11 Day Alaska Cruise with 10 Breathtaking Ports To Explore

An Alaska Cruise, is that on our bucket list?

For years I’ve dreamed of an Ocean Cruise through Alaska & The Inside Passage with plentiful time in port and on the water.

My adventurous side is led through bouts of curiosity about destinations, and with that, I’ve got plenty of travel experience, yet I crave more.

Walls of ice that sparkle against the sun, and wildlife, flora, fauna, Mt. Edgecumbe (a sleeping volcano), gold panning, and spectacular views, all are part of my vision ahead of the cruise.

Alaska Cruise To Discover Alaskan Adventures Perhaps?

Additionally, I want to experience the site of glaciers, Misty Fjords National Monument, Kenai Fjords National Park.

Pristine wilderness, Alaskan bears in their natural habitat, bald eagles, New Eddystone Rock, Rudyerd Bay, waterfalls, all are part of the package I want to see, do, and enliven.

In other words, life preserved, and wildlife without boundaries, are visions that dance in my head.

Alaska Cruise

No, I am not sponsored by Viking, nor any other cruise line, and no one asked me to write this.

I am sharing what I know, based on my travels as well as my parents’ travels who have traveled extensively with the Viking brand of cruises.

There are so many different options of cruise brands when it comes to shopping for an Alaska Cruise.

Birds Of a Feather … or Bald Eagles LOL

While I love a good cruise, I also want to sail with individuals that are not just there for the ‘oohs and ahhs’ but for the culture, destination and history.

You only get out of a voyage what you put into it.

In my opinion, a cruise to Alaska is not about drinking yourself silly each night before the next port of call, waking late, and missing your excursion.

Rather, it’s a great days’ adventure, wrapped up with a meal prepared by the cruise ship chef of local cuisine and maybe a chat about the upcoming destination.

Follow that with a simple nightcap to wrap up the day or cheer on the next days’ discoveries.

Embark and Disembark Destinations Too

Truly, when I book a cruise, I look at where the cruise embarks and disembarks.

Why?

Well, I want to either arrive earlier to explore, learn and experience or stay on after the cruise and do the same.

Again, travel to me is about uncovering, discovering, learning, loving it.

Experience & Return Later Using an 11 Day Alaska Cruise To Sample & Discover Alaskan Adventures

While I prefer my take away to be, ‘I arrived, explored and definitely saw as much as possible without under or overwhelming myself.’

So this 11 day Alaska Cruise with 10 breathtaking ports to explore can start and end in either Vancouver, Canada, or Seward, Alaska definitely matches my travel asks.

Therefore, I will conquer both a Passport and a Non-passport voyage as well as visit 2 countries in ONE trip.

Slick and expansive travel is optimal for someone like me and Alaska & the Inside Passage Ocean Cruise with Viking definitely button that up!

Research & A Love of Sophisticated Travel Without Arrogance

Let me preface this:

To each his own.
Travel is different for everyone.
No, I am not 100 years old, I just see travel differently.
I’ve learned from previous ‘party’ cruise ships what I like and what I don’t.

If you have ever traveled on a basic cruise ship you know that the ports of call are just a way that many walks off their nightly party.

Do most remember the time on those ships?

I can’t fathom that and we’ve already experienced it.

Truth be told, even if offered FREE, I’d not take a ‘Mouse-themed’ cruise, fantasy has a place but living in the here and now allows optimal takeaway from a journey.

Discover Alaskan Adventures – Take Excursions for More!

Alaska Cruise Misty Fjords

Cruises are a small investment and with that, I’d prefer to go regional, learn, grab art history, and then relax at night with simple itineraries.

Therefore, I choose a cruise line that provides plentiful time in port and other travelers who are there for the destination and culture.

Alaska Cruise With 10 Breathtaking Ports To Explore: Vancouver (1)

My choice would be to embark on Vancouver.

Accordingly, I’d arrive 2 days in advance, and plan out what I need to see to feel that I’ve seen enough of the destination to calm my thirst for the area.

Once embarked the truest part of the journey begins.

I’ve arrived in one country and I am heading back to the USA.

Settling into my stateroom allows me to unpack once and journey for days!

Absolute relief and the advantage of this Alaska Cruise.

Alaska Cruise Day 2: The Famed Inside Passage (2)

Alaska Inside Passage

Welcome to the Strait of Georgia, the Seymour Narrows, and the Grenville Channel.

Are you keeping up and marking this off your travel map, as we are conquering much already!

Cliffs, dolphins, and whales with seagulls and bald eagles, nature’s splendor abounds.

Specifically, this part of the journey will be my time to photo, reflect and just take it all in via the ship.

Alaska Cruise Day 3: Ketchikan Here I Come (3)

Alaska Cruise Ketchikam

Ketchikan is a coastal community.

You might know that totem poles and Alaska are synonymous.

No visit would be complete with a stop at the Alaskan Totem Trading Company and a visit to the carving studio to learn more!

Visit this southernmost city in Alaska by making sure to City Park, Dolly’s House Museum, and Nathan Jackson’s Thunderwings.

Go beyond the cruise included excursion and dare yourself to indulge.

Discover Alaskan Adventures: Excursions Ketchikan

My Alaska Cruise offers the ‘included’ excursion at each port, but I want more and Viking offers that as well.

The 2 excursions that have piqued my interest: a flight into the wilderness and to the Misty Fjords National Monument.

Or, potentially, the Alaskan Lodge and Seafood excursion.

Either way, I will be cultured, traveled, and will have conquered Ketchikan enough to quench my voracious travel curiosity.

Alaska Cruise, Destination: Sitka (4)

Alaska Cruise Sitka

Included at the port is a motorcoach tour which is a great way to see the scenic city quickly and then move on to more!

Castle Hill is actually where Russia bid adieu to Alaska and signed it over to the USA!

Mt. Edgecumbe, Totem Park, and Tongass National Forest allow you to get a true feel for the scenic surroundings in Alaska.

Discover Alaskan Adventures: Dive Deeper with an Excursion

Without a doubt, my choice for an excursion is an approximate 4-hour salmon fishing adventure.

I am all in for casting a line and snagging a Salmon in Alaska’s premium fishing waters!

From trolling to line casting with the option to ship what we caught, it’s a ‘must do’ for me adventure!

Seafood won’t get any fresher than this in my home!

Alaska Cruise: Destination Juneau

If you don’t arrive here by sea or air you don’t arrive!

Did you know that Juneau is the ONLY capital inaccessible by road?

Lucky me, as my Alaska cruise of choice visits here!

Discover Alaskan Adventures in Port

With so many possible options, this particular port may need to be revisited to experience enough.

Maybe this is just a taste of Juneau and a chance for me to consider coming back to stay for a week or two?

Options to discover Alaskan adventures include:

a visit to the Glacier Gardens rain forest
touring the Alaska State Museum
whale watching, orca, sea lion cruise
visiting Mendenhall Glacier & Auke Bay
Salmon fishing charter
flightseeing 5 glaciers

There are more choices too, and it’s going to be hard to choose I am certain!

Alaska Cruise: Destination Skagway (6)

Exactly what is there to see and do in Skagway, Alaska?

It was goldrush central in its heyday.

Now, a walk through the historic downtown area will it’s bring to life the days of yesteryear.

Then it’s off to conquer an ascent to White Pass summit it’s 3,290 Foot High!

There’s a stop at the Gold Rush Cemetary, and I’ll get to pass through old Brackett Wagon Road and Dead Horse Gulch.

Discover Alaskan Adventures in Skagway

Alaska Cruise Skagway

Truly one of the hardest ports to choose what to do as they are diverse and all interesting.

My top three choices to discover Alaskan adventures in Skagway are:

An intense off-road ATV excursion through the Chilkat Peninsula.

Conversely taking part in the Chilkoot trail hike, river raft, and summit drive are appealing as well.

However, the showstopper Alaskan adventure may possibly be a high-speed catamaran cruise to Haines via the Lynn Canal and then a drive to see native animals.

Alaska Cruise: Destination Icy Straight Point (7)

I’d term this port unspoiled wild Alaska.

Nature trails, a restored old canning station, whale-watching options, cultural experiences via presentations, and that’s the short of it.

When you arrive at Icy Point Straight, the true adventurer can rip into high gear.

Discover Alaskan Adventures in Icy Point Straight

Lots of physical activity options which makes me s-q-u-e-a-k with happiness!

Kayaking the protected waters around Hoonah and Pitt Island to really get close to nature.

Bald eagles, whales, sea lions, depending on when you are there!

How about an Off-Road trip in your own Jeep into the forests of Chichagof Island?

Or savor the flavor of local cuisine and learn how to prepare it? That’s an option too!

Alaska Cruise: Destination Yakutat Bay (9)

Relax today as you cruise through Yakutat Bay.

Yesterday you adventured hard and today will get you to all the other ports you are going to!

However, your eyes will do the walking and talking today as the most unsullied scenery is there for the ogling.

Your Discovering Alaskan Adventures From Your Eyes!

In fact, today, you discover Alaskan adventure will be from your cruise ship including Disenchantment Bay!

Hubbard glacier is inside of Disenchantment Bay and will serve as your discover Alaskan adventure end-all today.

It’s actually able to be seen miles away, but your cameras will be snapping and mouths will be agape in awe of this beautiful glacier and its ambiance.

Alaska Cruise: Destination Valdez (10)

The welcoming fjord in the Prince William Sound awaits your arrival.

Self-guided tours through this small fishing town are probably enough for many but diver deeper and be rewarded.

We could go to a museum, but that is a life that has been, and I want to live in the NOW!

Look, stare, gaze, and feel overwhelmed by the town’s scenic backdrop.

Then, ‘Pull it together Esther we are going adventuring to dive deeper and experience more because we have TIME!’

Discover Alaskan Adventures In Valdez

The Chugach Mountains might beckon, so hop in a helicopter and get soaring.

However, the understated method of kayaking lets you get close and personal and be one with the glacier lake.

Paddle by icebergs, yeah, you got me, no need to twist my arm!

Alaska Cruise: Destination Seward (11)

This port can be your starting point or your ending depending on which Ocean Cruise you choose with Viking.

If my plans come together, Seward is my last port of call, however, I will stay on a few days to discover Alaska a bit more!

While the Alaska SeaLife Center is included with our travels, I prefer to trek a bit harder and see the sea life up and closer.

Discover Alaskan Adventures in Seward

To end on a big note, the scenic train and rafting capture my interest for a full day on land and water!

But, there’s a string tugging at me, because there are more discover Alaskan adventures that seem like great options.

The Resurrection Bay wildlife cruise puts me right in the waters where the wildlife is and oh the photos I could take and experience I could have!

Then, there’s the Exit Glacier Hike. Get outdoors, and live it big.

So many choices and that’s not all of them.

My Alaska Cruise will allow me to Discover Alaskan Adventures.

I guess it’s quite obvious that I am reading, planning, and figuring my way through Alaska.

In order to discover Alaskan adventures, I have to decide what best fits my personality and what I want to take away.

To discover Alaskan adventures…

It is to really learn, try, experience, and place me into the Alaska Cruise destinations we stop at.

I now challenge you as well to discover Alaskan adventures that are not the norm.

In fact, discover Alaskan adventures that might not be the ones you would choose, but should because they are more the opposite of you.

Why?

To thoroughly reel in as much as possible from your Alaska Cruise, you need to discover Alaskan adventures that will capture your attention.

When you are captivated, you learn more and that’s what happens when you discover Alaskan adventures! ~ Dana XO