Alaska Travel Forum

We were not going to take a trip this year but seeing the great low rates of Alaskan cruises, we decided we may do one this summer. Some start in Seattle, some in Vancouver and some in Whittier, all 7 day with different stops from four to seven. I researched several ships and most seem to be ok, mostly complaining about the cost of excursions, the rain and cold and mosquitoes. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hi - an Alaskan cruise is definitely an adventure. I have taken one from Vancouver and one from San Francisco (that was a 2 week beginning of the season trip). Most stop in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and have a day at a glacier. Yes, the excursions can be very expensive but you can find things to do in any port that don't cost a lot of money. Weather is unpredictible but chances of better weather are in the middle of the season as opposed to the beginning or end. I have never had any problems with mosquitoes. As far as deciding whether to leave from Seattle or Vancouver, it may come down to something as simple as where you can get the best airfare into. If you'd like additional information on the ports, cruiselines, or even particular ships, check www.cruisecritic.com. You will find a lot of enthusiastic cruisers and good information there.

You should start where it is convenient and cost efficient for you to start. Generally the first day and night is at sea anyway so it doesn't matter. Seattle is convenient for most US travelers. Plus a few days in Seattle is fun. Rain in Alaska is a way of life. Most of the time it is not trenching, but only a light rain for an hour or so that keeps everying wet. Especially if you go hiking. All you need is a waterproof shell, maybe a layer or two, a hat or cap with a brim and you are good to go. I have been to AK several times between June and September and while areas were cool, I never felt it was cold. Mosquitos are not bad unless you go on the trails or just hanging around a pond and there is always repellent. Karl

You don't say where you live. If a USA citizen, there is no question that Seattle is the home port to leave from on a cruise to Alaska due to travel doucument requirements. No passport is needed if you embark from Seattle and disembark in Seattle. The new passport rules go into effect on June 1, 2009 and the "closed-loop" cruise allows you to go to Canadian ports and Alaska if you start and stop a cruise from a USA port. Seattle is gaining in popularity because of this reason and now up to 6 major cruise lines are either leaving from Seattle or are planning to. The new cruise terminal is now the home port to several cruise lines. Of course, a closed-loop cruise (no passport needed for USA citizen leaving and returning to same USA port) does not mean that a country you may go on a cruise to visit does not require a passport. Check out the countries entry requirements that the cruise stops in outside of the USA port. The ruling on passports is as follows:

"All Americans traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter the United States. This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed-loop cruises), including ferry service, on June 1, 2009. Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea may present government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization). Starting June 1, 2009, all travelers must present a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document such as a passport or a passport card for entry to the United States. While passport cards and enhanced driver’s licenses are sufficient for entry into the United States, they may not be accepted by the particular country you plan to visit; please be sure to check with your cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements." (Portion of United States Homeland Security WHTI document.)

Interesting Larry, I hadn't heard about the closed-loop cruises.

As it's been mentioned, it depends on the logistics and what is more $$ convenient for you. If money is not an issue, then I'd say it depends on what you want to see.... I always took the cruises which departed from Vancouver and 2 of those times my family and I stayed in Vancouver for a few days before or after the cruise in order to visit the town & surroundings. Since I've never been to Seattle I'd probably take my next one from there in order to visit that town. Another thing to consider is the ports of call, although you can pretty much do the same activities regardless of where the cruise stops. If a ship departing from Seattle has better ports of call under your point of view, then take that one... I've stopped at Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway and Haines. Juneau is the capital so it's bigger and it has Mendenhall glacier nearby. Ketchikan is very nice and you can go kayaking, to a totem park, etc. Sitka is nice too but I don't remember having taken any tour from there. Skagway has the chilkoot trail train ride which is cool and some bike and hiking tours as well depart from here. Haines is very small and there's nothing to see here, but we took a helicopter tour which took you to a glacier (you actually got to walk on the glacier, it was exciting), but I suppose these are available in other ports too. It's true that the excursions are pricey.... but of course a bike tour is much more affordable than a helicopter tour. Only you can decide what you can and cannot do/pay for. Yeah I also hated the rain.... and yes it's frequent. I'm not used to cold weather so yes it was rather cool for me.... had to wear a light jacket most of the time. Mosquitoes? Nope, don't remember having seen any.

We just got back from an a cruise to Alaska, and we started in Vancouver (instead of Seattle), because we didn't want to waste any time by starting so far south (the scenery from Seattle to Alaska is beautiful, but not the glaciers and such that we were really going for). We are American citizens, but had absolutely no problem dealing with traveling between two countries. The main thing that we learned from the cruise was that we were very happy we started south and worked our way north (instead of beginning the cruise in Whittier and ending up in Vancouver), because in our opinion, the sights and scenery only got better as the cruise went up through the Inside Passage; it probably would have been fairly anticlimactic to see mountains and glaciers on the first day and then have to leave them behind to travel south.

It's cheaper to book the excursions yourself rather than thru the cruise ship. Also there is an internet forum that discusses two types of coupon booklets people purchase for activities in Alaska. Right now were in Hok, Alaska. We just drove in today and it's very warm. A couple we talked to in Canada on their way back home to Alaska said it's been warmer than usual. They commented that they need the rain but apparently it's been drier than usual.