Mistakes to Avoid When Cruising to Alaska

Going on an Alaskan cruise is different than your ordinary cruise in the Caribbean. While it’s not like crossing the Drake to Antarctica, there is a bit more to consider when planning and preparing for your trip. From which route to book and packing your bags to the cruise itself, you’ll want to get all the details right.

For an adventure of a lifetime, these are the mistakes to avoid when cruising to Alaska.

Arriving on Embarkation Day

One of the worst mistakes you can make when planning your trip to Alaska is booking your flight to arrive on embarkation day. Delays and cancelations can and often do occur. You don’t want to find yourself stuck at an airport instead of hopping aboard your ship. Make sure you fly in at least a day before your cruise – if all goes smoothly, the worst case scenario is that you’ll have more time to explore in the departure city.

Whether you start in San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, or Anchorage, you’ll have plenty of options for things to do. Plus, for those who are coming from destinations further east, it will give you time to recover from any jet lag so that you can enjoy every moment of your cruise.

Poor Timing

Brown bears at Pack Creek, Admiralty Island, near Juneau, Alaska (Forest Service Alaska)

Beyond the timing of your flights, you’ll want to carefully consider the timing of your cruise. Think about your priorities – for example, are you looking for the most budget-friendly excursion while avoiding the crowds or do you want the best chance of spotting bears on a bear-viewing shore excursion?

The General Cruising Season for Weather & Daylight Hours

In general, the best time for an Alaskan cruise is between May and September, with the majority of cruises taking place during this time. Within the cruising season, the best period in terms of weather and daylight is from mid-June through mid-July. Temperatures are typically in the 60s Fahrenheit and you’ll enjoy long days too. For Inside Passage cruises, sunset ranges from 9:30 p.m. in Ketchikan, the typical southernmost port of call, to 10:23 p.m. in Skagway, the northernmost port for the majority of routes.

Wildlife

In terms of wildlife,  if your priority is watching the bears in the Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area on Admiralty Island, come during the peak time of the season from late July through August and you might see as many as 25 bears come together. For whales, the general season coincides with whale watching from May through mid-September the peak time, bringing around 600 humpbacks to the region.

Another one of the highlights of summer is the Arctic tern. Photo Point, located in front of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, is one of the best places to see the breeding colony up close. The lakeshore provides safe refuge to raise their chicks with the birds spending only about three months here before leaving on their southward migration to Antarctica around late July.

Arctic tern, Alaska (public domain)

Fishing

Outstanding fishing can be enjoyed throughout the summer but the best time to come depends on what you want to fish for. Saltwater fishing for king salmon is best in June, with coho, chum, and pinks in the marine waters during June and July. The chum and pink salmon fishing is usually good through around the first half of August. July and August are the best months for halibut fishing, tapering off in September. The key is to do your research based on your fishing interests.

Fewer Crowds & Lower Prices

For thinner crowds and reduced costs, you’ll want to come early or late in the Alaskan cruising season. April and May bring the chance to watch the northern lights while late summer (early September) is a great time to see brilliant fall foliage along the shore.

Not Booking Your Cruise Well in Advance

You might think you can save some money by booking your cruise at the last minute, but it’s usually not worth chancing it. That’s especially true if this is a bucket-list trip and you’ve never visited Alaska before.

Booking well in advance, meaning at least six months to a year ahead, will give you the best choice when it comes to staterooms and excursions. For some situations, it’s an absolute must, such as families who will need connecting staterooms. Plus, you’ll probably have to pay more for your hotels pre- and post-cruise when booking closer to your departure date.

Forgetting Shore Excursions

mother and calf humpbacks in Juneau, Alaska, credit: K.C. Dermody

In some cruise destinations there’s really no need to book excursions in advance, but not an Alaskan cruise. Here, shore excursions, whether booked through your cruise line or an independent outfitter, tend to sell out quickly which means if you wait too long you could end up disappointed. While you could simply disembark and walk around, you won’t get nearly as much out of your visit.

The further you book ahead, the better, especially with personalized experiences such as those offered by Alaska Luxury Tours. That will ensure that your excursion will be unique and catered to your particular needs and interests, complete with local experts, whether you’re looking for a general Juneau sightseeing tour or an exlusive whale-watching trip.

Failing to Consider the Midnight Sun

sunset during the Midnight Sun, Glacier Bay, Alaska – Dave Hensley, photographer (Creative Commons)

During the summer, Alaska experiences the midnight sun. That means the sun sets late at night and rises early in the morning with the exact time depending on the particular destination. It’s not as extreme in Southeast Alaska, but the days are still quite long and the hours of darkness minimal.

The longest day in Juneau is June 21, typically Summer Solstice or close to it, when there are 18 hours and 18 minutes of daylight. The sun goes down after 10 p.m. and will be up again before 4 a.m. so you’ll want to bring an eye mask to aid sleeping if you’re light sensitive. Booking an interior cabin on your cruise is another option for enjoying darkness and a more peaceful night’s sleep.

Inappropriate Clothing

Packing for an Alaska cruise can be a bit challenging due to the unpredictable weather. It can be 50 degrees and rainy one day and sunny and 80 degrees the next. You might also have to consider things like Zodiac boat tours and hiking excursions. One of the biggest mistakes to avoid when cruising to Alaska is over- and under-packing so you don’t want to bring any inappropriate clothing. Forget about high heels or any type of formalwear and concentrate on attire for outdoor adventures. If you want to dress up a bit, bring a pair of dressier sneakers or flats and perhaps some nicer tops to wear with dark-colored jeans, slacks, or a skirt with leggings instead.

Some of the must-pack items in terms of clothing include:

• Rain gear – You might get lucky and it will be dry every day, but odds are it will be wet at some point. Bring a lightweight rain jacket, pull-on rain pants, and waterproof shoes.
• Layers – With the unpredictability, it’s essential to pack clothing that can be layered. Even in the summer, you’ll need some warmer items like fleece sweatshirts, sweatshirts, and vests.
• Accessories – And, yes, you’ll still need gloves and a hat during the warmer months of the year. Earmuffs and scarves can be helpful too, especially for standing out on the deck while cruising or on a whale-watching boat due to chilly winds.

Being Afraid to Try Something New

Ziplining in Juneau, photo credit: -marlith-/Flickr, available for public use

Your Alaska cruise brings numerous opportunities to try something you might never have the chance to do again. You might take advantage of a luxury excursion that includes touring by land and sea in a luxury Mercedes and private yacht with a master captain/naturalist. You could embark on a flightseeing trip for a bird’s-eye view of the stunning landscapes below, whiz across a zipline, try your hand at salmon fishing in one of the world’s best places,  get splashed by a whale on a whale-watching boat tour, or walk on a glacier.

And, finally, no matter what you want to see and do, don’t make the mistake of failing to book with Alaska Luxury Tours as we’ll ensure you have the best possible experience while in Juneau.