The Most Common Mistakes People Make On A Cruise To Alaska

An Alaskan cruise is a trip of a lifetime for many travelers. Jetting off to this remote part of the country and exploring the frigid northern waters that dominate its rugged coastline can be an exhilarating change of pace. The endless scenery and glacial climes that tower over the landscape really put this place into dramatic perspective. Pressing pause on the hectic life many people balance and unplugging in some of the starkest natural beauty the Earth has to offer is a genuine treat. But the grand scale of an Alaskan cruise can make it difficult to plan and execute. Vacationers who are seasoned aquatic travelers will be well-versed in the secret etiquette rules of cruising. But this alone won't prepare them for a cruise in this part of the world.

To get to the heart of what makes a cruise along Alaska's majestic coastlines special, we spoke to an expert planner who helps people lock in their travel plans in Alaska and elsewhere on a daily basis. Victoria Fricke, the owner of Vic's Vacations, is a travel agent with experience in crafting luxury travel itineraries and taking care of logistics across the world. She noted that planning is one of the biggest assets you can bring into your trip up north. "Research your cruise! It's imperative to know the ports you're stopping at, what you want to do there, and plan those activities," she told Explore exclusively. Additionally, Fricke highlighted mistakes cruisegoers commonly make, along with what to focus on to avoid disappointment when planning an Alaskan getaway on the high seas.

Fricke's first suggestion might seem like a no-brainer. But the reality is that far too many people planning significant trips go into the process thinking it's just like any other vacation. Coming from just about anywhere in the Lower 48, travelers exploring the beauty of Alaska's coastline and remote communities will engage in a sequence of lengthy flights. Indeed, just getting to Alaska can be a daunting journey, and that's before you ever set foot on the cruise ship.

Partnering with a professional can be a game-changer for many trips, but it's particularly valuable here. "A travel agent will ensure none of the below mistakes are made, so off the top, we recommend working with someone who has experience with Alaskan cruises. Hint: They're very different than the other cruises you may have taken!" Fricke offered.

Working with a travel agent gives you the stability necessary to confidently plan a trip that will suit your scheduling and budgetary needs. It's also a great way to ensure the getaway conforms to your expectations. The last thing you want to do is drop a ton of money on a cruise and then hate the experience because you got a few key details wrong. You don't know what you don't know, and working alongside a professional with specialized knowledge and experience in planning Alaskan cruises will cover those gaps.

Plenty of adventurers have an Alaskan cruise on their priority list. The scenery, atmosphere, and excursions on a trip like this are to die for. Vacationers who've had the opportunity to experience one of these adventures typically rate it highly. But there's a key feature missing in the glowing language that all too often dominates conversations surrounding these trips. Much like the extensive prep needed for a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail or the unexpected dangers of living in an RV and making the road your backyard, the glamorous side of a cruise along the rugged Alaskan coastline comes with a share of hardship.

"Prior to taking an Alaskan cruise, it's important to ensure you're the right candidate for one. This isn't a trip for someone who just wants to sit and read a book," Fricke noted. "Of course, you can have downtime enjoying the scenery, but this experience is just that: an experience. Do you have physical limitations that would limit what you can do as far as excursions? Are you someone who enjoys the outdoors? Do you need to be occupied and entertained at all times, or is simply enjoying the scenery and companionship of your travel partners enough?" These are great questions to ponder.

Fricke told us repeatedly about the importance of planning well in advance. Even so, she added that plenty of people still wait too long to lock in their trip. One specific reason for the aversion to last-minute bookings has to do with getting a good cabin location on the ship. For a typical cruise on tropical seas, much of the sailing will be done well beyond the shoreline. A Caribbean adventure might see you depart from Tampa, New Orleans, or Galveston and make your way down to Mexico or one of the many islands that pepper the glistening blue waters. On these voyages, cabin location is frequently a matter of convenience. A cabin farther away from the pool decks or bars will have you walking more. But cruising around Alaska is different. The ship hugs the coastline, so the views are a major component of the experience.

"Cruise cabins and locations are paramount," Fricke advised. "One side of the boat will see the majority of the glaciers (depends on whether you're going northbound — starboard — or southbound — portside). Waiting until even a year out will compromise the options for room categories on the side of the boat you'd prefer to be on." This can dampen the experience if personalized viewing is high on your priority list. Some might not need private scenes of shimmering glacial rising out of the side of their cabin portholes or balcony spaces. Other travelers will demand it. Booking at the last minute is a great way to be let down on this front.

Making the long trek up to Alaska can be a tiring endeavor. For this reason, lots of travelers don't just plan for their days on the cruise ship, but add a bit of extra downtime into their itinerary. "We always recommend flying in the day before a cruise to get to your port city, but with Alaska, many people add on true pre/post stays of 3-4 nights!" Fricke told Explore. "This is important because it makes a big difference when looking at PTO/school calendars." Delays in travel surrounding this remote part of the country can easily result in an extra day, at a bare minimum, in getting to or from Alaska. This can be the difference-maker in missing your cruise entirely if the delay happens at the beginning of the voyage!

Adding a bit of cushioning to your itinerary isn't just a good idea to help protect your vacation plans. Most people won't want to fly all this way just to hop on a ship and soar back home as soon as the cruise ends. A small buffer on either end of the trip can give you the opportunity to explore the community and get an even better feel for what life is like in this unique part of the American landscape.

There's more than one good reason to begin planning for your Alaskan cruise far in advance. Not only will a few years of lead time allow you to save up for the extravagance of this voyage, but it also delivers plenty of leeway in making your reservations. "These sell out. I repeat, they sell out," Fricke warned vehemently. "At Vic's Vacations, we recommend booking your cruise to Alaska closer to two years out. This gives you ample time to get your ideal cabin and book the excursions you want."

Making reservations as far out as possible gives you the breathing room you need to make good financial decisions around the planning of your trip. This is a crucial starting point. This added grace period offers plenty of wiggle room, so you don't settle for the scraps. State rooms with great views and the best time slots for excursions (or the entirety of the available spaces on a popular excursion) aren't things you'll want to skimp on. Some premium selections might not be that important to you, but if every choice you make in booking the trip draws from the leftovers, it can quickly feel like you're not getting the holiday you hoped for.

If a cruise in America's far northern extremes excites and offers value in your life, then executing such a trip properly lies in the finances. Naturally, a lengthy, luxurious sail to Alaska will reach the thousands. Saving up for the trip is a must, and plenty of vacationers will want to start putting money aside long before they even begin to look at cruise package options. It might also be worthwhile to explore hotel and airline loyalty programs while you are in this planning phase. Building credit card points to save on holiday travel can help lower the overall cost of your trip, especially if your plan has been in the works for years rather than months.

The upfront costs are just one aspect of an Alaskan cruise, though. "The rule of thumb for a good trip would be to double your cruise fare and make that your end budget. Why? It allows for excursions, specialty dining (if your cruise has that), transportation, in-port eating/shopping, and travel," Fricke stated. "Sure, the cruise might be $7,000, but you'll easily spend another $3,000 on activities," she added. "Taking a helicopter to the top of a glacier isn't cheap, nor is dog sledding. Planning to eat locally — the market rate for lobster is a lot more than you think. Do your research on the excursions before fully committing to the cruise. If you don't budget appropriately, you'll feel as though you've wasted your experience."

Packing your bags will take place fairly close to your departure date. However, the preparation steps for buying new pieces of clothing or accessories must consider a few key realities. Vacationers heading north to "The Last Frontier" might assume it will be cold throughout their time there. However, Fricke says otherwise: "Temperatures swing throughout the day and during the trip as a whole. Many people think they'll need only heavy winter gear. That's not the case. In a given day, you can have sunshine, cold temps, wind, and rain." This makes every day something of a mini-adventure all on its own.

Beyond the fickle nature of the weather, your daily activity load can do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to dictating your attire. "Keep in mind you'll be doing a multitude of activities that require different outfits — when eating at a lobster shack, you'll dress differently than when hiking a glacier. Tips would be to plan to layer. Nice fabric base layers, mid levels of fleece jackets, waterproof winter gear (pants, specifically), accessories such as hats, gloves, scarves, and good walking/hiking shoes," Fricke added. 

Those who've previously set sail on a cruise from just about any other port will likely be familiar with the need to pack more elegant attire. At least one or two formal or semi-formal outfits need to be part of a typical cruise's packing list. You may be planning to dine at the ship's most extravagant eatery for a night on the water. A formal gown or pantsuit for women and a basic suit setup for men act as a dress code for dining at a high-end restaurant. You may even be turned away from the restaurant if you aren't attired appropriately. Modern cruises often feature a smart casual dress code rather than a true black-tie requirement. Either way, this may not be on your mind as you finalize your suitcase for an Alaskan jaunt out at sea.

Accounting for necessary layering, packing adventure gear to hit the hiking trails, and more can interfere with this part of outfit planning. Some cruisers might focus so intensely on bringing clothing that will keep them comfortable throughout the more outdoor-related areas of the trip that it's possible to forget to bring a sport coat or dress! This can limit your options onboard, potentially bringing disappointment and embarrassment into the picture as you plan your evenings on the ship. Whether in the dining room or at a ritzy event on the ship's entertainment decks, breaking out your best evening attire will eventually come up, even on a cruise along Alaska's majestic coast.

Returning to the cruise packing list, Fricke warned that plenty of vacationers underestimate the essentials when it comes to extra gear. Going beyond the typical attire and entertainment staples is crucial when traveling up north. "You may think you're going somewhere cold, but sunscreen and sunglasses are a must on this trip," she explains. The sun can be surprisingly bright, and depending on the time of year you're traveling, the orb might stay up in the sky for much longer than anticipated. While not nearly as dramatic as the truly extreme norths of places like Lapland or Svalbard Island, some parts of Alaska see a few months of everlasting sunlight — and an equal lack of sunshine for a similar length of time.

There are a few more things Fricke added to the list that travelers shouldn't sleep on. "Pack a small backpack for your day trips, along with insect repellent. The most important thing not to miss: binoculars," she noted. Even in a frequently cold location, insects have an uncanny ability to thrive, and they can add unnecessary annoyance to your trip if you don't plan for their presence. And, of course, the ability to scour the coastline and pick out fine details can amplify the experience. Binoculars will help you see wildlife if you're hiking, too, making them a versatile accessory for multiple types of excursions and opportunities.

Lastly, Fricke points out that an Alaskan cruise is often unlike anything a traveler would have previously experienced. This might make the trip feel fairly daunting for some. If you aren't an experienced explorer, engaging in lengthy air travel and heading away for an extended sea voyage can easily be overwhelming. Even so, she noted that reaching beyond your comfort zone is crucial to making the most of the adventure. "Try new things — you might be nervous about an activity or unsure if it's worth doing it. You're most likely only going on this cruise once, so maximize it!"

Additionally, Fricke suggested a hands-on exploration of the communities you'll come into contact with: "Experience local culture. Truly go into the town. Don't just stay a walking distance from the port, engage with the community!" Interacting with locals whenever you have the chance to get off the ship will give you a better appreciation of the area. It might seem a little scary at times to push your boundaries like this, but the memories you make will stick with you for a lifetime. Expanding your horizons and exploring these unique places and the people that call them home will make the experience all the richer, giving you an even greater vacation to look back on.