If your Alaska cruise vacation has a scenic cruise day in the itinerary you are lucky! To me a scenic cruise day in a fjord or bay in Alaska is better than a regular sea day or port of call.
Many cruise lines that sail Alaska have at least one scenic cruise day in the itinerary, but not all do. Cruise lines have choices about what scenic cruise path they decide to take so not all cruise lines and ships use the same scenic route. Before booking your Alaska cruise research your itinerary's scenic cruise day, if your itinerary has a scenic cruise day.
The goal of this blog post is to give you some tips and suggestions for your scenic cruise day.
1. Do Some Research Before You Cruise
Before you cruise you should take some time to research the cruise's itinerary. This includes researching your scenic cruise days. Look for reviews of the particular place that you will be cruising through and try to look for information about what you might see during your cruise through a scenic cruise spot. Doing your research can help you know what to look for and what to expect.
2. Where do you plan on watching the scenery?
If you have a balcony stateroom or a stateroom with a window view you might watch the view from your stateroom. If don't have a balcony or a stateroom that has a window you might want to consider going to the outside decks to watch the scenery.
If you are going to watch from your stateroom or balcony keep in mind (depending on your stateroom's location) you may only get to see one side of the scenery. Some cruise ships will turn 360 degrees at glaciers and some other highpoints of the trip during the scenic cruise days. However, not all cruise ships will do this. If your cruise ship does not do this you may miss the other side's scenery. Some cruise ships will sail into the scenic area and will turn around at the end or a certain point to leave, which allows the other side to see what they missed earlier.
Many people choose to watch the scenery and view go by from the outside decks of the cruise ship, even if they have a balcony. Choosing a place on the outside decks is important to many and some people will guard a spot hours before the ship arrives to the entrance of the scenic cruising spot. I recommend choosing a spot on the outside decks a day in advance and then arriving early to get the spot you want. I also recommend choosing a spot at the front because you will get a better view of both sides instead of one. Finally, keep in mind that if you leave your spot on the outside deck your spot may not be waiting for you when you come back. I noticed on my Carnival Miracle Alaska cruise in Tracy Arm Fjord that people would quickly take a spot the second a person moved. Use the restroom before going to the outside decks to view the scenery.
3. Dress Right For The Outdoors
If you are planning on watching the scenery on the outside decks or from your balcony this is for you! Make sure you dress comfortably so you don't have to miss scenery to change in your stateroom. The temperature in Alaska is not always cold, so make sure you are also prepared for warm weather.
4. Be On the Lookout For Wildlife
You may be able to spot some wildlife from the ship. On my Alaska cruise I saw many different birds from the ship in Tracy Arm Fjord. Bring a pair of binoculars if you are interested in looking for wildlife from the ship.
5. Be Quiet, Don't Talk Loud!
Being quiet on your balcony or on the outside decks is appreciated by most. Some people on my Alaska cruise were annoyed when people were loud because they wanted to enjoy the scenery in its natural state. On your balcony keep in mind that the people on the balcony next to yours can hear your voice and what you are saying. Remember that some people have paid a large amount of money for the cruise and airfare to see Alaska and this may be their only time to enjoy Alaska. Please don't spoil the experience for them.
Check out more Alaska cruise tips and suggestions here.
Many cruise lines that sail Alaska have at least one scenic cruise day in the itinerary, but not all do. Cruise lines have choices about what scenic cruise path they decide to take so not all cruise lines and ships use the same scenic route. Before booking your Alaska cruise research your itinerary's scenic cruise day, if your itinerary has a scenic cruise day.
The goal of this blog post is to give you some tips and suggestions for your scenic cruise day.
1. Do Some Research Before You Cruise
Before you cruise you should take some time to research the cruise's itinerary. This includes researching your scenic cruise days. Look for reviews of the particular place that you will be cruising through and try to look for information about what you might see during your cruise through a scenic cruise spot. Doing your research can help you know what to look for and what to expect.
2. Where do you plan on watching the scenery?
If you have a balcony stateroom or a stateroom with a window view you might watch the view from your stateroom. If don't have a balcony or a stateroom that has a window you might want to consider going to the outside decks to watch the scenery.
If you are going to watch from your stateroom or balcony keep in mind (depending on your stateroom's location) you may only get to see one side of the scenery. Some cruise ships will turn 360 degrees at glaciers and some other highpoints of the trip during the scenic cruise days. However, not all cruise ships will do this. If your cruise ship does not do this you may miss the other side's scenery. Some cruise ships will sail into the scenic area and will turn around at the end or a certain point to leave, which allows the other side to see what they missed earlier.
Many people choose to watch the scenery and view go by from the outside decks of the cruise ship, even if they have a balcony. Choosing a place on the outside decks is important to many and some people will guard a spot hours before the ship arrives to the entrance of the scenic cruising spot. I recommend choosing a spot on the outside decks a day in advance and then arriving early to get the spot you want. I also recommend choosing a spot at the front because you will get a better view of both sides instead of one. Finally, keep in mind that if you leave your spot on the outside deck your spot may not be waiting for you when you come back. I noticed on my Carnival Miracle Alaska cruise in Tracy Arm Fjord that people would quickly take a spot the second a person moved. Use the restroom before going to the outside decks to view the scenery.
3. Dress Right For The Outdoors
If you are planning on watching the scenery on the outside decks or from your balcony this is for you! Make sure you dress comfortably so you don't have to miss scenery to change in your stateroom. The temperature in Alaska is not always cold, so make sure you are also prepared for warm weather.
4. Be On the Lookout For Wildlife
You may be able to spot some wildlife from the ship. On my Alaska cruise I saw many different birds from the ship in Tracy Arm Fjord. Bring a pair of binoculars if you are interested in looking for wildlife from the ship.
5. Be Quiet, Don't Talk Loud!
Being quiet on your balcony or on the outside decks is appreciated by most. Some people on my Alaska cruise were annoyed when people were loud because they wanted to enjoy the scenery in its natural state. On your balcony keep in mind that the people on the balcony next to yours can hear your voice and what you are saying. Remember that some people have paid a large amount of money for the cruise and airfare to see Alaska and this may be their only time to enjoy Alaska. Please don't spoil the experience for them.
Check out more Alaska cruise tips and suggestions here.