Best Things to Do on Alaska Cruise

For many of those cruising to Alaska, seeing wildlife is a major draw, and humpback whales are a big favorite. Most travelers to Alaska see the fluke (tail) of a humpback whale, and lucky ones get to see them working cooperatively to bubble feed.

If your cruise ship stops over in Skagway, you'll find an old gold rush boomtown community, complete with shops, bars, restaurants, and wonderful old historical buildings. Although you can easily spend the day exploring Skagway, a ride on the White Pass Railway travels up into the mountains and provides magnificent scenic views and a look at the route the gold miners took on their way to the gold fields in the Yukon. Some White Pass combination rail and bus excursions include a stop at the Yukon Suspension Bridge for a great photo opportunity.

All of the National Parks in the United States are worthy of a visit, and Glacier Bay is one that can best be viewed from a ship. The unspoiled, glorious mountain scenery, glaciers, and wildlife like sea lions and bears make this park a memorable destination.

In addition to many miles of ocean shoreline, Alaska features some beautiful rivers that are perfect for floating or jet boating. The Chilkat River near Haines is one of these, and a ride on the river provides a close up look at moose, eagles, and other wildlife.

A helicopter ride is an exciting adventure almost anywhere in the world, but zipping over an icy glacier field in Alaska is quite exhilarating!

Can you go dog sledding on the snow in August? Yes, you can if you take a helicopter ride up to a summer training camp for sled dogs. This was definitely one of my favorite shore excursions ever (I'm a dog lover).

If your cruise is embarking in Seward, you might enjoy riding the train from Anchorage on the Coastal Classic route to Seward. The scenery is spectacular, and the ride is relaxing.

Misty Fjords National Monument is near Ketchikan, but is only accessible via plane or boat. This spectacular area is too far south for glaciers, but visitors get to the the results of these icy giants that were in the area eons ago.

Fifteen miles south of Ketchikan is Metlakatla, the only native American reservation in Alaska. It's a beautiful island and visitors get the opportunity to learn much about the Tsimshian culture and history. Like a walking tour of Skagway, a visit to Metlakatla provides some historical perspective of Alaska's past.

Fishing is a popular activity in Alaska, and cruise travelers can go fishing for halibut, salmon, or whatever odd sea creature bites their bait!

There's something unbelievably serene about kayaking on a calm, ice berg-filled bay near a glacier in Alaska. Enough said.