13 Alaska Cruise Mistakes that Can RUIN Your Cruise

Alaska cruises are different than other cruise destinations. Unfortunately, there are some big mistakes many cruisers make when it comes to planning & going on their Alaska cruise vacation!

Making some of these Alaska cruise mistakes can result in blowing your budget, not being prepared & missing out on some of the best Alaska cruise excursions! If you're planning a cruise to Alaska, this video is full of Alaska cruise tips that will help as you plan your trip.

Whether your Alaskan cruise is with Holland America, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line or any cruise ship, these Alaska cruise tips & tricks will be useful. First time cruisers & experienced cruise travelers will learn what Alaska cruise mistakes to avoid.

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Please note that I am unable to give personal cruise and travel advice. If you leave a comment I try my best to answer.

ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!

Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.

Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusicMusic

[betsygiles]

I live in Juneau, Alaska, one of the ports of call. Definitely bring/dress in layers because we have weather that’s very fickle. We live in the Tongass Rain Forest so that means it rains A LOT! Seattle’s got nothing compared to Juneau. Sometimes umbrellas are a good choice, but most of the time when it rains, it blows 15-40mph. Locals fondly call it sideways rain. Best times to travel for good weather are May-middle of July. Temps can range from low 40’s to 80’s (fahrenheit). Average temp is about 55-65 degrees fahrenheit. The further into the summer, the weather tends to get nastier, more often than not. When you do get off the ship and spot snow on the mountains, please don’t ask what elevation we’re at. You just got off of a ship. 😉🤣 FYI-Alaska is the 49th state of the US. Juneau is the capital even though we have only 32, 000 people. We use American currency (or bank cards). Main language is English, although we have other prominent Alaska native languages such as Tlingit and Haida. Welcome to Alaska! Hope your cruise is awesome! We love our state and hope you fall in love with it too! ☺️

[Nikki]

This is the second time I am cruising to Alaska. I know everyone always talks about the wildlife and how fun it is, but I highly suggest if you have a balcony you set some time in the middle of the night to wake up and watch the evening stars. The evening sky is amazing.

[judywelday]

On our Alaskan cruise we took ball caps to wear under our hoods which kept the rain out of our eyes.

[cathymumper]

When my husband and I went on our first Alaskan cruise, my mother-in-law and I were getting our nails done. In front of me were floor to ceiling windows. As I was watching the scenery, a pod of Orcas came up and started swimming next to the ship! It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!

[oliviafinnegan]

1. Not spending at least a day in first port for time change
2. Not budgeting for excursions
3. Not booking excursions early enough
4. Plan for lots of rain, and bring lots of layers
5. Bring sunglasses and a hat and touchscreen gloves
6. Get out on deck early for the best viewing spots- wildlife best in the morning
7. Get a veranda balcony if within your means
8. Check how long you have in each port, and which ones you’ll see/miss
9. Eat locally at the ports
10. Be prepared for seasickness

[CarboneCat]

For Skagway, if you do a Skagway White Pass train excursion, book it in the afternoon. The morning tends to be foggy when it’s not raining. But if you want spooky pictures, it’s the perfect weather.

[iecks]

We just did Alaska in Sept. Rain Yes!!! Instead of buying new coats etc, i layered and topped it all off with a simple dollar tree $1.25 rain poncho. Lite weight. Protected my bags, camera and my hands were free from having to hold an umbrella. If the winds were sideways, no big deal i was covered.

[CherylPlane]

My husband and I just returned from an inside passage cruise to Alaska on Holland America's Westerdam. I did a lot of research prior to our cruise so I purchased very few of the items suggested by you and many of the other cruise writers. I'm happy that I didn't load up with all of the items that were suggested. Our veranda room had vinyl walls so anything magnetic would have been useless. We had more than enough storage, closets with plenty of hangers, night stands, a vanity. Our bathroom, also had vinyl walls, but it had lots of storage so no need for over the door hanging storage, or magnetic hooks. By our door, we had a soft light that stayed on and a motion activated floor light so no need for night lights. We had plenty of charging stations. Our room had a safe in the closet. I never wore a hat or a heavy jacket even though it was cloudy and cool during most of our cruise. My husband water-proofed our light-weight jackets and sneakers (Sketchers Step-ins), I wore gloves once. Prior to your cruise, go on-line and look at your room. This saved us a lot of money on extras we did not need. Also, don't spend all your port days on excursions. Save at least one day to go on your own so you are free to go where you want to. Just be sure to watch the time so you arrive back at the ship on time. Our cruise was wonderful, and we can't wait to go again.

[helenrizi]

Several additional tips: 1. Bring binoculars--some lines provide them and some don't. 2. Choose the right time to cruise. If you want to see black bears--choose August/when the salmon is running. If you are looking for a bargain choose May or Sept. 3. Choose the right cruise line/ship. For cold weather cruising it is so nice to sail on a line like HAL where they have a covered pool area and lots of inside areas where you can view the scenery like the Crow's nest. On almost all of my cruises there have been days when it's raining so hard that being outside is difficult due to wind while sailing and heavy rain. Lying outdoors in the sun on an Alaskan cruise is a rarity so all those areas with pool loungers are "unused space" on your Alaskan cruise.

[avabarker]

We just did an Alaskan cruise last month and plan to do it again next summer. One of the things we will do differently next year is not book so many excursions and city tours. Instead, we will hang out in town and soak in the local vibe.
Having said that our favorite excursions were the dog mushing camp in Juneau and the Zipline in Icy Point Straight (Icy Straight Point?)
It’s called the Zip Rider and it was a BLAST!!! It’s a full minute and a half and you are just FLYING down the mountain! Heads up though… They say it’s a “short walk” from the top of the mountain to the zip line platform IT IS NOT!!! It is a steep, winding, treacherous hike down to the zip line platform. Be prepared!

[salty_flightdeck_cpo]

Keep in mind that by far the biggest Alaska cruise mistake would be to NOT GO on an Alaska cruise. Your advice will be helpful to many. Thanks.

[emilyeast]

Here's a tip for Skagway - I cruised with 3 friends in 2004, connecting rooms w/balconies on a Celebrity ship (you're right about getting a room with a balcony, it's worth it). We all wanted to take the White Pass train & rode together going up - I booked an additional 'trip' where I got off the train at the top, then took a bus back down (the bus driver was great, telling stories, singing songs), then we had a special outdoor grilled salmon lunch, learning to and then panning for gold, and touring the Red Onion Saloon 'brothel museum" (photos, the Madam's famous gown, the rooms the 'employees' used - all Very Fun !) My friends just rode the train back down & missed all of that ~ all told me they wished they'd have done what I did, because the views from the train going down were pretty much the same as going up. Plus, that train is not air conditioned (but the windows do open) & it was a hot, muggy day in June so they regretted just staying on the train (it's a pretty long ride and it rolls along slowly). BTW I decided to move up here in 2011 & am still living here! Now I can watch the Northern Lights every winter (you usually don't see those on the cruises, they're more prevalent in the winter months & you need the darkness of winter to see them.)

[debbiebriggs]

My husband & I took a 14 day, land/sea adventure with Princess line May 2022. It was amazing. We did the land first, highly recommend. We flew in on a Friday to Fairbanks, Alaska ( tours did not start until Sunday). For us as well from eastern USA, 4 hour time difference. We booked a tour to the Artic Circle for Saturday afternoon. A bucket list thrill for us. We both really enjoyed all the adventures on the land portion of the trip. Train ride to Denali Princess Lodge. Guided bus tour through Denali. In Seward we took an excursion to Kenji Peninsula amazing widelife. We were non stop on our Alaska trip we over did but felt once in a lifetime trip. Celebration for our 30th Anniversary! We were actually happy with visiting in May still a lot of snow. That's how I wanted to picture Alaska. Best vacation! We planned early for our excursions because we didn't want to not get to do what we wanted. Layering is the best advice. We would love to return to Alaska!

[lifelibertyandguns]

My wife and I have been watching your videos now for about 5-months and they are very informative. We have just returned from an Alaska Cruise yester day on the Ruby Princess and since you just got back from a Holland America Cruise, we believe that we may have been in the same ports on the same days. We were in Juno, Skagway and Ketchikan too.
We purchased and used Magnet Hooks, Portable Hamper, Magnets to hold paper items on the wall and a Travel Clock; all great ideas that worked very well.
Thank you for all your videos, we purchased on board a cruise to Hawaii in 2024 and an Ocean to Ocean Cruise in 2025.

[robertocalvillo]

Biggest mistake is not getting the balcony. I just returned 5/16 and luckily we had great weather our whole trip. We had an ocean view room, which had a large window, but not a balcony.
Layered clothing w/ a waterproof shell a must. Get a shell for your backpack too. We did a helicopter glacier tour, which was probably the highlight of our trip, in Skagway and one passenger had no rain gear and was drenched while the rest of us w the gear were dry. It was a light rain but we were on the glacier for 40 minutes. Imagine if the rain was heavier.
One day we would be in t-shirts and other day layers w long johns underneath.
Not only is Alaska our biggest state, they will constantly remind you especially if you're from Texas, it costs quite a bit more to do everything. Especially to eat, but it is a must to try the Alaskan sea food. I couldn't get enough and it adds up quick. Also, so many breweries! Lots of great beer.
Binoculars are a must, unless you have a newer phone. My wife has a Galaxy 21S and her phone zooms in so well they were better than binoculars. You may see whales, dolphins, bears and bald eagles from the ship as it cruises the inlet, another reason to get the balcony.
So happy with our experience overall.

[nancya.]

A tip for Juneau - do not book the Mount Roberts Tramway in Juneau until after you arrive. If it's too foggy, you won't be able to see anything at the top.

[Andie_USA]

Thank you, Ilana. You are spot on! I took my first cruise to Alaska last month. It was an unforgettable experience! It’s Mother Nature at its best. The silence when cruising the glacier was something that caught my attention… it commands respect… it is hard to put it into words. I plan to go back to explore it further north. Although a balcony cabin is pricey, opening your eyes in the morning to that astonishing view right in front of you is priceless. I have stumbled upon your channel about an year ago and can no longer plan for a cruise without your Ultimate Cruise Planner . I even carry the embarkation and debarkation pages with me during the trip. For real. 😊 Keep up the good work!

[AndrewAbeles]

My first Alaska Cruise was many years ago. I was single, and I booked it through "Single World." My mom was a CTC in NY and highly recommended it. She was right. The group tour guide & organizer was fabulous. The most outstanding trip adventure was a private company that put us in small boats (3 or 4 people) We got very close to the glacier, REALLY CLOSE. I was very cold surrounded by big & small blocks of ice (my hands a shaking as I remember it). The ice floats sometimes had animals sitting on them; THIS WAS VERY GOOG! When you're on the ship you have no idea what it's like being up close and personal with seals & other fauna! Luckily, we avoided any of the ice calving (breaking). The tiny boats would have flipped over, NOT GOOD! I
Thank you for all the hard work I know you out in. I love watching & learning from them.

[deniceking]

We did a sea and land trip 5 years ago with the inside passage, leaving from Vancouver and returning from Anchorage. We actually flew into Seattle a few days before, saw sights there, and took the train to Vancouver. The train fare was very reasonable and the scenery was beautiful. We arrived early enough to see sights in Vancouver and boarded the ship the next day. We were really glad we were able to plan it that way. We got adjusted to the new time zone, saw some great things, and had a relaxed start to a packed vacation.

[brendawynkoop]

I went on an Alaskan cruise & land tour in May of 2016. It was warm enough to wear just t-shirts & jeans or capris. The only day it rained was when we were in Juneau. All I needed was a rain jacket. I was able to do all I wanted in the rain. I'm going back for another cruise & different land tour in August of this year. Can't wait.