Planning an Alaska Cruise?

Before you book, here are a few resources to help you start planning.

• Compare Alaska cruise prices: Compare Alaska cruise prices
• Shop my Alaska Packing List:  HERE
• Shop my Alaska Cruise Outfits HERE
• Read my Norwegian Encore Alaska Review: HERE

Alaska Cruise Tips for First-Timers

Planning my first Alaska cruise came with plenty of questions. Was Glacier Bay really worth it? Did I need a balcony? How cold would it be? Should I book excursions through the cruise line?

I spent hours reading blogs and watching TikTok and YouTube videos before we finally booked our cruise just two weeks before sailing. Looking back, there were a few things that made a huge difference, and plenty I worried about that didn’t matter at all.

If you’re planning your first Alaska cruise, here’s everything I wish I had known before stepping onboard.

Choose Your Itinerary Carefully

Choosing the right itinerary is just as important as choosing the right cruise line. While many Alaska cruises visit similar ports, not every itinerary includes the same scenic cruising experiences. Before booking, compare the ports, the length of the cruise, and the number of scenic cruising days rather than simply choosing the lowest price.

For me, one destination was completely non-negotiable: Glacier Bay National Park. That was the main reason I booked Norwegian Encore.

Only a limited number of cruise ships are allowed to enter Glacier Bay each day, making it one of Alaska’s most sought-after cruise experiences. Spending the day sailing past glaciers while National Park Rangers shared stories about the park was one of the highlights of our trip.

If Glacier Bay is an option, I highly recommend choosing an itinerary that includes it.

Helpful Tip:
Don’t choose your cruise based on price alone. A great itinerary can completely change your Alaska experience.

Book the Balcony

If there’s one cruise where I’d recommend booking a balcony, it’s Alaska. We stayed in a Family Balcony Cabin [Watch Our Room Tour: HERE], and it quickly became one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Each morning began with coffee outside, watching the mountains come into view. As we sailed into port, we had front-row seats to waterfalls, forests, and wildlife without ever leaving our room. Even on Glacier Bay day, it was nice having our own quiet space to step outside whenever we wanted.

If you’re debating between an interior cabin and a balcony, I’d choose the balcony every time.

Helpful Tip: Pack a pair of binoculars. We spotted whales, sea lions, and bald eagles throughout the cruise, and they made wildlife viewing even better.

Alaska Isn’t as Cold as You Think

Before sailing, I pictured Alaska as cold, rainy, and requiring heavy winter gear every day. Instead, we were surprised by how comfortable the temperatures were.

Most days I wore jeans or leggings with a lightweight long-sleeve shirt or jacket. Glacier Bay was definitely the coolest day, but even then, layering was all I needed. Instead of packing bulky winter clothes, focus on versatile layers.

Here’s what I found myself wearing most often:

Layering made it easy to adjust throughout the day as temperatures changed.

You Don’t Have to Book Every Excursion Through the Cruise Line

One of the biggest lessons I learned was that cruise-sponsored excursions aren’t your only option. Our original excursion in Juneau was canceled, so we rented a car through a local company near the port instead. It ended up being one of the best decisions we made. Having a rental car allowed us to explore Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls at our own pace while spending less than we would have on a cruise excursion.

Cruise excursions are incredibly convenient, but don’t overlook companies like Get Your Guide that have great tour options. You can save on any Get Your Guide excursion when you download the app. Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to return to the ship before all aboard.

Slow Down and Enjoy the Scenery

Unlike many cruises where the ship is the main attraction, Alaska is all about the destination.

Some of my favorite memories weren’t during excursions at all. They were sitting in the Observation Lounge with a cup of coffee, watching waterfalls appear around every corner, or spotting wildlife from our balcony. It’s easy to fill every minute of your itinerary, but don’t forget to leave time to simply enjoy where you are. Sometimes the best moments are the ones you never planned.