Cruising to Alaska

When Cruising to Alaska you'll barely notice the ship you're sailing on. Instead, your eyes will be transfixed by snowy mountain peaks and in-your-face wildlife (or as in-your-face as wildlife gets when they're on land and you're on deck). A room with a view is recommended, and a thirst for the unexpected is required.

Alaska cruises don't recruit the same crowd as other sails that aim young and focus on partying—and that's a good thing. You'll find families taking in nature with onboard guides, or meet shipmates ready for the same adventures you are—fishing, mountain biking, ice climbing, hiking, or simply taking down plate after plate of fresh caught salmon.

Cruising to Alaska equals more than an opportunity to see Seward's folly; it offers a chance to visit the Pacific Northwest, and some of the most pristine landscapes and thriving urban centers in the U.S. Seattle, the Northwest's capital for art, culture and, of course, coffee, is a stellar port to jumpstart an Alaska adventure. You can dine at Pike Place Market or ride a trolley to Pioneer Square, where art galleries and boutique shops dot every corner. Or ship out from Vancouver and spend a few days exploring the next Olympic city before cruising. If you can't wait to hit Alaskan soil, bide your time in Anchorage. Alaska's largest city is bigger—and more cosmopolitan—than you may think, and it's worth the extra airfare. Fish for salmon in Ship Creek, in the shadows of downtown office buildings, slurp oysters at sunset and rock out at an arctic honky tonk before your cruise begins.

Once on board, you may not want to get off—the awesome scenery you'll pass will keep you craving more—but stop you will, and disembark you must. Alaska cruises offer some of the most jaw-dropping wilderness excursions on the planet.

Juneau: It's hard to get to—tucked in a narrow fjord between Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts—but worth it. How many people can say they set foot in the only state capital with a glacier? Holland America Line cruisers have their pick of active endeavors: helicopter and floatplane tours, glacier-trekking, dogsledding, whale-watching and fly-fishing to name a few. Those with a penchant for history can unearth a nugget or two in Juneau's old gold mines, or increase your pedal-power and your paunch with a bike-and-brew tour of the Auke Bay area.

Skagway: Like kitsch? Skagway's a "gold rush" town where historic sites meet knick-knack shops. Locals don authentic 1890s costumes and give tours of the area in vintage cars, and restored saloons (replete with swinging saloon doors) abound with high-kicking dance hall girls. But if you can see past the theme-park chicanery, you're in for some impressive sights. Silversea Cruises provides a scenic train ride along the historic Klondike Trail—and it wouldn't be Skagway without old-fashioned parlor cars to make the experience all the more darling.

Sitka: You should definitely plan to be on deck when your cruise ship sails into Sitka Sound. Tiny islands packed with evergreen trees, vibrant blue water and a smattering of fishing boats make this port one of Alaska's most stunning. Once the state's capital, Sitka is flush with Russian fur trading history, and boasts an impressive 19 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. But don't spend all your time history-hopping; there's too much else to do. Perfect your paddling skills in a sea kayak around the sound—alongside the humpbacks that frequent the area—or tour an active salmon hatchery. Celebrity Cruises gives you plenty of time to browse local arts and crafts shops and snag a few souvenirs for the crew back home.