Alaska cruising is an absolute blast. Hands down, the best vacation I ever had was on a cruise of Alaska.
What makes an Alaska Inside Passage cruise so special? First of all, the scenery is about the most spectacular you will see anywhere.
Then there is the wildlife. Alaska is about the best place to view wildlife anywhere in North America.
The place is literally crawling with wildlife. There are black bears, brown bears, Kodiak bears, polar bears. Then there are elk, deer, reindeer, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, and, of course, many, many bald eagles.
Of course, the sea life is just as rich, with several species of whales, orca, dolphins, and five varieties of salmon.
There is just something so special about this region - a kind of pristine beauty that is hard to put into words. It's the kind of place that refreshes and renews you.
One of the elements of Alaska that I love most is the beautiful summer climate, with cool, comfortable days that stretch into the wee hours of the night (it hardly gets dark at all in the summer). It's a refreshing change from the sweltering heat of summer elsewhere.
Then there are the towns - the quaint seaside villages you stop at along your voyage, set amidst picturesque fjords and lush temperate rain forest.
There are many art galleries, stores, great restaurants, native cultural displays, and ambience that just can't be beat.
The shore excursions that are available when your ship is in port are exceptional too - you can do everything from whale watching to hiking atop a glacier to riding in a dog sled.
Or if you prefer, you can take a helicopter tour of some of the most mystical and indescribably beautiful places on earth, like Tracy Arm Fjord and Misty Fjords.
If you have never been to Alaska, you owe it to yourself to take an Alaskan Inside Passage cruise.
