When is a good time to visit Alaska?
The Alaskan cruise season runs from May to September.  Cruise prices are more favorable in early May and September.  More families travel in the summer months of July and August.  May is a great month for wild flowers and September for Autumn colors.

Which cruise route should I select?
There are three basic Alaskan cruise routes.  There is the Inside Passage, the Northbound Glacier Route and the Southbound Glacier Route.   We have included on the site several routes that showcase the Pacific Northwest.   The Inside Passage is usually a roundtrip cruise from Vancouver or Seattle.  The Route offers spectacular viewpoints of British Columbia's coastline  and visits Alaskan panhandle ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway and Haines.  The highlight of the cruise is a visit to Glacier Bay or Hubbard or Sawyer Glacier. The Northbound Glacier Route is a one-way cruise that takes in more glaciers and northern viewpoints.  This route often includes spectacular Prince William Sound  and the numerous glaciers of College Fjord. The Southbound Route is simply the reverse of the Northbound with your starting point being Anchorage. Most land tours are available with the Northbound and Southbound Glacier Routes. The Pacific Northwest.  Washington State and British Columbia.  A beautiful area of the world where urban life and nature coexist.  This route includes shorter 3 & 4 day cruises between Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria.

Do the cruise lines vary in service? All the cruise lines that sail Alaska offer exceptional service.  However, each varies in how they deliver that service, shipboard amenities and land tour / shore excursion options.  Click here to find a cruise line right for you.

What are cruise tours? These are pre and post cruise land extensions/tours.  Cruise tours provide you with the time to explore Alaska and Canada.  Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean offer the most extensive variety of add-on land extensions/tours.

How to be less of a tourist and more of an explorer? Alaska is meant to be experienced not observed.  This is possible on a cruise.  You can extend your Alaskan vacation either pre or post cruise by adding land components that allow you to travel deep within Alaska and Canada.  You participate in adventurous or culturally rich shore excursion.  Each Port of Call offers an opportunity to explore and learn.

When should I book? As a general rule the best cabins go quickly.  The number of ships sailing are restricted as to minimize the impact on the Alaskan environment.   The cruise lines offer their most favorable discounts to those that book early.

Who should I book with?
You should book with a travel agency that specializes in cruising.  If you go with a mainstream agency or a smaller all travel agency you risk being placed on a cruise line and ship that will not match your expectations.  At My Cruise Club.com, we specialize in cruising.  We can answer all your questions and help make that Alaska experience one you will want to repeat again and again.

Is a passport required?
US and Canadian Citizens:  No passport is required.  Your Port of Calls are either American or Canadian.  The cruise lines require proof of citizenship (birth certificate and photo ID).  We recommend you still take your passport.

Other Nationals:  Most foreign nationals will be required to have a Passport and Visa to enter the US and Canada.  

It is the passenger's responsibility to provide acceptable proof of citizenship.  There are no refunds to passengers denied boarding for lack of proper documents.

Should I get travel insurance?
We do recommend buying trip cancellation coverage.  In the event your trip is cancelled because of a medical emergency in your immediate family you will recover the nonrefundable portion of your cruise price.  This coverage does not include any pre-existing medical conditions.  Additional coverage is also available for Baggage Protection, Emergency Evacuation and Medical Coverage.  Call one of our knowledgeable agents at 1-888-847-4555 to discuss specific coverage details.

Do I need travelers checks?
Not really.  On board you will get a very convenient shipcard that will let you charge all your onboard expenditures to your ship account .  ATM machines can be found at all Port of Calls and on most cruise ships.  The major credit cards are accepted everywhere.

How do I arrange airfare?
Airfare can be arranged through the cruise line or separately by your Alaska Cruise Expert.  Call 1-888-847-4555.

Will my family be welcome?
Yes!  Children often can travel at substantially reduced rates.  If your kids are active and love adventure they will enjoy an  Alaskan cruise.

Several cruise lines visiting Alaska cater to and provide facilities and services for families. If you have young children we recommend Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean for the their programs for children and babysitting services.

Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America and Royal Caribbean do not permit guests under the age of 21 unless they are accompanied by an adult 25 years or older.  Crystal, Princess will not allow children under six months to travel.  Restrictions towards children vary with each cruise line and therefore we recommend you contact one of our knowledgeable agents.

Can children cruise for free?
Norwegian allows children under two to sail for free.  This is assuming they will be staying in a stateroom with two or more paying guests.  However, port charges and government  fees still apply. The other cruise lines offered greatly reduced pricing for children if they are the 3rd or 4th in the stateroom.

Is there entertainment and programs for kids and teens?
Yes, but pick your cruise line and ship carefully.

Carnival offers Camp Carnival® program which features supervised activities for Children 2-15, with limited activities available for 16 to 18 year olds.

Celebrity offers children's programs for four age groups: Ship Mates (ages 3-6), Celebrity Cadets (ages 7-9), Ensigns (ages 10-12) and Admiral T's (ages 13-15 and 16-17).  Onboard counselors are always available and activities take place daily.

Norwegian offers Kid's Crew on of the most comprehensive supervised children's programs at sea.  Junior Sailor (age 3-5), First Mates (ages 6-8), Navigators (ages 9-12) and Teens (ages 13-17).  Norwegian has shore excursions just for kids.

Princess offers supervised activities at its Youth and Teen centers.  Nickelodeon is even available on your stateroom TV.  However, children under the agent of two are not permitted in the Youth Center.

Royal Caribbean offers Adventure Ocean programs for children 3 and older.

Are babysitting services available?
Yes, but only on some cruise lines. For example, Princess offers a baby sitting service at the Youth Center.  There is a $4.00 per hour per child when the ship is in Port. On Norwegian private babysitting services can be arranged between 12noon and 2:00am.

These arrangements must be made 24 hour in advance and there is a fee.

Are pets allowed?
Sorry, no pets are allowed.  Special exception will be given to seeing eye dogs.

First Time Cruise Questions

Is there much to do on board?
A cruise ship is like a floating resort.  It will take you days just to explore the your ship.  And most days the ship will visit a new port with many activity options.  Your biggest problem will be deciding what to do!

Will I feel confined by the masses?
No.  These ships are so large that the passengers seem to get lost within the ship.  The only time you will notice the masses is at embarkation and if you choose to eat in the larger dining rooms.

Is cruising a good value?
Yes.  There is a cruise vacation for every budget.  And when you factor in what is included in the price it is an unbeatable value.

What is included in cruise price?
When you purchase a cruise the following is included:

• Your well appointed comfortable stateroom
• All Meals and Snacks including Room Service
• All Onboard Entertainment - Broadway Productions, Performers and Comedy Shows 
• Pools, spas and saunas
• The Fitness Facilities
• Wonderful viewing, reading and relaxing spaces 
• Children & Teen Programs while at Sea
• Lectures on ports the ship will visit
• The spectacular view and all the fresh air you can breathe in.
• And of course the Amazing Service

What isn't included in the cruise price?
When you purchase a cruise the following is not included:

• Airfare to/from your Port of Departure and Arrival
• Governments Fees and Local Departure Taxes
• Pop and Alcohol.  But juice is included.
• Spa treatments, Hairstyling and Massages (Sorry!)
• Shore Excursions
• Phone calls and Internet Access
• Tips (this is optional)
• All other items of a personal nature

What are the cancellation penalties?
Penalties vary by cruise line.  As a rule the closer you get to your departure date the greater the penalty.  If you do have concerns consider cancellation insurance.

Can I eat healthy and exercise?
Yes.  You will be tempted to indulge in endless rich and sweet foods available at every moment.  Yet for the strong willed there are always health and light menu items available.

All ships have exercise facilities.  You can workout in the gym, attend an aerobics class, jog, swim or play basketball.  On some ships you can even play golf or tennis.

Am I confined to set dining times?
Absolutely not.   Today's cruising involves lots of dining options.   Most lines offer an early or a late sitting.

There is great variety between the different cruise lines so make sure you identify your preference to our cruise consultants at My Cruise Club.com.

What if I have a special diet?
On request you can have a salt-free, low-carbohydrate or Kosher diet.  This request should be made at time of booking.

Are there 'non-smoking' areas?
In most ships there are non-smoking staterooms and areas of the ship.  Most cruise lines have designated their dining rooms and lounges as nonsmoking.  If this is important to you mention this to your Alaska Cruise Expert.

Will I feel motion sickness?
Most people will not experience motion sickness.  The modern ships of today are equipped with stabilizers that greatly reduce the amount of motion at sea.

If you consider yourself sensitive consider booking a cabin near the center of the ship where there is less motion.    You may also want to consider the patch.  Not for smoking but for motion sickness.  Transderm Scopolamine, is a patch that is applied behind the ear.  It is only available by prescription and can create some side effects so talk to your doctor if you are concerned.     If you don't like taking drugs consider strapping on a Sea-Band wristband the minute you embark.  This little accupressure device can curb nausea without any drug side-effects.  Sea-Bands are available at all major drug stores.

Is it easy to stay connected with the outside world?
It is easy to stay connected to the rest of the world while at sea.  You have a phone in your stateroom and fax services are available.  However, watch out as phone charges are high.  You can stay connected via email as internet services are now available on most ships visiting Alaska.

Can I celebrate a special occasion?
You can celebrate your honeymoon, anniversary, birthday and almost any important occasion to you.  The cruise lines offer different packages for all of these occasions. The important thing is you prearrange this on booking with us at Alaska Cruise Experts.

Can I use my hair dryer and shaver?
The North American standard 110-volt outlets are used on all cruise ships.

How should I dress?
Today's cruise vacations are more casual by day whether on ship or ashore.  In the evening, dress codes may vary.

Most lines vary their dinner dress codes daily from casual to semi-formal to formal.  On casual evenings, open neck shirts, slacks and sports outfits fit right in.  On semiformal evenings, ladies wear dresses or pantsuits and men wear coats and ties.  On formal evenings, women deck themselves with evening gowns or cocktail dresses and men don tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits.

Other lines are more formal or completely casual.  Talk to your Alaska Cruise Expert Agent for the right ship for you.

What should I pack?
You can pack more on a cruise.  You only have to unpack and pack once on your entire trip.  Remember to cross-pack your bags with each others clothing, in case your luggage goes missing en route to the cruise ship.

Will I have access to medical services?
Yes, medical staff and facilities exist on the ship.  Hopefully you will never need to see them.

Are there laundry services on board?
Yes, most ships offer laundry and dry cleaning services.  Some ships have self-serve laundromats.

Can I bring a visitor on board?
Sorry, no guests are allowed on board.

How much do I have to tip?
Tipping is at your discretion.  A large part of cruise staff income comes from tips,  so if you are treated well, show your appreciation with a gratuity.  As a general rule, plan to pay $3.50 per day to each of your waiter(s) and cabin steward(s), and $2.00 per day to each of your bus boy(s).  All lounge, beauty salon and spa service staff receive a 15% gratuity automatically (on most ships) so you may not need to tip them additionally.

All tips are paid on the last evening of the cruise.  You will be provided envelopes so you can hand the tips to the staff in person.  Some cruise lines will automatically charge your ship account unless you request otherwise.

You will find that the cost of tipping is rather small when compared to the excellent quality of service you will receive while on board.