When I go on cruises, I tend to follow certain rules. I pack light. I'll pass up a room for a view to save money. And I always try to make the most of my trip by catching all the shows a ship has to offer.
So it caught me off guard when a recent cruise to Alaska forced me to reconsider these three time-tested rules of mine. But Alaska isn't like other cruise destinations. If you're planning a sailing to the Last Frontier, you might want to break some of these rules, too.
My Alaska cruise was paid for by Princess Cruises, but these tips are my own.
1. Overpack just a little
I follow what I call the 10-$10 packing philosophy: If I can get a "just-in-case" item while traveling for less than $10 and within 10 minutes, I don’t pack it. Drugstore items, extra layers and backup toiletries can take up a lot of space in your bag, and often go unused. If I end up needing bug spray or a pain reliever, I just pop into a local pharmacy.
That strategy isn't one I'd recommend for an Alaska cruise, though.
My late-May sailing was unusually rocky — so unusual that the onboard shop sold out of the over-the-counter motion-sickness drugs Dramamine and Bonine. I got a little queasy myself and was very lucky my friend had spare Bonine to share. I ended up buying motion sickness wristbands at a shop in Ketchikan once we docked.
When you're floating in the middle of the ocean with no corner drugstore in sight, the 10-$10 rule often doesn't apply, so pack the extra gear.
2. Spring for the balcony
It’s no secret that I’m cheap. On a Mediterranean or Caribbean sailing where you’re off the ship all day (or otherwise staring at open ocean), I'll tell you to book the cheapest interior cabin. After all, balcony rooms can easily run 50% (or more) more expensive than an interior room of the same size. On Alaska cruises, sometimes the price difference is even greater.
But it's Alaska — where the scenery changes by the hour — that you should spring for the balcony. There's nothing like stepping out of the shower to a waterfall and a fjord out your window, so treat the balcony as a necessary cost.
You came all this way, and you don't want to miss the best scenery simply over a poorly timed break back in your room.
3. Skip the late shows (at least once)
Normally, my cruise advice is to squeeze every drop of value out of your fare. I stay up late, catch every single theater production available, go for late-night ice cream to boost my energy, and then go hit the piano bar or karaoke for party vibes.
On an Alaska itinerary, however, you need to turn in early on at least one particular day. That's "Glacier Day," and it's the highlight of almost every Alaskan sailing. On this day, the ship enters the narrow fjord and begins its slow crawl toward the glacier early in the morning. Watching the morning sun hit the ice while the ship navigates chunks of floating glaciers is the single best part of the entire week.
If you stay up until 1 a.m. taking advantage of the onboard entertainment, you're going to sleep right through the 6 a.m. scenic navigation.
Instead, go to sleep early, wake up early and get out on your balcony or the bow of the ship.
You can see a theater show on any ship, but you can only see Alaska's glaciers when you sail on an Alaska cruise.
Going to Alaska is worth it
I don't break my rules for just any cruise, but Alaska cruises are different. They're a little more unpredictable (pack the motion sickness medicine!) and a lot more beautiful. I'll never forget seeing the double rainbow hitting the fjords as we sailed into Endicott Arm, something I would've missed if I hadn't been outside early. With a little flexibility, you can catch more moments like that one.
This piece was originally written for NerdWallet's TravelNerd newsletter. To get more stories like this — as soon as they're written — subscribe now.
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