If you are looking for spectacular scenery, then you cannot ignore Alaska with its ice blue seas, towering glaciers, vast tundra, forests and mountain ranges.
Alaska, America's 49th State is immense, being about one fifth the size of the rest of the United States but with a tiny population in comparison.
Over one million people cruise to Alaska each year, accounting for around 8% of the world cruise market.
Alaska is not a year round cruise destination though, with a relatively short season running from mid May to mid September. High season runs from July through August with low season being May, June and September.
Most cruises leave from either Seattle, Washington State in the USA or Vancouver in Canada. There are also cruises from the Californian ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco and from Whittier, near Anchorage.
Some cruises are round trips, others are one way to/from Whittier and Vancouver and typically last between 7 and 16 days.
If you are going to treat yourself to an outside cabin/stateroom with a balcony, then an Alaskan cruise is the time to do it. The spectacle and sounds of being up close to some of the world's largest glaciers is beyond words and is a truly awe inspiring experience.
Types of Cruise
There are really three options when it comes to Alaska cruises:
- large cruise ships - the main advantage is the level of luxury and amenities on board but the larger ships cannot reach all of the interesting places you may want to see because of their sheer size
- small cruise ships - these can access those places inaccessible to the bigger ships but generally will have less facilities on board
- travel by ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway - the ultimate freedom to travel at your own pace but you will need to sort out your own accommodation along the way which is limited in some ports of call
Alternatives to Alaska
If you are looking for alternatives to Alaska, then consider the "Lands of the midnight sun" with cruises around Norway and the Fjords, Iceland and Greenland.
