What 7 Days on an Alaska Cruise Looks Like

This was my fifth Alaska cruise. I’ve done it with my teenage daughter, my adult daughter, both daughters and their boyfriends, my brothers—and this time, just my mom. Each trip has been completely different. This one was a surprise gift for her birthday, wrapped up in a Christmas bow. We flew to Seattle the night before, stayed at The Edgewater Hotel in waterfront rooms, and started the adventure rested and ready. If you’re cruising Alaska, always go a day early. I’ve cut it too close before and it’s miserable.

Don’t Bother With “The Key”

Royal Caribbean offers something called “The Key,” which sounds like a VIP pass—early boarding, reserved theater seats, priority excursions, a special lunch. It’s not worth it. The lunch was forgettable, the seats were actually worse than walking in, and the early boarding didn’t do much since they barely even asked for appointment times. Skip it.

What We Packed, Wore, and Actually Used

We flew first class on Alaska Airlines, so we each brought two checked bags, a carry-on, and a personal item. Our travel outfits were comfortable but elevated—mine was a blue Amazon top and Vionic tennis shoes with a wide toe bed and arch support. I packed cute sweaters, a sweatshirt, a hoodie, and one flannel shirt. I wore that hoodie every day and the flannel in Skagway. Never touched the sweaters. Bring layers, but make sure they’re comfortable—if anything was even slightly snug, I didn’t wear it.

My Pants: Rag & Bone

My Shoes: Vionic

Top: Amazon

Weather Reality Check

It rained almost the entire cruise. Gray skies. Cold mornings. I loved it. This wasn’t my sunniest Alaska trip, but it was peaceful and beautiful. I used my hoodie daily and had pocket warmers, but didn’t need the electric scarf or jacket I packed. Weather can go either way. Don’t expect summer.

Let’s Talk Ship Life

Compared to Celebrity, Royal Caribbean feels younger, louder, and packed with families. The food was fine but not exciting. The buffet had a small dessert section, and Johnny Rockets was empty every time I passed it. There was pizza available 24/7, and coffee was an upsell—even with the drink package. My mom and I aren’t foodies, so we weren’t picky, but the vegetarian options were limited.

Formal Nights Aren’t Formal

There were two formal nights, both on sea days. Don’t stress it. Women wore anything from sundresses to pantsuits, and most men kept their baseball caps on. This isn’t tuxedo territory. Bring one outfit that makes you feel good and warm—you won’t need more than that.

Juno: Whale Watching and Waterfalls

We did a 5.5-hour whale watching excursion in Juno. It was long, expensive, and mostly uneventful. My mom enjoyed it, but I’d skip it next time. You can sometimes see whales from the ship balcony. Mendenhall Glacier is beautiful—if you go, move fast if you plan to hike to the waterfall. Bring your own water jug. No bottled water sold there, just refill stations.

Skagway: Shops, Sweatshirts, and Surprise Heat

Skagway was supposed to be cold and rainy but turned out warm. I brought a big coat and regretted it. My flannel would’ve been enough. We skipped the train ride this time and stuck to shopping. The mosquito-like bugs were brutal here, but they didn’t leave marks. Just annoying.

Victoria, Canada: Always My Favorite

No excursion planned—we just walked into town and were immediately sold a petticab tour. $150 per person and worth every penny. It turned into a three-hour tour with blankets, bubbles, peacocks, and parks. We saw rose gardens, cemeteries, the lieutenant governor’s mansion, and rode along the water. We ended at Bard and Banker for food and drinks. If you ever get Adrian Van Something as your petticab guide—go.

Tips You’ll Be Glad You Knew

Skip the coffee delivery. It’s not worth having to get dressed and tip someone just for caffeine. Bring your own travel mug and fill it yourself. The small porcelain cups cool too fast. Don’t rely on the ship for good bottled water either—order some to your room ahead of time. The bug bites in Skagway vanish fast, but bring salve just in case.

What I Bought

Turtle earrings with Larimar stone from the ship, a dreamcatcher for me and a big one for my mom, sunglasses (always my cruise tradition), and a big spend—$1,200 for four skincare devices I haven’t tested enough yet to review. I’ll let you know.

Final Thought

If Inside Passage is on your itinerary, don’t miss it. Glaciers, floating ice, silence. It’s early—like 7 to 10 AM. One year I missed it for a massage and still regret it. This time we saw Dawes Glacier. It’s melting, it’s smaller, but it’s still stunning.

Let me know if you have Alaska questions. I’ll tell you what’s worth it, what’s not, and how to make your next cruise your best one yet.