Alaskan cruises

Introduction to Alaskan cruises

Have you ever wanted to see the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness and coast but never could quite motivate yourself to dig the parka and snow shoes out of the storage closet?  Or perhaps you like to look at the snow and appreciate the cold splendor of Alaska from your heated veranda.  If you have ever wondered what it would be like to sail among glaciers, to see a humpback whale or to take in the attractiveness of land that has not been developed by man, an Alaskan cruise may be just what you are looking for.

Alaskan cruises are ideal for those who do not know much about surviving in the wilderness of the Alaskan wilderness, but would still like to enjoy what it has to offer without leaving their comfortable room.  If you do want to leave the cruise ship, Alaskan cruises offer stops to interesting port towns such as Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.  If you would rather stay aboard the ship Alaskan cruises offered by a variety of different cruise lines can provide features like numerous restaurants, lounges, Broadway style entertainment, casinos, health clubs, movie theaters, libraries, and more. Alaska cruises are also a great value for the money.  You can have your transportation, meals, entertainment and sightseeing expenses rolled into one reasonable fare.

What you need to pack for an Alaskan cruise

There are many people who very naturally assume that the type of attire needed for an Alaskan cruise would naturally be the type of clothes that you would take when visiting a very cold climate.  Naturally, Alaska is colder than most other states will be at any given time of the year, but that does not mean that you will be subjected to this cold weather throughout your entire cruise experience.  Climate controlled cruise ships create a type of floating city where everything from air circulation to the temperature most places that you go on the ship are controlled and very comfortable.

This information is very helpful in packing for your big Alaskan cruise.  Remember that you will be on vacation while on your cruise and that many of the amenities that you would think would exist on a cruise ship going to an island paradise, will also exist on your Alaskan cruise.  Planning ahead is the best thing to do, especially if you are particularly sensitive to changing weather conditions (something that will happen if you decide to walk around outside rather than in the heated areas of the ship).

Here is a very basic list of things to remember to bring on your Alaskan cruise.  Please keep in mind that there will be some items that are not included on this list that you will want to remember to bring.  This list is simply provided in order to bring up some less common suggestions for things to pack as well as to remind you of some of the essentials that you do not want to be without.

Your starter list for what to bring on your Alaskan cruise:

• Cruise documents, passage contract, passport and travel documents.  Before leaving home you need to be sure that you are carrying with you all of the documents that you will need to travel to Alaska.  Remember that getting your travel paperwork in order is completely your responsibility, not the responsibility of the cruise line.  Insurance cards and travel protection plan information are also items that you should have with you and accessible (do not leave this documentation in luggage that you have checked in, make sure that it is with you in your carry-on).
• Variable weather conditions may mean extreme jumps in temperature, especially when moving from the indoors outside.  For this reason it is a good idea to pack and wear casual clothes that can be easily layered to accommodate for your comfort during transitions in temperature. (Read more about the type of clothing to pack by reading under the heading “clothing suggestions” below).
• Waterproof jacket, fleece sweater or liner, warm hat/rain hat and gloves, turtleneck or a comfortable protective long sleeve shirt.  Many people neglect to remember that even though the weather is cold that there are still risks for sunburn especially because of the sun’s reflection off of all the white surroundings that you will have.
• Insect repellent, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
• Comfortable footwear for hiking and wet conditions as well as an umbrella and backpack to carry it all in.
• Camera with extra batteries and a spare memory card.
• Travel-size binoculars.
• A swimsuit for on board swimming and dips in the hot tub.
• Valuables (Generally it is not a good idea to bring your more valuable items with you on your cruise.  Only bring the essential valuables such as a watch, wedding ring and any medical supplies that you may need.  Remember that the cruise ship is not responsible for property that is left behind, damaged or stolen).

Clothing suggestions
As is the case with any cruise, it is best to check the weather reports for the weather information in the locations that you will be visiting.  Visit this link (high-low daytime temperatures) for worldwide high and low temperatures by destination to help you plan for your cruise vacation. This list will help you to decide what type of clothing to bring on your cruise.  Regardless of where you will be visiting on your cruise, you will want to be sure to bring proper clothing for visits to religious sites or sites.   Generally speaking, you will be most comfortable walking on deck with low-heeled, rubber soled shoes as well as comfortable walking shoes.
Generally speaking there are generally two designations for dress codes: casual or smart casual and formal attire.

• Casual – Passenger attire should be much like what would be considered business casual attire or slightly nicer clothing.  Inappropriate dinner wear would include such things as pool attire, shorts, ball caps and casual jeans (with fraying and/or holes).  As a general rule shoes must be worn in the areas where food is served.
• Formal - Formal attire consists of an evening gown, cocktail dress, or elegant pant suit for women and tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket and slacks for men.  This is a relatively standard definition of formal attire regardless of the ship that you cruise with.

Some cruise ships will offer formal wear for rent on their cruises so that passengers not accustomed to having their own formal attire may be able to make arrangements before hand to have the appropriate formal attire waiting for them on board.  Not all cruises will require formal attire, so it is best to check before hand to see what the dress code will be on your particular Alaskan cruise.

What to do while in Alaska

You do not have to be an Alaskan native to enjoy the hidden splendors that the area has to offer.  There is a wide variety of activity options available for when you are at port on your Alaskan cruise.  Listed below are just a few of the more popular activities that you can participate in while on your Alaskan cruise.  Check before hand to see what sort of additional reservations that you will need to make in order to take advantage of these things to do while in Alaska.

• Whale watching - Alaska is known the world over as one of the best places to watch whales in their natural habitat.  Alaska’s waters are said to be home to some of the highest concentrations of humpback whales in the world.  In addition to the whales you will also have the possibility of seeing other marine mammals such as seals, Steller sea lions, Dall porpoise, sea otters and Pacific white side dolphins.
• Alaska fishing - Some cruise ships offer fishing for salmon and halibut without even leaving the boat.  Or you can hire a private boat to take you to a more secluded fishing place.  There are even some fishing services that will offer to prepare your catch for you to eat later.
• Kayaking - Southeast Alaska is known for its thousands of miles of coastline and hundreds of uninhabited islands.  Kayaking is even appropriate for beginners as the waters are relatively calm and experts can be there to guide you along the way.
• Alaskan wildlife viewing - Brown bears (grizzly) and black bear are commonly seen walking on the shores of Alaska or up a stream fishing for salmon. Mountain goats, moose, wolves, deer, mink and marten have all been spotted.  Alaska is also home to the bald eagle and many species of sea birds.  All of which have been spotted regularly by Alaskan cruisers.  If you really wanted to see something spectacular you could charter a private yacht with local wildlife experts as your guides, to take you around the Alaskan coast and give you a personalized tour.