Q: I’m planning to take a cruise to Alaska, but I haven't picked a city or area to go to yet.
I want to go dog sledding, see the northern lights, as well as go sea kayaking and glacier hiking. What city or area is the best place to go to? Climbing Mt. McKinley in Denali would be nice, but I would rather get the most of the other options then just the park. At the moment, price is of no concern. —Matt
A: Thanks for your question. I must say, you’re the first person I’ve spoke with who’s been weighing a cruise versus climbing Mt. McKinley. I’ve done both, and I can tell you no two Alaska experiences could be more different! Climbing McKinley was 35 days of sleeping in a tent in freezing cold temperatures, cooking my own freeze-dried food and melting snow for drinking water at least 3 to 4 hours per day. In 35 days, I hiked and climbed less than 50 miles round-trip.
A cruise is on the opposite end of comfort and luxury. You can sit on your verandah smoking a cigar and pass by more scenery than I saw on a McKinley climb in the course of a single stogie. When you get hungry, there are always multiple restaurants to choose from. It requires no advance planning and every whim is taken care of.
So I commend you for having the flexibility of mind to consider these two very opposing options!
If you do want to take a cruise, the big choice you need to make is small ship versus big ship. Big ship itineraries typically call on ports in the Inside Passage. Small ships have a greater variety of itineraries. If your interest is dog sledding, sea kayaking, and glacier hiking, you can arrange that in most ports of call along the Inside Passage.
One great thing about Alaska is that most of its iconic activities can be experiences in many different parts of the state. The difference between the best, say, glacier tour, and the runner-up probably isn’t perceptible—everything in Alaska is on such a different scale and beauty than what most people have experiences. That said, I’ve still put together a fantasy list: Best of Alaska. I also put together a list of Best Alaska Shore Excursions.
That said, you can also do all those things without taking a cruise, by flying into Anchorage, and either driving or training it from there. Keep in mind that the Northern Lights aren't visible during summer. I would put those on your list for a winter trip. To help you narrow down your cruise options, check out our Small Ship Vs. Big Ship page on Alaska.org. If you decide you want to do these trips on your own, we can help you pick the right sea kayaking, dog sledding or glacier tours.
Good luck with your planning!
