If you were to have told me a year ago I’d be going on an Alaskan cruise, I would’ve laughed. Of all the places on my travel bucket list, well… if I’m being honest, Alaska wasn’t even on it. Nothing against Alaska, I just never felt the desire to go there, or go on a cruise — I’d rather be out exploring! But after spending a week cruising around Alaska, I’ve officially been proven wrong. Alaska sure is something else. And for this city girl, spending a week in nature with no wifi or cell phone service was just what I needed.
There are multiple cruise lines that go to Alaska, as well as many different itineraries. We ended up choosing NCL’s Glacier Bay and Inside Passage route, and embarked the ship in Seattle. I freaking love that city and was so happy to be back, even if it was just for a day. For first timers, I highly recommend Glacier Bay and Inside Passage, as its deemed by many to be the highlight of the entire cruise. Below I’m sharing some key excursions from each port of call — and my honest, unfiltered opinion!
Juneau
Our first stop in Alaska was its capital, Juneau. The absolute must-see attraction here is Mendenhall Glacier. Seeing a glacier for the first time was so cool. For the adventurous types, there are plenty of excursions here such as hiking and kayaking. We didn’t have that much time, so we decided to just walk around and explore — I loved being a kid again and splash around in the water!
We actually joined a tour group for this trip, since this cruise was a super spontaneous and last-minute idea, and none of us had time or energy to plan. Our main goal for this vacation was to relax because this past year has been so crazy. Joining a tour group made our lives so much easier and took away all the stress of planning. While it gave us less freedom to choose what we wanted to do, it did save us a lot of money, and we got all the insider secrets on the best bang for our buck.
The second attraction they took us to was Glacier Gardens and Tongass National Forest, but to be honest, I found it pretty underwhelming and wouldn’t recommend it. If we weren’t part of the tour group, I definitely wouldn’t have signed up for this excursion. Is it bad that the most exciting part for me was the umbrellas inside the gift shop…? Look how unique they are! We did take a shuttle up to the top of the mountain, where there was a 360° view of Juneau. Maybe it was the cloudy weather, or the crowd of people pushing and shoving to get a shot, but I left feeling unimpressed. Sorry, Juneau!
Skagway
Our second city in Alaska was Skagway, home to the famous White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, the railroad is a tourist trap. Not only is it expensive, but also you’re sitting in a train for 4 hours listening to someone talk. Which is great! But if you want to actually stop and take pictures, go on a bus tour instead. It takes you on a nearly identical route and stops at all the scenic points so you can hop off, snap pictures, and explore.
My favorite stop was in Yukon Territory, Canada! We visited an avalanche site and even got to drink glacier water. Which by the way, is so refreshing that I wanted to fill up my bottle (but didn’t because I love nature and I’m not a weirdo). We also saw the Welcome to the USA sign which was awesome and hilarious — something you can only see at the border!
Glacier Bay
Hands down the best part of this entire trip. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is absolutely breathtaking. Knowing that we’d be entering the park at around 7:30 in the morning and spending the entire day cruising, we woke up at 5 am to secure the best seats on the ship! I showed up half awake and in PJs, but it was so worth it. Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage is unlike anything I’ve seen before. We passed numerous glaciers and fog covered fjords, saw so many sea otters (which made my heart so happy), and learned from park rangers about how much this ecosystem has changed over time. It really puts into perspective how important it is that we protect and preserve our planet.
Ketchikan
The last city in Alaska we stopped at was Ketchikan, also known as the salmon capital of the world. Here, be sure to visit Creek Street, Ketchikan’s former red light district. There are plenty of cute local shops and restaurants where you can eat Alaskan king crabs. Another attraction worth seeing is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. I thought it would be lame, but it turned out to be super entertaining!
On the way back to Seattle, we made a quick stop at Victoria, British Columbia. Since it was nighttime, we mostly just walked along the harbor and saw the Parliament building. The city is so peaceful, clean, and gorgeous, with touches of British influence — I can only imagine what it must look like during the day!
And a week later… we’ve returned to Seattle! What a wonderful escape that was. This was by far the most “chill” vacation I’ve been on, whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Cruises aren’t for everyone — I certainly didn’t think of myself as a cruise person, but I do believe in being open to new experiences. And if there’s anywhere worth experiencing on a cruise, it’s Glacier Bay.
Have you ever been on a cruise before? Where are some of your favorite destinations?
