1. If you’re thinking about taking an Alaskan cruise, do it NOW! Glaciers are receding every year (according to frequent visitors), so go before the situation gets worse. Even if you hate the idea of cruising (as I did), this is a great first-time cruise (calm waters, relaxed itinerary, stunningly beautiful scenery). May-Sept is the official season, with July and August being the warmest months.
2. Use Costco to book your cruise if possible (would even be worth joining if you aren’t yet a member) because it’s hard for other travel agents to compete. We not only got a great price, but also $525 in shipboard credits that we could use for gratuities, alcohol, and other fun on-board events (and it was even refundable as cash, though we used it all and ended up having a final balance of about $60). If you can afford it, definitely get a room with a verandah/balcony, because it’s nice to sit out there and watch the scenery (and look for whales, dolphins, seals, otters, etc.).
3. Many cruises leave out of Seattle (cheaper to fly to from many US cities), but if you’re worried about seasickness or are nervous about being in the open water, consider leaving out of Vancouver (you can fly directly, or the 4-hour train to Seattle is a beautiful ride along the coast), where you will spend less time in open water. Some of us wore “seabands” to prevent seasickness (others didn’t think it was necessary), and we had ginger candy on hand in case of nausea. (Even though we were worried about possibly getting seasick, none of us used the patch or thought it would be necessary on this cruise). Another plus of leaving from Vancouver is that it is an incredible city to explore before or after your cruise if you haven’t been before.
4. Although the itinerary is important, it’s just as important to choose the right cruise line and ship for you, as they have very different vibes/ages/entertainment/food quality (e.g., Disney has characters everywhere and is full of children; Holland America is more calm, has an older crowd, and far fewer kids; some have rock walls and ice rinks, whereas others have Broadway-quality productions). Read “cruisecritic.com” (think “Tripadvisor for cruises”) to decide on your line and ship before booking. [Note: We chose Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam 7-day round trip out of Vancouver and loved it; great food, chill atmosphere (never felt crowded), older crowd, enough-but-not-too-many activities (we liked the "America's Test Kitchen" cooking shows), good music, etc. If you have a younger crowd and want a more active/busy environment, you might prefer a different cruise line.]
5. Book your airfare as soon as you book your cruise: as a general rule, availability goes down and price goes up the longer you wait. If you find a cheaper fare on Southwest, you can cancel and rebuy your ticket with no charge; other airlines charge a fee, but if there is a change in flight time (sometimes only by a few minutes), you can use that as an excuse to cancel your ticket and rebook at the lower price for free. If possible, book your flights for a day and half before and after the cruise (so you don’t have to worry about a delayed flight making you miss your cruise, or about rushing to fly all day after walking off a cruise; plus, it’s nice to have a little time to explore the port city).
6. Book your excursions way in advance (at least 6 months or as soon as you book your cruise) and avoid buying them through the cruise line (where they are more expensive and less personal/intimate). Instead, read Tripadvisor for reviews in the ports you’ll be going to, and choose the highest-rated activity you can afford (ideally in smaller groups or private). I highly recommend “Trail of 98 tours” in Skagway (a private, customized tour of the Yukon territory) and Ketchican Kayak tours (small groups, amazing guides, will likely see humpback whales, seals, bald eagles, etc.) in Ketchican.
7. Read cruisecritic.com again about a week before your trip to get good tips, both general (e.g., packing lists) and specific to your ship (e.g., to book spa appointments and upcharge restaurants in advance, what the various on-board activity choices are).
8. It is possible to pack in a carry-on (all 4 females in my family packed in a carryon-sized rollerboard and a backpack) and not to overpack, if you follow the suggested lists online. We each took 1 pair of hiking pants (for excursions), 1 pair of leggings or yoga pants (for most ship days), and t-shirts, a fleece, and a waterproof jacket. For dinners, we wore skirts and blouses and each brought a nicer black dress (which we wore to both formal nights, with a different shrug or scarf). We found tennis shoes to be just fine (did not need hiking shoes), but if you are going on a serious hike or climb, you might need them.
9. The best packing tips I got from Facebook before our trip: 1) buy wine (1 bottle per 21 year old on Holland America, though this varies by cruise line, so be sure to read their rules) in the port before you board to take with you (if you want to smuggle other alcohol on board, you can google how to do this), 2) Bring ziplock baggies of various sizes to take food from the buffet (sandwiches, cookies) on excursion days, 3) bring some magnet hooks or clips (the room walls are made of steel, and you can hang up your daily itinerary, 4) bring extra outlets/extension or long power cords (though our room had plenty, some don’t), and 5) buy an over-the-door shoe hanger with clear plastic compartments (like from Target; $15) to hang inside the bathroom door and keep everything organized.
10. Onboard dining: we preferred the early dinner seating (5:30 pm; usually they are at 5:30 and 8pm on various ships) because of the 2-3 hour time zone difference with Austin. I read online to order room service (it’s free) every morning to avoid the crazy lines at the buffets, and this was the best tip ever—it was so relaxing to eat in our room and look out the window at the scenery. Note that they have a small list of eligible items, but we wrote in items (“pancakes”, “extra sausage instead of bacon”) and they were very accommodating. At dinner, unless an extra charge is specified, you can feel free to order 2 appetizers, entrees, or desserts (we often ordered vanilla ice cream to go with our chocolate dessert, and my brother sometimes ordered second entrees).
SUM: although I thought I would hate cruising, I enjoyed this one because it was so much more relaxing, beautiful, less crowded, and easy (not to have to switch hotel rooms to move to a different city was nice, as was being able to pop into your room to rest at any time; it’s also great for traveling with friends and family, because people can do their own thing but then meet up for dinner) than I expected, plus smooth sailing. Would I take another ocean cruise? Probably not, but I’m definitely looking into European river cruises ;).
