Alaska Cruises

Are you finally going to take that Seattle to Alaska cruise? Why not add some extra days to see some Seattle Side Trips. My travel video: Washington State A Scenic Tour is great for planning a trip.

When you pack for Alaska, I recommend you take along a warm wool sweater and parka. Weather can be a real issue, even in July! (People say it’s true in Seattle as well.) You can purchase some binoculars at the cruise terminal, but why not bring along your own. There is so much wildlife to see.

Five of the major cruise companies depart from Seattle. Norwegian Lines, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Celebrity Cruises visit here, as well as Holland American Line which is based in our city. As you arrive in town to pick up your ship, you’ll see the city skyline is surrounded by wonderful mountains and water views.

Once you board your cruise ship and get settled in the cabin, go topside to see the departure from the Seattle dock.

This is Puget Sound and it will take the ship several hours to sail by Edmonds, Everett, along Whidbey Island, through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and into the Pacific Ocean.

The big land mass to the right of the ship (starboard) is Vancouver Island. Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, Canada, is on the southern end of the island. You’ll probably see the lights of the city as your ship heads north to the region known as the Inside Passage.

Alaskan waters are filled with wildlife. Most cruise ships have an on-board naturalist to help you spot ocean going Humpback and Orca whales, playful dolphins, plus seals and sea lions along the shore as you sail north.

Salmon are seen by the thousands at mouths of rivers swimming upstream to spawn. You may even see a brown bear catching his salmon dinner.

The first port of call is Ketchikan. Get to know the town with a walking tour of popular attractions including local museums, Creek Street, native cultural attractions, shopping and restaurants. If there is not a map on board, pick up one at the Ketchikan Visitor Information Center.

It’s easy to follow the numbered signs posted along the route to learn about the history and culture of the town. While in port you may want to consider a sport fishing charter, kayak or boating expedition, renting a bike, or hitting the trail for a hiking adventure.

But, don’t miss the boat!!

The historic Russian town of Sitka is another fascinating cruise stop.

Nestled on the west side of Baranof Island, it is flanked on the east by snow-capped mountains and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Little boats take you ashore to explore the shops, galleries and tour the Old Russian Orthodox Church. One of my favorite walks is through the Tongass National Forest on the edge of town. You’ll see examples of Tlingit Totem Poles and signs giving you an explanation of the means of the characters.

Watch for bald eagles nesting in the forest.

The capital of Alaska is Juneau. Ships cruise into Tracy Arm Fjord where you can go ashore to visit the Juneau Icefields, Mendenhall Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park.

Wildlife inhabits areas in and around town. Nearby, the Admiralty Island National Monument features a habitat for a large population of brown bears. Adventuresome? Take the Mt. Roberts tramway from town up the cliffs for a wilderness hike.

Many Juneau shops, galleries and government buildings feature example of native Alaskan arts and crafts. Here you’ll have another chance to try kayaking, dog sledding, rafting, biking or glacier hiking.

Skagway is best known as the “Gateway to the Klondike”. There are lots of historic sites to explore.

Visit the trail of '98 Museum, Gold Rush Cemetery and take a breathtaking train ride.

In 1898 thousands of men sailed from Seattle in search of their fortune in the gold fields of the Yukon. You can retrace the route of the stampede on the White Pass & Yukon Railway. The train ride climbs nearly 3000 feet in 20 miles to give passengers breathtaking views of glaciers, waterfalls and trestles.

Of course, the jewel of the Alaska Cruise is Glacier Bay National Park which spans 3.3 million acres of inlets that channel the mountain snows toward the sea in giant glaciers. At this destination a National Park Service rangers will board the ship to act as a tour guide while in Glacier Bay.

Don’t miss going up on deck to see this marine wilderness!

It includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. There will be lots of time to ask questions as you observe glaciers break away from the huge glacier ice walls.

Your cruise itinerary may list Anchorage as the next stop. But you’ll find yourself surrounded by snowcapped peaks in the tiny town of Whittier.

When you disembark the ship, buses or trains will take you through the longest highway tunnel in North America and into the city of Anchorage.

Now that you’re back on land, get ready to explore Anchorage, a city that covers almost 2,000 square miles, roughly the size of Delaware. You’ll want to allow time to see this area before flying back to the ‘lower 48’.

Anchorage has a nice selection of hotels concentrated near the airport or in the downtown area. Restaurants serve everything from a miner’s breakfast to Reindeer burgers! Take your pick!

To get a better understanding of history and culture of Alaska I recommend visiting the Museum of History and Art and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

The History Museum offers life-size dioramas showing traditional village dwellings of Alaska's Aleuts, Eskimos and Indians; homes of early Russian settlers and Gold Rush-era pioneers and Alaskan homes and work environments from the 1920s. Many Anchorage shops and galleries feature Alaska Native art and crafts.

If time permits, stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center to experience programs of music, dances, stories and games drawn from the diverse cultures of the 11 indigenous groups the live in modern day Alaska.

Save at least one day of your Anchorage visit to see Denali National Park.

Same-day rail or bus service will get you out in the wilderness of Denali to see wildlife like moose, bear, gray wolves, caribou and Dall sheep.

If the weather is clear enough, North America's highest mountain, Mt. McKinley may even appear.

When you return to the city you may feel that some of the wildlife has followed you back to town. Anchorage is probably the only city in the United States that has a major moose problem, as there are hundreds within the city limits.

The story goes that the town Moose are especially fond of Christmas wreaths! I would avoid wearing mistletoe, as well!