The largest state in a very large country, Alaska is probably not the place you think it is. First, it is a vast land where civilization exists in outposts against a wilderness background. There are many parts of Alaska where animals outnumber people.
The wilderness theme crops up where you would least expect it. Try to get in and out of the state's capital city, Juneau, and you find that you need to do it by boat or plane. The place is not accessible by car.
Flying is altogether a normal way of going from point A to point B in Alaska. The state has made flight-seeing popular since so many great natural attractions were best accessed from the air.
Alaska also has a railroad system that was built specifically to show off the state's enthralling natural beauty. Though not extensive, you can travel by rail in Alaska in dome-topped luxury club cars and see the mountains, valleys, and wildlife from the comfort of a luxury vehicle.
That's not such a very different concept from cruising, where you can sail by glaciers, mountains, wildlife, and postcard-perfect scenery all without leaving the comfort of the balcony of your stateroom. (If you like to travel inside stateroom to save money, you can watch this from the many public rooms on the ship.)
If you cruise to Alaska, expect to find chilly temperatures, even in summer. Remember that you'll get a breeze from the water and things get chillier when the sun goes down and you will understand why you may need to drag out some winter gear to cruise to Alaska, even in summer.
Of course, that has never stopped adventurous souls from appreciating Alaska. The state has a very diverse history. First, it's the only part of the United States that was ever once part of Russia. You may find Russian artifacts, habits, and even souvenirs in some places. When Seward bought Alaska for the U.S. in the 19th century, the deal was negotiated with Russia.
Early in its American history, Alaska became the sight of a gold stampede as lots of miners headed north to make their fortunes. A few even planned to pan for gold.
Today, Alaska is more concerned with "black gold," or its native oil reserves. Despite abundant natural wealth and beauty, life and even tourism in Alaska isn't always easy. Many products and services in Alaska are expensive, at least by lower-48 standards. The climate is cold and can be hostile, so travel requires a lot of advanced preparation and some physical hardiness.
That's why an Alaskan cruise makes sense, particularly for those modern-day adventurers who aren't so sure they want to climb a mountain of ice to see a glacier or struggle along an unpaved road in an off-road vehicle in the snow to get to the next town.
When shopping for an Alaskan cruise, look at the excursions that are offered. Most cruise ships offer plenty of time for you to soak up on-board activities, so you should take advantage of whatever shore excursions best match your interests.
Want to see polar bears? Go whale watching? Go fly fishing? Flight-see around a glacier? Shop for native art? Drive a dog sled? Most Alaskan cruises offer great excursions like these.
Some cruise shoppers penny pinch for excursions, but it is usually a better deal to penny pinch on a stateroom. Here's why. The biggest part of your bill in seeing Alaska is getting there. That's your cruise fare. Once you're there, you may be able to flight-see or whale watch or do other once-in-a-lifetime thing for a few hundred dollars.
Think of it this way. If you wanted to go fishing for Alaskan king salmon, right this minute, you'd have to get to Alaska and then charter a fishing trip.
If you wanted to whale watch today, you'd have to get to Alaska and then book passage on a whale-watching expedition.
On the cruise, you're already there. You're just paying a supplement or upcharge for these incredible experiences. If you have to economize, you're better off making do with a smaller or inside stateroom and getting the excursions.
Years from now, you won't remember your cruise so much from what your room was like but rather the excursions you had.
When many people hear about Alaska cruise vacations, they likely think of a 2000-passenger packed ship, 7 or 8 stories tall. Or maybe you think of shopping centers, movie theaters, and even casino gambling. In fact, you would be right to an extent. In addition to Alaska cruise vacations that have all the previously noted features, numerous other cruising possibilities exist.
There are lots of Alaska cruise vacations that take place on smaller ships, which offer more intimate cruising facilities and accommodations. These can offer the rare opportunity to be both more affordable and enjoyable. It simply depends on what you have to spend and the kind of experience you want to have. Each type of cruise vacation to Alaska has something unique to offer. If you have a large travel budget, an Alaskan cruise package on one of the big ships might make sense for you.
But a cruise to Alaska on one of the smaller vessels is the right choice if you want to get close to nature and you also have a limited budget. Cruise vacations to Alaska on smaller ships will give you a very special experience with lots more personal attention. They bring you much nearer to shore so you can get closer to the wildlife. The smaller ships have access to smaller docks, unlike the bigger ships which are prohibited because of their size. On shore trips are included in the basic charge with these kinds of Alaskan cruise packages.
The smaller ships wont offer the shopping, gambling and movie cinemas of course. But if you'd enjoy a more romantic vacation with personalized service, try one of the smaller vessels that offer Alaska cruise tours. Of course, most Alaska cruise vacations aboard a large cruise ship will cost a lot more. It will not allow you to view wildlife close at hand. The most you can look forward to is seeing is some bald eagles and perhaps a few humpback whales.
Cruise packages for Alaska on the big ships don't include onshore excursions, so you'll have to pay extra for these kinds of things. You might not realize this until after you've gotten your final bill. You will realize that all the little things added up to be a large cost.
But one must admit that cruises to Alaska on the luxury liners are a very grand affair and offer amenities you won't find on smaller vessels. They offer every conceivable amenity, like spas, casinos, nightclubs, movies, even shopping malls.
You can enjoy a private deck and lounge, and they have swimming pools also. So, it really boils down to what your idea of the perfect vacation to Alaska is. People who take Alaska cruise tours will find that the smaller ships allow them to reach places that they have no hope of ever visiting if they had chosen a big ship. But small ships only carry about 100 passengers compared with about 2000 on a large ship, so they fill up fast. Therefore, you should book Alaska cruise vacations as soon as you can.
Both Mandy Karlik & Kj Ross are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mandy Karlik has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Travel, Travel and Leisure and Finances. Mandy Karlik is a travel writer and a blogger on the cruise industry. If you'd like to know more about Alaska or other cruise destinations, please visit