The ultimate guide to alaska cruising

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD YOU BOOK YOUR ALASKA CRUISE? Because Alaska’s cruise season is so short and demand is high — the projected count for 2023 is 1.65 million cruise travelers on 60

large and small ships sailing around 700 voyages, according to Cruise Lines International Association Alaska — prime cabins and itineraries can sell out six months in advance. “If you want

the best ship location and promotions, then book early,” says Reuling, noting she booked her upcoming Alaska cruise a year out. “As with all cruises, the most expensive and least expensive

tend to sell out first.” Jill Schildhouse enjoys the view from her balcony aboard the Windstar Star Legend. Jill Schildhouse Speaking of prime cabins, while you can easily get away with an

inside or an ocean-view cabin on most cruises to save money, you’ll definitely want to splurge for a balcony in Alaska. Why? The vast majority of your route will be breathtakingly scenic,

with nonstop opportunities to see whales and other marine life, chunks of ice, waterfalls, bald eagles and more. Your own private balcony (paired with a trusty set of binoculars) is always

the best viewing spot on the ship. And with about 22 hours of daylight on cruises during the summer months, consider this round-the-clock viewing window your free excursion. THE GREAT

DEBATE: SMALL VS. BIG SHIP CRUISING Small ship and big ship Alaska cruises both offer specific benefits, and understanding those differences will make or break your vacation. Smaller ships —

such as those on Windstar Cruises, UnCruise Adventures, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Hurtigruten Expeditions — can get up close and personal with glaciers and wildlife,

sneaking into areas larger ships simply can’t fit into. The ships also are likely to have more remote port stops (such as Sitka or Nome), which gives you greater access to Alaska’s many

cities. Additionally, smaller ships usually offer more in terms of education and are often staffed with naturalists and marine biologists who give lectures, answer questions and join

passengers on Zodiac – inflatable boat – excursions. Finally, many of the smaller cruise ships tend to be more luxurious in terms of accommodations and cuisine, and some include alcohol and

excursions in the cost of your booking. Holland America offers big-ship cruising in Alaska. Holland America Line On the flip side, ships that hold several thousand passengers — such as those

on Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line — offer more onboard amenities. For example, Princess Cruises offers boutique fitness classes from Pure Barre,

StretchLab, Club Pilates and CycleBar; Holland America’s Pinnacle-class ships (such as the Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam) have a bi-level spa with ergonomic ceramic heated

loungers and a jetted Hydropool with swan neck jets to help relieve sore joints and aching muscles; and Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas has a FlowRider surf simulator and rock climbing

wall. Large ships also have more live theater and entertainment options, a larger selection of excursions in each port and a greater array of dining venues. But all of those extras

certainly don’t mean you’ll lack in enrichment and education experiences if you choose a larger ship. My recent Princess cruise featured an onboard national park ranger the entire day we

spent in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and various cultural heritage guides who shared Alaska Native traditions and storytelling.