Table Of Content
Just like any Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s important to pre-book any dining or drink packages for your cruise via Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website. If the drink package you purchased for $63/day raises to $75/day, for example, you will have paid a much lower price than some passengers onboard. One of the top tips we share at Royal Caribbean Blog is to book your cruise with a travel agent. A travel agent will cost you nothing extra, but they can provide extremely valuable help and support during the booking process. Ships like Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas may be smaller, but don’t let that deter you from choosing one of these ships. Many passengers find that cruising to Alaska on a smaller ship comes with its own set of benefits.
Remember to book pre-cruise add-ons before you board
The day you planned in Sitka, as an example, could be replaced by a stop in Ketchikan. Or perhaps the ship is unable to sail further into a passage for a glacier sighting. Are you traveling with kids and looking for the most onboard activities?
Alaska Treehouse Timelapse
No one enjoys navigating crowds, but it’s almost inevitable when cruising to Alaska. If you want to avoid the highest crowds, we recommend disembarking your ship early on each port day. In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather. It’s challenging to predict whether your cruise will encounter sunny skies and 70 degrees, or seven days of straight rain.
When is the Best Time to Cruise to Alaska?
If you are sailing to The Bahamas or Mexico you know to pack sunscreen. During the summer the days are long with a lot of opportunity to get burned if it’s clear out — especially with sun reflecting off of the water. Bring just as much as you would for the Caribbean and put it on just as often on exposed areas. Head on a Caribbean cruise, and the schedule is familiar — show up to the port of call early in the morning and you’ll depart in the evening.
Visit glaciers
Several cruise lines offer staterooms or packages that give passengers access to private sundecks and pools. For instance, while there are some Skagway, Alaska train tours that don’t require passports, all of the tours that extend past the White Pass Summit require them (as they pass into Canada). Oftentimes you’ll find that cruise lines run various promotions to stir up excitement and increase business. Booking through a travel agent can help you find the best deals, find additional perks, and assure that you’re up to date on the latest cruise recommendations. With all of the money and time that you’ll be investing, you may appreciate trusting the details of your trip to a travel agent. If you sail late in the season (late August -October), the daylight starts getting shorter leaving a longer, and darker, time for you to be able to see the Northern Lights.
Spend all your time indoors
Boarding a cruise is probably the only part of a cruise that can be a bit slow. Personally I would advise arriving a night before so that you do not have to worry about this. In terms of clothing for an Alaska Cruise, definitely bring warm items and most importantly a windbreaker jacket. Even when the sun is shining and warm (which we were lucky enough to have through the week), the wind on the upper decks can be chilly. One of the best parts of an Alaskan cruise is that there is usually a beautiful landscape to enjoy as you sail so you will want to be on deck for most of it.
While it can be tempting to book a full day of fun activities onboard, don’t forget to spend some time relaxing in a comfy chair or on the pool deck to watch the scenery pass by. It is easy to overlook these types of offerings with so many other activities and things to do onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise, but do yourself a favor and check these out. The lectures provided onboard offer important context for the adventures you will take on shore later in your visit. If you’re sailing on a Quantum Class ship to Alaska, head to the back of the Windjammer or the Solarium bridge wings for some fantastic views of the scenery with fewer crowds.
Bring cards or board games
Cruise advice from the past generation of ships that isn't necessary anymore - Royal Caribbean Blog
Cruise advice from the past generation of ships that isn't necessary anymore.
Posted: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruises are an amazing way to visit a destination and maximise how much you see whilst you are there. Pools will still be in use (although most are not heated) so feel free to bring your bathing suit as well. Just make sure to also pack a coverup as you will need it for eating in the buffet (plain bathing suits are not allowed). Specific dress codes will vary by cruise line with Norwegian and Royal Caribbean being the most casual and lines such as Princess and Holland America having a more business casual approach.
Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels
Snap those babies up — just come prepared with a list of second and third choices of excursions, just in case. Here's a list of things you should never do on an Alaska cruise. Avoid these Alaska cruise mistakes, and you'll be on your way to a smooth sailing. If you forget a piece of clothing like a waterproof coat or sweatshirt, don’t fret! There are plenty of souvenir shops available at each Alaskan port which offer a variety of clothing to fit any weather condition you encounter. Instead, make sure there’s a hood on your all-weather jacket.
In addition to helping you find the best itinerary and ship, travel agents might have access to discounted cruiser fares. Or, advisors might offer additional perks, like onboard credit, free gratuities, or specialty dinners. These additional perks can be combined with any promotions from the cruise lines. Most major cruise lines release itineraries up to two years in advance.
One question I get asked often is whether you can see whales and other wildlife from the ship. While you might not spend as much time in the pool as you would in the Caribbean, relaxing in the hot tub on a chilly morning or evening in Alaska can be extremely relaxing. If buying an all-new wardrobe sounds expensive, consider buying clothes on a website like eBay. A quality jacket is an especially costly item, but buying a gently used one from eBay can save lots, especially for kids. On our recent Alaska cruise onboard Ovation of the Seas, we purchased these binoculars and found them to be a great budget option. Alaska is all about what you see around you, and often the very best of Alaska's natural beauty and wildlife is best seen through a pair of binoculars.
Gulf of Alaska sailings — especially those in late August and September — can encounter rough seas in the gulf portion of the voyage. Many people trek to Alaska to commune with nature, but there's history here you shouldn't overlook. Dress in layers of clothing so that you can peel off (or add on) slowly as the thermometer dictates.
Because of this, take a look at the main attractions in your embarkation city. You might enjoy shopping at Pike’s Place Market and visiting the Space Needle in Seattle, or enjoying a relaxing stroll through Stanley Park in Vancouver. We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Alaska on a cruise.
You can take your glasses out of any dining room on the ship and it was easy to stop by the buffet for a drink anytime we needed one. Even when we were off the ship, I did not take nor did I need my water bottle. If you have strenuous hiking excursions planned, perhaps you want a water bottle.
No comments:
Post a Comment