What We Learned on Our First Alaska Cruise (And What We'd Do Next Time)
What I got right, what I'd change, and what I'd do again in a heartbeat.
We had an incredible time on our Alaska cruise. The scenery was every bit as stunning as I hoped, the ship was beautiful, and some of my favorite memories happened when we weren't doing much of anything at all—just sitting on the balcony watching Alaska drift by.
That said, if I booked another Alaska cruise tomorrow, there are definitely a few things I'd do differently.
Alaska is one of those destinations where every lesson learned makes you even more excited to go back.
1. Book earlier than you think you need to.
This was probably the biggest lesson from our trip.
Everything sells out. EVERYTHING.
Excursions. Specialty dining. Popular cabin categories. The famous White Pass train in Skagway. If there's something you know you want, book it.
We booked our cruise only a few months before sailing, and by the time we started making decisions, many of the things we wanted were already gone.
I also learned that cruise lines really want you to make decisions before you sail. Add-ons like drink packages, internet packages, specialty dining, and excursion reservations are often cheaper before departure. At some point before embarkation, online booking shuts down and your options become much more limited.
My advice? If you're serious about Alaska, start planning a year out if possible and make decisions sooner than feels necessary.
2. I’d prioritize excursions over almost anything else.
The one mistake we made was trying to do Alaska on our own.
We decided to go off-script and create our own excursion. It was a beautiful waste of money. Looking back, I wish we'd spent that money on an excursion instead.
In Juneau, we rented a car through Turo and planned to explore independently. On paper, it sounded like a great idea. We’re smart and capable. We'd have total flexibility, save some money, and see things at our own pace.
In reality, it didn't work out nearly as well as we expected.
We never did find the ‘off the beaten path’ scenic route we were told about, the road to Mendenhall Glacier didn't get us nearly as close as YouTube promised, and we still ended up making the same long walk that everyone arriving by shuttle bus had to make.
By the end of the day, we'd spent a significant amount of money for an experience that would have been just as enjoyable if we'd taken the much cheaper transportation option.
Alaska isn't a destination where you're cruising for beaches and pool days. You're cruising to experience Alaska. The whale watching, glacier tours, flightseeing trips, dog sledding adventures, wildlife encounters, and historic railways are often the highlights of the trip.
If your budget is limited, I'd personally prioritize excursions over almost anything else. Looking back, I'd rather have one less upgrade on the ship and one more unforgettable day exploring Alaska.
And if you take my advice from #1 and book early, you'll have plenty of time to save up and a much better chance of getting the excursions you actually want before they sell out.
3. I'd splurge on the balcony
If you're taking a cruise where the scenery is one of the main characters, get the balcony.
Hands down, no notes, this was probably the best part.
Some of my favorite moments from the entire trip were wrapped in a blanket with a cup of coffee..., looking for whales and watching mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, and tiny coastal towns slide by from our own private balcony.
Another unexpected favorite was sleeping with the balcony door cracked open. I was delighted to not have to turn my sound machine on when there were ~real~ waves crashing outside.
Could you enjoy Alaska without a balcony? Absolutely.
Would I book another Alaska cruise without one? Not a chance.
4. I'd choose my itinerary very carefully
Not all Alaska cruises are created equal.
Some itineraries focus heavily on glacier viewing. Others spend more time in port. Some visit Glacier Bay. Others don't. Some include iconic experiences like the White Pass Scenic Railway in Skagway. Some are round-trip sailings, while others travel one-way through Alaska.
For our family's first cruise, I think we got this exactly right.
Traveling with five kids, my husband, and extended family, the simplicity of a round-trip sailing from Seattle made everything easier. Flights were straightforward. Planning was simpler. Logistics were manageable. For a multi-generational group that included several first-time cruisers, it was the perfect introduction to both cruising and Alaska.
Next time we’ll probably look closer at one-way itineraries. They require a little more planning and a little more flexibility, but they also open up opportunities to see more of Alaska and experience a different side of the destination.
I wrote a detailed blog on choosing Alaskan itineraries to make it easier for you. Check it out right HERE.
5. I'd be picky about our cabin location again
Everyone talks about choosing the right cabin category, but I don't hear many people talk about choosing the right location.
For our cruise, I might have obsessively studied deck plans before booking. Unfortunately, this was somewhat last minute, and I couldn’t get everyone together, but I did make sure that my elderly dad was as close to an elevator as possible, and that we were grouped as close as we could be to each other.
Our cabin was one floor below the observation lounge and two floors below the buffet. Right next to the stairs. Every morning, I could throw on slippers, ride the elevator up for coffee, and be back on my balcony within minutes. My kids loved being able to grab snacks or ice cream whenever they wanted, and we spent a good portion of our sea days bouncing between the observation lounge and our cabin.
Because we were so close to the places we used most, we naturally spent more time enjoying them. It made the entire cruise feel easy and relaxed.
When you're choosing a cabin, don't just think about the room itself. Think about where you'll spend your time. Are you constantly heading to the pool deck? The observation lounge? The buffet? The spa? A cabin that's close to the places you'll use every day can make a bigger difference than you might expect.
6. I'd start using the daily schedule on Day 1
For most of the cruise, we focused on relaxing and enjoying the scenery. We watched a few shows—which were fantastic—but otherwise kept a pretty low-key pace. Most of our ship time was spent on our balcony, or in the observation lounge. If we weren’t eating.
Then on the final night, we grabbed the daily schedule and decided to experience everything we could.
It was a blast.
We bounced between activities, met new people, and eventually ended the night at karaoke. That's when we discovered that many of the performers and crew members hung out there after work, and the energy was incredible.
One thing that surprised me most about cruising was the energy everyone brought. People cheered during shows. They sang during karaoke. They encouraged complete strangers.
Next cruise, I’ll still be playing spades in the observation lounge looking for whales, but I’ll also make sure to participate in more onboard activities as well.
7. I'd keep one eye on the sky
Most people know it's possible to see the Northern Lights on an Alaska cruise. What many people don't realize is that it isn't entirely luck.
There are several apps that track aurora activity, cloud cover, and viewing conditions, which can give you a surprisingly good idea of whether it's worth staying up late and keeping watch from the deck.
The two numbers to pay the most attention to are the Kp Index and Bz. The Kp Index measures aurora activity on a scale from 0–9, and generally speaking, the higher the number, the better your chances of seeing a strong display. Bz measures how solar winds are interacting with Earth's magnetic field. When that number goes negative, your chances of seeing aurora activity improve.
You don't need to become a space weather expert. Apps like Aurora Alerts, Aurora Pro, and Aurora Forecast do most of the work for you and can even send notifications when conditions improve.
We didn't see the Northern Lights on our sailing, but it's something I kept an eye on throughout the trip and would pay even closer attention to next time. If the forecast looked promising and the skies were clear, I'd absolutely stay up late, grab a blanket, head out to the deck, and wait.
Because as incredible as Alaska already is, spotting the Northern Lights from a cruise ship might just be the ultimate Alaska cruise memory.
8. I wouldn’t stress about any of the upgrades
Before our cruise, I spent way too much time debating every possible upgrade. Should we get the drink package? Is specialty dining worth it? Do we really need the all access internet? What about this add-on or that extra?
In the end, we decided we were on vacation and said yes to a few of the things we genuinely thought we'd enjoy.
Did it add to our expenses? Yes. Was it worth it? For us, absolutely.
There’s just something about not having to think about every purchase, and being able to order whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted it, from wherever you want it. I wasn't mentally calculating costs, debating whether something was worth it, or talking myself out of little treats throughout the trip.
There's something incredibly relaxing about being able to order the drink you want, book the dinner you want, or stay connected when you want to, knowing that it’s all already paid for.
That doesn't mean you need every upgrade. That doesn't mean you need every upgrade. In fact, you probably don't. But if there's one you've been thinking about for months, there's a good chance you'll enjoy having it more than you'll enjoy the money you saved by skipping it.
My philosophy is the same whether it's a cruise, Disney vacation, or another bucket-list trip. Once you've already invested thousands of dollars into an experience, the little extras that remove stress and make the trip feel effortless are often the things you'll remember most.
9. I'd let someone else do more of the heavy lifting
I enjoy planning travel. I genuinely do.
Before this cruise, I spent countless hours comparing itineraries, watching YouTube videos, studying deck plans, researching excursions, reading Facebook groups, and trying to decide which upgrades were worth the money.
And yet, no amount of research can prepare you for experience of actually doing it.
Looking back, I would have loved having someone tell me, "Book the excursion now." "Skip the rental car." "This itinerary is perfect for your first Alaska cruise." "Here's the cabin location I'd choose." That’s not information you can get from Chat GPT and it’s not something you can
Having just gone through the process myself, I can help you narrow down itineraries, choose the right cabin location, understand which upgrades are worth considering, and avoid some of the mistakes we made along the way.
Depending on the cruise line and sailing, I may also be able to offer additional onboard credit, amenities, group rates, or other perks that aren't always available when booking on your own.
Either way, my goal is simple: help you spend less time researching and more time looking forward to your trip. Sometimes the most valuable thing is having someone who's already done the research help you cut through the noise.
Final Thoughts
If this post makes it sound like we made a lot of mistakes, let me be clear: we had an incredible time.
We watched glaciers drift by from our balcony. We spotted whales. We played cards in the observation lounge. We explored charming port towns, laughed our way through karaoke on the final night, and made memories that we'll be talking about for years.
The truth is, Alaska exceeded every expectation I had, and the reason I can write a list like this is because I already know I'll be back.
And next time, I'll book earlier. I'll take more excursions. I'll be even picker with the itinerary. I'll keep one eye on the Northern Lights forecast. And I'll probably spend just as much time sitting on my balcony with a cup of coffee, watching the scenery go by.
Because that's the thing about Alaska: no matter how much planning you do, no matter how many photos you've seen, nothing really prepares you for how beautiful it is in person.
If an Alaska cruise is on your bucket list, my advice is simple: go. Book the trip. Take the excursion. Get the balcony. You won't regret it.
