Cruising Alaska by Sea Is the Adventure You Didn’t Know You Needed
Why Cruising Alaska Stands Out
If you ever want to see grown adults sprint like toddlers chasing an ice cream truck, take them on their first Alaska cruise and wait for someone to shout “whale.” There are plenty of ways to explore Alaska. You can go by train, car, bus, helicopter, or floatplane. But the one experience I feel everyone should do at least once is seeing Alaska by sea. Specifically, cruising Alaska.
Mr. Whaldo and I usually sail with Holland America because the price-to-value ratio is hard to beat, the ships are smaller, the clientele skews older, we rarely run into children, and the itineraries speak to us. They are also among the top cruise lines in Alaska.
Bringing Family Along for the Journey
The first time we cruised to Alaska, we brought Mr. Whaldo’s parents along. We sailed round-trip from Seattle. The itinerary took us through Juneau, Tracy Arm, and Stephens Passage. We stopped in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, Canada. Along the way, we did two excursions. Both were spectacular.
I was thrilled that we took his parents whale watching. They stayed warm inside the boat while we were on the upper deck, facing the full force of the cold and wind. That excursion became one of my favorite experiences ever. Our boat came upon a pod of humpback whales that were feeding. We watched from a distance until suddenly they headed straight toward us. The captain held the boat still, and the whales began circling us. While we watched them make their loops, we noticed a baby with them. The baby was curious and playful, spending a good amount of time right around our boat. It felt magical from our vantage point. His parents, seated at the windows on the lower deck at sea level, had an even closer view. The baby was right in their line of sight, playing and exploring. They had never seen whales before, and this was a thrill for both of them.
When the humpbacks finally drifted off, we moved into another cove and found a group of otters floating together. We learned about them and watched them for a while. Then the captain received word of another whale in the area, and off we went again.
As the boat slowed, it appeared. A gray whale. Another first for his parents and for Mr. Whaldo. The whole outing left all four of us exhilarated and grateful for such an extraordinary day.
Trying New Adventures in Alaska
This trip was also the first time my husband and I fished for halibut in Alaska. In Ketchikan, we joined an excursion with two other couples. Since the four of them were traveling together, we let them take the middle and rear positions on the boat. We took the forward deck, me on the right and him on the left.
As the boat eased out of the marina, the crew explained how to fish for halibut and asked us to try it out so we could get a feel for it. I happily cast my line, felt it hit the ocean floor, and started bouncing along the bottom. As soon as I felt the bounce, I told the crew member. He told me to go ahead and reel in my line.
I started to reel and said that something was there. He laughed and told me I probably snagged someone else’s line or some sea grass. It made perfect sense. We were still basically in the cove. But I kept reeling as he instructed. Suddenly, one of the crew members spotted the line and told me to reel faster. That was all I needed to hear. Once it was close enough, the crew grabbed the line and netted the fish. A halibut. Too small, but still a halibut.
After some laughter over that lucky catch, I waited until we were out in the open ocean to cast again. I felt the bait hit the bottom, and we slowly trolled. Boom. Another fish. This one fought hard. I reeled as fast as I could until I was exhausted. One of the crew asked if I needed help, and I said yes before he even finished the question. He steadied the pole while I used both hands to keep reeling.
He cheered me on, and so did my husband. Finally, the fish came close enough to net. Another halibut, much larger this time. I had no idea halibut fishing was such serious physical work.
The next time I hooked one, I was ready. It felt heavier and even more determined to fight. I was not the only one catching fish. The crew was busy helping others. Mr. Whaldo put his pole in a holder and came over to help me by taking over the reeling. I stepped over to watch his line, and that is when I saw his rod bend. He had hooked one, too.
We swapped back so he could land his fish. We both fought valiantly, and both brought in halibut. He admitted he was just as shocked as I had been at how strong those fish are.
We spent the next four hours catching our limit of halibut, cod, and rockfish. Two of the ladies had quit long before, so we shared our halibut once we reached our own limit. As part of the excursion, the fish were butchered, flash-frozen, and shipped home to us.
The Magic of Alaska From the Water
While the excursions were fantastic, what is magical about cruising Alaska is the slow, scenic routes that let you experience the most incredible glaciers and waterways. The wildlife is everywhere.
I always joke that at the start of the cruise, someone spots a whale and the whole ship stampedes to the railing. By the halfway point, someone says “whale,” and everyone barely looks up from their soup. The sightings become so common that people lose interest. I never do, but many certainly do.
Exploring Glacier Bay on a Smaller Ship
Another Alaska cruise that Mr. Whaldo and I took sailed round-trip out of Vancouver. The itinerary was different and we were able to cruise into Glacier Bay National Park. Holland America’s smaller ships can slip in and out safely. Glacier Bay is a protected region with eleven glaciers that reach the sea and an incredible amount of wildlife.
Alaska’s glaciers are where I first learned to appreciate the beauty in shades of blue, white, and grey ice. It is where I learned to stand quietly and listen to the soft popping deep inside the ice. It is also where I discovered how thrilling it is to witness a glacier calve. There is nothing like watching a massive chunk of ancient, layered ice crack, roar, and break free before splashing into the sea and drifting away as a newborn iceberg. It never stops feeling awe-inspiring.
Glacier in Alaska - Photo by Whaldo Digital Content
Learning the Story of Glaciers Up Close
Just like on our first trip, they brought in native experts who gave what essentially were floating TED talks. I have never been on an Alaska cruise without learning new facts about the culture, indigenous communities, glaciers, and the wildlife surrounding us.
This is what makes cruising Alaska remarkable. No trip is the same. You never know what you will see, who you will meet, or what you will learn.
On this second cruise, we had a couple of different port calls, including Skagway. We took the White Pass and Yukon train from Skagway to the Canadian border and learned about the region’s history. It was not only beautiful but surprisingly educational. Instead of fishing in Ketchikan this time, we toured a local oyster farm and learned all about that growing industry in Alaska.
Scenery That Feels Like Art in Motion
The route back to Vancouver was via the Inside Passage. We dragged a couple of chairs to the railing on the tenth deck and watched the scenery all day. Land stretched on both sides of us. We passed wildlife along the shore, lighthouses, small barges stacked with felled trees, and even neighborhoods tucked right up against the coastline.
The scenery was beautiful and inspiring. If I were a landscape painter, the Inside Passage would be my perfect muse.
Finding Your Own Style of Alaskan Adventure
There is no right or wrong way to cruise Alaska, which is part of its magic. You can even combine a cruise with a land package and take the train to Denali or venture farther into the Yukon for a truly unforgettable adventure. The options feel limitless.
Every trip we have taken by sea has reminded me that Alaska reveals itself differently each time. One cruise gives you a baby whale circling your boat, another brings a day spent drifting through the Inside Passage with nothing but mountains, lighthouses, and quiet coves for company. The mix of culture, wildlife, and sheer natural drama means no two sailings are ever the same, which is precisely why cruising is such a perfect way to see this part of the world.
It also suits almost every kind of traveler. Curious teens tend to love the wildlife and the sense of adventure. Adults get the comfort, the scenery, and the ease of letting someone else steer the ship. Even families can enjoy it, although small children may lose steam between glacier sightings. If you want a trip that blends beauty, learning, and just enough unpredictability to stay exciting, sailing Alaska in the summer is a spectacular choice. When you finally go, trust me, you will understand why I cannot stop talking about it.
-J.S. Whaldo
