My family has always planned a big vacation every few summers with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We’ve done Florida a few times, rented a big cabin in Ohio (it was more fun than it sounds) and most recently we went on a cruise to Alaska!
We chose to do a 7 day cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line, departing and returning from Seattle. Due to the nature of a cruise, where all the destinations are already picked for you, there aren’t too many choices left up to the traveler, so in this post I’ll cover the towns we stopped in, the activities we chose to do in those towns, and a few things to do and eat in Seattle before or after your cruise! You can then choose for yourself if a cruise is the best way for you to visit Alaska, or if you’d like to see it some other way!
Taking a cruise to Alaska is an easy way to see different parts of the state, but cruises aren’t for everyone… especially the more adventurous type. Even though we had some fun adventures and saw some amazing sites, I still want to come back to Alaska and visit on land!
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a small salmon fishing town with a population of 8,000. The area of Ketchikan near the ports is very touristy (but so are most cruise ports.) There are signs for smoked salmon and souvenir shops everywhere (I definitely got suckered into buying some of the overpriced salmon.) As touristy as it is, it’s still very cute and enjoyable to walk around.
Me, my mom, sister, and boyfriend Andrew decided to book a “Canoe and Nature Walk” through the cruise line. We thought we’d be canoeing on the ocean channels, but we were actually driven about 30 minutes out of town to canoe on a lake formed by a glacier. The lake was pretty small, but we were told it was 300 ft deep!
We were fed homemade clam chowder that was delicious, and we got to explore the forest around the lake for awhile. It was very cool to get out of downtown Ketchikan and see all the natural beauty Alaska is known for.
Juneau, Alaska
Overall Juneau was my favorite port that we stopped in, as it was less touristy than the others. This is mainly because Juneau is Alaska’s capital. Fun fact: there are no roads connecting Juneau to the rest of the world! All goods and people must come in and out by boat or plane! We got to explore the city on foot for a while before our excursion began.
For our excursion in Juneau my grandma planned for us all to go ziplining. Including her. Yes, my grandma went ziplining.
She actually arranged this on her own, independently from the cruise line. If a cruise doesn’t have an excursion you like, or the one you want is full, arranging something independently is always a great option! Just make sure you’ll be back on the boat with plenty of time to spare!
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway is another very touristy city, and with a population around 1,000, is even smaller than Ketchikan! The main attraction here is the “white pass scenic railway” which was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush.
The train departs from the town then winds it’s way up a mountain, and goes back down the same path.
The railroad is now only used as a tourist attraction, with no other commercial use. As for other activity options in Skagway, I believe they had some hiking options, or my grandparents chose to rent a jeep and drive around on their own. They even spotted two bears!
Victoria, British Columbia
Our last stop before returning to Seattle was in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. The ship only stopped in Victoria for about 5 hours, so this was the only port we didn’t book any activities.
The minute you step into downtown Victoria you feel like you’re in London… combined with Seattle (because of the beautiful harbor). It’s a very beautiful city to just walk around and enjoy the sites.
On the way back to the ship we stopped at the docks across from Fisherman Warf’s Park and had some poutine… when in Canada am I right?
If you have more time to spend in Victoria than we did, there were several cool museums I saw, or if you want to splurge, you could book a seaplane tour, as I saw several tour companies offering these.
Things To Do In Seattle Before Your Cruise
If your cruise leaves from Seattle, plan to spend a day or two exploring this great city!
I’m lucky enough to have family in Seattle, so I’ve visited several times and absolutely love the vibe, views and food of the city.
Where to Find Great Seafood
There are many great seafood places with fresh fish around Pike’s Place Market, but these places are always packed! Get away from downtown and head to Chinook’s. It’s right on Salmon Bay, so you get a great view of the water and boat docks.
If you don’t enjoy seafood or you’re short on cash after splurging on your cruise, check out Dick’s Drive-In for the cheapest food ever. No joke, the most expensive thing on the menu is a deluxe cheeseburger for $3.10.
Best Lookout Points of Downtown Seattle
Looking for the best place to get that shot of the iconic Space Needle against Seattle’s skyline? Head to Kerry Park!
Want a view of the bay, the mountains, and downtown Seattle? Check on Alki Beach in West Seattle!
Tourist Attractions Beyond the Space Needle
Everyone knows about the Space Needle, Pike’s Place Market, and the first Starbucks, but what else is there to do in Seattle?
If you love water, you could take a ferry to Bainbridge Island, or check out the boats traveling through the Ballard Locks.
If you prefer land activities, rent a car and drive out to one of the many great hiking locations around the area. There are also so many great breweries around Seattle. I checked out Elysian Brewing, but there are many others to try as well.
So now that you’ve seen my itinerary for a cruise to Alaska, you can decide for yourself if this is the best way for you to experience the beautiful state.
If you just want to see the sites and enjoy a relaxing week or a stress free family vacation, a cruise to Alaska is perfect. However if you’re looking for a little more adventure, Alaska is the right place for you, but I might recommend a trip with more time on land.
For info on what to pack for your cruise, check out my post here!
What do you think, would you love a cruise to Alaska, or would you want to experience it a difference way? Let me know in the comments below!
I want to give a huge shoutout to my uncle for capturing most of the beautiful photos in this post, as I was camera less most of the trip!
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