These Pictures Will Make You Want to Cruise to Alaska (2024)

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Juneau - State Capital of Alaska

Juneau is a popular port of call on many cruises of the Inside Passage of Alaska. This city is the only state capital in the USA that is accessible only by water or air; it can't be reached in a car! Juneau has many fun activities including hiking or kayaking near the Mendenhall Glacier, a tram/cable car,ziplining, and even a brewery.

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Ketchikan - One of the Rainiest Cities in the USA

Don't let Ketchikan's nickname scare you! Although the historic city gets over 162 inches of rain each year, it's a fun place to visit on an Alaska cruise. Ketchikan has terrific fishing opportunities, along with hiking, ziplining, kayaking, or exploring the downtown historic area.

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Skagway, Alaska - Goldrush Town of the Late 1800s

Many miners seeking their fortune in gold flocked to Skagway in the late 1800's, and the town grew to over 20,000 residents. Today the population is much less, but 14 buildings are on the National Historic Register, and it's great fun to walk around Skagway and picture the way it was during the gold rush days. Many cruise travelers take a ride on the scenic White Pass & Yukon Railway, which follows the trail the gold-seekers took into the mountains.

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Anchorage- Alaska's Largest (and only ) City

Many people choose to visit the interior of Alaska before or after their Alaska cruise. These cruise extensions often fly into or out of Anchorage, which is Alaska's largest city with about 300,000 residents. Over 40 percent of those who live in Alaska reside in Anchorage, and the city has many places to stay, eat, and explore.

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Sitka - Alaska's First Capital

Sitka is a small historic town on the outside edge of Alaska's Inside Passage. It is celebrated as the site of Alaska's discovery in 1741 and still has buildings that reflect the time it was Russian. After the USA purchased Alaska from Russia, Sitka was the first capital.

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Petersburg, Alaska - Gateway to Frederick Sound

Petersburg, Alaska was founded by a Norwegian homesteader, and the small town still has many residents with a Norwegian heritage. However, Petersburg is a big fish canning town, so workers from many foreign countries pack the small town in the summer. It's a fun place to explore, hike, or do whale watching in nearby Frederick Sound.

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Metlakatla - Native American Community

The Metlakatla Indian Community is the only Native American reservation in Alaska.The Tsimshian Indians who prefer reservation life reside in the community. Metlakatla is a good place to visit to buy superb handicrafts, learn about life on a reservation, and learn about the Tsimshian Indian culture and dances.

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Alaska Helicopter Ride to a Glacier

If the weather cooperates, Alaska is a great place to ride on a helicopter. The scenery is magnificent, and the views of mountains and glaciers are breathtaking. I did a helicopter ride from Juneau to visit a summer camp for sled dogs training for the famous Iditarod race.

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Alaska Dog Sledding on a Glacier

One of the best (and most expensive) shore excursions I've ever done anywhere was a helicopter ride from the airport in Juneau up to a sled dog summer training camp on the Mendenhall icefields. Dogs training for the Iditarod or other races can practice all summer on the icy snow, and visitors are welcome to see the dogs, learn about their training and take a ride on a sled. Of course, the helicopter ride up to the training camp is exhilarating and provides spectacular views.

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Humpback Whales in Alaska

Almost everyone who visits Alaska sees whales, especially if they are on a small ship or do a whale-watching expedition from a large cruise ship. I've been lucky and have seen dozens of whales and have seen them breach, show their fluke, and even bubble feed, as is shown in this photo.

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Glacier Bay National Park

Like most of the national parks in the United States, Glacier Bay National Park is a memorable place to visit. However, it can best be visited by ship, so a cruise ship is a perfect way to see some of the park's highlights like glaciers, mountains, and wildlife.

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Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

Hubbard Glacier is Alaska's largest tidewater glacier and one of over 100,000 glaciers in the 49th state of the USA. Ships sailing between Seward and Vancouver, Victoria, or Seattle often spend part of a day near this spectacular glacier.

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Cruise the Misty Fjords in Alaska

The Misty Fjords are near Ketchikan and are only accessible via boat or small plane. In the summer, visitors won't see glaciers or ice and snow, but they will get impressive views of giant fjords. The fjords have been a US National Monument since the late 1970s, and the dramatically carved granite cliffs demonstrate the strength of the glaciers that formed the fjords.

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Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska

Tracy Arm is a deep fjord that is 23 miles long near Juneau. It is home to the Sawyer Glaciers, and the cruise up the narrow glacial valley is quite spectacular.

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Alaska Railroad Train

If your cruise starts or ends in Seward, you might have a chance to ride the Grandview train between Seward and Anchorage. This is one of Alaska's most scenic train rides and is a perfect way to see some of the interior.

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Un-Cruise Adventures - Alaska Cruise Travel Journal

One of the best ways to see wildlife and get an up-close view of glaciers is on a small cruise ship in Alaska. This cruise photo travel journal of a 7-night Alaska Inside Passage cruise from Ketchikan to Juneau on the small adventure ship the Wilderness Discoverer of Un-Cruise Adventures provides a good overview of a small ship cruise in Alaska.

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The Boat Company - Alaska Cruise Travel Journal

Anyone who loves to fish, kayak, or hike will enjoy an Alaska cruise with The Boat Company. The company has two tiny ships, and I sailed on the Mist Cove, a 24-passenger adventure ship. My husband and I loved the halibut and salmon fishing, along with the unique sightseeing opportunities the tiny ship offered. This cruise journal provides photos of some of the things we did in Alaska with The Boat Company.

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Seven Seas Voyager - Large Ship Alaska Cruise Log

Those who love to be pampered on board, enjoy larger cabins, and desire more dining venues can still enjoy much of what Alaska has to offer on a large or mid-sized cruise ship. This photo journal provides a look at a voyage between Seward and Vancouver on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship.

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Small Ship Alaska Cruise Log

Although Cruise West is no longer in business, this cruise log from 2007 provides a good look at many of the places in see in Alaska and the things to do in Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Petersburg, and Haines.