So, I will say up-front that I am not the biggest cruise fan. I have been on many enjoyable cruises, but taking a cruise is not my favorite way to see other parts of the world. However, my opinion changes when it comes to an Alaskan Cruise -- a cruise through Alaska is definitely the way to see this beautiful part of the United States. Most cruise lines include an Alaskan cruise in their repertoire. We choose the Princess line, though both the Norwegian line and the Royal Caribbean line are high-end as well. For a different experience, some of the smaller cruise lines have Alaskan cruises as well.
TIP: Each cruise line has their pros and cons. Choose your cruise line carefully based on what is important to you and your family.
As with most cruises, there are numerous fantastic excursions you can choose during your travels. One fantastic one we choose a helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier and a glacier walk. This, to me, was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The helicopter ride showed us a bird's eye view of this beautiful winter wonderland. The dips and dives of the helicopter ride were breathtaking. Once we landed on the glacier, we took a quick hike around. We even got to sip some glacier water -- it was the clearest, most delicious water I have ever tasted. And I usually think all water tastes the same!Other fun excursions include white-water rafting, sled-dog racing and tours through the various towns. If you are interested in fishing, salmon fishing tours are also very popular. You can be as adventurous and sporty as you like. Or you can just stay on the boat and have a massage!
On our cruise, we stopped in a few small towns, all of which were quaint and adorable. They are a throw-back to when people first discovered Alaska. Big taverns made fully of wood. Cute stores. And even cuter little animals everywhere.
One of the towns we went to is Skagway, which was once the gateway to the gold rush. It still retains the charm of the gold rush era. Another town on the cruise circuit is Ketchikan. This town is steeped in Native American history. We visited numerous Native American points of interest when we visited, including seeing some amazing totem poles.
On the boat itself, you can often see animals like whales from the decks and gorgeous scenery abounds. Another big plus of cruising is that there are numerous on board opportunities for children of all ages. Young children can partake in the many kid's activities, while teenagers can go to the on board discos and otherwise not spend time with their parents ;)All in all, taking an Alaskan cruise is a great way to see a part of the country which is otherwise slightly hard to navigate.
www.princess.com
