I wasn’t sure what I was signing up for when I committed to going on an Alaskan cruise, but it was the one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. It took me a few days to adjust to the cruise life, but once I did, the trip turned into one for the books! In my opinion, Alaska is the most beautiful state in our country because of its pure untouched beauty. I always enjoy places where the time moves slower and the people are friendlier, so all of the small towns that we visited really struck a chord and I can’t seem to pick a favorite.
Adventuring in Alaska is all about getting to know this state’s stunning landscape. It might seem cold and unforgiving at first glance, but the best Alaska cruises allow you to explore the quiet lakes, imposing glaciers and breathtaking mountain views, you’ll have only warm impressions of this wilderness.
Give me a chance to convince you that an Alaskan cruise should be your exception before you immediately shake your head and pass on a cruise. To be transparent, I’ll admit that I’m not sure the cruise life is for me, but I will proudly admit that a cruise is the best and most convenient way to see Alaska. Alaska isn’t the easiest state to drive from town to town in, and your vacation budget will quickly drown if you put in a solid effort to try to be your own tour guide. I can’t emphasize enough how a cruise allows you to sit back and let everyone else take care of things for you!
7-NIGHT ROYAL CARIBBEAN ALASKAN CRUISE
We booked the Royal Caribbean “Quantum of the Seas,” which departs from Seattle, Washington. It’s a 7-Night option, which seems like plenty of time, but it left me craving more.
WHO THIS TRIP IS PERFECT FOR
This trip is perfect for the adventurer who appreciates small towns where the time moves slower and the people are friendlier. If you love wildlife and chilly weather, this trip is for you!
QUICK HISTORY LESSON
In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for only $7.2M, which seems like pennies! The purchase of Alaska subsided with the Klondike Gold Strike in 1896, and well, you know how Americans love Gold.
SITKA
After a full day at sea, our first stop was Sitka! I’ve always heard of Sitka, but never took to time to learn too much about it besides that “The Proposal” was filmed there. There is so much history crunched into this town, which left me feeling as if Sitka is “small, yet mighty.” Sitka is known for its Tlingit culture and picturesque remnants of its Russian heritage, including the onion-shaped domes and gold-colored crosses of the beloved Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
WHAT TO DO
- Explore the downtown area with shops
- Visit Sitka National Historical Park and find the Totem Poles
- Wildlife tour
- Visit St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Cathedral
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
- Mean Queen – Yummy pizza with ocean-front views
ICY STRAIGHT POINT (HOONAH)
We were supposed to stop in Skagway and take a beautiful train ride, but the town is still rebuilding after some recent flooding damage. We went to Icy Straight Point in Hoonah instead, which is a largely Tlingit community (estimated population around 940 people).
WHAT TO DO
- Gondola ride to Skypeak
- World’s Longest Zip Line – Length: 5,495ft, Vertical Drop: 1,320ft, Roughly 65mph
- Take tram to shops and restaurants
- Take bus to Hoonah
- Nature Trail – Don’t walk this alone, it’s called a “nature” trail for a reason
- ATV and Jeep Expeditions
- Whale watching
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
- Cookhouse Restaurant – Must order the Halibut Fish and Chips!
- Crab House
JUNEAU
Before we arrived in Juneau, we woke up around 5:00am to journey through the Endicott Arm Fjord, which is the southern edge of Fords Terror Wilderness Area. It’s a 30-mile long stretch with views of the Dawes Glacier. You can’t help but be awed by the surrounding granite cliffs, mountain valleys and dozens of gushing waterfalls. Drifting icebergs, deep blue waters and a spectacular tidewater glacier only add to this natural spectacle’s appeal.
The weather was so nice when we made it to Juneau. We were all melting (sad pun-intended) and trying to take our warm layers off as quickly as we could. Juneau’s downtown area is very charming and is lined with lots of shops. On our cruise, Juneau was the town where you could take an excursion to the Mendenhall Glacier. There are a handful of adventures on the glacier, but you get there by helicopter.
WHAT TO DO
- Explore downtown area with shops
- Take the Goldbelt Tram up Mount Roberts for beautiful views
- Hike to the cross
- Visit the Mendenhall Glacier (helicopter to a dog-sledding experience)
- Try all the ice cream shops!
- Seafari Safari (humpback whales, orcas, harbor seals, and Steller sea lions)
- Gold Panning
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
- Twisted Fish Company Alaskan Grill (must order the clam chowder)
- Tracy’s King Crab, caught by the guys on Deadliest Catch
- Heritage Coffee Roasting Company for an afternoon pick-me-up
VICTORIA, B.C.
It didn’t feel like we were in Victoria long enough! We invested our entire time at the Butchart Gardens, which didn’t leave us any time to explore the downtown area. We were fortunate enough to have a driver who gave us a quick tour of the area before we hopped back on the ship. The Butchart Gardens are magnificent – I’ve never seen anything like it before, so it was worth not being able to see too much of Victoria. I’d love to go back during each season like they suggest.
WHAT TO DO
- Explore downtown area. Lots of cute shops and restaurants!
- Visit the Butchart Gardens – Highly recommend!
- Whale watching
- Royal B.C. Museum
- Craigdarroch Castle
- Beacon Hill Park
- Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site
- Government Street
- Salish Sea-Horse Drawn Carriage Tour
