My First Cruise To Alaska – And What Surprised Me

As a travel advisor I have booked many unique vacations for my clients and myself and I take 2 – 3 vacations a year to destinations all over the world.  So, when the opportunity to cruise to Alaska came up, I was rather lukewarm about it. I am originally from B.C and have travelled extensively in the province. What would be different in Alaska from any of my land trips? I have seen glaciers, mountains, wildlife galore and yet I admit, Alaska did surprise me.

We were on board to Holland’s Eurodam. Holland America has been in Alaska for 75 years and have the most itineraries with access to the Glacier Bay compared to other cruise lines. They are the Authorized Concessionaire for Glacier Bay National Park, and partner with Naturalists, National Park Rangers, and local Huna Tlingit guides who com onboard and provide expert insight into the ecosystem and culture.

I’m not sure if it was seeing the mountains and glaciers from sea level or sharing the experience with the Rangers and Guides that made the difference, but it felt like a whole new experience for me.

There was an abundance of wildlife. We saw whales, seals, otters and eagles right from our cabin on the ship and watching whales in the wild never gets old. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t rain every day, and a bit of weather trivia for you, Alaska as a whole doesn’t even come close to the top 10 wettest states. Our trip was in June, and we experienced mostly warm weather.

Even if you don’t go on an excursion, there are plenty of places to explore right in the port and most ships dock close to the town centers. It you do plan on taking some excursions, the list of trips is long and unique. We did a cultural tour and saw a Lingít master carver working on a new totem pole and learned of the efforts to restore and conserve some of the older carvings.

There are train journeys, gold rush history tours, glacier tours, whale watching and dogsled demonstrations just to name a few and many have access for persons with mobility concerns.

If you plan on going, know that cruises to Alaska only operate between Late April and October, with June to August being the busiest time.

The best cabins do tend to book up quickly so planning in advance will save you from disappointment. You’ll need to plan for every type of weather, so pack some rain gear and clothing that can be layered for warmth.

Not all cruise lines are alike, but your travel advisor can help you pick the one that is best for you and they can help you with all your vacation needs to make it an unforgettable experience.