


My Alaska cruise tips
Best cruise ships by category
Best 4 Alaska cruise ports to visit
Best time to go - plus getting there
Alaska shore excursion rankings
Best shore excursions - overview
Helicopter tours
Floatplane tours
Best 3 Juneau shore excursions
Best 3 Ketchikan shore excursions
Best 3 Sitka shore excursions
Best 3 Skagway shore excursions
Best pre- & post-cruise excursions
Denali National Park
Goldstar Dome railroad ride
More pre- and post-cruise options
More Alaska cruise tips
Best glaciers
Famous Alaskan foods
Itinerary insights
Alaska facts & tidbits
Packing tips
Candid cruise advice
Best cruise lines by category
29 cruise lines - descriptions
Top 10 destinations
Cabin selection
Cruise costs
Booking advice
Shore excursions
Cruise pros & cons
Cruise dining insights
Family cruising tips
Cruise etiquette
Ship communications
Cruise industry - facts
What it's like on a
luxury Alaska cruise ship
Why the Silver Shadow is special
Top activities
Dining
Dinner menus
Crew photo gallery
Suite photo gallery
Deck plans
Other public spaces
Silver Shadow facts
More pointers
Read my
destination-specific
cruise tip guides
Alaska
Antarctica
Arctic
Baltic
Bermuda
Canada New England
Caribbean
Fjords of Norway
Galapagos
Hawaiian
Honeymoon
Luxury
Mediterranean
Mexican Riviera
Nile
Persian Gulf
Romantic
River cruises
South American
TransAtlantic
World
Yangtze
World's top wonders
Top 100
Top 1000
More
Site map
About my credentials & website
Reader testimonials
Email me your opinion


Alaska cruise
tips you can trust

Itinerary options
There are two main ones:
Inside Passage (see map)
This is the most popular route. Typically, it's a roundtripper out of Vancouver or Seattle - and lasts 7 nights. One advantage you get a lower airfare. Reason: Because you leave and return to the same port, you can buy a money-saving roundtrip airline ticket.
Gulf of Alaska
Normally, you sail northbound one way from Vancouver to Seward (or, alternatively, southbound in the opposite direction). Duration is usually 10 or 11 nights.
The big advantage is you see more glaciers and other spectacular sights. And, Denali National Park will be geographically desirable, as a pre- or post-cruise tour.
A disadvantage is you will have to pay more for your airline ticket because your cruise begins in one city and ends in another. Roundtrip fares are not possible (though you may save some money by asking your travel agent for an "open jaw" ticket).
More itinerary insights
Third alternative
There is a third itinerary called the Bering Sea cruise. You sail to Alaska's remote islands, including the Aleutians. In most cases, you do this on a small expedition ship.
Sightseeing restrictioins
The Alaska authorities limit visits to some sights to prevent overcrowding and conserve the environment. For example, cruise lines can visit Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier, but not both.


World Wonders - Top 100 rankings
World Wonders - Top 1000 list
My credentials
About my website and criteria
Reader testimonials
Site map

sponsored ad


Learn
my candid
worldwide
tips & rankings
Click blue links
Top
wonders of
Top
wonders of
Cruise line ratings
Cruise
destinations tips
Special interest cruising
Safari guides
Special topics
World wonder rankings
Other tips & advice
More
Copyright 2013 HQP - Hillman Quality Publications / hillmanwonders.com