Cruise the Inside Passage to Alaska

You don’t have to be an Arctic explorer these day to experience the rugged beauty of Alaska. One of the best ways to discover the region is undoubtedly on an Alaskan cruise.Cruises to Alaska generally start in May, when the majority of ships exit the Caribbean en mass and head north. There is only a short window of opportunity for the ships to cruise along Alaska’s Inside Passage so the season has to culminate in September as the ice builds up.

The cruises range from formal to informal – NCL cruise line have pioneered the Freestyle Cruising Concept where there are no set meal times, for example – but the itineraries are roughly the same. Most Alaskan cruises start from Vancouver and journey to Seward or Anchorage and back again for seven to ten days at a time.

In May, be prepared for cold days, large chunks of ice in the sea (but not quite of iceberg proportions!) and plenty of snow. I think the best time to visit is in June as there is still plenty of snow on the mountain tops and yet the sun is warm. If you’re out and about then you want to wear plenty of layers so you can quickly adjust to the fluctuating climate conditions.

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