Alaska Cruise Tips

Archive for the ‘Alaskatips’ Category

If you are going on a cruise holiday in Alaska you should ensure that you give some prior thought to your Alaska cruise trips. A cruise liner holiday is an excellent way to relax and get quality time with your travel companions away from the stresses of your regular life. Where the ship visits and what activities you are able to indulge in along the way will influence having a good or an excellent cruise holiday.

If you want to spend seven days reading then choose somewhere else. If you are a fan of the outdoors and nature at its best then choose an Alaska cruise and ensure that you have access to the trips and excursions that will fill your memories for years to come.

Nature and the environment are the jewels on any Alaska cruise trips so ensure that your travel itinerary has the pick of these additional trips.

To ensure that you get real value for your money consider the following: -

Fresh Air: do not spend too much time below decks or resting in your cabin. As a minimum get up to the upper decks, take in the scenery and take part in the trips to the lakes, forests and the rugged environment.

Variety: whatever you see will take your breath away so do not spend all your time looking at only glaciers or whale spotting. Get around and experience the full ranges of sights that are available, you never know which will appeal to you the most.

Be both active and a sightseer: There will be ample opportunity to indulge in exhilarating activities whatever your abilities. Mix this up with periods of sight seeing and…

>> Read the rest

There are not many better honeymoon choices then to holiday on board an Alaska Cruise. In choosing a honeymoon you have a range of choices available both in terms of the type of holiday and where you will go to, cruising to Alaska should be wory of inclusion on your shortlist as it is an excellent honeymoon choice.

Rather than the standard beach or ski vacation and consider an Alaska Cruise which, combined with land-based excursions, can provide all of the excitement of these other types of holidays together with a cosy environment with which to appreciate life with your new beloved. You can take excursions to review magnificent glaciers, see wildlife in its natural environment and experience nature that it’s most thrilling. Small boat excursions can take you to see dolphins and humped back in whales and play in their natural environment and when you have finished you can retreat to the comfort of your cabin to reflect on the days experiences.

Should you wish to stay in on board and remember you are in a small town with all the entertainment options laid out in front of you. Go to the casino, dance in the ballroom, view the latest films in the cinema or just go out each night to enjoy a wonderful meal in the captains company. A walk in the evenings along the promenade with the sun declining over the snowy Mountain peaks in the distance, reflecting off the gently undulating sea, will create the perfect romantic atmosphere.

The cost of an Alaska cruise depends on your budget and how much you want to spend. Some Cruise lines specialise in elegance, glamour and glitz and you…

>> Read the rest

It is possible to get Alaska cruise discounts but you need to be ready and flexible if a bargain is to be yours. Ask yourself could you depart at a moments notice, is your suitcase ready, do you know what your requirements are and have you done your research? Alternatively are you ready to accept any Alaska cruise at a low price to get the experience and get closer to this form of holiday. If you fit one of the descriptions above then you could be in the market for a discount cruise.

You need to put yourself into a position to take advantage of a bargain. That means doing your research on the tour operators, the cruise ships, the departure ports and how you get there quickly. The biggest factor in getting a discounted cruise is the ability to get onboard quickly, you cannot do this if you live a continent away from the port.

Once you have identified your target locations ensure that you have a packed bag and can leave at 5 minutes notice. The bag should contain all the things you need for a holiday taking into account the weather you will experience at the time of year you will be on holiday. Label the suitcase and put it in a place where you will remember. Your goal is to find an Alaska cruise discount matching your target holiday, pick up the suitcase and leave the house without a second thought. People who have prepared like this can save considerable sums on the advertised cost of a cruise holiday.

A major source of bargains comes from the repositioning of ships. Cruise liners are very expensive and…

>> Read the rest

When you want to select an Alaska cruise line you are fortunate that you have a wide choice. There are cruise lines for every budget and they cover a variety of approaches to cruising so finding the right tour operator should not be a problem. Each has a different approach to serving its customers and onboard each has a different culture so do some research first before you book the operator to trust with you dream holiday.

There are several types of Alaska cruise lines as below: -

The Premium Cruise Lines

Holland America Line has a loyal customer base and focuses on a traditional style of cruise liner with a relaxed but refined environment with Asian-style service.

Princess Cruises have large ships which manage to deliver a romantic atmosphere with the personalized service they offer. As such this cruise line aims to attract experienced cruise passengers and first-time travellers.

Celebrity Cruises pride themselves on attractive cruise ships offering style, elegance and a gourmet cuisine resulting in a service which is well known and noted for the luxury of its holidays.

Resort ships with extended facilities

Royal Caribbean International are a major innovator in this sector and refined the floating resort liner by developing modern and innovative cruise ships. Cruise holiday?s onboard relaxation and onshore activities in one holiday package complemented this.

Carnival Cruise Lines claim to be the most popular cruise line in the world. A Las Vegas-style atmosphere and onboard facilities to match typify their ships. In addition to the razzmatazz they also have a fun culture to help you get the most out of your holiday.

Luxury Cruise Lines

Radisson Seven Seas deliver value for money to…

>> Read the rest

Alaska cruises are inspiring but also need prior preparation and we feature some important tips to help you have a wonderful holiday.

Being in the extreme north of North America, Alaska can experience extreme weather conditions and variable external temperatures, there is a price to pay for the beautiful scenery. As a result it is essential that prospective tourists educate themselves on the environment, the geography, the typical and sometimes extreme weather, the temperature range you will meet and how you should prepare so that you can take all this in your stride. Alaskan cruises are not the place to start to think of these challenges and they are best considered in advance of your trip.

The weather will have the biggest influence on your holiday and should be the first thing you consider. Obviously the type of activities you will pursue will influence the weather conditions you prefer but it should be noted that travel and general comfort are better in the summer months, May through to September as Alaska is in the Northern Hemisphere. Your clothing should be matched to the temperature conditions so that your itinerary is not curtailed if it is too cold. Also if you want to take some smaller boat excursions or explore the water make sure that you take suitable waterproof and warm clothing.

Think about your travel companions and choose them well. If you are taking a small child or younger member of your family make sure that they are appropriately dressed and will feel comfortable in the conditions. The outdoors can be exhilarating but not for teenagers who believe that they are going on a beach holiday. Remember that the weather…

>> Read the rest

This Alaska cruise review will give the reader an overview of the attractions of a cruise holiday at the top of the world. Cruising in Alaska is different from the normal cruise holiday floating in the sun from one hot beach or port to another. Alaska has many beautiful and breathtaking sites but they do not include golden beaches, sugar puff clouds tropical islands and vegetation.

Being near the pole Alaska has a unique climate that has created the character of the land and the people. On summer days the blue sky may be similar but the beaches are far away being replaced with spectacular glacial rivers of ice. Forests pour down to the waters edge full of wildlife and hiding roaring rivers and calm but grand lakes.

Having read this you will realise that an Alaskan cruise holiday should not just be spent on the cruise ship. Yes the cruise ships are luxurious and you will have a very relaxing time. Yes there are some spectacular and exhilarating sites to be seen from the ship, humpback whales to name one, but there are a multitude of attractions waiting on the land where nature can be seen at its best.

Alaska is mainly unspoiled and allows you to get closer to nature as it always was. Experiencing the land and the conditions allows you to better understand the native peoples who live in this region and carve their living out of the bountiful land overcoming the often-inhospitable weather conditions.

If you take time off the ship you can view native totem poles in Ketchikan and go back in time to the period of the Gold Rush in the Yukon area…

>> Read the rest

An Alaska cruise and land tour must rank as one of the best holidays you can take. Spectacular scenery, the safety and comfort of a cruise liner and the opportunity to visit several different places on your holiday without the need to drive long distances.

An Alaska Cruise and Land Tour gives you the combination of the luxury of an Alaska Cruise Vacation together with the excitement of an Alaskan land tour to capture the beauty of the natural landscape. Whilst you may need a little longer than the normal one week holiday to get real value out of such a you will be able to experience the coastal views and the rugged interior of Alaska in one holiday.

During the land based tour you will have the opportunity to visit some of the spectacular scenery in Alaska. Ascend the mountain ranges in the national parks and explore Mount McKinley the highest peak. Choose the right operator and this can be combined with stays in mountain cabins and observation of the wildlife whilst being chauffeured in luxury motor coaches so that someone else takes the strain of any driving.

Often you do not need to decide on what sites and what excursions you will partake in before the tour starts. You can take the weather and your stamina into account before you book the add-ons to your tour whilst you are resting on the cruise liner.

The ship-based tour can be more relaxing as you sit on deck and see the world arrive at your doorstep. Most cruise lines call at several interesting ports on the journey to allow you to explore historic towns and see rivers and lakes close…

>> Read the rest

Many people taking an Alaska cruise take their children with them and wonder what activities there are for children on board. Often people think that a vacation ship is not suitable for children and there will be a limited number of children’s activities, this is wrong. Alaska cruise ships cater for all types of people with many different interests and certainly know how to look after children and keep them happy so that their parents can enjoy the holiday.

As you will be on board a ship there obviously will be constraints on the activities offered and what you, and your children, and can do. It is best to review these ahead of time and make all the members of your family aware of the activities which are on offer. In this way they can look forward to taking the excursions and activities offered rather than throwing a tantrum during the holiday because they cannot do a specific activity that they always do when at home!

Alaska Cruise childrens activities and entertainment will be available for all ages of children, young ones, middle and late teenagers. They may vary from ship to ship and certainly from cruise line to cruise line so it is important that you research this before you choose your holiday to ensure that the activities are suited to your family’s interests.

One activity which may be top of your children’s list although lower down on yours will be the games arcade. All cruise ships have a games arcade and common whilst you may not want to listen to be central theme of activity, and it does provide a welcome distraction at times when it is cold…

>> Read the rest

Alaska cruise holidays can be a great vacation for all the family. Parent, child, grandparent or a family group with something special to celebrate you will find that a holiday afloat in such a spectacular setting offers something special. You should certainly come back home refreshed and with a different perspective on life.

All the major cruise lines offer cruise holidays in Alaska and its waters. There are over ten with the main ones, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Norwegian, Princess and Holland America Line having packages to suit all members of the family and at a range of prices so that you can select the type and cost of holiday cruise to meet your needs.

Some Alaska cruise holidays complete a round trip, departing from and arriving at the same port. These cruises tend to be of one-week duration and, because of the more limited itinerary, tend to be easier on the pocket. The main departure ports are Vancouver in Canada and Seattle in the United States.

More extended cruise holidays are one way affairs with the return travel completed by rail or by airplane. As these do not return to the port of origin they cover more ground and tend to sail south from Anchorage or go north from Vancouver. The extended travel period allows the inclusion of more sightseeing with the opportunity to absorb the spectacular mountain views and marvel at the majestic glaciers.

If life at sea is not totally to your liking you can also select a cruse liner holiday which incorporates expeditions on land with land based tours. In this way not only will you be able to study the rugged coastline from the ship but…

>> Read the rest

One of the most popular Alaska cruise tours is to take an expedition to fish for salmon. Salmon fishing is a highly rated activity in Alaska as there are so many salmon in the rivers. This flows from the terrain and the fast moving river system that suits the conditions that the fish thrive in.

If this will be your first time fishing trip in alaska you need to ensure that you have the right clothing for the conditions and the right fishing equipment to give you the best chance to catch your fish. A few points worth of illustration are: -

The weather conditions are variable so make sure you have clothing that will not restrict your fishing and also that you are able to add warm layers if conditions require this.

You can be in brilliant sunshine one moment and a torrential downpour the next. Ensure that you can add a waterproof exterior to your clothing quickly to keep dry. Once you are wet it is very hard to regain your body heat.

Check what equipment and bait will be provided on the trip. Unless you are taking your prized rod on the tour you do not want to add to your luggage if equipment can be provided. Turning up with no bait will limit your opportunities for success if the tour organiser does not have any available.

If this is your first attempt at salmon fishing you may be surprised to read that there are many different types of salmon that you could encounter on your Alaska cruise tours.

The world?s largest salmon is the King Salmon that are available all year around as they are not…

>> Read the rest