKiehlbauch]

I was fortunate to take my 3 kids and their families on an Alaskan cruise. Great memories

[@joanndallas4683]

I agree with you, May is just beautiful for an Alaskan cruise!

[@LifeWellCruised]

I loved it, but now I want to try July to see the difference 😂

[@charlybarnard]

We are going on our first Alaska cruise in May 2024. It is also our first cruise ever. Thanks to you I feel prepared. I just wanted you to know that I really enjoy your videos even when they weren’t Alaska related and that it really helped us be prepared for our trip, which we are really looking forward to.

[@annbingham1512]

Yes! Get a balcony. Beautiful!

[@MsBuggyness]

take a raincoat and a down jacket! a packable one as well as a waterproof packable backpack. All were life savers. We went in August and it did get very cold and rainy in Juneau - but we still did our excursion and had fun. the shopping was excellent in all ports - prices much better than i imagined for sweatshirts and t-shirts.

[@katyareads221]

I cruised from Seatle and sailed in the inside passage. Loved train ride and fishing trip.

[@Anyk572]

Merci Ilana! Been to Alaska 3× with the Canadian Navy but First time on a cruise in May 2024. Looking forward to sharing the scenery with the kids. Thank you again for your great videos!

[@LifeWellCruised]

That will be amazing!

[@monicagordh.9028]

2001 was our very first cruise, a Alaskan 7 day round trip from Vancouver with our kids. September 2022 was our 2nd,14 day round trip from Vancouver. Planning on a third for 2026. We never get tired of the scenery, ports, park ranger talks & wild life. We enjoy all of your video's, look forward to them & your right about the Alaska air, it's great.

[@judyamos4085]

The fresh air is the first thing I talk about when sharing things from our Alaska cruises!!!

[@cruisingwithkristie]

Me too! Super charged fresh air. It was glorious!

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

I think I rolled my eyes when I found the same shops in Alaskan ports that I'd seen in the Caribbean. If you like Diamonds International, you'll be happy. I am going on my third Alaska cruise in early September, this time on Disney. I'd previously done one way from Seward to Vancouver on Royal Caribbean, and round trip from Seattle on Princess. Disney is round trip from Vancouver. As I flew from my home in Las Vegas, I didn't have to worry about time zones. On the one out of Seattle, I flew the same day (taking the earliest flight), and found Princess cruises had a bag drop-off service at the airport (for a fee). I did so, and took the train into the city, then took the monorail to the Space Needle. When I debarked in Vancouver, I took the Skytrain to the airport. If you can handle your bags for a few blocks, it's the way to go. It's much cheaper and faster than taking a ship bus, taxi, or Uber. With my upcoming trip, I'll be taking it to the Pan Pacific hotel on the way in, and back to the airport.

[@cruisingwithkristie]

I agree with taking the light rail from Vancouver airport to the port. We timed the walk from the station to the port. It was just 3 minutes. It takes much longer to walk through an airport even.

[@icedteamama176]

Thank you for sharing this helpful information!

[@999shaznay]

I'm flying into Seattle from the UK in July. Staying over in a hotel near Seattle Tacoma airport when I arrive, then need to head to the cruise terminal the following day. I'm on a budge and can manage my bags - which would be the cheapest option to get to the ship (sailing with NCL). Thanks in advance.

[@dennism7032]

5 time Alaska cruiser, absolutely love having a balcony and being on the best side of the ship, the scenery is too magnificent to miss any of it. We had better flights to and from Seattle and Vancouver, fewer options and more red eye flights from Anchorage. Glacier bay is the ideal itinerary. Expect rain! Memory cards for your camera can be hard to find, take several.

[@LifeWellCruised]

So glad to hear your experiences

[@Desertdweller7983]

@dennism7032 I'm heading on an Alaskan cruise in 2 weeks. Just curious, what side of the ship is best? Fingers crossed that I'm on that side.

[@mhaskard6517]

My wife and I did the Holland America Alaska cruise last May(2023) the one you were on. Our first cruise since I was a kid so about 50 years between cruises. I did the the helicopter flight in Junea which was the first stop after Vancouver, I looked at it and thought a 1.5 hour flight/tour.. and was around $450USD each which we booked through the cruise beforehand as a lot of the tours book out even before the cruise starts weeks before. Sadly my wife got sick at the last moment and was unable to go but I took our friends daughter as a treat. The helicopter flight ended up being 6-7 minute each way flight to and from the glazier. This was very disappointing with one hour 15 minutes being the bus trip and sitting at the airport..... a complete ripoff $900USD. The Skagway train was excellent which left from the wharf and was 2-3 hour trip. Otherwise we had a great time exploring each port, the cruise was great.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing this

[@anngratton1855]

I set my watch to the time of wherever we are going while on the plane. And “think” in that time only and it seems to help me

[@pamelabrauer9450]

We have booked Celebrity for all three Alaska cruises we took and also booked aft cabins for all of them. We have embarked out of three different ports: Vancouver, Seward, and Seattle. They were all amazing experiences and I would highly recommend that anyone who can should definitely go to Alaska at least once. And book that aft cabin. You won’t regret it. 😘

[@dianemurphy733]

Pamela, the aft cabin you mentioned is that the one at the very back of the ship? The one that you can see the wake of the water? I want to go to Alaska so I'm trying to gather all the information I can to start planning. Thank you!

[@ivette0369]

I have some incredible pictures when we went on our Alaska cruise last year! The sun would set so late, it was beautiful! We were lucky to have great weather when we arrived in May. Best cruise ever!!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

That is awesome!

[@gailhoover9263]

Did you have any problems with things not being open yet because it was so early in the season? I read warnings about that.Thanx😊

[@ivette0369]

@@gailhoover9263 we did not. We took the Alaska itinerary out of Seattle. We went May 11-18 and we booked excursions but everything was open with no issue when we went shopping.

[@lynnfranklin5098]

Long days. And a balcony. I hardly slept because didn’t want to miss a thing. Slept REALLY WELL post cruise😅

[@cherylw445]

What Ilana said about the port and check in process in Vancouver is bang on. Very much like an airport. We did a round trip from Vancouver during the midnight sun season. The sun set, but did not disappear, and it never got dark. Just being part of that history was such an amazing feeling. If your itinerary includes Skagway, or Haines (From Haines you take a fast ferry to Skagway - its about 40 mins each way and cost about $35.00) it's an absolute MUST to go to the "Red Onion Saloon" Its very period, very energetic, friendly, fun, just an over all AMAZING and authentic feeling experience. The bar maids are very happy to pose with you for pictures and they are not at all shy, they will play the part. Thanks for your tips and tricks for this destination. I'm not sure I will do another Alaska sailing, but your channel is so informative I love to stay up to date on things. Thank you.

[@cathymumper2126]

My husband and I went on an Alaskan cruise back in September of 2015. Absolutely looooooooved it!! We went round trip from Seattle on Celebrity and it is still one of our favorite cruises we’ve ever been on.

[@laurenstevens0915]

I am so happy to see this comment as I'm considering an Alaskan cruise with Royal Caribbean in late September!

[@cathymumper2126]

@@laurenstevens0915 The other great thing about sailing in late September is that, that is usually the last sailings for the cruise lines before winter starts in Alaska. So a lot of the stores will have pretty big discounts on their merchandise.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Fantastic? Thanks for sharing

[@gailhoover9263]

Just so you know, I've read more than once now, that the second half of September is very rainy.​@@laurenstevens0915

[@roxanejohnson2576]

What do you have to say about cruising to Alaska on the Norwegian Encore or Bliss.

[@GypCWolf]

I’ve been watching for 8 months now, thank you for Alaska videos! Looking forward to my trip in July.

[@dianemurphy733]

I have been thinking about going on an Alaskan cruise for so long and now after watching your very informative video I might just get serious about it. Honestly, thank you so much for covering so many important details. I have been thinking about each and every point you made. I have also read all the comments. Wish I could go this May but I already have a different cruise booked for beginning of June. If you or any other reader has more advise, especially what cruise line would be the best, I would love to read your recommendations. Especially what cruise line would be best for a solo traveler. Again, Thank You so much for ALL your videos!!!

[@Hawkeye2001]

I have sailed both Holland America and Princess to Alaska. Our favorite was with HAL and a combination land tour / sea cruise. We spent about 9 days seeing internal Alaska via, train, bus and riverboats. We had a truly immersive experience following the 1898 gold rush history. I would recommend doing the land portion first, the days were long and busy. Early morning starts going all day long. Our guide was quick to say the land portion was an Adventure and our sea days would be more of a vacation and slower pace. We went in a few days early, and the Kenia Peninsula was a highlight prior to the cruise.

[@davidlarson2534]

I wish there was a San Diego to Anchorage 22-day round trip cruise. That would be awesome. Good video, excellent information, good advice.

[@larryrobinson1256]

Our Alaska cruise was our first cruise to see if we liked cruising. That did it, we were hooked. We were in an ocean view cabin at is was the last cruise of the season. We had great weather and it wasn't that cold. Granted we are from the northeast.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@WendyDyke]

Did an Alaska cruise last year in May. I was fortunate with the weather, only one day of rain while in Juneau. Enjoyed Tracey's Crab shack near the dock. Food was fresh, hot and really hit the spot to warm me up. It can be pricey but I chose the 6 piece crab cakes and the crab bisque, so good and was a good value. I was fortunate to have enough OB credits through a Princess promo and my travel agent that covered the cost of all my excursions. Had a balcony cabin where I spent a lot of time watching scenery late into the night. Particularly enjoyed the south bound trip through the inside passage. I agree with Ilana about going a few days early if traveling from Vancouver. Very beautiful city to explore. I traveled alone and felt very safe exploring Vancouver and all the ports of call. Best cruise I have ever taken. Now understand why people travel there repeatedly.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@541steeez]

What cruise did you go on? I’m about to go work on some tour boats in Juneau from mid to late April all the way to October, and I’m Lowkey shitting my pants I’ve never been away from friends and family that long let alone 2000 miles away from home😂

[@CookandBakewithSamer]

Thank you for these details. First time cruise to Alaska. I like the hint of bringing 2 binoculars and a good camera. Now we’re also thinking about the water proof back pack. Thanks again for these details.

[@EmmaCruises]

Prepare for rain? Got it, I've been planning since my birth (from the UK) ha ha. Soooo excited to head back to Alaska this year!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Haha! I love Alaska! Wish I could go every year. So fun for you!!

[@Manu.YouTube]

Really helpful, thanks !

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your generosity ☺️

[@Manu.YouTube]

@@LifeWellCruised you’re welcome ! Planning my first Alaska cruise. Just bought your guide. Thinking 7 night round trip from Seattle or Vancouver. Do you have a favorite cruise line and/or itinerary for that ?

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@Manu.KZbin very exciting! Personally I like leaving from Vancouver for the itinerary (longer times in port generally). However you’ll enjoy no matter what. I have a video on our Alaska cruise with HAL, but we haven’t done all cruise lines so it really depends on what you enjoy. Thanks for your purchase :)

[@markgadson9663]

On my first Alaska cruise i loved it but i wish i knew more. While on the cruise i won $4200. Immediately bunk another Alaskan cruise

[@LifeWellCruised]

Lucky!! Yay

[@heatherharper0224]

That's awesome!! We're going in June for our 1st Alaskan cruise, but unfortunately, our ship doesn't have a casino.

[@sashaladygray]

Living in Florida I feel like I can visit the Caribbean anytime, but the Alaska cruise I went on & I would do over and over. We took RCL Ovation of the Seas. It was the best vacation of my life.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing this 👏

[@icedteamama176]

Was there plenty of usable outdoor pool area on Ovation? Thinking about doing Alaskan cruise this or next summer. Thanks!

[@judyfrey5919]

I’m going on this ship in August of this year.

[@carolgravius9312]

Another informative video. Alaska looks magical. Thanks for all the tips!

[@VIVIANAMUDD]

I can't wait to go back, Alaska cruises are so good for your soul. I've been going since 2004 and it breaks my heart to see how the glacier area was EVERYTHING white and now it is just basically a sliver. The sounds of the ship, like popcorn, that was so much fun.

[@NighthawkCarbine]

The air in Alaska and northern Canada is cleaner, crisp, and refreshing than in the lower 48.

[@FraserAtSea]

Loved this video - wish I’d seen it before doing Alaska! I actually cruised on the Inside for my time in Alaska, and found we spent most of our time out on the outside decks. To anyone reading this considering doing Alaska on a tighter budget, don’t worry about an inside cabin - there’ll be lots of room on deck as everyone enjoys their balconies! ❤

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for sharing your experience Fraser!

[@donaldmeincke3048]

Thanks!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your support!

[@meddyven]

When I do an Alaskan cruise next year, I have soo many things I am going to do. One item I would love to get, is a small totem pole. Try not to laugh, Ilana. I want to find a 4 to 5 foot one , to place in my back yard. I have always found them anazing.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Love that!

[@lauriem986]

We are planning our first Alaskan cruise for early summer 2025. This video was very informative. I saved it and sent it to my SiL who'll be with us.

[@LifeWellCruised]

So exciting! I hope you have an amazing time on your cruise.

[@deniselawrie3570]

My first cruise was Alaskan... and the air was so incredibly clean... I had a hard time explaining it to people - it was like a no smell air! I love my cruise and am looking forward to another one this August with my girlfriend!

[@philhill184]

You were spot on , on all of these items. You reminded me of such great times we had on our Alaska cruise in 2018. Planning on returning in 2025!

[@jag0135]

Our first ever cruise is to Alaska in August. Thanks for the tips!

[@reginahelenademoraesperezf3235]

Hi there, Ilana! Greetings from Brazil! I was in Alaska in 2002 with my mother in law and absolutely loved it! Next May me and my husband intend to go there and I think things must have changed, but not the beauty I could feel all around! Thanks for the tips!

[@theresaogershok8256]

Did a land and sea Alaska trip. In the end of August to beginning of September. Flew to Anchorage and had bus tour to the north and then south. Got on ship for inside passage, glacier bay the south to Vancouver. Had never cruised before and this was a nice intro cruises. Denali was beautiful in the fall.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s wonderful! I’d love to do this

[@monikaliebold4225]

Many thanks for this video. By the way all of your videos are great and helpful. I will go on my first Alaska cruise with Norwegian Jewel on 10 October 2024 - very excited, because I live in South Pacific area and we do not have 4 seasons a year and sometimes I really miss cooler/cold weather 😂and freezing 🥶😂. Before having booked the right cabin for me, I checked the different daylight zones and like to share. Here they are: Summer months average sunrise between 3:30 AM and 5:00 AM, length of day from 18 to 21 hours. Spring average sunrise between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, length of day from 10 to 17 hours. / Sept/Oct average sunrise between 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM, length of day from 14 down to 8 hours. Hope, this information is helpful for sleeping arrangements. Greetings from Moorea (sister island of Tahiti) - our paradise in French-Polynesia 🌴🏖😎🇵🇫🇫🇷🇪🇺🤙

[@pisces11105]

I went to Alaska on a 10 day Carnival cruise from San Francisco and yes you are right I could breath much better and didnt need to take allergy meds like I do at home. I also went on the cruise at the end of May into first week of June. Loved the cruise. Alaska was so beautiful

[@rowanmulvey8632]

Yes, the air here in Alaska is marvelous.

[@charlesschroeder4062]

Spot on great advice! I would add that if you have the time and funds to do it, and you are starting or ending in Seward / Whittier, consider adding the 3-4 day add on days from your cruise line to go even further north by train or bus up into the Denali area. We did, which ended in Anchorage. We did Vancouver for 2 days, 7 days north with RCCL, 3 nights on land after. Well worth doing this once.

[@guytracy7224]

My 3rd Alaska cruise starts in April. A Journeys cruise aboard the Carnival Miracle. Round trip out of Long Beach California. I live in California so time change is not an issue for me. I’m looking forward to several ports I haven’t visited yet. I’ve been blessed with really good weather on prior trips so I’m preparing for a little colder/wetter weather.

[@gardenofcorgi6636]

Going on that same Carnival Miracle cruise in April! First time cruising to Alaska, second cruise on the Miracle. Can’t wait!

[@thaiswinmill2153]

We’re planning Disney Alaska cruise with our kids.

[@ordysparrow7574]

I’m getting ready for my first Alaska Cruise in late May. I’m excited and have been binge watching your videos. Thank you for all the tips and I bought your Cruise Planner. It has been extremely helpful!

[@BostonHeather]

My Alaska cruise in July was the most amazing trip

[@mtascp05]

Minority view here but I really like the inside cabins. We've been to Alaska twice and my spouse has motion sickness issues, so low and middle of the ship is best for us. The con is that you lose convenience of having the view right there. The pros are that these cabins are significantly cheaper(more to spend on excursions, which are $$$), the rooms are pitch black(we like sleeping in the dark and quiet), and I just used it like a hotel room, took a book and a few supplies with me and spent the day outside on the deck or observation decks.

[@maureenlenehan77]

We did an Alaska cruise and you are so correct on every issue. Great advise.

[@yeniffergarth9253]

We're taking our first Alaska cruise this year. Going on Discovery Princess. First time time to Alaska and first time on a Princess cruise. Very excited 😊 Thanks for the tips. Keeping them in mind as we plan our trip.

[@LifeWellCruised]

You’ll love it!

[@sandygohring4972]

Leaving Saturday for first Alaska cruise, getting excited!

[@ricklaplante1687]

Our very first cruise was on Princess in 2018 it was a round trip 11 days From San Francisco to Alaska and it was Amazing!!!! We even went back in 2019 for Princess lantour also Amazing!!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Wow!!!!

[@VickieEdmondson]

God Willing we are taking our 8 th trip to Alaska. I always feel so close to God, in Alaska, the Air is so clean and easy to breath. The Otters are always fun to watch, the Seals as well. Also the Whales. Worth every penny!

[@ericgranger5014]

Great timing! We are going on our first Alaskan cruise in June.! Cant wait

[@LifeWellCruised]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@tracydickson8575]

Thanks for the well-timed video. We're going the last week of May. I am so excited!

[@KarenFresh-n4j]

My husband and I too. On HAL

[@Karli4Sure]

We did a round trip out of Seattle in 2021 on Princess. It was amazing. After several cruises. In my opinion it’s the cruise to definitely book a balcony cabin. Even though seeing the glaciers all around the ship decks are recommended. However, from your balcony is just priceless and warmer to me. As is pulling in and out of every port. I took really beautiful photos. We were able to relax and breathe the amazing air. I will go back again.

[@susanhatch7366]

We went on our first ever cruise to Alaska on NCL Bliss the end of April. The only light rain we saw was in Seattle. We were blessed with nice weather in Alaska, even a little sunshine! Saw some whales, otters and sea lions, along with the Northern Lights! It was a great first cruise!

[@stephenthomas6095]

First time to Alaska leaving this morning from Virginia. Thank you Llana, you're the best.

[@marciaclark7619]

We sailed with Holland America in Alaska, but we flew from Michigan to Fairbanks. The first night we stayed at a hotel in Fairbanks, then we traveled to Denali for one night, and did the Jeep tour. The next day we boarded the train south. We saw breathtaking scenery, arriving in Anchorage mid-afternoon, in plenty of time to walk the city, and have dinner (outside in May). The next day we took a train to Seward to board the ship. We did three or four excursions, probably more than necessary. At the end of the cruise we disembarked in Vancouver, where we stayed for two more nights, and took a day tour to Vancouver Island, and Butchart Gardens. Fabulous trip!

[@robintranchina6588]

We are doing our 50th anniversary Southbound Alaska 5 day Land1st then 7 day cruise in May 2025 on Coral Princess. Where did you stay in Vancouver? We are thinking about staying 2 days after the cruise. Thank you for any help.

[@norinechang2564]

Differences between port and starboard side...when going into Glacier Bay, the captain will do a 180 once the ship gets to the Margerie Glacier, but the narrating naturalists will have discussed the Reid, Lamplugh, and Johns Hopkins Glaciers on the port side before that. Starboard side cabins will see those glaciers after the 180, and the naturalists will have gone silent by then.

[@patti1044]

Just booked for cruises 5 & 6 for Alaska - this time northbound b2b with southbound, looking forward to seeing Hubbard Glacier again. This is the earliest in the season we have sailed so looking forward to new sights.

[@shannonscorgie3048]

Skagway brewing is amazing! Yum food and great views! We also recommend renting a car on Turo and driving yourself to the glacier in Juno. Often significantly cheaper than the big bus excursion and a super easy drive and you can take your time. Pack raincoats!

[@sf3413]

We have 2 Alaska cruises booked! This Aug on Ovation OS, then May 2025 on Radiance OS with the whole family. This video was getting me so excited- I can't wait!!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s awesome!!

[@jenniferwoods6648]

My first Alaska cruise is scheduled in May! So excited!

[@brettparnell8254]

Great tips. Living in Canada it seems a bit too cold for me, but once I get more vacation via seniority, I think I will change my mind and do it at the end of the decade

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’ll tell you I had the same thoughts as a fellow Canadian. That said I now encourage all of my friends and family to do this as an early summer holiday

[@sassycat0222]

My first "test" cruise to see if we liked it was a 5 day caribbean sept 2023. Loved it. Immediately booked 2nd cruise to alaska sept 2024. Cannot wait!

[@janicew6222]

We went over Summer Solstice and it was amazing, so glad we experienced it.

[@cathyzeller4987]

Just booked a HAL on Eurodam for July! We went last year on Princess and although we love the Caribbean, we started booking cooler temp destinations in The summer and saved our Carribbean & Bermuda trips for fall/winter/spring. Alaska is incredible and I totally agree the air is crisp & clean!

[@repns]

Last year we did a double Alaska cruise on Princess from Vancouver, 7-days up and 7-days back, same ship, same cabin. Weather was totally different each way (rainy and cloudy up, more sunshine back). We also saw some different glaciers. On the way back we took time to see more shows and presentations.

[@Dianna-Hopkins]

I’m taking my first cruise and to Alaska this October. I’m very excited and starting to gather my necessities already!

[@jbreathet5139]

Will be doing my 3rd Alaskan cruise this Sept as live about a 4 hr drive from the port. Love the scenery and have my binoculars on me ALL the time as you never know what you will see. It is also quite easy to self-tour in most of the ports. Totally agree with you on the Skagway Brewing Company.. delish fish and beer. Also well worth finding a great spot to watch sail away from Skagway.. amazing scenery!!!