If you've had it on your bucket list, start saving for Alaska now.

It's worth every penny.

Of course, I say this having been given the trip as a gift from my mother-in-law.  But I would do it again even if we had to pay (though it likely wouldn't have been for several years!).  It is one of the most incredible places I've ever been in my life. 

I'm going to do a few posts to demonstrate why I recommend it so highly, or to make recommendations on what to do or see or plan your trip.  You're welcome to skip them if you're not interested.

First, take a cruise.  We went on the Island Princess.  It was huge.



Yes, all you've heard about cruises are true.  The food. The international crew. The old people on board. The endless possibilities for activity and entertainment.  Here is some practical advice:

1. Don't book excursions through your cruise.  They scare you by saying that if you book with someone else and don't get back by the departure time, they will leave you.  You can solve this by booking as soon as you get off the ship and choosing an early excursion.  Unless you're loaded, you won't be able to afford two excursions per day anyway!  Or, book in advance through a local agency.  Comparing costs in advance can save you a lot of money, though you can still save if you decide the day you dock.
2. Don't bring so many fancy clothes you get tired of your "day" clothes.  We ended up not going to the dining room every night, and attended only one of the formal nights. The only clothes I didn't wear repeatedly the entire trip were dressier clothes.  Bring black pants, a black skirt, and a couple of nice sweaters or blouses. I didn't see anyone turned away from the dining room for lack of a tie or dinner coat on formal night, so don't stress about not being fancy enough.
3. Get the balcony room.  Yes, it costs more. But being able to watch humpback whales from the privacy of your own balcony -- and sit down when you wanted, with a bit of a wind break -- was a nice break from the crowded open decks. Plus, in Alaska, the sun doesn't really set, so you can sit out in your pjs and watch the wildlife early in the morning or late at night.
4. Be prepared for the tourist traps and jewelry stores. The only town that really felt like a town not given over entirely to diamond sales was Talkeetna.
5. Take a flight-seeing tour.  I recommend Sheldon Air Service in Talkeetna if your view of Denali is clear, or taking the excursion to the Taku Lodge.  (See photo below.)
   
6. If you're an intrepid traveler, plan the land tour portion of the trip on your own. We traveled with Princess on their "Land Tour" option, and I felt we didn't get enough time in the towns or at Denali National Park. If you like conveniences, stick with Princess -- they'll handle the bus transportation, luggage transfers, and hotel reservations for you.
7. If you want to see wildlife, get up early. People on an early tour of Denali NP saw wolves tearing at a carcass, grizzly bears, moose, caribou, and more.  In the afternoon, we saw caribou. Period.  I was really disappointed.  It was warm, and the animals were napping -- perfectly natural, but still a bummer.
8. If you want good pictures, invest in good equipment and a telephoto lens. A young man on our tour had a long lens and was able to get magazine-worthy shots of the caribou. I got a brown dot in the field.
9. If you want to see whales, go on a whale-watching tour.  From the ship, you may see tail flukes and some backs breaking the surface, but the likelihood of seeing orcas is slim and getting close enough to see whales feeding or anything dramatic is less likely. Not impossible, but rare.
10. Be prepared for less-than-comfy accommodations. It's a ship, people. The regular rooms are small. The beds are twin mattresses on metal spring frames pushed together to form a "queen." They try to make up for it with stellar room steward service, chocolates on your pillow at night, fresh fruit delivered to your room every day, and plenty to keep you out of your room in hopes you'll be too tired to notice your back hurts.
11. It's expensive.  Everything in Alaska averages 15-20% more than in the lower 48.  If you cruise only, it's not too bad if you're prepared to pay for the excursions, as the food is included. Land tours = restaurants = expensive.