Tips to Maximize Your Alaska Cruise Experience
You have chosen to go on a cruise to Alaska, and you cannot wait to board the ship. However, don’t start packing yet. Take some time to consider these tips on how to make the most of your Alaska cruise trip, from the time you board to your experiences after you arrive in port.
Figure Out Where You Are Departing From
There are limited options for departure areas when it comes to an Alaskan cruise. A popular choice involves Alaska cruises from Seattle because Alaska is almost right there and you will get there sooner without having to travel to Canada. Other options for departure cities include Vancouver if you do not mind starting in Canada, or Anchorage if you want to take a smaller cruise that starts and ends in Alaska itself.
Put a Packing List Together
Alaska is cold and full of breathtaking sights. Both of these things should be the focus of your packing list. Think thermal underwear and shirts, sweaters, thick jeans, and jackets with plenty of insulation for when you get to Alaska. For your time on the cruise, pack your usual loungewear, evening wear and swimsuit.
As far as the sights go, a good camera, an extra memory card or two and a quality pair of binoculars will be instrumental in preserving lifelong memories both on the cruise ship and when you arrive in Alaska.
Other things you should consider packing include a dry pouch to keep things around your neck and safe from water exposure as well as a good pair of snow boots in addition to whatever shoes you plan on wearing during the voyage.
Keep Yourself in Good Health
These days cruise lines are conducting more harsh health screenings. In the weeks leading up to your voyage, you need to make sure that you are in peak health so you do not run the risk of getting denied from boarding the ship. There are temperature screenings at every turn, so you will not be able to sneak on board. A healthy passenger is the best passenger, especially on a cruise ship where sickness is spread so easily from person to person.
Have a Decent Cash Budget
If you have been on a cruise before, you know to bring plenty of cash for the trip so you do not run into issues with places not accepting your card. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people, and you do not want to find yourself in the position of being unable to buy the souvenirs that you want because you did not withdraw enough cash beforehand.
Have a Map With You
If you have never been to Alaska and you want to get around to your scheduled activities quickly or make your tours on time, get a map of the area that you are traveling to beforehand and familiarize yourself with it. This way, you will have a lay of the land before you make port and you will be able to find everything much more efficiently. If you are not able to read a print map, explore the area with your GPS or use something like Google Earth. Make sure to use the feature that provides the texture of the mountains, trees, etc. so you can familiarize yourself even better with the terrain.
Do Not Feed the Wildlife
This might sound like a no-brainer, but do not feed the animals. They may seem friend-shaped to you, but they are not your friends and you do not want to take the chance of getting seriously hurt. Avoid a horror story waiting to happen by not approaching or engaging with the wild animals in any fashion.
Taking a cruise to Alaska can be an incredibly magical experience. By keeping these tips in mind, you will be able to plan the best voyage possible and see everything Alaska has to offer in style.
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