Cruising the inside passage is more than meets the eye

For some of you it may sound really strange that I am talking to you about Alaska because most of you know me for my love, passion and expertise for European River cruising. Maybe you don’t know that I am also a lover of Alaska. Suprise!

My first trip (there have been several since) to Alaska was in 2012.  I sailed with Azamara Club Cruises, a very small ship with only 500 passengers.  Azamara is a sweet boutique ocean liner and not many people know about them.  Their parent company is Royal Caribbean.  I adore them.

My love for Alaska started almost as quickly as we departed Seattle.  We had the most amazing sunset balcony cabin (we were literally at the very end of the ship with a beautiful oversized cabin with lounge chairs and a beautiful outdoor table to sit and have coffee in the morning. Your best cruise experience starts with a perfectly selected cruise line to match your personality and travel style. Key to a happy voyage!

I knew the first few hours that this would be an unforgettable journey.

We started off with a bang in Seattle.  The city is so diverse, artsy and is home to Pike Place Market.  We stayed two nights to take it all in plus we wanted to attend a Seattle Mariners game.

When you think about Alaska and cruising, try to imagine that cruising the inside and outside passage is just a very small introduction to Alaska.  Some will say that it’s not the “real Alaska”, but I beg to differ.  Of course, I will someday do a land journey to Denali but for now, my dose of nature, clarity, purity, hiking, biking, kayaking and relaxation lives on board a nicely appointed vessel.

If you think that an Alaska cruise through the Inside or Outside Passage of Alaska might be lacking outdoor junkie adrenaline, think again!

Five amazing activities to get you off the touristy grid.

1. Biking in Juneau

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2. Canoe Mendenhall Lake

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3. Kayak in Ketchikan to Orca’s Cove

4. Hike in a rain forest

We kayaked in Orca’s Cove & we have hiked the absolute most amazing trails I have ever seen in my lifetime.

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Smaller ship experiences. Smaller ships can slide into ports that the larger ocean liners cannot fit into and smaller ship can often stay longer in ports giving you a lot of extra time.

5. Take a glacier hike

My first glacier hike was so amazing that we went back specifically two years later do to the same hike. It was that good!

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My love of Alaska fills my heart for so many reasons. Alaska changed me. It also changed Lisa Collins who has as much of a love for it as I do (minus the biking and hiking part).

We’re heading back. It has been a few years and big blue is calling and I am going to answer her call. We’ve designed a small group cruise departing on August 12, 2021 with Oceania on the Regatta. Airfare is included plus a lot of other fun perks.

Will we see you onboard?

Let’s enjoy the journey together!