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Cruise to Alaska

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Alaska Cruises

In July 2007, my husband and I went on our first Alaska cruise. In fact, it was our first cruise ever! And it was absolutely wonderful. In doing research for our trip I learned some valuable information, tips and resources I'd like to share with you. So if you are planning (or hope to plan) a cruise to Alaska in the near (or distant) future, I hope you find this information helpful.

Our Cruise Experience

July 2007

We set sail from Seattle, WA, aboard Holland America's Oosterdam on July 14th for a seven day round trip Alaska cruise. Not only were we Alaska bound but we were with the Cruise Alaska with Michael W. Smith and Friends group. Michael W. Smith is one of our favorite musicians, so having Alaska and MWS concerts and events made this truly a trip of a lifetime!

Our itinerary was as follows:

Day 1: At Sea
Day 2: Juneau
Day 3: Hubbard Glacier
Day 4: Sitka
Day 5: Ketchikan
Day 6: Victoria, BC
Day 7: Seattle, WA
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Cruise Preparation Tips

Know before you go. Once aboard, sit back and relax. Enjoy the amazing scenery and delicious food!

Bring rain gear. Much of Alaska is in a temperate rain forest.

Once you decide what clothes to take, narrow down your selections and leave some at home.

Do your research before setting sail.

Booking independent excursions can oftentimes save you money.

Do book your excursions prior to leaving, as popular ones fill up.

Make sure you bring your camera, plenty of memory (or film), and your binoculars.

Jackets and gloves are a plus on glacier day.

If you don't have your passport be sure to apply well in advance. Passports are now required for sea travel.

Helpful Links

Cruise Critic Forums
I found a wealth of information on these forums!
What to Pack to Alaska
Here you'll find tips on what to pack for your trip to Alaska.
Esther G Sea Taxi - Sitka
I highly recommend booking an independent marine tour with Captain Davey in Sitka. This was our favorite port and our tour was awesome!
NorthStar Trekking - Alaska Glacier Trekking
Booking our helicopter ride and glacier walk directly with NorthStar Trekking saved us about $50.00 each! Glacier excursions are expensive, but very well worth it. The experience was amazing!
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Cruise Lines

Official Websites

Holland America Line
We sailed on HAL's Oosterdam and would highly recommend her!
Carnival Cruise Line
Homepage for Carnival Cruises.
Celebrity Cruises
Homepage for Celebrity Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Homepage for NCL.
Princess Cruises
Homepage for Princess Cruise Line.
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Homepage for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

Getting to Seattle

Search for Deals

If you're traveling to Seattle for your cruise, here's a quick and easy way to see what deals are being offered on Orbitz!

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by

melryn

Melissa Knoblett-Aman is a freelance writer. She is currently the Editor of Cats and Catholicism at BellaOnline.com, and the former Editor of Southeast... more »

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