Thinking About an Alaska Cruise?

Cruise ships are often romanticized in movies and television shows, but how does the reality stack up against the fantasy? Based on the trip my wife and I recently completed, it’s a close match. If you’re considering an Alaska cruise, plan for about twelve days, including travel to and from the departure port.

Our journey began in Seattle, a city easily accessible by air or highway. For most of the U.S., a flight to SEATAC is the quickest option. If you can, avoid arriving during rush hour, whether heading to your hotel or the cruise ship. We arrived a day early and stayed at a downtown hotel, enjoying dinner at one of the finest sushi restaurants we’ve experienced on either coast. The hotel was peaceful, and the service was exceptional.

The next morning, we had an easy mid-morning ride to the port. Upon arrival, we were surprised by the number of people in line for boarding. However, the process moved quickly, despite the need to handle luggage, clear immigration and security, receive our room assignment, and learn to navigate the ship.

Once aboard, we set off on our escape to the northernmost state. The crew was multinational, but all spoke English fluently. The ship offered a variety of dining options, including a large cafeteria-style restaurant that could accommodate hundreds at each meal. Numerous bars throughout the ship served everything from coffee and soft drinks to adult beverages.

Entertainment options were plentiful, both on board and ashore. The ship had a naturalist, Jeff Corbin, who gave lectures and led shore excursions. While we attended his first lecture, we chose to explore on our own, and our research paid off with some incredible sights.

Our first port of call was Ketchikan, a place you might recall from geography class. It’s famous for its salmon processing, with fish caught in local streams and rivers, canned, and shipped worldwide—hence the name “Ketch-I-Can.” We enjoyed a delightful brunch, browsed the shops, and captured the stunning scenery in photos. Although it was near the end of the salmon season, we still saw a few fish swimming upstream to spawn, with others completing their life cycle at the creek’s bottom.

Alaska is also known for its gold, both mined and panned. Many shops offer gold panning supplies, displaying gold dust, flakes, and nuggets found locally. Even the smallest shops had impressive gold displays, some featuring veins of gold still embedded in rock.

Travel outside the cities can be challenging, with roads often rough and prone to blockages from landslides, floods, or avalanches. As a result, air and water travel are common. Many Alaskans own boats, and floatplanes are a regular sight. We particularly enjoyed watching planes take off from rivers, and the constant water traffic was fascinating.

We also embarked on a kayak adventure on a glacier-fed lake. The glacial silt, created by glaciers grinding against the mountains, forms dense banks that can make kayaking difficult. But the effort was worth it—our photos captured an eagle perched on a depth marker, and the wildlife we encountered made the challenges of kayaking worthwhile. Bears, bald eagles, and other creatures shared the lakes and rivers with us, creating a visual feast of photo opportunities. Even our fellow passengers, many of whom were inexperienced kayakers, managed to enjoy their time on the water, returning with smiles and stories to tell.

The attached photos are just a few of the nearly 500 I took during the cruise, capturing the ship, the activities, and the breathtaking locations. We encountered up to five other cruise ships in the harbors where we docked, each bringing thousands of passengers and a significant boost to the local economies. This influx of visitors allows Alaskan communities to import goods that we often take for granted in the “Lower 48” states. The people of Alaska, the last of the American pioneers, are truly wonderful to meet.

Alaska: The Last Frontier’s Wild Wonders and Cultural Riches

Alaska, often referred to as the “Last Frontier,” is a land of superlatives. It’s the largest state in the U.S., yet one of the least populated, offering vast stretches of untouched wilderness. The state boasts more coastline than all the other U.S. states combined, and its rugged landscapes include towering mountains, deep fjords, and ancient glaciers. Alaska is home to Denali, the highest peak in North America, which rises majestically from the surrounding tundra, often shrouded in a blanket of clouds.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Alaska is its relationship with daylight. Depending on the season, the state experiences extreme variations in daylight hours. In the far north, the sun doesn’t set for several weeks during the summer solstice, creating the phenomenon known as the “Midnight Sun.” Conversely, winter brings prolonged darkness, with only a few hours of daylight each day—a time when the ethereal Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, often dance across the sky in vibrant shades of green and pink.

Alaska’s cultural tapestry is as rich as its natural beauty. The state is home to diverse Indigenous groups, including the Inupiat, Yupik, Tlingit, and Haida, each with its own distinct language, traditions, and art forms. These communities have lived in harmony with the harsh environment for thousands of years, passing down knowledge and skills such as subsistence hunting, fishing, and crafting from generation to generation. Their deep connection to the land and sea is evident in the totem poles, carvings, and intricate beadwork that tell the stories of their ancestors.

The state’s wildlife is another point of intrigue. Alaska is one of the few places where you can observe bears fishing for salmon, moose roaming through suburban areas, and bald eagles soaring overhead in large numbers. The waters off its coast are equally rich, teeming with whales, sea otters, and seals. The yearly migration of millions of salmon up Alaska’s rivers is not only a crucial part of the ecosystem but also a spectacle that draws visitors from around the world. This abundance of wildlife makes Alaska a paradise for nature lovers and photographers alike, offering countless opportunities to witness the raw beauty of the natural world.