| When is the best time to take a cruise? | | | | for gold in the icy rivers or experience some |
| The cruise season runs from May through | | | | Russian culture. |
| September. July and certainly August are the | | | | When should I book and how expensive is it? |
| busiest months and the warmest. Early May could | | | | Cruises are booking up constantly. If you are |
| still be chilly and September may be very wet | | | | serious about going you should call today. The |
| depending on weather patterns that year. | | | | sooner the better and it may even be cheaper if |
| What itineraries are available in Alaska? | | | | you do not wait until the last minute. Cruises are |
| There are two major cruise routes to pick. The | | | | much cheaper than traveling on your own where |
| first option is a 7 day round trip from Vancouver. | | | | accommodations, travel, food and other items are |
| The stops include Juneau, the capital of Alaska, | | | | not included. A cruise comes out to around $150 a |
| Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and Sitka, | | | | day and in some cases less. It is hard to beat |
| which is a former Russian outpost. The other | | | | that once you add up a hotel and 3 meals a day |
| major route is a 7 to 10 day one-way cruise | | | | plus other expenses. |
| from Vancouver to Seward or in the opposite | | | | Is there anything to do while on the ship? |
| direction. This one-way route works well if you | | | | Cruises offer many different activities. The newer |
| were headed in that direction to begin with. The | | | | cruises even offer ice skating rinks and climbing |
| latter of the two options is much better if you | | | | walls. Most offer spas, pools, workout gyms, daily |
| want to take a land tour of Alaska. It also offers | | | | entertainment shows, casinos and a place to |
| more glaciers and Alaskan scenery. | | | | practice your golf swing and even shoot some |
| How can I choose a ship? | | | | hoops. There is so much to do that you may not |
| There are 30 different ships on 13 different cruise | | | | even have time to explore everything. |
| lines to choose. This can be a headache to sort | | | | Can I take my family on a cruise with me? |
| out but there are some differences. The larger | | | | A quarter of all cruises are filled with families with |
| cruise lines offer more entertainment in the form | | | | children. There is normally a discount for children |
| of casinos, more nightlife and shows than their | | | | and the cruise offers a lot for them to do too. |
| smaller competitors do. The smaller ships, around | | | | What should I pack? |
| a couple of hundred people, are more centered | | | | A cruise is not that much different from any |
| on nature and exploring the beauty of Alaska. You | | | | other vacation. There are some exceptions |
| may miss some of that on the larger ships but | | | | including at night during formal dinner it is |
| the smaller ones will not have the luxuries either. | | | | appropriate to wear a suit or dress. Dress causally |
| Decide if you want the comforts of a cruise over | | | | during the day and on excursions. |
| the cost of missing the beautiful views. | | | | How does tipping work on the cruise? |
| What kinds of shore excursions are there? | | | | Each cruise is different but if the tip is separate, it |
| There is a lot to do in Alaska including some things | | | | is customary to leave a few dollars a day per |
| you may only find there. You can take a | | | | person for both the waiter and your room |
| helicopter ride to the glaciers, enjoy the wildlife, | | | | steward. |
| fishing the world renown salmon and halibut, pan | | | | |