| WHAT TO SEE: Legendary beautiful scenery of | | | | Your longest days will be in June and July (up to |
| Alaska- magnificent coastal fjords, rugged glaciers, | | | | 20-21 hours of daylight) and will offer you many |
| vast evergreen forests, sky-high mountains, 7 of | | | | opportunities to enjoy active glaciers. Early and |
| which are the tallest peaks in North America (to | | | | late season cruises (May and September) tend to |
| see Mt. McKinley, North America's tallest peak, | | | | be slightly cheaper and the ports of call are less |
| you'll need to take a tour to the shore into the | | | | crowded. You can check next week weather |
| Denali National Park), abundant land and marine | | | | forecast for Anchorage here. |
| wildlife- moose, kodiak and grizzly bears, caribou, | | | | ALASKA CRUISE TIPS: Northern weather can be |
| dall sheep, puffin, otters, seals, humpback and | | | | unpredictable. Consider taking with you and |
| killer whales, dolphins, bald-headed eagles and | | | | wearing multiple layers of clothes in response to a |
| much more. Shore excursions are optional, as well | | | | wide variety of temperatures and weather |
| as guided tours in a cruise ship's port of call. They | | | | conditions. What to pack : waterproof and warm |
| are offered in all Alaska ports and cities and are a | | | | jacket, a sweater, light gloves, rain gear, sun |
| great way to enrich your cruise experience with | | | | glasses and a warm hat for deck strolling or |
| visiting coastal attractions, historical places, | | | | touring on the shore. You also may find useful |
| challenging yourself in kayaking, helicopter tours, | | | | binoculars, camera, camcorder, film, batteries and |
| mountain biking,... | | | | walking shoes. If you need a hair dryer, pack one; |
| CRUISE LENGTH: 7 days on average.There are | | | | not all cruise ships have hair dryers in the cabins. |
| some 11 and 14 day cruises which include more | | | | Bargain hunters should look for last minute deals |
| ports of call and more glacier touring. There are 2 | | | | as the last rooms are often sold at very low |
| different kinds of cruises available: Inside Passage | | | | prices. |
| Cruise: roundtrip departure from Vancouver/ | | | | Pick the right cruise ship for your style,- some |
| Seattle, usually 7 days long. You cruise the inside | | | | ships are more traditional, other more stylish, |
| passage through the islands offshore from British | | | | elegant, some offer more choices for children, |
| Columbia and Alaska. Stops usually include | | | | other are more seniors-oriented. The cruise |
| Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway and Juneau. Gulf of | | | | comparison chart below should help you in making |
| Alaska Cruise (or Glacier Route Cruise): You cruise | | | | the correct choice. Check your cruise itinerary, |
| one-way northbound from Vancouver/ Seattle or | | | | almost every ship usually includes several formal |
| one-way south from Seward, Alaska. You will see | | | | dress code nights. Dark business suit or a tuxedo |
| more glaciers on this route and an additional port | | | | would do the thing. Alaska cruises tend to be |
| or two. | | | | more casual than other destinatons but items |
| WHEN TO GO: The usual Alaska cruise season | | | | such as cutoff t-shirts, halter tops and torn jeans |
| lasts from early May to late September. Alaskan | | | | are still not permitted in the dining area.Tipping is |
| summers are cool, daytime highs in these months | | | | usually $10 per passenger per day. We |
| range from 10 to 27 degrees Celsius (50 to 80 | | | | recommend you to book a stateroom with a |
| Fahrenheit). May and June tend to be the drier | | | | balcony. Theview on an Alaska cruise is always |
| months, July is the warmest one. June and July | | | | changing- mountains, shores, wildlife, marine |
| are the best months to watch Humpback and | | | | animals, glaciers, or quaint waterfront communities. |
| Orca whales, White-Sided dolphins. An additional | | | | You can enjoy it from the privacy of your own |
| bonus to an Alaskan cruise vacation is that in | | | | balcony, escaping crowded decks. |
| summer the days are much longer than they are | | | | We wish you a nice and safe cruising! |
| further south. This is the land of the midnight sun. | | | | |