ALASKA - BOOK NOW - GREAT SPECIALS AVAILABLE FOR 2018 & 2019

The best salmon and halibut fishing in the United States. North America's tallest mountain. Large game wildlife. Glaciers. Gold!

It's all available in one vacation destination..."Alaska".

Imagine awe over discovering fantastic vistas in The Last Frontier. Imagine exhilaration while exploring the wilds of Alaska. Imagine relaxation upon finding your slice of paradise in The Caribbean. Imagine Bliss. That’s what you’ll experience when you vacation on our newest and most incredible ship, Norwegian Bliss. Custom-built for the spectacular, Norwegian Bliss features a revolutionary Observation Lounge for you to soak in every stunning moment, from bald eagles soaring over glaciers to dolphins splashing through warm turquoise waters. Come aboard and experience the best dining, entertainment, and amenities at sea against a backdrop of unrivaled natural beauty. Whether you choose to go tropical or a little wild, there’s one word to describe the experiences awaiting you on Norwegian’s newest ship: Bliss.

A vacation to the great state of Alaska offers more experiences simply not found anywhere else in North America. This is one vacation destination to check off of your bucket list. Here are 5 tips to getting the most out of your Alaska adventure:

1. Book Early! Book Early! Book Early! The Alaska cruise season only lasts about 5 months of the year (May thru Sep). As a result, the supply of quality staterooms has a hard time keeping up with the consumer demand. The earlier you book, the better chance you have of snagging the best stateroom location. And believe me, location is EVERYTHING on an Alaskan cruise. My recommendation is to start planning your Alaskan vacation at least a year in advance, but no later than Nov or Dec prior to the year you are looking at traveling. In other words, if you are planning an Alaskan cruise for the summer of 2019 (BOOK NOW)!.  Try to have your reservation confirmed by Nov or Dec 2018 at the latest. (Although, earlier is better). This should ensure that you get the stateroom category and location that you prefer and that you don't have to settle for leftover, non-preferred staterooms. Also, most cruise lines in Alaska offer their best Early Booking promotions for Alaska if you book prior to January or February. 

2. Location! Location! Location! The main advantage to booking early (besides getting the best discounts) is securing the best stateroom location for your cruise. While it might not make a huge difference to you whether your cabin is located port side or starboard side on a Caribbean cruise, this makes ALL the difference in the world on how you will experience Alaska. Most good travel experts and advisers know this (even if their clients don't), so the preferred side of the ship always gets filled up first. The key is in deciding whether you will cruise Northbound (departing from Seattle or Vancouver) or Southbound (departing from Whittier or Seward). If you are booking a Northbound cruise, try to secure accommodations on the starboard (right) side of the ship. So obviously the opposite holds true if doing a southbound cruise. If cruising southbound, try to secure a port (left) side stateroom.

3. Don't Cut 'Cost Corners' on Your Experience! So many times a client will contact me and request the "cheapest" price for a cruise. My response is always the same: "Are you interested in a 'great' experience or a 'cheap' experience?" While it might be okay to book the cheapest interior stateroom on a 3-night cruise to the Bahamas or Caribbean, it is not advisable to take the same approach when booking an Alaskan cruise. Alaska is an experience unmatched by most other destinations. It is both a visual and emotional experience. Therefore, you should approach it with the same care you take when buying a new car. After all, you probably would not purchase just ANY car and I am guessing you probably would not go to a car dealership and ask the salesman if you could test drive the "cheapest car on the lot". On the contrary, you probably have some idea of specific vehicle types, brands, options, etc. that you are interested in prior to arriving at the dealership. When booking an Alaska cruise, it is important to keep in mind that this will be one of the most experiential trips you will embark on. And unlike a new car, which eventually becomes an old car and less satisfying, your Alaska experience will remain with you the rest of your life. How do you want to remember your time in Alaska? Make sure your vacation budget will allow you to have the experience you want to remember. If the cost is coming in a lot more than you planned for, consider putting the trip off an extra year until the following season. Statistics indicate that travelers to Alaska typically only visit once in a lifetime and will not return. The main reason for this is that a trip to Alaska is a major vacation investment and can be a little more costly than say a cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas. It may be better to put it off a year and give yourself more time to budget for a better experience than to force the trip by cutting corners. 

4. Don't Book Anything Less Than a Balcony Stateroom if possible!   Have I already mentioned that Alaska is an experiential vacation? Don't waste precious brain power by even contemplating the price difference between an Interior Stateroom and a Balcony Stateroom. A balcony stateroom should be the minimum standard for any Alaskan cruise. If your budget allows, there are also suites available that offer upgraded amenities and services, as well as larger, roomier balconies. Imagine yourself enjoying the scenery of the Inside Passage and the splendor of Glacier Bay from the comfort and privacy of your very own balcony. The 'cost cutting' alternative? Enjoy the beauty of Alaska from one of the open decks with 700 of your fellow passengers. (Good luck on getting a great photo without a few extra faces.)  

5. Extend Your Cruise With a Land Tour. Alaska's Inside Passage is about all you can really experience from a cruise ship. While the passage, fjords and glaciers are extremely beautiful and scenic, the Inside Passage makes up a very small percentage of the entire state of Alaska. Imagine taking a Florida vacation, but visiting nothing more than the Panhandle. If you have 11 to 14 days to spare, a cruise & tour combination is definitely worth the time and money. Most cruise lines offer land packages that include viewing the interior of Alaska by rail or deluxe motor coach, with stays in places like Denali, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. If you are more interested in the Yukon territory, you can also include the historical Gold Rush towns of Skagway, Whitehorse and Dawson City. It is also important to note that one of the number one reasons people choose to visit Alaska is for the wildlife. While you will experience some of the smaller wildlife on the cruise portion, most of the larger game (bears, moose, caribou and the like) are more prominent the further you get into the interior. Especially in places like Denali and Talkeetna. Since statistics indicate that you are more likely to make this trip only once in your life, try to experience as much of Alaska and the Yukon as your time and budget allow for.

Remember, you have worked hard to earn your vacation time or retirement. Don't treat your vacations as just another trip for the family. Plan them each as "unique" immersive experiences. 

I have never had any clients or met anyone that did not love going to Alaska. In fact, out of the many trips that we have been on so far, it is one of my husband’s favorite trips! 

Give us a call to book yours today

Marcia Finkelstein, CTA, ECC, LS, CATP                                                                

Cruises & Tours Worldwide – Dream Vacations

Certified Luxury Specialist, Romance Travel Advisor & Destination Wedding Planner

Email: [email protected]

866-949-TRIP (8747)   or 732-616-5404 (cell)

www.CruisesAndToursWorldwide.com