If your only experience cruising is to the Caribbean, you might wonder if a cruise to Alaska is similar or what the differences are. Here’s what to expect on an Alaska cruise:

1. A more toned-down environment than a Caribbean cruise. Think less belly flop contests on the pool deck and more enrichment talks and cooking demonstrations indoors.
2. Longer days. Literally, it will be daylight longer. Alaska is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun because, from April through September, the sun doesn’t set until 10:30 or 11:30 p.m.
3. Shorter cruising season. Cruises to Alaska are only available from the end of April through the beginning of October. This is the safest time for the cruise ships to sail and also the warmest time so cruisers can be outside and enjoy the views and excursions.
4. Shore excursions taken to a different level. The prices are higher, but the experiences are worth it. There are floatplanes to view bears from above, sled dog camps, helicopter rides to tundras way above sea level. Yes, there are city tours, but there are also snorkeling excursions in the freezing cold water, paddle-boarding and kayaking past glaciers, white-water rafting, fishing for your dinner and so much more.
5. Scenery for days. This is one of those cruises where the scenery is more important than the ship. No need for elaborate amenities, as the real focus is the scenery and ports of call. A cruise to Alaska is the kind of cruise where the balcony stateroom is a worthwhile upgrade. For other cruises, the balcony is cool, but mostly you’ll be looking at miles of ocean. While there are many public places on the cruise ship to view the scenery, having access to your own private balcony will make the trip more memorable. You can wake up and enjoy your morning coffee watching for whales, bald eagles or glaciers without standing elbow-to-elbow with other passengers.
6. Pack for layering your clothes. The weather in Alaska in the summer will be a little bit of rain probably every day, some parts will be warm and get even get into the 80s during the day, other parts are a little chillier, and the nights are cool. So bring a little bit of everything. Pack jackets, long-sleeved t-shirts, a sweatshirt, boots, nicer clothes for evenings on the ship, an umbrella, light gloves, a hat or visor, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray (big mosquitos in Alaska!), eye covers for sleeping (did we mention the 24 hour daylight?) and comfortable shoes.
7. Popular ports of call include:
   • Ketchikan – rainforests!
   • Skagway – historic pastime of panning for gold, white-water rafting
   • Juneau – Alaska’s capital, full of animals – whale watching tour, brown bear viewing area
   • Anchorage – one of the most northern ports that cruises visit – this is where all the ice and snow are. Most impressive scenery, dog-sledding, glaciers, snowcapped mountains
8. A lot of wildlife, including moose, caribou, grizzly bears, puffins, seals, humpback whales and bald eagles. In Glacier Bay National Park, the humpback whales come into the bay every summer – there are usually around 200 different whales the rangers report seeing every summer to feed in the waters.
   Note: To see the majority of the wildlife you'll need to take a tour to the interior either on an excursion or on the tour portion of a cruise-tour.
9. Opportunity to see glaciers. This is one of the things that makes Glacier Bay National Park one of the most breathtaking parks in the country. The U.S. Park Service limits the number of cruise ships (usually two per day) that can cruise through the waters. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a piece of a glacier calving off. The pieces are often the size of a house and make a very loud booming sound.
10. Be prepared to take a lot of photos – and then expect to take even more. With the amazing wildlife and scenery, you’ll want to bring twice as much digital storage as you think you’ll need. Maybe even bring an actual camera instead of just using your phone. It wouldn’t hurt to bring a pair of binoculars, too.

There’s a reason Alaska is called the “Great Land” with its diverse history, spectacular scenery, wildlife, culture and wide array of adventures available to visitors. If you’re ready for your Alaska dream vacation, be sure to attend one of our free Alaska events or contact a AAA Travel Expert and start planning!