| In recent years, the number of cruise lines | | | | Juneau, Misty Fjords, Sawyer and Glacier Bay. |
| offering cruises in Alaska has risen steadily. | | | | Alternatively, you may prefer to cruise in the Gulf |
| The variety of ships that cruise Alaska, ranging | | | | of Alaska, which is a one way cruise from |
| from small informal ships to the world's largest | | | | Vancouver to Anchorage or vice versa. You'll see |
| cruise ships, means that it's always possible to find | | | | places such as Seward, Hubbard Glacier, Valdez, |
| a cruise to suit your lifestyle. | | | | College Fjord and some of the locations visited on |
| And part of the reason for this growth in | | | | the inside passage, including Juneau, Skagway and |
| popularity is that it allows people to reach certain | | | | Ketchikan. |
| inaccessible locations that they might otherwise | | | | Now it's just a case of deciding where you want |
| not see. | | | | to go and what you want to see. With cruises in |
| However, unlike most cruise destinations, Alaskan | | | | Alaska, it's important to plan which excursions you |
| cruises are seasonal. They begin in May and | | | | want to experience because they can make the |
| continue until September when some of the | | | | cost of your cruise rise quite rapidly (for example, |
| waterways freeze making it impossible to reach | | | | taking a tour in a sea plane). So plan what you |
| certain places. | | | | want to see and if you want to go on a shore |
| May and September are slightly cheaper, while | | | | excursion with limited places, make sure you book |
| June, July and August are considered to be the | | | | early to avoid disappointment. It might be possible |
| peak season, when average temperatures can | | | | to book your excursions before you begin your |
| reach 60, 70 or even 80 degrees during the day. | | | | cruise, so remember to make enquiries. |
| However, the temperature at nights can still be | | | | And finally, no information about an Alaskan cruise |
| quite cool. | | | | would be complete without a few words on what |
| Perhaps the best time of year for a cruise in | | | | to pack. From May to September, it's |
| Alaska is late May. The last signs of winter still | | | | summertime in Alaska, so although temperatures |
| remain, which means you'll see snow on the | | | | aren't sub-zero, there is a noticeable change in |
| mountains, yet the weather is starting to warm | | | | temperature between day and night. So avoid the |
| up, and the prices are slightly lower because the | | | | temptation to pack the thickest clothing that you |
| peak season hasn't started. | | | | can find. Instead, try to pack plenty of thin layers |
| Alaskan cruises tend to follow one of two principal | | | | of clothing so that you can add or remove extra |
| routes; the Gulf of Alaska or the Inside Passage. | | | | layers to compensate for the changing |
| The inside passage is a round trip starting at | | | | temperature. Oh, and it's also a good idea to pack |
| either Seattle or Vancouver. From there you'll visit | | | | a good pair of binoculars so that you can make |
| places such as Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines, Skagway, | | | | the most of the spectacular views. |