Essentials for Planning an Alaska Cruise

And we bought Frogg Toggs - rain pants and coat ...extremely lightweight to pack and carry but 100% keep you dry ... the wind tends to rip the plastic deals or they're good for one or two uses But these last indefinitely and start at around $9.

By the way, this photo was taken with my Sony Cyber Shot DSC TX30 Waterproof 18.2 MP camera (has video too) ... Lightweight, compact and best of all waterproof to 10m, shockproof etc. It's my cruise camera and while I am a bad photographer, this camera makes up for it.

I went at the end of May and the weather was ok, but still somewhat cold. My son is in Skagway now (July and August) and reports a lot of rainy days, nice temperatures and only a few really cold days. The old layering trick works ... We sailed out of Seattle on an Inside Passage Cruise stopped in Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau. I personally feel a balcony is a waste because to experience the full impact during the Inside Passage up on deck is the only way to go. It's cold but worth seeing the vastness ahead as you cruise through the area.

I was told that going during the month of July was best, because of all their wouldn't be much snow. I haven't been on an Alaskan cruise just yet.

We typically will stay the night before. I'm thinking a Seattle port may be easier and return back to the same port (for ease). I have some researching to do for sure. My BF lived in Alaska for some time and loved it, so I'm def psyched to go and take some beautiful pictures as well! A balcony is a must.

Meghad23. When cruising Alaska you have to consider the travel time. A round trip from Seattle or Vancouver is great for short travel time. When I did Alaska we flew into Anchorage and then a 4 to 5 hour bus ride to Seward. This made for a very long day, the lino picked us up at 8 AM to take us to LAX, after the flight and bus ride we did not get on the ship until about 10 PM, 14 hours travel time. We got lucky and our bus driver talked and gave us a tour on the way to Seward (against rules he stopped for us at a rest stop at the foot of Explorer Glacier, pulled over to show us Eagle nest in trees, Salmon spawning in the river next to the road, slowed down to show where the ground dropped 10 feet from the earth quake and the petrified forest and he stopped at a mini market for us to get drinks and munchies.) My parents were on a different bus they got to the ship an hour faster then us, but the driver they had did not say a word. 4 hours of silence on a bus and not being told where to look and what to see.

No mater what Alaska trip you choose you will love all that you will see, Alaska is beautiful. I want to go back since it has been 20 years for me. Do not worry there is plenty of food on the ship other then Salmon and fish.

How did you decide which itinerary and cruise line to go with? I have a Caribbean cruise in September planned, but feel like i need to start researching Alaska cruises... Something both my BF and I would like to do.

Be prepared for any type of weather. Yes, of course bring rain gear. Bring plenty of memory cards and batteries. Have fun and be sure to post a review.

johngold - "be prepared for anything" is essential advice for any cruise, right? I plan to heed the great advice shared by my intrepid cruising colleagues!

Be very prepared for anything. The weather in that region can change in a very short time. I used to call on customers from Prince Rupert to the Panhandle and the Queen Charlottes. On more than a few visits, I was stuck in mill towns and camps because the weather closed in and delays Ferry sailings and small planes. On the cruise ship, I doubt that the weather will be an issue, but for-warned is for-armed. If I do this trip again, I would bring a great camera. I still have a 35mm Pentax and lenses, I hope to be able to us with a new digital model.