Any suggestions on which route is best for Alaska Cruise? Looking to do next year, want to stay with Royal Caribbean… TIA

We did sitka, Juneau, ketchikan and victoria, I think it was Norwegian.. some go to skagway. Not sure there is really any particular advantages to any of the itineraries. All the stops have cool excursions depending on your preferences.

Get a balcony, don't think twice. A balcony for this type of cruise (scenery) is a must.

I always recommend a cruise that visits Glacier Bay for first timers. I know RCCL may be limited on their options that visit there though compared to other cruise lines.

One that definitely goes to Glacier Bay and definitely does not stop at Icy Strait Point.

And FYI I can sometimes save $$ with RC if you want to reach out. Not always but usually can if it isn't close to travel.

We just got back today from 7 day Disney Cruise. Amazing and would definitely say you must get the balcony room. So much to see just from there. We saw whales, otters, seals, just while having a drink on the balcony.

Icy Strait Point was fun for us but we didn't know any better. We did whale watching excursion and probably saw 30, no orcas though. We saw at least 20 breaches which was cool. Also saw a lot of eagles, seals and otters. I would do the small boat individual charter and not what our guide called the "cattle boats".

Juneau we did heli tour to iceberg for dog sledding. Awesome but very pricey and highly weather dependent. We got lucky as they cancelled trips later in the day due to visibility.

Salmon fishing in Ketchikan. Was fun but probably other great options there. We caught 8 in half day fishing but all under the size limit. We weren't too upset though as I understand it's expensive to ship the meat back home.

I doubt you could go wrong with any itinerary, but it sounds like weather can certainly impact the trip.

Amazing though, definitely do it!!

Holland America and a few Princess ships are your only large vessel options for Glacier Bay.

Balconies are an absolute must on Alaska cruises.

7 day out of Vancouver is my recommendation - Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan.

I've worked on both Disney and HAL ships in Alaska, and sailed with Princess up there as well.

I just got back from a one-way cruise (Seward to Vancouver) on the Norwegian Jewel. Hubbard Glacier, Icy Straight Point, and the other glacier cruise (Tracy Arm and Endicott) were highlights of it.

FbgTxAg said:

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Holland America and a few Princess ships are your only large vessel options for Glacier Bay.

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Norwegian too. They have just as many as HAL and Princess.

Following as we're looking at a Disney Alaskan cruise for next summer. Kids will be 8 and 6, so we'll tailor the trip around their needs.

You must have been docked in Ketchikan the same time I was there. Norwegian docks in Ward Cove about 15 minutes away- I was there for a few hours in the afternoon.

Just got back from a 7 day on Norwegian. Did Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and then Ketchikan. If you go Norwegian, try to splurge for a Haven room. It is worth every penny to have a secluded area.

Juneau - Did the heli to dog sledding also. It was fun but super over priced. The dog sledding is in a circle around camp. never get more than 100 yards away, never go for more than a minute. Glad we did it but very disappointing. Juneau seems to have the most adventures so I'd figure out what the other places don't have and do that. I think Skagway also has lots of glacier stuff if I remember right. If you do a glacier thing, go hiking on it. That allows you to see the huge cracks, the blue puddles of water, and get really close.

Skagway - We did hiking by ourselves and then the train ride. If you have young kids, even the short train ride was too long. It was about 2.5 hours. Skagway has a huge bald eagle preserve not far away so it might be worth it to do stuff on your own.

Ketchikan - Lumberjack show. Do it. Super fun for the whole family. My daughter got pulled out of the crowd for a chair they made during the show. It will be here in a few weeks and no idea what I will do with it.


If you are going out of Seattle, go maybe 1 day early to see stuff. Main thing is Pikes Place Market for the fish throwing and flowers. And the Dale Chihuly museum was incredible, but I've been a fan of his forever. The family felt safe at all times but I kept us in the main areas. Just don't stray and you will be fine.

Did a land/cruise combo last summer with Holland America, and if anyone were to ask me cruise vs land/cruise, I'd pick land/cruise every time.

We started in Fairbanks, did a paddlewheel cruise on the Chena River and visited the Chena Indian Village. Then it was a bus ride down to Denali. We stayed there for a few days and it was amazing. Visited the National Park, drove jeeps down Denali Highway, walked on permafrost, saw lots of wildlife, and had a great time. Then it was a 9 hr train ride down to Anchorage, in a dome car with amazing views.

After an overnight there, we hopped a short train ride down to Whittier where the cruise portion began. Then it was Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and then finished in Vancouver. Each stop was fascinating, and filled with amazing activities - whale watching, canoe riding. We had planned a glacier landing but was cancelled because the company didn't have enough seasonal staff last summer. So that's still on my bucket list.