Choosing Between an Alaskan Cruise and a Cruisetour

When you talk about cruising to Alaska you’ll hear people use different terminology then you’ll hear when discussing Caribbean cruising. One of the biggest differences you’ll hear is the term Cruisetour. This unique experience combines the traditional ocean cruise portion with a guided land tour often involving multiple destinations in the area. This is an especially popular option since Alaska is often thought of as being that once in a lifetime kind of trip for many.  

So when researching a cruise to Alaska, how do you choose between the two? There are a few things to keep in mind.  

Budget:

This is obviously the big one. A cruisetour is a longer vacation which means a larger cost for the vacation portion and all the extras that go into it. When we travel, I swear that the care for our animals' costs more than the vacation itself.  

Airfare:  

Another thing to consider is the airfare. While traditional Alaskan cruises depart from and return to the same port, allowing you to book round trip airfare (which is more cost effective); cruisetours are usually one way. This can cause a logistics issue for some travelers. Whether you start or end your trip with the land portion in Alaska, airfare to Anchorage or Fairbanks can be inaccessible for some. You may face long travel days and multiple layovers. Airlines also charge more when you only book one-way flights.   

Mobility Issues:  

A traditional cruise through Alaska often involves days of scenic cruising past glaciers, stops in multiple ports where you can find a variety of activities, and has you coming back to your stateroom night after night to relax. A cruisetour is a movement heavy activity. While your cruisetour company will handle the logistics; you are moving hotel rooms, having long travel days, and often hiking at many destinations. If you or anyone in your party has mobility issues, this should be a consideration prior to booking a cruisetour. While they do offer lower activity excursions, you may find yourself left behind on more strenuous ones.   

So why choose a cruisetour over a traditional cruise?   

The Alaskan coast is not a destination to be missed, and if Alaska truly is a once and a lifetime trip, it’s worth doing to full thing. The cruise portion of an Alaskan cruisetour is usually 7 nights going either north from Vancouver to Alaska or south from Alaska to Vancouver. A round-trip Alaskan cruise is also usually about 7 nights. With a one way 7-night cruise you spend more time cruising by glaciers and enjoying the scenery. You may also make an extra stop or two in ports since you don’t need to turn around to head back.  

The Alaskan interior is breathtaking. Mountains, glacier carved valleys, rushing rivers, fields of wildflowers that give way to astonishing views. Chances to see the northern lights are a major draw as well as the unique wildlife not seen anywhere else in the United States. We are so lucky to live in a time where visiting areas like this are accessible to us. The land portion of the cruise tour can be as few as three days and as many as eight, meaning there is an option for everyone.  

Here at Carry on the Magic, we have several agents who specialize in Alaskan cruising. Please reach out today to be connected to one.