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----COMPLETE ALASKA CRUISE PLANNING GUIDE 2022----- 0:00 Introduction 1:26 Best Time of Year Alaska Cruises 2:50 Alaska Cruises Secrets for Your Budget 6:21 Picking the Right Alaska Cruise Line 9:47 Cruise Tips for Alaska Itinerary 11:37 Picking Alaska Cruise Excursions 13:46 Preparing for an Alaskan Cruise 17:39 Alaska Cruise Packing Tips
-----CRUISE TIPS FOR ALASK CRUISE PLANNING----- Learn all our insider Alaska cruise planning tips and hacks to have the best Alaska cruise vacation. We cover everything from the best time of year to take an Alaskan cruise, to what to pack for an Alaska cruise, to the costs of an Alaska cruise, and more.
-----BEST TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE AN ALASKA CRUISE------ Alaska is one of the top cruise destinations on many travelers’ bucket lists. Unlike Caribbean cruises though, Alaska is a seasonal cruise port. This means that you will only be able to cruise to Alaska during select months of the year.
The Alaskan cruise season generally runs from late April/early May through the end of September. With that being said, many choose to visit Alaska in the middle of the season.
July usually offers the best combination of average temperatures, rainfall amounts, hours of daylight, and the best chances at wildlife sightings. However, with this optimal weather comes increased crowds and increased price.
If you take an Alaskan cruise during the shoulder seasons, you will save money. You will also avoid the crowds. However, the weather and wildlife will be less predictable early and late in the season.
-----HOW MUCH DOES AN ALASKA CRUISE COST------ You should know that Alaska cruises tend to be more expensive than Caribbean or Bahamas cruises. Alaska cruise costs fluctuate considerably depending on the cruise line, cruise ship, Alaskan itinerary, and time of year.
Generally speaking, the newer ships from each cruise line will be more expensive than some of the older ships in the fleet as there is more demand for these vessels. Premium and luxury cruise lines will also be more expensive than the more family-friendly cruise lines.
Other factors to consider when determining costs for your best Alaska cruise are the embarkation port, stateroom category, and shore excursions.
Many cruisers choose to upgrade to a balcony on Alaska cruises which will cost more than inside or oceanview cabins. While not necessary, we certainly enjoy admiring the Alaskan landscapes from our cruise ship balcony.
Shore excursions in Alaska can also be more expensive than other destinations like the Caribbean. This is especially true if you want to book some of the “once in a lifetime” tours during your Alaska cruise.
-----ALASKA CRUISE PACKING TIPS------ Packing for an Alaskan cruise is altogether different than what you would typically pack for a Caribbean cruise.
In short, the time of year you cruise to Alaska and the type of excursions you book will dictate to some degree what you pack. Most importantly, layers and rain gear are essential! You will want to be prepared for rain and temperature swings of 25 degrees or more in a given day.
Another Alaska cruise packing hack is don’t forget your bathing suit. There are hot tubs and indoor pools onboard many ships, as well as the spa and thermal suite. You might even get lucky enough with the weather to enjoy the outdoor pools!
