This guide contains:

Background on Alaskan cruises
Features to look for in Alaskan cruise services
How to select the best Alaskan cruise service for you

This independent guide was created to help you understand the basics of Alaskan cruises and to help you choose the right Alaskan cruise for you. We do not provide any Alaskan cruises ourselves, so you can be confident that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.

Background on Alaskan cruise
Cruises through Alaskan waters are among the most popular cruises in the world, and for very good reason. Alaskan cruises generally sail through the southeastern portion of the state through the islands and waterways known as the Inside Passage and into the Gulf of Alaska. The scenery aboard the ship and at port visits is unparalleled in the world- you can see majestic bald eagles, sea otters, puffins, whales, mountains, glaciers, virgin forests and countless other natural wonders. Additionally to enjoying the scenery aboard the cruise, many people extend their visits to Alaska with land tours to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Seward, Homer and other towns as well as National Parks such as Denali, Kenai and Wrangell. An Alaskan cruise and tour is one of the most memorable travel experiences you can have, and you might find yourself wanting to go back as soon as your vacation is over!

Features to look for in cruise companies and cruise ships
Many thousands of people will take a Alaskan cruise this year- with cruises ranging from 3 days to 2 weeks and beyond; cruises tailored to families, single, even non-smokers; ships that range in size from 100 or so passengers to 3,000-plus superships; and cruises for budgets of all sizes, it's no wonder that Alaskan cruises routinely earn the highest ratings in customer satisfaction among all vacation categories. If you are considering an Alaskan cruise, here is a short list of factors to consider when trying deciding which Alaskan cruise best suits your needs and wants:

Demographics- Cruise lines usually cater to a certain clientele, and as a result, the average age of passengers on a given cruise can be anywhere from 30-40 to over 60. Further more, some cruise ships will discourage parents from bringing their children aboard, and other cruise lines have special programs to encourage families to come together.

Traditional vs. Non-traditional Dining- Traditionally, dining on cruises has been organized with pre-assigned dining times and dining partners, with one or more formal dinners. More frequently cruise lines are offering non-traditional dining, which is opening seating, at any time, and casual dress at all times.

Itinerary- The itinerary refers to where the Alaskan cruise goes, which ports it stops at along the way, and how many days the cruise ship is at sea as opposed to at port. Selecting the right itinerary depends on what your preferences is for leisure (more days at sea) vs. activity (more days at port).