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Our Alaskan Cruise: Journey to the Last Frontier

Our Alaskan Cruise: Journey to the Last Frontier

When someone makes a travel bucket list, odds are that Alaska makes the list, and for good reason. The rugged and majestic scenery, the abundant wildlife, and the unique heritage attracts an abundance of visitors every year. One of the best ways to see Alaska is by cruise ship. My husband and I did just that in May, and it quickly became one of our favorite destinations. 

We flew into Seattle and boarded the Celebrity Edge. The ship is beautiful and has a tranquil, spa-like vibe. We settled into our cabin and immediately began to take in the views from our balcony. This became our favorite spot, as in Alaska you are always surrounded by majestic views. Our cruise was for 7 nights and our first day was a “sea day”. I personally love “sea days,” as it gives us time to just enjoy the ships activities, get pampered at the spa, lounge in the hot tub, or even sit back with an enjoyable book.  

Our first port stop was in Ketchikan, Alaska. This historical city is known as the “salmon capital of the world.” It also has the largest collection of standing totem poles in the world, as well. Ketchikan is also nicknamed the “rain capital of Alaska,” where precipitation is measured in feet not inches! So be sure to come prepared with adequate rain gear. But do not worry-the rain will not put a damper on your experience here! We walked around the town, taking in the historical Creek Street, the Salmon Walk and Married Mans Trail, shopping around town, and even stopping for a salmon crepe and some chowder along the way.  

The next day it started bright and early at 5am. We set our alarms, ordered our room-service breakfast, wrapped ourselves up in a blanket, and propped ourselves at our cabin’s balcony to take in the breathtaking Endicott Arm and Dawe’s Glacier. There are no words to describe the beauty that unfolds as you sail through the glacial waters. The blue-green hue of the water, sprinkled with icebergs along the way, is a remarkable sight. As we stood on our balcony, clouds started to form and envelope the area. We were starting to get worried that our views would quickly diminish, but just as we rounded the corner the clouds lifted, and sun rays illuminated the glacier before us. The captain slowly turned the ship 360 degrees so everyone could take in the beauty before us. We all knew that this was truly a moment we would never forget. Afterall, THIS is why we came to Alaska! 

By mid-afternoon, we pulled into port at Juneau. Juneau is the capital city of Alaska and boasts a vibrant and beautiful port. It was here that we selected a whale-watching tour. Before our tour, we stopped at a local restaurant for some Alaskan King Crab and local ales. Absolutely delicious! After our delectable lunch, we headed out to find some whales and boy did we find them! In fact, we saw three humpback whales on our way out of the harbor area! More whales were to come along with sea lions and bald eagles. We ended our day in Juneau at a Salmon Bake before returning to the ship. A day to remember! 

Our next port was Skagway, Alaska. Immediately when you step off the ship, you feel like you stepped back in time. The city is full of gold-rush history which envelopes you as you walk around the town. Many visitors choose to take the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway train ride. We did a different excursion, via a vehicle instead. The views along the route were stunning and we made many stops along the way allowing us to take it all in. However, we would certainly take the train if we had a do-over. While in Skagway, you will learn all about the frontier gangster “Soapy” Smith and see first-hand why the famous writer Jack London fell in love with the place.

After another day at sea, we made our way to the last port on our journey-Victoria, British Columbia. When we arrived in the early evening, it was a lovely day to walk to Fisherman’s Wharf and then make our way to the downtown area. The city is filled with 19th-century architecture and charm. Many fill their time here with a visit to the famous botanical garden, Butchart Gardens. We will certainly add this to our list for the next visit!

Sadly, every journey must end, and we said farewell to our ship and headed back home. However, we are taking back with us hundreds of photos and countless memories! True moments that we will never forget!

Here are a few tips that we learned along the way:  

Pack layers and be sure to include rain gear: The weather in Alaska can be unpredictable, and you can experience rain, snow, wind, and sunshine – sometimes within a matter of hours. Be sure to pack appropriately! 

Be sure to pack a good pair of binoculars: While our stateroom included a pair, we wish we had brought our larger ones to help us see wildlife from the ship.  

Don’t miss the seminars onboard!: On our ship, we had a “naturalist” on board who gave talks on what we would be seeing and the history of the various ports. Do not miss these, as they are amazing and full of information! 

So, if you have not added Alaska to your bucket list, be sure to do so. It is a captivating place that leaves any visitor wanting to go back over and over. When you leave Alaska, you do not say “goodbye,” you say, “until next time.” 

Ready to book your Alaskan adventure? Reach out to me or one of our expert advisors today!