Choosing Alaskan Cruise Excursions

So you just booked your Alaskan cruise and the excitement is at an all-time high. It's time to dig into the fun part -- booking all your excursions at the ports you're going to visit! I spent hours reading through each of the available options at my ports, trying to determine which ones sounded the most fun or would be best for me. Whether it's salmon fishing, whale watching, a duckboat tour, walking through the rainforest, or taking the train up the White Pass Summit, the options are endless.

Of course, price will likely always be the number one factor but here are a few other considerations when booking your Alaskan cruise excursions (or any cruise excursion). Have any other tips? I'd love to hear them!

1. Make a list of priorities and map it back to your budget: It goes without saying that budget matters. Maybe whale watching and a glacier hike is your priority. Or, you want to do a helicopter ride. Pick your top choices, and then from there, determine what else works within your budget. There's no wrong way to see Alaska -- and you're going to have an amazing time no matter what you choose!

2. Check to see if you have onboard credits to use: My cruise package came with on board credits to use for excursions, which helped to cut down on costs! Always check to see if you have options or ask your TA as well.

3. Book early, but check often: I booked early for my top choices for excursions (whale watching!) but I found that as we've gotten closer to our cruise, different excursions have popped up and there are more options. You can always cancel a reservation and change to a new one, but I wanted to make sure we got our top options!

4. Booking direct with the cruise line or with an off-site vendor: Since this will be my first cruise with Princess, I elected to book all my excursions direct through them. While this may be slightly more expensive, booking direct comes with extra peace of mind. If you end up being delayed in any way, the cruise line won't leave without you-- and if you're late to arrive to port, they typically will be able to accommodate you. If you book with a different vendor, you might have different options, but you lose that protection if something to go wrong.

5. Look at group sizes: There may be certain excursions where you'd prefer a smaller group, so if this matters to you make sure you read the descriptions -- it will normally tell you! For example, for our whale watching excursion, a smaller tour sized mattered to me, so I made sure to choose that option.

6. Timing: Make sure you triple check your time in the ports, especially if you're booking something that is NOT direct. You don't want to book something before you arrive, or be miss your ship when it leaves!

7. Read reviews: I can't stress this enough. Join the Facebook groups for your cruise line. Read what people say about their excursions. Ask your TA for advice / help. This will help you get a sense of what to expect and better narrow down your options!

8. Time of year matters: If you're going to Alaska in shoulder season (May + September) the weather will likely be cooler. Make sure you're prepared with proper clothing!

9. You don't HAVE to do an excursion: Just because there are excursions are offered, if wandering around Ketchikan or Juneau, shopping and having lunch is more your style, don't feel obligated to book the excursion.

10. Use your TA! A good travel advisor will help you narrow down your choices, offer recommendations, and make sure you're getting the most for your budget.

Have you been to Alaska? What excursions did you choose?