norwegian bliss alaska cruise september 2023

Norwegian Bliss - September 9, 2023

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September 9, 2023

September 9 - 16, 2023

Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Cruise Line

7 Night Alaska: Juneau Ketchikan Sitka & Victoria

from Seattle, Washington

The September 9, 2023 cruise on the Norwegian Bliss departs from Seattle, Washington. On this 7 Night Alaska: Juneau Ketchikan Sitka & Victoria sailing, the ship will visit a total of 6 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Norwegian Bliss sets sail on a Saturday (September 9, 2023) and returns on a Saturday (September 16, 2023).

The Norwegian Bliss was built in 2018 and is amoung Norwegian's 19 ships in it's fleet. The Norwegian Bliss is included in the cruise line's Breakaway Plus Class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Norwegian Bliss vs all other Norwegian ships.

All Itineraries

Christened "The Emerald City", Seattle is known as one of the most livable cities in the world and actually receives less annual rainfall (36 inches) than New York and Atlanta. Surrounded by lakes, rivers, Puget Sound, and mountains, Seattle is a recreation enthusiasts' dream. In the summer, water sports are only 10 minutes away and winter sports, such as snow skiing, are only 45 minutes away.

Christened "The Emerald City", Seattle is known as one of the most livable cities in the world and actually receives less annual rainfall (36 inches) than New York and Atlanta. Surrounded by lakes...

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. Explore the Norwegian Bliss Deck Maps and make sure to view our list of Ship Venues and Features. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Sitka is considered Alaska's most beautiful seaside town, with views of island-studded waters and stately spruce forests reaching to the water's edge. Sitka offers a combination of Native culture, Russian history, and Alaskan wilderness which provides a diverse and unequaled Alaskan experience. The mild climate and dense forests make Sitka one of the best places to view wildlife in Alaska.

Sitka is considered Alaska's most beautiful seaside town, with views of island-studded waters and stately spruce forests reaching to the water's edge. Sitka offers a combination of Native culture...

Alaska's capital city, Juneau, is located in Southeast Alaska. The Tongass Rain Forest climate provides Juneau with lush terrain and wildflowers. Visitors can find unparalleled glacier viewing from Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier, the Juneau Icefield and Glacier Bay National Park, and outdoor enthusiasts will love Juneau's kayaking, dogsledding, rafting, biking, hiking and glacier hiking.

Alaska's capital city, Juneau, is located in Southeast Alaska. The Tongass Rain Forest climate provides Juneau with lush terrain and wildflowers. Visitors can find unparalleled glacier viewing from...

Icy Strait Point

The first cruise ship appeared in Ketchikan 114 years ago, and it has been a favorite port ever since. You can tour the area by boat, bus, horse-drawn trolley, or even a restored 1955 Chevy. The most famous part of town is Creek Street. The homes once comprising the red light district are now filled with arts, crafts and gift shops. Totem poles are everywhere, with 24 at Saxman Native Totem Park.

The first cruise ship appeared in Ketchikan 114 years ago, and it has been a favorite port ever since. You can tour the area by boat, bus, horse-drawn trolley, or even a restored 1955 Chevy. The most...

Founded as a fur-trading post by the Hudson Bay Company, Victoria is home to an interesting mix of cultures. There are English pubs, East Indian restaurants, and Japanese sushi bars. Chinatown features great buys at Market Square. Spend a pleasant afternoon among the flowers and waterways of world-famous Butchart Gardens.

Founded as a fur-trading post by the Hudson Bay Company, Victoria is home to an interesting mix of cultures. There are English pubs, East Indian restaurants, and Japanese sushi bars. Chinatown...

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7 Night Alaska - Seattle (Sea/Sea)

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered freestyle cruising with a variety of specialty dining restaurants, entertainment and onboard activities, including go-kart racing!

The scenic beauty of an Alaska cruise will brighten your spirit—from breaching whales to snow-capped peaks.

Known as The Emerald City, Seattle is a beautiful, luscious city with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains and Elliott Bay. The city is full of activities for both water lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

• Norwegian Bliss - Passenger Capacity: 4,004 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2018 Last Refurbished:  2021

Take advantage of limited-time offers and special deals

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Norwegian Bliss

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Seattle, Washington , Sitka, Alaska , Juneau, Alaska , Icy Strait, Alaska , Ketchikan, Alaska , Victoria, British Columbia

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• Itinerary & Pricing

7 Night Alaska - Seattle (Sea/Sea) sailing on the Norwegian Bliss

Departure dates: may 2024 - oct 2025.

From $1,099

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Stateroom prices for May. 4, 2024

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Cruise fare rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government Taxes, Port Expenses & Fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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• Alaska / Norwegian (NCL) / Ship Reviews

Norwegian (NCL) Bliss Review and Alaska Trip Report 2024

by Prof. Cruise · April 20, 2024

Introduction

By way of a quick introduction, I’m Sarah, also known as “Prof. Cruise.” I retired after 10 years as a college professor to pursue my passion for cruising, moving across the country to Seattle where I now live downtown and within a five minute walk of the NCL cruise terminal at Pier 66. My passion for cruising is only equaled by my love for Alaska. I’ve cruised there so many times locals now wave to me, ask me to take in their mail when they travel, and flag me down to see if they can borrow a cup of sugar to which I reply, “you know I don’t actually live here, right?” I’ve cruised to Alaska dozens and dozens of times on nearly every cruise line and itinerary.

Anyway, the cruise I’m reporting on here was my second on the Bliss to Alaska, but was significant in that it was the very first Alaska cruise across all lines and ships of the 2024 season. It was also my first time cruising solo on the Bliss (last time I had my son with me). The itinerary included port stops in Sitka, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and Victoria and an evening sailing through the Endicott Arm Fjord (where we were supposed to view the Dawes Glacier, but couldn’t get close enough due to ice and weather conditions). I’ll be providing a detailed trip report from each day as well as highlighting some features I loved about the Bliss (and a few I didn’t) and some tips for those booked on or considering her. But first, here are three links to get you started. The first two are videos, one a full ship tour and one a cabin tour . The third takes you to all the dining menus (MDR, specialty, fast casual, room service, and more) I collected onboard. As always, feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences on the Bliss to the comments.

Norwegian Bliss Ship and Cabin Tours

Norwegian Bliss Dining Menus

Norwegian Bliss Alaska 2024: Daily Trip Report

Day 1: embarkation day.

Theme of day one on the Bliss: Cruising solo. Here are some photos that capture my first few hours onboard the Bliss.

Photo 1: Looking at my apartment from the aft of the ship while making faces at my husband and son and dog who are stuck at home.  Also taunting them: “Neener, neener, neener!”

Photo 2: The chocolate covered strawberries I polished off all by myself because I’m cruising solo and so very thankful I don’t have to share.

Photo 3: The desserts I’m hoarding in my mini fridge for late night emergencies.  With no one to judge me.

Photo 4: Me doing angels on the big bed for one.

Photo 5: A basket of carbs all for me.

These photos could also be used as evidence for why I’m not mature enough to work a real job.

Embarkation Day Lunch

Not that I’m in a rut or anything, but ever since I started sailing on NCL back around 2350 BC (when they still allowed animals onboard and Captain Noah was at the helm), I’ve eaten lunch on embarkation day in the main dining room and have ordered the exact. same. thing. 40,000 hush puppies later and they’re still delicious! Here’s everything I ordered (both Taste and Savor opened for lunch around 11:45am):

Photo 1: Five spice mango tapioca pudding

Photo 2: Sweet corn hush puppies

Photo 3: Orange chocolate mousse

Photo 4: Risotto primavera with pesto

Photo 5: Roasted tomato soup

Night 1 Dinner in the MDR

I ate my dinner in the MDR tonight.  And I’m going to say something extremely controversial now because I know no one reads my commentary when I post food pics.  So here goes it: I’m voting for Trump in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.  No just kidding, I’m voting for Biden.  No actually I’m voting for Kennedy.  Or maybe I’m going to sit this one out in protest.  So now that I’ve offended the four people who bothered reading to this point, I’m going to say what I really came here to say: I think NCL’s version of chocolate lava/melting cake is better than Carnival’s even with the inclusion of fruit (strawberries) which generally have no business anywhere near dessert. There.  Unfriend me if you must.  Anyway, here’s everything I ordered to night (with photo 5 serving as evidence for my bold assertion with regard to cruise line signature chocolate desserts)…

Photo 1: The pepper that disqualified me from the clean plate club (but I didn’t let that stop me from ordering two desserts)

Photo 2: Vegetable burrito 

Photo 3: Cream of cauliflower soup 

Photo 4: Bread service

Photo 5: Warm chocolate lava cake

Photo 6: Honey crème brûlée 

Day 2: Sea day

Good morning!  It’s day two, our first full day which we will spend at sea enjoying some frigid temps, April showers, and large-ish swells (it’s ALWAYS a good time to cruise to Alaska as far as I’m concerned, but some jet lagged grumpy pants seem to disagree). 

Anyway, I have a personal cruise rule that doesn’t allow me to take any elevators.  It’s a weak attempt at obesity mitigation that honestly doesn’t help all that much and mainly serves to further justify my obscene cruise gluttony.  And mega ships like the Bliss always cause me to reconsider the policy.  Take this morning, for example.  I hiked from my cabin on deck 5 (where the cheap cruisers live) to deck 16 at 5:45 to hit the gym (where I planned to sit on a spin bike while binging Suits on my iPad as further justification for two breakfasts with servings so large most would count them as six breakfasts).  Before we continue with this story, we need to back up a few weeks.  Back in March I participated in the Big Climb where I crawled like a half dead snail up 69 floors of the Columbia Tower in Seattle to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  But somehow these stairs on the Bliss are worse.  And there are mirrors on every landing reminding you of how awful you look and guilting you into continuing.  So this morning I huffed and puffed and passed out briefly before nearly drowning in my own sweat to make it up to the gym.  And after 10 minutes of getting my fan and iPad set up on a spin bike in the spin room (which was unlocked with no sign indicating that I couldn’t use it), I was swiftly kicked out (only those taking a class can use the bikes).  And I was like, THANK GOD! to the trainer who looked very confused.  And my brain was like, “well, I tried” and then I proceeded to The Local for my first breakfast (photos to come). I’ve included the daily schedule for today in this post as a reward for those who read to the end of my stairs saga. 

Day 2 Breakfast at The Local

Really this should be called “pre breakfast” because it’s where I get all the healthy crap with vitamins necessary for survival out of the way (what a poor design choice to have fruit be healthy and cinnamon rolls practically skip the stomach all together en route to the thighs).  Anyway, The Local is a complimentary English pub style restaurant open 24/7 for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snacks.  Here’s the menu and everything I ordered followed by my real breakfast (procured at the buffet):

Photo 1: The Local breakfast menu.

Photo 2: Breakfast sandwich hold the ham (apologies to my meat eating friends who are forced into becoming vegetarian food gawkers for the week).

Photo 3: Seasonal fruit salad (the best, freshest, ripest fruit you’ll find on the ship.  If you have to eat fruit).

Photo 4: Oatmeal with raisins I promptly rehoused to an entirely different table so I wouldn’t barf all over my oatmeal (which, honestly, already looked a little like barf).  The entire cup of brown sugar went right in though.

Photo 5: The #1 best breakfast item on NCL (available in one spot on the buffet – don’t miss them!).  Hot cinnamon rolls!  The other breakfast pastries (with the exception of the chocolate croissants which are decent) are dry and not that great.  

Day 2 Lunch at Taste

Taste is one of the three complimentary main dining rooms on the Bliss (Taste and Savor are located across from each other on deck 6 while the Manhattan Room is larger and located on deck 7.  They all serve the same menus, but only Taste and Savor are open for lunch and only on sea days). I got there at 11:45 to beat the rush, but after no one else appeared for like 15 minutes, I started to think it was something I said (a pretty good bet with me). Anyway, this is my favorite of the three rotating lunch menus on NCL because it features a fried taco salad bowl.  I always try to order just the taco bowl sans salad, but they always look at me weird, so I tell them never mind and just eat out the fried hunk of mozzarella and cheddar cheese shreds before shoveling out the beans and vegetables onto another plate and devouring all the crispy deep fried goodness.  It’s like the county fair at sea!  

I also ordered the tiramisu, noteworthy because it’s so delicious it’s worth sacrificing 3 nights of sleep due to extreme caffeine sensitivity (I’m the fully grown woman who orders an oat milk vanilla “steamer” like a five year old every time she gets invited for coffee). Anyway…

Photo 1: Cream of mushroom soup (a week’s worth of sodium, but so delicious)

Photo 2: Tiramisu (goodbye sleep)

Photo 3: What it looks like to be shunned on a cruise ship

Photo 4: Queso frito tortilla bowl

Day 2 Sea Day Activities

A chilly and rainy morning stroll along the waterfront on which I bragged to several passersby that it was “just a regular Sunday in April for this hearty Seattle gal” before promptly heading up to the Observation Lounge to secure a padded indoor lounger with a water view where I vegetated for the next 3 hours (get there early on sea days to snag one). 

But before I made it to the Observation Lounge, I stopped at my cabin to hair dry my shoes and hang my socks on the handy little wet sock hooks (there obvious purpose on an April Alaska cruise).  It occurred to me midway through this process that I should have packed some “poopourri,” not just for its intended purpose, but for the pungent smell of steaming sneakers.

Later, I briefly attended a presentation in the theater entitled “This is Alaska.”  I say briefly because as soon as I realized it was just a sales pitch for overpriced excursions I’ve done 10 times before and not a lecture by a naturalist (no sign of a naturalist onboard yet), I marched right out of there trying not to be rude, but probably coming across as extremely rude due to the marching. 

I ate and ate and ate.  Before eating some more. And then it was time for lunch. 

Something strange appeared in the sky later in the afternoon.  UFO?  No, sun!  And blue skies!  They started setting up outdoor dining at the restaurants along The Waterfront which I found overly optimistic considering it was only 40 degrees at 3:30.  Any takers?

After dinner I attended Jersey Boys which is one of the things that keep me coming back to the NCL mega ships despite the 400 flights of stairs I have to climb each day.  The full-length broadway style shows, including this one, are phenomenal and seeing them for free (well, sort of)…at sea…feels like the ultimate life hack.  Honestly, one night in a hotel room in New York plus dinner and show tickets would likely cost more than my entire cruise fare. 

Then I ate again. And flopped into bed while celebrating an extra hour of not sleeping tonight (we were instructed to turn our clocks back one hour) due to that tiramisu I ate for lunch.  Tomorrow is our first Alaska port of call: Sitka. 

Night 2 Dinner in the MDR

Tonight is “Dress up or Not” night (see the second photo for a description of NCL’s “formal night” policy).  Now seems like a good time to educate you on what we Seattleites consider formal.  This is pretty much as dressed up as we get with rain boots mandatory from about October through May (hat is optional, but I hate being cold and this is Alaska in April, so I figure better safe).  

The third photo captures tonight’s emergency desserts from the Observation Lounge, all with an international flare: Biscuits with fresh jam and cream, green tea pound cake, and chocolate cardamom pudding.  There was also a red velvet cupcake, but I ate it half way down the stairs for fuel.

Off to dinner (yes, it’s 4:30, don’t judge, plus I’m seeing Jersey Boys at 6:30)!

If you want to guarantee yourself the best seat (#aftview) in the Manhattan room, line up at 4:30. Another hot tip, if you’re heading to a two hour show right after dinner, don’t order the spicy pad Thai requiring you drink a gallon of water.  Who else is (unfortunately) in the small bladder club?  Here’s everything I ordered:

Photo 1: Cherries jubilee (nearly every dessert contained fruit or vegetables tonight.  For the love.)

Photo 2: After Eight mint chocolate mousse (despite trying to make the 6:30 show, I still ordered two desserts because I’m not giving up my dessert for ANYTHING, even one of the best shows at sea)

Photo 3: Spoils of being a lame nerd who eats early and is in bed by 9pm. Early bird, worm, etc.

Photo 4: Pad Thai

Photo 5: Thai spring roll (there seems to be a theme happening here)

Day 3: Sitka

Day 3 breakfast in the mdr.

We’re not scheduled to arrive in Sitka until 10:30, so I enjoyed a relaxed breakfast in the MDR where I conducted a little experiment in which I tried to determine how many items I could order before my waiter asked, “are you sure no one else is joining you?”  Sadly I never got to an answer because after the third item I feared I might get too full for my buffet cinnamon rolls, so I aborted the whole thing (for today, remember science always involves a lot of trial and error).  Here’s what I had with room to spare no thanks to my waiter who asked, “is that all?” after I’d already ordered approximately 40,000 calories worth of breakfast carbs. 

Photo 1: Table with a view (I arrived right when they opened at 7)

Photo 2: Pretzel roll sandwich hold the ham (one of the two daily specials)

Photo 3: Yogurt parfait 

Photo 4: Belgian waffle 

So, my port day in Sitka.  Sitka is the first and oldest city in Alaska so it’s fitting that it was the very first port of the 2024 cruise ship season.  I last visited here in late October on the very last cruise of the 2023 season.  And I did essentially the exact same thing today as I did 5 months ago.  I swung by a few historical sights on my way to the Indian River Trailhead where I hiked until hitting significant snow at which point I turned around after promising my mom I wouldn’t do anything too reckless like challenge a bear to a snowball fight (honestly, she doesn’t let me have any fun). Then I hit the waterfront on the way back to the ship where I snapped some photos and saw my first eagle of the trip perched in a tree near the playground stalking tourist children fattened up from 45 soft serve cones in two days.  

Some may be wondering why I cruise to Alaska so often and why I’d want to do the exact same thing two cruises in a row.  My answer?  It’s always magical, ethereal, with so many lessons to teach me.  And it’s never, never the same.  In October, as the environment around me began settling into winter, I witnessed the retreat, slowing down, and self preservation necessary for surviving a harsh season.  

Today?  I saw the first signs of vibrancy, of life bursting through the surface ready to grow and embrace the coming warmth.  A good reminder of the cyclical nature of life for all of us.  

Now I’m ravenous, so please excuse me while I head to the MDR to order two of everything because when I texted my mom to reassure her I was still alive, she informed me that I’d better eat an extra large meal and it turns out moms DO know what’s best for us.

Night 3 Dinner in the MDR

It’s not often that I’m tempted by multiple salads, but tonight I wanted all of them.  But then I worried about being a stereotype (vegetarian, salad, you know).  So I went with the obvious choice, the one with candy in it.  And it seems after only 3 nights the chef knows my preferences and put extra brittle in mine.  I also appreciated some warm soup after a chilly, drizzly day at port.  Then I carb loaded for tomorrow’s hike with pasta and bread.  When my waiter brought the dessert menu featuring tiramisu cake, I literally said out loud “NOT AGAIN Satan, I will NOT sacrifice another night of sleep for your sweet cream and espresso soaked ladyfingers.”  So instead I confused my waiter by ordering the sugar free cheesecake and the brownie s’more with enough sugar to murder a diabetic from three counties away. 

Photo 1: Roasted beet salad (with extra candy)

Photo 2: Sugar free vanilla cheesecake 

Photo 3: Minestrone soup

Photo 4: Brownie s’more

Photo 5: My plate right before I licked off the remaining pesto (what, I ran out of bread)

Photo 6: Rigatoni primavera with pesto

So I went up to the buffet for some extra dessert (I didn’t have a chance to stock up on emergency desserts from the Observation Lounge today) and accidentally walked away with a whole second dinner to eat in bed while watching Netflix. Oops.

Also, here’s today’s Freestyle Daily.

Day 4: Juneau

Day 4 buffet breakfast.

We arrived in Juneau early and only have a half day here, so I opted for a buffet breakfast along with 4,500 of my fellow passengers (note the capacity of the Bliss is only 4,000, but it’s like humans multiply and forget what a line is at the smell of bacon).  If you’re booked on this Bliss, here are a few buffet tips for breakfast :

1: The further back you walk, the more open seating you’ll find.  There are almost always open seats at the very back, even during peak hours. 

2. If you want a more serene spot to enjoy your buffet breakfast without having to walk all the way back to your cabin, go one deck down to the Observable Lounge.  It’s not crowded in the morning, there are plenty of nice spots to eat, there are beverage stations, and there’s a continental breakfast set up to supplement your buffet items (fruit, pastries, cereal, deli meats, and cheese). 

3. While the buffet is large, the selection of items mostly just repeats in many different stations.  However, there is a yogurt bar, hot cinnamon rolls, and a small (but fabulous) Indian section (located on the port side toward the back) that you don’t want to overlook.  

Photo 1: Selection of breakfast Indian offerings.

Photo 2: Heaven on a plate (for like two seconds before it became heaven in my belly).

Photo 3: Made to order veggie and cheese omelette with breakfast potatoes and a custom yogurt parfait.  

My Port (Half) Day in Juneau

When I checked the forecast this morning it looked like rain and temps hovering around 35 degrees so I suited up like a deep sea fisherman risking life and limb for her daily catch despite a promised hurricane. So of course we had sun and not a drop of rain.  You’re welcome everyone!  I sought out some standing puddles just so my rain boots wouldn’t start looking for alternate employment.  And my rain coat did, in fact, get wet.  But from the inside after I’d already sweat through three base layers. 

Anyway, I walked through downtown for research purposes (I’m working on an article for the blog about Alaska cruising in April) and then headed out for today’s hike on the Perseverance Trail.  I don’t hike this trail as often when I visit Juneau because I usually opt to hike to the top of the Mt Roberts tram.  But the tram wasn’t open for the season yet, so I wouldn’t have the option of taking it back down the mountain (which I don’t usually do anyway, but psychologically I like having the option).  

I’m happy I decided on Perseverance today both because it was a gorgeous combination of vibrant evergreens, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, and rivers.  But also because on my way back, two different people from the Bliss recognized me from my blog and thanked me for the Alaska cruise hiking guide I wrote (which was how they learned about this hike).  I spend a lot (LOT – I’m a painfully slow writer) of time writing reviews, guides, etc and sometimes I wonder if anyone even reads them.  So it was rewarding to learn I’d helped someone.  Because that’s the secondary reason I do all this (I mean obviously the primary reason is so I can cruise all the time, lol).  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to every person who visits my blog, reads my articles, offers me support, feedback, and information, and shares in my passion for cruising.  Thank you!

Night 4 Dinner in the MDR

Regrets, I’ve had a few.  On my last NCL cruise (to Antarctica/South America in December) I missed skillet cornbread night in the MDR because it was my son’s birthday and he wanted to celebrate at Teppanyaki.  I’ve regretted prioritizing my kid’s happiness over that cornbread ever since.  So I was NOT going to miss it tonight even though we were scheduled to cruise through the Endicott Arm fjord during dinner.  It was so quiet in the dining room it was like being in church and let me tell you, that cornbread was a religious experience.  

Photo 1: Eggplant parmigiana 

Photo 2: Carrot cake

Photo 3: Cannoli 

Photo 4: Skillet cornbread 100% worth sacrificing important family relationships and once in a lifetime scenery.

Coco’s and The Bake Shop

I upgraded my emergency desserts tonight both because I have a ton of onboard credit to burn through and because I was too tired to trek up 40 million stairs (I am NOT overly dramatic and prone to exaggeration, how dare you) to the Observation Lounge.  Instead I visited Coco’s and the Bake Shop for some premium chocolates, macarons, and a *mini* cupcake (which demonstrates my incredible restraint).

Endicott Arm Fjord

We didn’t make it to Dawes Glacier due to ice.  Honestly the whole thing was kind of unimpressive coming right on the heels of the skillet cornbread.  

Day 4 Freestyle Daily

Day 5: Icy Strait Point

Settle something for me please.  

The first time my husband saw me eating a cupcake like this shortly after we got married he said “there are many things about you I wish I’d known before we got married, but this one really takes the cake.”  To which I replied, “through sickness and bad puns.”  Anyway, this is how cupcakes are supposed to be eaten right?  Or were the rest of you raised by the same wolves as my husband?  Share your perspective to the comments please.

Day 5 Breakfast in the MDR

I’ve reached the point in my cruise where my body is craving fruit.  It practically shouted at me this morning to “put a vitamin in me woman or I’m going to refuse to poop out of protest!” (Sorry, but I’m just reporting the facts.)  So I started breakfast with the half grapefruit and orange segments which both made for a pretty photo and hopefully placated my immune system who I almost started to sympathize with when she was like, “I’m doing my best to defend you against 4,000+ germy humans, half of whom whisk right past the hand washing station at the buffet because the guy singing the washy washy song received his vocal training from a dying boar.”  Then I accidentally poured a cup of blueberries over my pancakes because I thought it was a second cup of syrup and was like, “THERE, ARE YOU HAPPY?!?!”

Photo 1: Half grapefruit and orange segments 

Photo 2: Traditional buttermilk pancakes 

Photo 3: Egg and avocado wrap (one of the two rotating daily specials

Sea Creatures at Icy Strait Point

As a youth I wanted to be two things when I grew up.  A writer (you have ample evidence by now for why that didn’t work out) or a marine biologist (what do you mean I have to study science and not just throw fish at lovable sea lions all day?).  Anyway, if you need to find me for the next several hours (like to bring me some buffet snacks, hint hint) I’ll be photographing every one of the thousands of sea creatures on this beach in Icy Strait Point.  Some dreams never really die, we just modify them to better suit our talents: mediocre cruise blogger/star (fish) paparazzi.  

Day 5 Lunch at The Local

This afternoon I lunched at The Local (complimentary pub restaurant) where I ordered the Reuben with no corned beef (because there isn’t a single vegetarian entree on the menu).  But I was too embarrassed to order it like that so I was like, “can I get the artisan grilled cheese?” Blank stare. “Okay, how about the Reuben with no corned beef?” Done! And yes, everyone sitting near me raised an eyebrow in perfect sync like they belonged to the same boy band. I also ordered the carrot cake which, for a dessert with vegetables in it, is a 12/10. 

Photo 1: Artisan grilled cheese aka Reuben sans corned beef

More of Icy Strait Point 

Nature trail with a giant eagle nest (a new addition since my last visit, which I speculated might be animatronic until I saw two eagles flying toward it during sail away and thought, “even Disney isn’t that good and this ain’t Disney”).

Walk to Hoonah as a Haiku:

Beautiful but wet Eagles flying everywhere Three cute seals swam by

Night 5 Dinner in the MDR

I always order the stuffed mushroom caps both because they’re delicious, but also because they are always SO. SMALL. and the jokes practically write themselves:

Honey, I shrunk the mushrooms!  What’s the mushroom’s favorite song? It’s a Small World After All.  Etc, etc.  For note, as a human so short I once mistook a cake topper as an actual bride and groom due to our similar proportions, I gave those mushrooms a nod of empathy before popping all three into my mouth at once like a trio of tic tacs.

The gnocchi is usually one of my favorite entrees, but this time they were practically drowning in so much overly rich sauce (wait, WHO ARE YOU and what have you done with the woman who asks for an extra side of alfredo sauce at Olive Garden to pour over her fettuccine alfredo), I had to throw in a life ring and then put them through a decompression process before eating them. Cobblers are the only dessert that should include fruit and even then in a topping to fruit ratio of 25/1.  While tonight’s ratio was closer to 1/1, it was still delicious, served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Photo 1: Mozzarella and plum tomatoes (basically the bruschetta, but easier to eat)

Photo 2: Stuffed mushroom caps

Photo 3: Apple and fig cobbler 

Photo 4: Potato gnocchi 

Photo 5: Banana split (disappointing, I’d skip it)

Day 5 Freestyle Daily

Day 6: Ketchikan 

Day 6 breakfast cupcakes .

Despite what you may have heard, cupcakes are NOT a breakfast of champions.  After starting my morning at 5:30 with an Oreo and a red velvet, I made it 13 minutes on the elliptical machine before I nearly barfed into the towel return bin (true story). 

Here’s the thing though, since I posted my preferred cupcake eating technique to Instagram and Facebook with accompanying photo, a few of the comments I received have really been weighing on me, keeping me up at night even.  As you know, I take dessert very seriously and when two alternate cupcake eating methods were proposed, I simply had to attempt them.  So this morning I busted out my emergency dessert (because this really WAS a pressing matter) and attempted the…

1. “Best for last” technique where you break the cupcake in half, eat the unfrosted half first to get it over with and then eat the frosted half. And the…

2. “Dipping” approach where you break off small bites of cake and “dip” them in the frosting.  

Results: Delayed gratification has generally served me well, but I don’t want to experience half my dessert like some depression era baking hack. Fail!  As for the dipping technique, that one was an immediate miss as my cake didn’t hold up to the weight and density of the frosting and crumbled.  I adapted by spooning little dollops of frosting onto broken off pieces of cake, but it was way too much work (I probably burned more calories doing that than I did on the elliptical this morning).  

All of this wasn’t for nothing though as I discovered a new technique especially effective for those of us with small (but mighty!) mouths: Frosting redistribution.  I simply broke the cupcake in half and redistributed half the frosting onto the bottom half.  Even distribution of frosting? Check!  Ease of consumption? Check! Clean nostrils? I think there may still be a stray M&M up there, but no frosting. Check!  Success! Maybe I should just have an omelette for breakfast tomorrow though. 🤷‍♀️

Today’s Hike in Ward Cove: Frog Pond Trail to the Perseverance Trail

Even though the Perseverance Trail is part of a trail system I discovered a few years ago within walking distance of Ward Cove (where NCL ships dock outside of Ketchikan), the name has so far discouraged me. When I think “perseverance” I think of some self help nonsense promising mental strength as a result of physical or psychological pain with no certain outcome. No thank you, I’m on vacation! But since I’ve “hiked” (it’s really more of a walk) the Frog Pond and Around the Lake trails about 10 times now, I decided to try this new trail after renaming it the “better to give up than have a sore ass at dinner” trail, thus removing any pressure or guilt.

While this trail did have significantly more elevation gain, it was gorgeous and ended at a secluded lake where I stopped for a few minutes to read one of my favorite poems by Mary Oliver :

So am I glad I tried this new trail? I’ll let you know how my ass feels at dinner! (I’ve booked La Cucina tonight.)

Night 6 Dinner at La Cucina

Tonight I used a platinum voucher to dine at La Cucina, the Italian specialty restaurant on the Bliss. My voucher included a complimentary bottle of wine which I had all to myself. So if you think I’m a bad speller who writes extremely weird reviews with a 100% clear mind, just wait till I have an entire bottle of wine in me. Here we gooooooooo!

The service tonight was…off, until it got really comically bad. The high point was when my waiter approached the table next to mine and called a clear “ma’am” a “sir.” I generously thought, “language barrier?” but when he realized his mistake three courses later, he just busted up laughing and was like, “you’ve been a lady this whole time?” Like maybe her gender identity changed between the antipasto and the risotto. I should mention that the bottle of wine I selected was called 19 Crimes, which I order every time because it’s the only one I can pronounce. But tonight it seemed very on brand and I offered to share a glass with my waiter who’d committed all 19 crimes before the 7 o’clock rush. The final crime occurred when I was informed that the dessert I’d ordered wasn’t ready yet and would I like the tiramisu (!!!) instead. You’ll recall I sacrificed an entire night of blissful cruise sleep to tiramisu like 72 hours ago and vowed to never order it again. Anyway, the food was very good, but only about 10% better than what I’ve been enjoying in the MDR and certainly not worth the extra $49 (not including the wine) it would have cost me without the voucher.

Photo 1: 19 Crimes Chardonnay

Photo 2: My table at La Cucina

Photo 3: Mozzarella caprese

Photo 5: Gnocchi a la something

Photo 6: Cannoli with a side of garlic to keep the devil from making me order that tiramisu

Okay, that review wasn’t so bad. I think I even used commas correctly a few times. Now off I go to do my best Whitney impression on (not at) the piano in the atrium even though karaoke doesn’t start for another 2 hours in an entirely different location and please come and visit me in the brig because “I, I, eye, will always love you youuuuuu!”

Night 6 Freestyle Daily

Day 7: Sea Day/Victoria, BC

Day 7 Room Service Lunch

I just finished a telehealth call with my therapist who gave me the following advice when I described the crushing depression I’m currently experiencing over my cruise ending tomorrow: “Turn on the news for a little perspective honey and please, for the love, don’t approach your friends and family for support because they will 100% resent and possibly even disown you.” Obviously I fired her, ordered a bunch of carby room service food appropriate for wallowing, opted for Netflix in bed over news, and am reaching out to you, my beloved cruise community for support, because I know you get it. Honestly, I’m not sure 7 night cruises should even be sold as vacations. By the time I figure out which direction to turn for my cabin coming off the stairs and which venue has the best chocolate cake (surprisingly, room service), they’re asking me to put my luggage outside by 9pm!

And to make matters worse, as soon as I disembark tomorrow, I’m moving (20 feet across the hall, but still!)! Which reminds me, if someone local to Seattle wouldn’t mind me crashing on your couch for a few days while I pretend to be lost at sea so I don’t have to help, I’d be ever so grateful.

Anyway, if you need me I’m in bed crying into my mac ‘n cheese and working up the strength to venture out to Coco’s to spend my last $11 in onboard credit on a giant ice cream sundae to further eat my sorrows.

Here are some room service food pics. There is a $9.95 + 20% service charge per room service order (but you can order as much as you want).

Coco’s

Last Supper at Los Lobos

“Supper” is such an old fashioned word and I like to think of myself as young and spry and hip (I mean as long as I pop a few Tylenol before rising from a seated position, I’m almost as steady as a drowsy toddler with some puréed food down her shirt), but coupled with “last,” supper feels appropriate for this occasion.

I was in the throngs of despair, yes, but at least there was guacamole and I was alone so I could double dip. The shareable guacamole was prepared table side which was a little awkward for this introvert, terrible at small talk. All I could come up with was, “how many times per night do you have to pretend to care about how people spent their day while you contemplate letting your knife slip on an avocado pit so you can spend a peaceful evening in the medical center?” He ignored my question and asked me where I was from. “Seattle.” And then I remembered protocol, looked at his badge which said “Philippines” and asked “small town or large city?” to which he responded “Manilla,” to which I replied, “oh, BIG city” and he moved on to his next table.

That guacamole was very (VERY) good and I ran out of chips before noticing how sad my little cup of untouched salsa looked.

I also ordered a betabel salad, the rajas and crema tacos, the elotes, and the tres leches cake. The tacos and the elotes were essentially the exact same dish, but with one including an edible delivery device and the other requiring another awkward conversation (they cut the kernels off the cob table side) and a fork. I dug around looking for the promised poblano peppers in the tacos, but found them more elusive than my dog on bath day (I looked for the peppers hiding under my chair which is where I usually find Henry, but they weren’t there either).

All my food was good (the corn with a side of corn and the salad) to great (the guacamole and cake) but again, not worth the a la carte price ($60 + 20% service charge) I’d have paid without my Platinum voucher.

Day 7 Freestyle Daily

Victoria, BC

Despite it being one of my favorite cities in the world, this is all I saw of Victoria on this sailing:

I’ve been to Victoria dozens and dozens (and dozens) of times and always get off the ship, even at night. My favorite thing to do there on evening stops is to walk to the lighthouse at the end of a long pier adjacent to the cruise ship piers to watch the sunset and snap some photos of the docked ships. However, because my sailing was in April, by the time the Bliss was cleared around 8:15pm, it was already dark. So I opted to stay onboard this time. Some may be wondering why Alaska itineraries round trip from Seattle stop in Victoria, most often in the evening, providing cruisers very little time in port. It’s to comply with the Passenger Vessel Services Act  which requires foreign-flagged ships transporting passengers between U.S. ports to make a stop in a foreign country. Don’t view Victoria as a wasted stop though – it’s a beautiful city, day and night!

Final Afternoon at Sea

On my final afternoon at sea I attended a matinee performance by The Beatles Experience in the main theater. This Argentinian cover band performed numerous shows throughout our sailing in both the theater and more intimate Cavern Club. They not only imitated the sound of the iconic band with near perfection, they also captured the essence of each band member to an almost eerie degree, like Lennon and Harrison had risen from the dead and reunited with McCartney and Starr to do what every famous musician most fears in retirement, performing on cruise ships. If you’re sailing on the Bliss, don’t miss them!

After the show we were instructed to stay seated for the traditional NCL farewell ceremony in which officers and crew are paraded out and introduced and they smile and wave pretending not to be resentful that this unnecessary spectacle has put them behind in completing their duties and that their 16 hour day is now 16.5. But the worst part was when the Captain came out and, even though I was sitting second row center, didn’t even acknowledge my week-long attempts at seduction with a little wink or nod or some other sign that he knew I existed. In a final desperate grasp at my dream, I imitated what I’d seen like 2,000 crazed women do earlier and flashed him while bobbing up and down and shouting in a glass shattering tone, “I love you Ringo” and back to the brig I went.

But that’s not where my legal troubles ended. As I went to disembark the ship the following morning I was flagged at immigration and instructed to “see finance” before I’d be allowed to leave. I was thinking “oh crap, I’m being busted for sneaking off some tiny boxes of cereal I’m going to try to pass off as a souvenir for my kid.” But it turns out I’d ended my 7-night cruise with a negative balance of $48 which I was given in cash. I mention this to drive home the point that I’m cheaper than a generic can of green beans, but also that you can have a relaxing, fun, indulgent cruise vacation without spending a lot on onboard “extras.”

A Few Tips for Debarkation Morning

You have two luggage options for debarkation. The first is self-assist which will get you off the ship sooner. However, you’ll be responsible for carrying all your own luggage off the ship. If you’d rather not haul your own luggage, you can place it outside your cabin door by 9pm the evening before debarkation. After debarking the ship, it will be available for you to pick up inside the cruise terminal (or if you have Port Valet, it will be transported directly to the airport for you). Here’s the debarkation schedule for each group:

While this is always me on debarkation morning…

…some may need to get off the ship as quickly and early as possible to catch a flight or get to work. If so, you’ll want to start lining up outside The Local at around 6:30am with all of your luggage. You’ll be processed through immigration right on the ship as you exit using facial recognition technology. Once the line starts moving, it’s a very fast, efficient process. If you don’t yet have transportation lined up, there will be taxis, shuttles, and NCL’s shuttle service all vying for your business as you exit the terminal.

Favorite Spots On The Bliss

I provide this section not because you care about my favorite spots to hang out on the Bliss, but as a service so you can avoid me should you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being booked on the Bliss at the same time: “Well there’s 6 grand and 3 hours hearing about her baby who it turns out is actually a 25 pound dog of ‘uncertain lineage’ (it’s called a mutt, lady) we’ll never get back.” 

Even though I’ll bait you with a shirt that reads, “ask me about my dog,” DO NOT ask me about my dog!  Or just steer clear of any venues serving free food or drinks and these additional areas of the Bliss:

The Waterfront On The Bliss

Rarely occupied by more than a dozen or so people during the day, The Waterfront is the perfect spot to avoid crowds and enjoy comfortable seating and fresh air and scenery if you don’t have a balcony cabin. Here I am doing just that, despite looking like I’m geared up for a blizzard:

You can also maximize your drink package without judgment by rotating among several bars located nearby. 

The Observation Lounge On Port Days

Located at the very front of the ship, the Observation Lounge offers comfortable seating and unparalleled views.  It also features a bar…

…and delicious complimentary snacks and unique desserts, many with an international flair and not available anywhere else on the ship.

All of that makes it a popular spot and fighting for a seat among the crowds sort of feels like the purpose has been defeated.  “I came up here to relax, not to declare my objections to mixed martial arts. You two should really have gloves and head protection on if you’re going to punch each other out over that lounger!” 

I recommend avoiding the Observation Lounge on sea days unless you get there very early to snag a spot and bring something to pee into and an assistant to fetch your snacks. Otherwise if you get up for two seconds you’ll either lose your spot to a nimble grandma who’s been lying in wait with a 500 page novel she plans on finishing in one sitting or if you attempt to save your spot by leaving a sweater on your chair, you’ll get accused of being a chair hog, shunned, and required to wear a scarlet H on your shirt for the remainder of the cruise. Take full advantage of it on port days though when most of your fellow passengers are off the ship!

The Bliss Hot Tubs On Port Days

Ditto on the hot tubs.  They probably contain more pee than water on sea days, but you’ll be totally in charge of how much pee is in them on port days while everyone else is off the ship. 

The District Brewhouse On Sea Days

Without the drink package on this sailing, I spent more time in the bars when they were closed.  With huge windows and skylights, comfortable seating areas, and no crowds during off hours, The District Brewhouse is the perfect spot to hang out to read, play cards or board games, or hide from the brother-in-law your husband swore you would hardly see if you let him tag along: “Hey, there you are!  I guess I’ll let you buy me a beer.  Wait, it’s closed?  I’m heading back to the pool to sun my butt crack then if you start missing me.”

Least Favorite Spot On The Bliss

The gym is always my least favorite spot on any cruise ship, but I hated it even more on the Bliss, probably because I found it too hot and too small for the size of the ship and thought it opened too late in the morning (6am).  For the size of the gym versus the size of the ship, it really should be been open 24/7 to have a prayer at accommodating everyone weird enough to exercise on vacation.  

Activities On The Norwegian Bliss

With thrilling water slides that shoot you out over the open ocean, laser tag, and Go-Karts, the Bliss is two parts ship and one part amusement park.  Note that any outside activity is weather dependent and will be closed if it’s too cold and/or rainy.

How Much Are The Go-Karts On The Bliss?

Ten laps around the course will cost you $15.

How Much Is Laser Tag On The Bliss?

One 10-minute session of laser tag on the Bliss will cost you $9.95. 

A Few (Honest) Thoughts on the Bliss to Alaska

Watch out wolf, you’ve got competition from the Bliss when it comes to being big and bad.  Average-sized cruise ships hug the shoreline, hoping to blend in so the Bliss won’t swallow them up and spit them back out into the ocean along with the pulverized organic waste destined to become fish food. 

In case you haven’t heard, the Bliss is a huge ass ship.  I think the technical term is mega .  And while there’s a ton to do for those not content to relax and eat for 168 hours straight (me), it’s not ideal for anyone looking for a more serene experience.  I also hesitate in recommending it for the 7-day Alaska itinerary from Seattle (even though I’ve done it twice myself), especially for those who haven’t cruised to Alaska before. Why? Because times at each port are limited and you’ll spend a lot of that time waiting in line for shuttles to transport you to town (NCL has the least desirable docking locations in Alaska) and because NCL offers very little Alaska-specific programming and food (as opposed to lines like Holland America and Princess that offer a lot). Also, popular ship activities will be very crowded on your two sea days.  If that doesn’t bother you and you decide to book for Alaska, be sure to reserve your preferred dining venues and ship activities as early as possible, because everything fills up fast.   

If you’re fortunate, as I am, to have visited Alaska many times, the Bliss is awesome on port days when most passengers are off the ship.  In fact, on my first cruise on the Bliss with my son, we stayed onboard for the majority of our time in port and practically had the entire ship to ourselves.  That’s when the Bliss is really fun and you can fully appreciate all she has to offer!  And she has a lot to offer.

I guess my advice would be this: If you’re cruising primarily for the ports or don’t like sailing with throngs of kids (especially during school breaks), consider avoiding the Bliss in favor of a smaller ship or different line.  If you’re cruising for the ship, have kids or don’t mind kids, and are happy staying onboard while at some of the ports or are on one of her longer, non-Alaska sailings, definitely book the Bliss.      

If you’re already booked on the Bliss for a 7-night Alaska itinerary, ignore everything I just said! Even though it’s not my ideal ship for Alaska, I enjoyed nearly every second of my time onboard and at port and if you venture with an open heart, a sense of humor, patience, and a grateful, adventurous spirit, I know you will too!

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Guide to Cruising from Seattle in 2024: Hotels, Transportation, Attractions, Safety, and More!

First Time Cruisers to Alaska: Answers to 10 Common Questions

Homework (10 points):   Are you booked on the Bliss? Ask any questions you may have to the comments.

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Thanks for your review. Your reviews a always a “must read” for us both because of the information you provide, the humor. Sounds as if you had a blissfull trip.

One request – Would you provide an itinerary of your future trips so that if we happen to be booked on the same cruise we can bring extra food onboard so we won’t starve when the waiter mentions that they’ve run out…

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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The best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler

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Even with a season that only runs from April through October, there are some 40 big ships and dozens of small ships cruising Alaska , making it one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world after the Caribbean and Europe. The best Alaska cruises range from off-the-beaten-path voyages on vessels carrying fewer than 100 passengers to weeklong jaunts through the Inside Passage aboard megaships that hold thousands.

The itinerary choices are numerous in Alaska. Some ships stick to tried-and-true ports, sailing through Southeast Alaska and into western Canada. Others wander deeper along the Alaska coastline to places such as the Kenai Peninsula, north to Nome and Barrow and even deep into the Bering Sea.

Some trips hit multiple national parks; others dive into Alaska culture, allowing guests to learn the stories told by totem poles or hear about “the big one” from a fisherman at a dive bar.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

It can be hard to figure out which ship will deliver your idea of a “bucket list” experience in The Last Frontier. A lot comes down to your travel style, preferences and budget. Some travelers demand luxury, while others don’t mind going less fancy if it means close encounters with bears and other creatures in the wilderness. Some look for romance, while others want to introduce the kids or grandkids to glaciers and eagles, gold panning and sled dogs.

The good news is there’s a ship in Alaska for you no matter your taste or style. Here’s a beginner’s guide to the best Alaska cruises to help you narrow down your choices.

Best for megaresort fans

Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both sail some of their largest ships in Alaska. They are floating megaresorts, carrying thousands, and are big on amenities, glitz and a certain amount of glamor — think flashy casinos, Broadway shows, lavish spas. Dining and drinking venues number in the dozens, while amusement park features thrill the kids and adrenaline-seekers.

Norwegian Encore

On Norwegian Encore, you can race along a go-kart racetrack, compete in outdoor laser tag and zoom down slides at the water park while you traverse Alaska’s Inside Passage. The ship sails seven-night cruises from Seattle, visiting Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan in Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve .

Related: A beginner’s guide to picking a cruise line

Ovation of the Seas

On Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships, you can order a drink from a robotic bartender, try simulated skydiving or surfing experiences and take a ride in a glass capsule that travels high above your ship on a mechanical arm — a weird and wonderful way to see the Alaska scenery.

Ovation of the Seas sails round-trip from Seattle on seven-night cruises, but the exact itinerary varies by week. The ship cruises Endicott Arm for scenic views of Dawes Glacier and typically visits three Alaska ports and Victoria.

Best for land and sea adventures

You’ve traveled far to get to Alaska, and it would be a shame to miss inland sights such as Denali National Park and Preserve and the sight of Denali, North America’s largest peak — so big it’s often shrouded in clouds caused by its own weather system.

Market leaders Holland America Line and Princess Cruises both send a half-dozen ships to Alaska each year, and they have 75 and 55 years in the market, respectively.

They top the list in terms of cruises, as well as cruise tours, which combine time sailing with overnight stays on land. The companies operate their own lodges, rail cars and motorcoaches for exploration of Alaska’s interior and beyond. Many of the ships have permission to sail in Glacier Bay.

Related: The coolest things to do on an Alaska cruise

Choose from 10- to 17-night land tours that combine a standard weeklong cruise (sometimes half a cruise) with time spent exploring Alaska’s interior by bus, train or even plane.

Holland America will base six ships in Alaska in 2024, with tour offerings to Denali, Fairbanks and Anchorage.

However, it also offers nine- to 14-night cruise tours on Koningsdam that head into the Canadian Yukon, following the route of the Klondike Gold Rush from Alaska to northwestern Canada. Disembark your cruise ship in Skagway, then travel to Whitehorse and Dawson City in the Yukon before continuing on to Fairbanks (the gateway to Arctic Alaska), Denali National Park and Anchorage.

Sapphire Princess

Princess Cruises offers a cruise tour where you visit four national parks: Glacier Bay, Denali, the Kenai Fjords and America’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias. The 15- and 17-night trips combine a seven-night cruise on Sapphire Princess from Vancouver to Whittier, Alaska, with another week or more on land, ending in Fairbanks or Anchorage.

Best for travelers on a budget

Older ships in Norwegian and Royal Caribbean’s fleets tend to offer more reduced prices than you’ll find on the lines’ larger and newer ships, based on the fact the older ships don’t have as many bells and whistles.

Since they have so many ships in the market, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises also tend to offer frequent sales — especially on their older tonnage. These ships have a loyal following and tend to have fewer families on board, which some couples find particularly appealing.

Related: Best time to cruise Alaska

If you’re looking for other surefire ways to save, consider sailings in the area’s shoulder season. You’ll find better deals from April to early June and in September than you will in the height of summer.

Also, in Alaska, balcony cabins are highly desirable, with everyone seeking views of the wilderness, snow-capped peaks and glaciers. As those reserves get low, the prices tend to get higher. Bargain seekers should either book early for these accommodations or choose inside, outside or guarantee cabins (where you don’t pick your room location) to save more.

Radiance of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s 20-year-old ship Radiance of the Seas mainly sails weeklong, one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, with prices below $100 per person, per night, for inside and outside cabins on many departures.

However, its early-season May 2024 sailing from Seward to Vancouver is the cheapest Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise of the season. It starts at $368 per person for an inside cabin.

Grand Princess and Sapphire Princess

Princess Cruises has so many ships based in Alaska that you’re bound to find deals, especially on shoulder-season cruises. Both Grand and Sapphire Princess offer weeklong Alaska cruises in May 2024 starting from $548 per person for inside cabins. The itinerary starts in Vancouver and ends in Whittier, Alaska, with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and College Fjord.

Best for off-the-beaten-path travel

Want to see and deeply experience coastal Alaska, and don’t mind a mellower environment where lectures and impromptu guitar singalongs replace casinos and show productions? Consider lines such as UnCruise Adventures , Lindblad Expeditions and Alaskan Dream Cruises, all with ships that carry fewer than 100 passengers (and in the case of Alaskan Dream, even under 20 passengers).

On these small ships, captains have the flexibility to alter itineraries and linger if the naturalist onboard spots a pod of whales or bears digging for clams on a beach.

Small ships can go places bigger ships can’t, so itineraries stretch far beyond the traditional ports. You’ll visit more remote places such as Petersburg, a fishing town with strong Norwegian roots, and Wrangell, one of Alaska’s oldest communities. Some itineraries are conducted entirely in the wild, with no port calls at all.

UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise Adventures explores Southeast Alaska on seven-, 12- and 14-night itineraries. A day might start with a morning birding expedition, continue with a kayaking adventure and end with an evening campfire ashore. You might visit LeConte and Baird Glaciers (where the big ships don’t go), plus UnCruise has the only permits for hiking and biking adventures on Chichagof Island.

Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions frequents off-the-beaten-path destinations in both Alaska and British Columbia, with itineraries ranging from six to 15 nights.

Guests might explore the small fishing town of Petersburg or discover native petroglyphs on the beaches of Wrangell Island in Alaska, or search for grizzly bears in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest. Lindblad has special permits to bring passengers into the wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the Tongass National Forest, beyond what the big ships can offer.

Alaskan Dream Cruises

Alaskan-owned Alaskan Dream Cruises’ ships carry 12 to 76 passengers to remote Native villages that rarely see visitors, with plenty of time for wildlife viewing far from the cruise ship crowds. Itineraries range from five to nine nights, from departure ports such as Sitka, Ketchikan and Juneau.

Best for families

If you’re traveling with your kids or grandkids in Alaska and want an activity- and entertainment-packed experience, target the newest and biggest ships of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival and especially Disney Cruise Line. All have excellent camp-like activity programs for kids, plus eye-popping amusement attractions.

Disney Wonder

On Disney ships, Goofy might make an appearance as you admire soaring eagles, blue icebergs and glaciers. The extensive children’s program, entertainment and such activities as water slides and play areas deliver what you would expect from the purveyor of dreams. Bonus: Cabins are designed with families in mind and include split bathrooms (one with a toilet and sink, the other with a shower/tub combo and sink).

Related: 5 best cruise lines for families

Discovery Princess

While lacking in whiz-bang attractions, Princess Cruises is another good choice, both for its children’s and teens program, complete with spacious facilities, and for such programming as bringing sled dogs on board, which is a hit with young passengers. The line’s newest ship, Discovery Princess, sails round trip from Seattle, a convenient U.S. home port for families to fly or drive to.

Carnival Spirit

Water slides, a partnership with Dr. Seuss and three hangouts for kids and teens make Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit a great bet for families in Alaska.

The ship’s huge array of included quick eats — pizza, tacos, Guy Fieri’s burgers and unlimited soft serve ice cream — and casual atmosphere take the stress out of dining with the family. The ship sails round trip from Seattle on seven-night itineraries that call in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria, with scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord.

Best for luxury lovers

If you envision sipping Champagne as you watch a glacier thunderously calve into the sea, consider booking one of the all-inclusive luxury cruise lines in Alaska: Seabourn , Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Silversea .

All these lines include ships that are experts at delivering gourmet cuisine and the other finer things in life in intimate, cushy floating environments. Additionally, all the lines are big on featuring lectures by experts, which provides passengers with a deeper insight into Alaska.

Itineraries tend to include the popular ports and beyond. You might, for instance, visit Wrangell and Prince Rupert, a port city in Canada, and linger in places such as the Misty Fjords and Prince William Sound. Seven- to 14-night sailings embark from ports such as Vancouver, Seward and Juneau.

Seven Seas Explorer

Regent’s 750-passenger Seven Seas Explorer is an all-suite ship offering guests in Alaska multiple gourmet onboard restaurants, all-inclusive beverages, free airfare and included gratuities. Many shore excursions are complimentary. Enjoy little luxuries, like an afternoon in the thermal suite of the two-story spa-and-fitness center, or really splurge out by booking the Regent Suite, the most lavish suite you’ll find at sea.

Seabourn Odyssey

The 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey boasts an onboard expedition team and does a posh version of expedition cruising in Alaska, using inflatable Zodiac craft and kayaks.

Seabourn calls its program Ventures by Seabourn. Experts onboard these sailings include naturalists, biologists and other scientists who are members of the expedition team. Once guests finish communing with nature, they can indulge in complimentary Champagne and caviar on board or relish a meal created by famed chef, Thomas Keller.

Related: The 4 best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Best for solo travelers

Solo travelers don’t always have to pay double to cruise Alaska on their own. Several ships feature cabins designed and priced for one. Single cruisers should also note that luxury lines Silversea and Seabourn, while not cheap, do a great job of taking care of single cruisers, hosting them at dinner and providing easy opportunities to meet and mingle with other travelers.

Norwegian Bliss

The ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway and Getaway classes all have cozy studio cabins designed and priced for one person. Additionally, they’re located in a complex where a private lounge encourages mingling. Norwegian Bliss offers 82 solo rooms on its round-trip Seattle cruises that visit Dawes Glacier, Sitka and Icy Strait Point.

Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s studio staterooms, on its Quantum-class ships in Alaska, give solo travelers the benefits of both decent space and balconies.

On Quantum of the Seas, choose a 101-square-foot inside cabin or a 119-square-foot ocean-view room with a 55-square-foot balcony. Either way, you get a full-size bed and plenty of space for one person. The ship sails a similar weeklong itinerary to sister ship Ovation of the Seas, round-trip from Seattle with scenic sailing along Endicott Arm.

Holland America offers ocean-view accommodations for one in Alaska only on Koningsdam. Measuring 127 to 172 square feet, these rooms come with a full-size bed and a picture window.

Koningsdam sails round trip from Vancouver to Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising in Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. Its cruises can be combined into nine- to 14-night cruise tours to the Yukon and Denali.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Additional reporting by Erica Silverstein.

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2024 Alaska Cruises: Sail from Vancouver, Seattle and Seward

Are you planning for a 2024 Alaska cruise ? You'll be pleased to find that Norwegian Cruise Line offers a selection of Alaska cruise holiday options.

For 2024, Norwegian has five ships in Alaska, including Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. Here's everything you need to know about planning your 2024 Alaska cruise.

Ready to start planning? Explore all Alaska cruises .

2024 Alaska Cruise Ships & Highlights

If you want to experience all the amenities of our newest ships, book an Alaska cruise holiday aboard Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Encore. Our Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships offer some of the best viewing spots for scenic cruising. Wander along The Waterfront , our quarter-mile oceanfront promenade, featuring speciality dining and bars. It's one of the best places onboard to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views.

Grab a mojito at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and watch the sun go down. Then head over for dinner at one of The Waterfront's speciality restaurants, such as Moderno Churrascaria, a Brazilian-style steakhouse, or Cagney's steakhouse. If you book a cruise on Norwegian Encore, you'll find Onda by Scarpetta . Onda, the sister restaurant to the highly acclaimed Scarpetta, will transport you to the Tuscan countryside.

Head to Deck 15 to the Observation Lounge for some of the best views from indoors. Floor-to-ceiling windows let you experience the best Alaskan landscapes without being outdoors if you want to enjoy the glaciers, natural landscapes, and wildlife elements.

2024 Alaska Cruises Departure Ports

With a Norwegian Alaska cruise, you can choose from various departure ports, including Seattle and Vancouver . If you want a cruise that starts in Alaska, Seward is also a possible departure port in 2024.

2024 Alaska Cruise Port of Calls

Depending on the itinerary you choose, you could visit some of the following ports of call in Alaska:

• Sitka: This scenic island is renowned for its seaside and mountain panoramic views. Learn about Sitka's history, go fishing, or look for other wildlife sighting opportunities.
• Juneau: Juneau is a dynamic port of call for adventure seekers. Walk on the Mendenhall Glacier, take a boat ride along Tracy Arm Fjord for more glacier views, try panning for gold, and more.
• Icy Strait Point: Icy Strait Point is where you'll find more wildlife than people.
• Ketchikan: Explore the lush wilderness in Ketchikan and keep your eyes open for eagles atop the Sikta trees.
• Skagway: Skagway is a remote town along the Inside Passage that was once home to more than 20,000 people seeking to get rich by panning for gold.
• Seward: Seward offers plenty of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts who want to explore Alaska—go sea kayaking, dog-sledding, rafting, mountain biking, and more.
• Valdez: Valdez is located along Prince William Sound and is full of diverse landscapes and plenty of wildlife.

Some of the best scenery comes courtesy of your cruising days through fjords and past majestic glaciers. Potential options include a cruising day through Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, home to glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and plenty of wildlife. Other possible cruising experiences include Hubbard Glacier, North America's largest tidewater glacier, and Endicott Arm fjord, where you'll find the 600-foot-tall Dawes Glacier.

RELATED CRUISES: 7-Day Alaska Cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Encore 10-Day Alaska Cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Sun 7-Day Alaska Cruise from Seattle on Norwegian Bliss

Alaska Shore Excursions

Explore a selection of options for a Norwegian Alaska shore excursion. Adrenaline-pumping tours will appeal to thrill-seekers, and excursions can also accommodate those with limited mobility. Go on a wildlife safari and beach bonfire , enjoy an Alaska bear adventure and flightseeing tour, or book a sea kayaking tour of the Tatoosh Islands . In Juneau, book a Mendenhall Glacier adventure hike where you can set foot on an actual glacier. Don't miss the whale and marine mammals cruise if your cruise stops in Icy Strait Point.

Are you travelling with your family? Norwegian offers a selection of family-oriented shore excursions as well. Go on a Duck Tour in Ketchikan , where you'll get to ride in an amphibious vehicle, or go on a dog-sledding experience in Skagway. You can also book a lumberjack show and crab feast , an opportunity for kids to see an exciting battle of Alaskan lumberjacks. Another not-to-miss excursion is the White Pass Scenic Railway . You'll travel in vintage train cars for the 40-mile-round-trip journey, where you'll see waterfalls, gorges, mountains, historic sites, and more.

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Find the Right 2024 Alaska Cruise for You

Narrowing down your Alaska cruise options can be daunting. Do you want a longer or shorter cruise? With an extended cruise, you can explore more Alaskan ports and enjoy days cruising along the most scenic passages. If you are short on time, choose a cruise that departs from Seward so that you can start your Alaska adventures right away.

Do you want an Alaska holiday that combines a cruise and land tour? Be sure to check out Norwegian's Alaska cruisetours that combine the best of both. Your Alaska holiday will typically start with a seven-day cruise, followed by four to six days on land.

Are you having trouble deciding which Norwegian 2024 Alaska cruise is right for you? Whilst you're narrowing down your options, be sure to sign up for Norwegian's cruise deals . You'll get the latest specials and offers delivered to your inbox.

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The best time to cruise to alaska in 2024.

Plan your bucket list adventure to explore the extraordinary beauty of the 49th state.

The Best Time to Cruise to Alaska

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Alaska's astounding beauty and vast wilderness are unlike any other destination in the U.S. – and even in the world. While you can plan land-based trips to the state, many of Alaska's majestic snowcapped mountains, pristine forests, glacial waterways and abundant wildlife are in remote locations, only reachable by plane or by boat. That's just one of the many reasons why Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world.

If you're ready to stop dreaming and start planning a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to The Great Land, here are tips on the best times to cruise Alaska.

Best Overall Time: Shoulder Seasons

Best time for warmer weather, best time for wildlife viewing, best time for salmon fishing, best time for the northern lights, best time for shore excursions.

If you want to score a deal and have fewer crowds, travel during the shoulder seasons: May and September. In these months, cruise fares are typically lower and ships are not as full, offering more cabin availability. However, with changes in the global climate bringing more moderate temperatures to Alaska, and the cruise season now extending into April and October, cruisers can also expect to find deals in April and October. There will be fewer sailings to choose from, but you may find lower pricing and avoid the peak-season crowds on the ship and in the ports.

In addition, select shore excursions may be available at a discount in the spring and fall. If you're planning on exploring Alaska on your own before or after your cruise, you'll also find cheaper hotel rates at the beginning or end of the cruise season.

Alaska's weather can change dramatically, especially the further north you go, no matter the month or season. While the weather may not be as predictable in April as in the middle of summer, Alaska can be beautiful in springtime with temperatures in the mid-40s, according to Tyler Hickman, senior vice president of Icy Strait Point, an Alaska Native-owned port in Hoonah and a port of call in Southeast Alaska. Hickman says there are long stretches of sunny days and crisp, clear evenings, offering the opportunity for late-season viewing of the northern lights . He also adds that April is one of the favorite times of year for local Alaskans.

If you're interested in cruising to Alaska in April, Norwegian Cruise Line has a few options, including weekly sailings on Norwegian Bliss beginning April 6. The line also offers Alaska itineraries through the end of October. Other lines sailing the extended season in Alaska in late April include Princess Cruises , Holland America Line , Royal Caribbean International , Carnival Cruise Line , UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions.

If you prefer to travel in the fall, early October temperatures are usually in the 50s, while the end of the month brings snow in the higher elevations. The days are longer and there are no crowds, so it may be an ideal time to visit if you're not interested in the summer outdoor experiences. Norwegian, Holland America and Seabourn Cruise Line offer sailings in October.

Read: The Best Alaska Cruise Deals

If you'd prefer warmer weather for your cruise, the summer season in Alaska runs from mid-May to mid-September. During that period, daytime temperatures typically range from 60 to 80 degrees, though they can drop into the 40s overnight. You can expect to have between 16 to 24 hours of daylight in the warmer season. May is considered the driest month, with around a 25% chance of precipitation, but the rain becomes more frequent throughout the summer.

Alaska.org, a website run by local Alaskans that provides travel information and recommendations, advises that the best time to visit in summer is from June 15 to July 15. This 30-day period is regarded as the peak season for warm, dry weather – and it's the perfect time for outdoor activities such as wildlife viewing, fishing and hiking. If you want to experience the most "midnight sun," plan to cruise a few weeks before or after the summer solstice – the longest day of the year – which falls on June 20 in 2024.

Come September, the days are generally shorter, rainier and cooler – but not always. You might get lucky with some unseasonably warm days amid the beautiful fall foliage ; as a bonus, September also means no bugs and fewer crowds.

If you have school-age children, you'll probably need to travel midsummer, during peak season. However, if you're flexible on dates, there's really no bad time to visit this magical destination. Mountain peaks shrouded in clouds or misty days cruising Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in late April are as beautiful as sunny days hiking through Tongass National Forest or whale watching on an excursion out of Icy Strait Point in July.

Read: The Best Places to Visit in Alaska

According to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, one of the top destinations on the Inside Passage itinerary, wildlife viewing is possible year-round, especially if you have your binoculars at hand. When you're not watching for turquoise ice calving in the bay from the glaciers, you might see humpback whales as long as 65 feet or black and brown bears up to 10 feet tall – as well as orcas, harbor and Dall's porpoises, sea otters, harbor seals, mountain goats, sea lions, seabirds, and bald eagles soaring overhead. And that's just what you can view from the ship.

During cruises through the park, rangers board the ships to offer commentary and information about the marine and terrestrial wildlife. They also help spot whales or other animals along the way. One of the highlights while cruising slowly through the park is to go outside on the bow of the ship – or even out onto your veranda – to listen to the incredible silence of this otherworldly place. You may hear nothing at all, or perhaps you'll be treated to the sounds of birds in the distance or the swoosh from a whale's blowhole before it dives down below the water's surface.

It's possible to view certain animals and marine life throughout the year, according to Hickman. "Whale sightings are consistent from May through September, with fewer occurring in April and October as they migrate from or to Hawaii for the winter," he says, adding: "Even on a foggy day when you can't see the whales, you can still hear them and feel their presence – and that's almost as incredible as seeing them from a ship or along the coastline."

If you're interested in spotting brown bears, here is Hickman's advice: "Bear sightings in the spring will depend on the snowpack and when they are leaving hibernation. This year we had very good bear viewing along the Spasski River starting in May when the coastal brown bears emerged from hibernation."

He adds, "They feed on the grass of the valley and eat skunk cabbage roots in May and early June. As the berries start to emerge in June, it holds many of the same bears, and as we get into mid-July, the salmon start heading upstream. There is a constant food source from May through September at Spasski. Many of the other bear viewing areas do not have the same features we have, and it leads to people thinking that bears are only around when fish are in the rivers."

Chichagof Island – the location of Hoonah and Icy Strait Point – was given the nickname "Bear Island" by National Geographic. The island boasts one to two brown bears per square mile, making it one of the largest brown bear populations in the world. Hickman says you're nearly guaranteed to see bears on one of Icy Strait Point's bear-watching tours. Icy Point Strait also offers whale watching adventures and other treks into the wilderness.

Alaska.org points to May through September as the best time for wildlife viewing, though you can spot some animals year-round, like moose or orcas. The website also advises that fly-in bear viewing starts in May but is at its best in July.

Looking to book a cruise to see Alaska's wildlife? See the top cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

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If you are an avid angler – or just want to watch the bears fish for their supper – then visit Alaska during the peak salmon runs, from May to September. King salmon season begins in May and goes through the end of July. The silver salmon run lasts from July up until the end of November. Red salmon are available between mid-June and mid-August, while you can catch pink and chum salmon in the brief window from mid-July to mid-August.

If you prefer halibut or just want to get out on the ocean, the best time for this wild Pacific species is from May to September. You can also seek out many other river and ocean species, such as rainbow trout, arctic char and northern pike. Cruise lines offer fishing excursions, or you can arrange for a private or group charter in an Alaskan town like Ketchikan.

If you want to see brown bears during the salmon run, book a bear-viewing excursion in one of the ports, such as Icy Strait Point. Or, extend your trip by combining a visit to Katmai National Park and Preserve and the renowned Brooks River with a stay at Brooks Lodge. Brooks Falls is the site for iconic photos of bears catching salmon that are jumping over the falls, and you may be able to view the bears feasting in salmon season when the property is open, from June through mid-September. The lodge is accessible by floatplane from King Salmon. You can also add a flyover tour during your stay to see the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, an area in southern Alaska transformed by ash from the 1912 Novarupta-Katmai volcanic eruption.

Aurora season – the best time to see the northern lights in Alaska – runs from mid-August to mid-April. While some passengers cruising the Inside Passage may catch a glimpse of the phenomenon in late summer and early fall, it's not guaranteed. As southeast Alaska typically has more precipitation and clouds since it's a temperate rainforest, you likely won't find optimal conditions for aurora viewing here.

Your chances to see the lights are better the further north you go, so you may want to look at booking a cruisetour: a land and sea package that's usually offered by some of the major cruise lines from May through September. These combined trips generally include the cruise, overnight accommodations in lodges, railway journeys and motorcoach travel between destinations.

With these tours, you'll be able to visit the vast landscape of Alaska, where you can explore cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks or spend time in Denali National Park and Preserve – and you'll have a better chance to view the northern lights. Lines that offer cruisetours include Norwegian, Celebrity Cruises , Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Since 2024 is projected to be one of the best years to view the aurora borealis in Alaska, you might want to extend your trip to venture above the Arctic Circle or into Alaska's interior for a prime viewing opportunity. Fairbanks and the Arctic region are under the auroral oval, which is where the northern lights activity is concentrated. You can watch the forecast for the aurora borealis online at Explore Fairbanks' Aurora Tracker and the Geophysical Institute's Aurora Forecast .

Read: The Top Places to See the Northern Lights

Some of the excursions offered on an Alaskan cruise may be the most expensive tours you've seen on a ship, but they're also probably some of the coolest things you've ever thought about doing while on vacation.

Note that the probability of a tour being canceled for weather is almost the same for all tours offered between April and October, as the weather in Alaska can be unpredictable. Some of the more extreme tours, however, may not be available early or late in the season. If you want the best chance for optimal weather, consider the advice from Alaska.org and book your cruise between mid-June and mid-July.

If you're looking at splurging on a bucket list adventure while in Skagway – like Alaska Shore Tours' flightseeing helicopter adventure, which includes a dog-sledding experience on a glacier – you should check to make sure it's available the month you'll be cruising. This particular tour may not be open for booking before May or after September due to the conditions for the sled dogs.

Another over-the-top excursion dependent on optimal weather conditions is the Heli-Hike and Rail Adventure that begins in Skagway. This tour includes a helicopter ride from town that flies over glaciers and mountains, then drops you off for a roughly 5-mile guided hike to view Laughton Glacier and learn about the natural history of the area. After the hike, you'll board the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad at Glacier Station for the scenic journey through the mountains back to Skagway.

If you're interested in the Misty Fjords Flightseeing tour in Ketchikan, this thrilling ride is also best on a clear day. This Alaskan bush plane tour soars over the Misty Fjords National Monument, which has more than 2 million acres of pristine lakes, waterfalls, ancient forests and snowcapped mountains.

Tours that include activities like mountain climbing or navigating suspension bridges might also be best when done on a sunny day. The prime time for wildlife viewing and fishing, as mentioned above, will depend on what animals you're interested in seeing and which species of fish you want to catch.

The ship's excursion desk, local guides or tour providers can offer the best advice on how to plan your activities. No matter which tours you opt to take, be prepared for the ever-changing weather patterns by wearing layers – and make sure to bring a waterproof rain jacket. Before booking, you should check the individual tour operator's cancellation and refund policy.

Read: The Best Alaska Tours

The Bottom Line

If you're flexible as to when you can travel to Alaska, you may be able to take advantage of lower pricing, travel incentives and added perks in the shoulder seasons – and you'll have fewer crowds than in the busy summer months.

If your goal is to view wildlife, then most of the cruise season, especially from May to September, will offer ample opportunities to see bears, humpbacks whales, bald eagles and other amazing animals – depending on the itinerary and excursions you choose. You'll also be able to catch Alaska's prized salmon throughout much of the cruise season.

And if extreme adventures are going to be the highlight of your vacation, then be sure to check with the tour providers to make sure your top picks are offered when you're planning to travel. Not all tour providers operate the full seven months of the season.

No matter when you decide to visit, a cruise to The Great Land will be one of the most memorable vacations of your lifetime.

Planning a cruise to see Alaska? See the top cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi is a U.S. News contributor and an avid travel adventurer who fell in love with Alaska on her first visit to the state many years ago. She's returned several times on land trips and by ship to seek year-round outdoor adventure, view wildlife and chase the northern lights in one of the best places on the planet to view them. She's even considered moving to The Great Land as a full-time resident. Pratesi used her deep knowledge of Alaska and the cruise industry to write this article.

You might also be interested in:

• Alaska Cruise Packing List
• The Top Alaska Cruise Lines
• The Top Luxury Alaska Cruises
• The Top Things to Do in Alaska
• Do You Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise?

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