Expert ’ s View | Royal Caribbean International
Juneau , Alaska
How far in advance should one plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska ? BH : Typically , you ’ ll want to make reservations about 10 months in advance of the sailing date . The main reason to plan well in advance is the flights . Airline capacities are lower than cruise ship capacities , so flights are scarcer . Additionally , there is less rail and hotel space than cruise ship space , which means you need a long booking window . If you ’ re interested in open-jaw sailing where you start in one location and end in another , then you ’ ll need to book flights that match your one-way itinerary . For example , many travelers fly into Fairbanks , AK , or Anchorage , AK , and depart from Seattle , WA , or Vancouver , Canada . There ’ s also trip insurance to financially protect your trip .
How can visitors maximize their chances of seeing animals in the wild ? BH : Put yourself in a position to view wildlife as often as you can . There are multiple opportunities to see wild animals on both the cruise and land portions of an Alaska cruisetour . Wildlife safaris depart from ports like Sitka , Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan . Spending a night or two at lodges located deep in the heart of Denali National Park surrounded by pristine forest improves your chances of seeing grizzly bears , black bears , moose or wolves . The longer you ’ re there , the more opportunity you ’ ll have to snap an iconic photo or spend a moment with your binoculars trained on a bear feasting on salmon .
Contact Our Agency to Plan Your Personalized ESCAPE · 7