HARSH Realities of an Alaskan Cruise: When the Dream Doesn't Happen

We took an 11 day cruise to Alaska in 2005 and it just made us crave to see more of it. So in 2019 we drove! When we went, the roads were fine as we pulled our 5th wheel. We were in no hurry to get there and so we often said, “We’re just meandering our way to Alaska.” We saw so much wildlife along the Alaska Highway….bears, moose, eagles, mountain goats and bison. We LOVED Valdez and spent 2 weeks there! And then another 3 weeks in the Homer area. We took two nature cruises and saw orcas and humpback whales, seals, puffins and eagles.

We took a Holland America cruise on the Volendam out of Vancouver, B.C. to Alaska and back for our 35th anniversary in 2014. We splurged, upgrading to first class on United Airlines round trip from Tampa, and upgraded to the Neptune suites on the ship. We only had bad weather at one stop, in Ketchikan. Glacier Bay National Park was amazing. The Neptune suites are amazing: twice the width of a normal veranda suite, with a double wide balcony, access to the Neptune lounge, private concierge, free laundry, all day coffee, tea, juice, fruits and cheeses, etc. We arrived in Vancouver two days before the cruise and flew home two days afterwards. Stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Great vacation.

Visiting Alaska is a good dose of reality, not always a bowl of cherries. I lived 10 years in Fairbanks and 5 in Anchorage, with many opportunities to charter out to the villages for work. It's an exceptionally beautiful state, with good people who will rescue you from a life-threatening situation in a heartbeat.

An Alaskan cruise is all about timing. We did the Royal Caribbean Southbound itinerary in early August with friends and the weather was amazing! Only one day of rain the entire trip! No excursions were cancelled, we saw 27 whales in total, went right up the Hubbard Glacier, and the highlight for us was taking a beautiful train ride on the White Pass/Yukon Narrow Gauge Railway from Canada to Skagway, AK! This is not a flex, but it’s all about choosing the right dates for an Alaskan cruise, but course, there can never be a guarantee on the weather in Alaska…

I saved 3 years to take my husband on the Princess Alaska cruise this summer for his 65th. He got covid and spent 5 days in the room. AHHHHHHHH However in 12 days it only rained 2 hrs!

I loved your shots of Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in full bloom. We were there in March for my son's wedding. It was held indoors where every Spring flower imaginable was in bloom. It's on my bucket list to go back someday in the summer.

As an Alaskan resident of 27 years, I’m always bummed when travelers here don’t get to experience the full extent of the wonders WE know are here. Heck, I can see towering mountain peaks and ice fields by driving 10 minutes from home … but on a rainy day, I may as well live in MN. 🤷🏼‍♀️ But give it a few days (which you can do in your RV) and the view can switch dramatically! Whether it’s the weather or marine/wildlife not cooperating; it’s truly sad when a once in a lifetime trip doesn’t perform as hoped. Definitely come up in your RV! Plan plenty of time, and keep as much time as possible flexible. I love traveling all over AK by RV and, unless I’m heading to a specific event, I’ve been known to pack up, then check my weather app for a 5-10 day forecast before deciding whether I’m heading to Valdez, Seward, Homer or elsewhere. Follow the sunshine! Airplane or helicopter flight-seeing trips are equally spectacular whether your take a Denali flight out of Talkeetna, a Glacier-viewing (with possible landings!) flight out of Valdez, or bear-viewing flights out of Homer. Marine wildlife boat cruises are stellar out of Valdez and Seward, and the fishing is great just about anywhere along the Kenai Peninsula. Hope you come up soon - and be prepared to see the REAL Alaska. 🐋🦑🐬🦀🦅🫎🦦

What fun!! Definitely putting this on my bucket list of things to do. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.

From Northern BC now in Vancouver. The cruise is a great start. Road, train, small charters and planes into small places are a must do, once you've got the basics done.

Brought back memories of the Alaskan inland passage cruise I had gone on. Eagles were amazing! Thank you for sharing your travels.

Thank you for the positivity!

I think that the weather is one good reason to take your rig to Alaska, you get a lot more time to get the right weather and the wildlife to cooperate. Keep the good stuff coming guys.

Having been to Alaska twice, driving both times, there truly is SO much more to inland to see, albeit having been to Skagway, Valdez, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Homer and more, along with having your own bed with you each night, some of the sights are phenomenal. Seaward, when we where there, was the first time I've felt an earthquake, as we got a good shake...and it was all over, and the glaciers around the area are just so wonderful to see, and walk up to. Chena Hot Springs is worth the drive, as all electrical/heat is from Geothermal, and all the meat for their restaurant they harvest from the animals around the site. I still remember tomato plants with limbs the size of a mans arm, going straight to the roof of the greenhouses, and the hot-springs aren't bad either, nor the campsite there.

Going on my 4th cruise in December. Sailing on Diamond Princess out of Tokyo to Singapore, 6 or 7 port visits along the way.

I’m from Juneau, loved your pics. The weather can change, from one minute raining, then sunshine. I’m happy you were able to make it to our great state.

Glad you got to see the garden in B.C. Really a special place; long history.

Great video, guys. Got a two-fer, my favorite two channels together. It's a shame you got rained out on your excursion, but that's Alaska. That is one of my favorite places to go. No matter how many times you go, you can't wait to get back. If I'd known about Alaska 45 years ago, that's where I'd be now. Too old to move there, but i can travel there. It seems like ya'll enjoyed yourselves anyway. Thanks so much for taking us along with you. Cant wait to see part two. God bless ya'll and stay safe out there on your trip.

Looks like so much fun!!!

We love Alaskan cruises! Such a beautiful place Alaska is! Enjoy!!!

Incredibly awesome. Really glad u had a good time. 👋😉