Spectacular Alaska Cruising

For lovers of nature and adventures off the beaten track, a cruise to Alaska is a dream holiday. Famous for its unspoilt wilderness and amazing views of lakes, forests and mountains, as well as aurora borealis skies and glacier encounters, Alaska will charm you and is bound to inspire awe.

Alaska’s history is truly fascinating, with its exotic mixture of Native American culture, Russian influences, and the influx of immigrants during the Gold Rush period. Due to the geography of the region, cruising offers the most attractive way to see Alaska’s truly amazing sights.

Alaska  cruises usually start in Vancouver, British Columbia and weave their way upwards through the  Inside Passage on Canada’s West coast, stopping at various points of interest. If you’re lucky to have much more time on your hands, there are also Alaska-bound cruises which start in Los Angeles stopping at various points in between, including San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle.

Good quality binoculars and a camera are a must, as wildlife spotting is one of the greatest joys on this trip, starting with whales and dolphins, Kermode, grizzly and black bears, deer, mountain goats, illusive arctic fox, plus many bird and fish species, including the iconic leaping salmon.

White Arctic Fox

An obligatory stop at Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of the World,” will especially delight avid fishermen who will be able to not only get further accessories for their own gear but engage in long-winded discussions about the art of fishing with the locals, while looking at said salmon. Native American culture aficionados will find many totem poles to visit around the area, and there is of course the magnificent Misty Fiords National Monument to explore, full of glaciers, 900m granite walls and fabulous views. If you’ve enjoyed your trip to New Zealand’s Milford Sound, you’ll absolutely love this!

Next stop, Icy Strait Point, is the newest investment in the region, where you’ll get to mingle with the local communities and support the Tlingit residents by perusing community-based services and restaurants, and taking upmarket artisan handcrafted items home with you. This peaceful cruiser custom-made port is surrounded by lovely wilderness areas and tranquil forest walks.

Most cruises will also stop at mountain-surrounded Juneau, where you’ll find out about the region’s gold prospecting history and visit Mendenhall glacier, followed by a stop in Skagway, where you will really feel transported into the Gold Rush past: tourists are whisked away by train and get to saunter along wooden sidewalks to the town’s historic downtown saloons, restored to their Gold Rush glory days!

Seward is a charming harbour town where most cruises start or finish, as this is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park and the many adventures that it offers, including kayaking and fishing. It is also in Seward where both the Alaska Railroad and the famous Iditarod sled dog race begin. A visit to the spectacular Hubbard Glacier, which is always and quite loudly on the move, is a must on your Alaskan adventure, of course and constitutes a rather jaw-dropping finale to your trip.

Anchorage is just 2,5 hour ride away from Seward if you’d like to start your cruise here. A city which is home to over half of Alaska’s entire population is well-worth visiting and exploring – don’t forget to drop by the world-class Anchorage Museum and ease your way back to civilisation, if your Alaskan holiday finishes here.

Author – Patricia Bieszk+