My Alaska Cruise Experience: What It Was Really Like
First-hand observations and original video from my August 2026 Alaska sailing aboard Norwegian Encore, including Glacier Bay, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, wildlife, and excursions.
I Cruised Alaska in August 2026
I sailed Alaska aboard Norwegian Encore in August 2026, traveling with two other couples. That trip gave me the opportunity to experience several of the places and excursions discussed in this guide first-hand rather than relying only on cruise line descriptions and general destination information.
During the trip I visited Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan, went whale watching, visited Mendenhall Glacier, traveled into the Yukon on the White Pass Bennett Lake & Yukon Adventure, and spent a full day experiencing Glacier Bay from the ship.
I've included some of my original videos from the trip throughout this guide so you can see what these experiences actually looked like during our sailing.
What My Alaska Cruise Was Like
Alaska cruises deliver one of the most unique cruise experiences in the world by combining glacier landscapes, wildlife encounters, remote scenery, and immersive nature-focused travel with the comfort of modern cruise ships.
Unlike tropical cruise destinations, Alaska cruises focus heavily on scenery, glacier viewing, wildlife excursions, and itinerary structure rather than beaches or resort-style experiences.
After experiencing Alaska myself, one of my biggest takeaways is that the destination really is the attraction. Some of our most memorable moments weren't traditional cruise activities at all — they were watching whales, seeing glaciers, traveling through the mountains and simply looking at the scenery from the ship.
Travelers comparing destinations should also review our Caribbean Cruise Guide and Asia Cruise Guide.
Was My Alaska Cruise Worth It?
For me, yes. Alaska delivered experiences that were fundamentally different from a typical warm-weather cruise: glacier scenery, whale watching, mountain landscapes, remote coastal communities, and long periods when simply watching the scenery from the ship was part of the trip.
One of the things that surprised me most was how often the destination remained part of the experience even while we were aboard Norwegian Encore. At one point we were watching whales while waiting for our turn to ride the ship's go-karts.
I would cruise Alaska again. If you are deciding whether Alaska fits your priorities, use our Alaska Cruise Planning Hub to compare routes, departure ports, glaciers, cruise lines, sailing months, cabins, and costs.
Norwegian Encore in Alaska: My Experience
I sailed Norwegian Encore on this trip. For Alaska, one of the ship features I appreciated most was the large Observation Lounge, which gave us a warm indoor place with expansive windows for scenic cruising.
The ship also gave us plenty to do between ports, but this trip reinforced for me that the Alaska itinerary matters at least as much as the ship itself. Glacier access, port times, excursions, and the scenery were major parts of the experience.
For an objective comparison of Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and expedition options, see the Alaska Cruise Planning Hub.
Our Alaska Itinerary
Our August 2026 sailing included Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan. Each stop contributed something different: whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, the White Pass and Yukon experience from Skagway, scenic cruising in Glacier Bay, and salmon and local exploration in Ketchikan.
That experience is why I recommend looking closely at the complete itinerary rather than choosing an Alaska cruise based only on the ship or advertised fare.
If you are comparing Inside Passage, Gulf of Alaska, glacier-focused, or expedition routes, use our Alaska route comparison.
My Glacier Bay Experience
If you want the detailed version with additional observations from that day, read my Glacier Bay cruise experience.
Glacier Bay was one of the highlights of our Alaska cruise. Unlike a normal port day, Glacier Bay is an experience that unfolds from the ship as you travel through an enormous protected landscape surrounded by mountains, water and glaciers.
We spent a significant amount of time in Norwegian Encore's Observation Lounge during the cruise, and having a warm indoor viewing area with large windows was particularly valuable in Alaska.
I filmed the video below while we were in Glacier Bay. It gives you a better sense of the scale and scenery than photographs alone can provide.
The Alaska Ports We Experienced
Alaska's ports aren't interchangeable. Each stop on our sailing offered a noticeably different experience, which is one reason I recommend looking closely at the complete itinerary rather than choosing an Alaska cruise based only on the ship.
- Juneau — Glacier excursions, whale watching, and scenic mountain landscapes.
- Ketchikan — Rainforests, salmon, fishing, and cultural experiences.
- Skagway — Historic rail excursions, mountain scenery, and Gold Rush history.
- Sitka — Wildlife viewing and smaller-port scenery.
Travelers planning excursions should also review our Shore Excursions Guide .
Juneau: Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier
I also published a dedicated Juneau cruise port experience covering what we did and what stood out.
Juneau gave us two of the classic Alaska experiences on the same port visit: whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier.
Whale watching is one of those excursions where no video can guarantee what you'll see on your own trip because you're dealing with wild animals. On our visit, however, I was able to film whales in the waters around Juneau.
Whale Watching in Juneau
Mendenhall Glacier
We also visited Mendenhall Glacier. Seeing an Alaska glacier in person gives you a much better appreciation for the scale of the landscape than simply seeing it in photographs.
Skagway: White Pass Bennett Lake & Yukon Adventure
For the full excursion breakdown, see my White Pass, Bennett Lake & Yukon excursion review.
In Skagway, we chose the White Pass Bennett Lake & Yukon Adventure. This was much more than simply walking around the port. The excursion took us through the dramatic mountain scenery associated with the Klondike Gold Rush route and into the Yukon.
If you're trying to decide whether to spend the money on a longer Alaska shore excursion, this is the type of experience I would consider when budgeting. Alaska is a destination where some of the most memorable parts of the trip happen well beyond the immediate cruise port.
I filmed portions of our trip so you can see the scenery and get a better idea of what the experience is actually like.
Ketchikan: Seeing the Salmon Ladder
For more detail from that port day, read my Ketchikan cruise port experience.
Ketchikan is closely associated with salmon, and one of the interesting things we were able to see during our visit was a salmon ladder.
These smaller experiences are part of what made the Alaska itinerary interesting. Not every memorable moment requires a major excursion — sometimes it's simply seeing something that is completely different from what you encounter at home or on a typical tropical cruise.
Wildlife & Glacier Viewing
Alaska cruises are well known for wildlife encounters and glacier scenery, and wildlife was not just something advertised in the excursion descriptions on our trip — we actually saw whales multiple times.
In addition to our whale-watching experience in Juneau, we were able to watch whales from Norwegian Encore itself. One particularly memorable sighting happened while we were waiting for our turn on the ship's go-kart track.
- Whales
- Bald eagles
- Sea lions
- Bears on some excursions
- Massive glacier landscapes
Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but binoculars are one item I would definitely bring again. There can be interesting things happening surprisingly far from the ship.
Glacier viewing days are often considered the highlight of Alaska itineraries, and after experiencing Glacier Bay myself, I can understand why.
What Late August Was Like for Us
Our Alaska sailing took place in late August 2026, so the observations, photos, and videos on this page reflect that part of the season. We had active excursions, long sightseeing days, glacier viewing, and multiple whale sightings, but conditions on any Alaska sailing can vary.
I would not choose an Alaska sailing month based on one trip alone. Weather, wildlife, daylight, pricing, and crowds change throughout the season. For a month-by-month comparison, see the Alaska Cruise Planning Hub.
What I Would Bring to Alaska Again
Based on our trip, I would prioritize layers, dependable rain protection, comfortable water-resistant shoes, binoculars, and a camera or phone with plenty of available storage. Binoculars were particularly useful because wildlife can appear well away from the ship.
For the complete month-by-month clothing and gear checklist, use our Alaska Cruise Packing List. Our Complete Cruise Packing List covers general cruise essentials and embarkation-day items.
What I Learned From the Trip
- Choosing itineraries based only on price
- Ignoring glacier viewing routes
- Underestimating weather variability
- Waiting too long to reserve excursions
- Not budgeting for specialty excursions
- Assuming you need to be on an excursion every minute to enjoy Alaska
After our trip, I would put particular emphasis on that last point. Some of our favorite moments were simply spending time with our friends, watching the scenery, looking for wildlife and enjoying the ship between ports.
My Overall Take After Cruising Alaska
Alaska lived up to its reputation for us. We saw whales, glaciers, mountains and scenery that simply don't have an equivalent on most warm-weather cruise itineraries.
We were traveling with two other couples, and some of the best parts of the week were remarkably simple: playing cards together, enjoying the entertainment, spending time in Norwegian Encore's Observation Lounge and watching Alaska pass outside the windows.
The excursions added experiences we couldn't have gotten from the ship alone, particularly whale watching in Juneau and traveling through the White Pass and into the Yukon from Skagway.
Alaska isn't a cruise I would choose primarily for beaches, pools or warm weather. I would choose it for the scenery, wildlife, glaciers and experiences ashore.
After experiencing it first-hand, I would gladly cruise Alaska again.
Frequently Asked Questions About My Alaska Cruise
Which ship did you sail in Alaska?
I sailed Norwegian Encore in August 2026 with two other couples.
Which Alaska ports and destinations did you visit?
Our itinerary included Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.
Did you see whales on your Alaska cruise?
Yes. We saw whales during our Juneau whale-watching excursion and also from Norwegian Encore itself. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed on another sailing.
What were your favorite Alaska experiences?
Glacier Bay, whale watching in Juneau, visiting Mendenhall Glacier, and traveling through the White Pass and into the Yukon from Skagway were among the highlights of our trip.
Would you cruise Alaska again?
Yes. The scenery, wildlife, glaciers, excursions, and experiences ashore made Alaska very different from the warm-weather cruises I had taken previously.
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