I just returned from an Alaska cruise, and there were five small things I did that made a huge impact on my vacation.
There’s a lot to consider when planning a cruise to Alaska. From booking flights to reserving shore excursions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the process.
Yet even the smallest decisions can make a big difference. Before my recent Alaska cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas, I spent just a few hours researching ways to improve my experience.
I found unexpected flight deals, booked a cruise add-on for embarkation day, and packed appropriate attire for my summer itinerary.
In the end, these five seemingly small actions made my cruise so much better.
First, I booked my flights with Air2Sea to save money
One small, quick thing I did before my Alaska cruise was check flight prices on Air2Sea.
Air2Sea is Royal Caribbean’s flight booking system, which allows passengers to purchase flights alongside their cruise reservation. Not only is the program convenient, but it provides protection in the case of unforeseen issues, like delays and cancellations, that prevent passengers from getting to their ship on time.
I usually book my flights directly through the airlines, but decided to check prices on Air2Sea to see how they compared. Royal Caribbean frequently offers lucrative discounts on airfare through Air2Sea—usually for Alaska and European sailings.
To my surprise, I found a first class flight to Seattle for only $276 round trip. Oddly enough, the economy fare was more expensive!
The deal seemed too good to be true, but my travel agent confirmed the pricing, and we booked my first class flight directly through Air2Sea.
Because I spent just a few short minutes checking Air2Sea’s website for flights, I enjoyed a far more comfortable travel day to Seattle.
Of course, you’ll want to read the fine print before booking flights through Air2Sea. Cancellation and change policies are different from booking directly through the airline, so it may not be best for those who want extra flexibility.
Even still, it’s worth checking the website for flights before your cruise. The savings could be substantial.
Next, I booked a specialty restaurant on embarkation day to beat the crowds
One of my most utilized embarkation day “hacks” is to book a specialty restaurant for lunch.
As thousands of passengers board the ship within just a few hours, embarkation day is typically chaotic. Because cabins aren’t ready until later in the afternoon, crowds quickly grow in common areas like the Windjammer buffet, Royal Esplanade, and pool deck.
Related: 30 cruise ship embarkation day do's and don'ts
When I first started cruising, I would head to the Windjammer for a quick, casual lunch. Yet the crowds, loud atmosphere, and general chaos of the venue was far from relaxing. Sometimes, I couldn't even find a seat.
I didn’t want to start my Alaska cruise off on the wrong foot. So, instead of eating lunch at the Windjammer on embarkation day, I booked a meal at Jamie’s Italian instead.
Jamie’s Italian is one of my favorite specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean. In between the cheesy, pull-apart garlic knots and spicy penne arrabbiata, it’s hard to go wrong with any item on the menu.
The restaurant costs extra, but you can usually snag great deals prior to your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. On my Anthem of the Seas cruise, I booked lunch for just $18 per person including gratuity.
The extra expense was totally worth it. The restaurant was quiet and calm—a stark contrast to the buffet a few decks above. My meal took around an hour and a half, and by the time I finished, my cabin was cleaned and ready to enter.
After a busy travel day to Seattle and a hectic morning getting ready to board the ship, I definitely made the right decision by booking a specialty restaurant on embarkation day.
I also packed clothing for warm weather, and just a few items for the cold
When most people picture an Alaska cruise, they imagine chilly weather, icy glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. Before packing your heavy parka, though, you’ll want to research the weather averages for the month you sail.
For my June departure, I avoided bringing my heavy coats, gloves, and hats. During the summer, temperatures average over 60 degrees in Juneau. On my visit to the port, it was a sweltering 75 degrees!
Related: The best month to cruise to Alaska on a Royal Caribbean cruise
I packed a few cold-weather items, like a light jacket and a few pairs of jeans. However, I also packed t-shirts, shorts, and lightweight long-sleeved shirts.
Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable, but our mid-summer cruise had excellent weather. Most of my sweaters went unworn, and I regretted wasting the packing space in my suitcase on these bulkier items.
Nonetheless, I’m glad I had the forethought to pack lightweight clothes so I didn’t feel uncomfortably warm in port.
I researched budget-friendly things to do in each port of call
Exploring Alaska’s ports of call can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.
My Alaska itinerary visited three ports: Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria. I was cruising to the Last Frontier with my brother, and we wanted to keep our costs down in each port of call. Both of us have busy travel schedules this summer, so spending hundreds of dollars on excursions was simply not in the cards.
We didn’t want to miss out on each port’s highlights, however. Instead of booking guided tours, I found ways to explore ports on our own.
In Juneau, we wanted to visit Mendenhall Glacier, but found the $79 shuttle bus extremely overpriced. I paid $45 for the same shuttle just a few years ago!
As an alternative, we took a local city bus to a stop near the glacier instead. At $2 each way, the price was hard to beat. And although the bus doesn’t stop directly at the glacier—it’s a 30-minute walk away—the walking path is scenic and safe.
There were also bikes to rent at the bus stop, too, for those who don’t want to walk the rest of the way.
In Skagway and Victoria, I researched self-guided walking tours of the cities. My brother and I spent our days wandering around each port to try local coffee shops and restaurants, and we also enjoyed peaceful walks through quiet parks.
Spending just a couple of hours researching the ports on my itinerary helped me plan exciting days that didn’t break the bank.
Lastly, I learned about Luggage Valet, and this helped me plan my disembarkation day
At the end of my cruise, I utilized Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service to make my travel day so much smoother.
Seattle is one of my favorite cities to visit, and I wanted to explore the city with my brother at the end of our cruise. So, instead of booking flights home early in the day, we booked flights for the late evening.
Yet as the cruise approached, I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. I was traveling to Seattle with a large suitcase, and lugging the bag around the city (and to the airport) seemed cumbersome. I wondered if I should have booked an earlier flight so I could Uber directly from the port to the airport with my luggage.
Yet once I learned about Luggage Valet, I could plan my sightseeing day in Seattle without worry.
The Port of Seattle offers a complimentary luggage transfer from your ship to the airport at the end of your cruise. Through this service, I left my suitcase outside my cabin door the evening before disembarkation, and I didn’t pick it up until I arrived at my home airport the following night!
The process was extremely convenient and, aside from airline luggage fees, was complimentary.
Learning about this service before my cruise helped ease my stress of traveling through the city with luggage. You can register ahead of time on the Port of Seattle’s website here, or wait until you get onboard.
