Alaskan Cruise Part 1
The NUMBER ONE question I am asked as a travel advisor is, “can you plan Alaskan cruises?”
My one-word answer: Yes!
I was shocked by how many Facebook messages and blog comments I received regarding Alaska when I first announced I was a travel agent.
To be honest, Alaska was never really on my immediate radar of places to visit. Of course, I always wanted to go because I wanted to visit all 50 states by the time I was 50 years old. (I hit 46 by 40!) But it was never a priority.
When I first started planning my sabbatical year, I talked with Liam and my mother-in-law about places they might like to travel. One of the places we discussed was Alaska. So many friends and family had taken an Alaskan cruise, but no one had ever taken a young child. Would there be anything for him to do? Would he enjoy it? Let me just answer with a resounding YES!
Friends, you need to go to Alaska. Liam says he enjoyed it more than Hawaii! It will certainly require a bigger budget than other family vacations, and that is one of many reasons you want to reach out to me first. Certified travel agents have access to all the best deals and even more that aren’t released to the public. Never book a cruise (or all-inclusive!) simply through the website!
If you are interested in an Alaskan cruise, please reach out to me as soon as possible. Alaskan cruises only sail 3-4 months of the year. You also have to consider land packages and flights. Seattle is the most convenient port to board from, and that’s why it costs a few hundred dollars more. Or is it worth it to you to change little planes 2 to 3 times to get to a different port in Alaska? I will help you with all these details – including packing.
Okay, let’s recap Alaska!
We hopped on a short flight to Atlanta, and then we were off to Seattle!
All the electronics and inflight entertainment don’t measure up to driving mom crazy.
Finally, Seattle! Cruise tip – ALWAYS arrive at your embarking location the day before you are set to sail (unless you live within 2-3 hours of the port and can drive.)
Liam is an ole pro at cruises, so he led us right on board.
A week of leisure has begun!
We enjoyed an early dinner, and then we took to the theater for a show. I love cruise entertainment, but this time…
We had the Beatles Experience on board! We were SUPER pumped, especially my Beatles lovin’ kiddo!
The next day was at sea as we headed to our first port of…
Sitka! Each port got better and better as the week progressed.
I ate as much fresh crab as possible on this trip!
I booked a wildlife experience in Sitka. We took a small charter boat out to view bald eagles, humpback whales, and sea otters.
They have bald eagles like we have bluebirds. Such a neat experience.
After an enjoyable day on the water, we returned to the ship for some onboard fun. Liam always acts silly and performs for the photographers. It’s one of his favorite parts of cruising. They all knew him by name by the end of the trip.
That night we watched Icons, basically a cover show of some of music’s greatest.
After a quick breakfast at the buffet, it was off to Juneau!
On this day we chose to join a scientific research program vessel. They allow a minimal number of tourists to come aboard and see what they are doing to protect native Alaska. We were able to assist in several of the projects.
Mr. Personality was chosen to assist in pulling in a crab pod that they were monitoring for an invasive species.
We also followed specific humpbacks and monitored their activity and access to feeding and breeding.
What a unique experience to be a part of! I know some of you would opt for more entertaining excursions, but this was right up Liam’s alley. I always look for the most unique and once in a lifetime opportunities.
I was very prepared for rain at every port, but fortunately, we only saw sprinkles in Juneau. We had great weather all week. We were able to do a little sightseeing of the totem poles before the rain came in.
And guess who was playing again that night? We capped our evening off with the Beatles!
Thank you so much for reading today. I will add a second recap soon. If you have any interest in Alaska, please reach out soon. It’s not too late for summer 2025! Email me at hello@jeanclairemonroe.com if you have any questions!
