Alaska cruise Vancouver to Sitka
May 27 - June 7 2022
American Queen Voyages - Ocean Victory

Pre Cruise
American Queen Voyages includes a pre-cruise hotel night at the starting city with all of their cruises.  I think this is wonderful since I always recommend getting in at least a day prior to the cruise.  Besides relieving some  travel stress having the day before gives you time to explore the city where your trip starts.  Our cruise started in Vancouver however when looking at flights I found much better options for flying into Seattle.  I had always wanted to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver so I thought this was perfect.   However I was disappointed when arriving at the train station to find that due to staffing shortages the train wasn't running so they were taking us by bus.   Let me just say it was a not pleasant surprise.  The bus took twice as long and requires everyone to get off the bus and get their bags to go over the border.   I do not recommend the bus.  
We made our way to the pre cruise hotel which was the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.   It was a great hotel conveniently located not too far from the port with plenty of things in walking distance.  Transfers to the ship were included but they were in the afternoon so we had the morning to explore.   I realized the nice part about the later transfer was the port was pretty empty even though there were quite a few big ships also leaving the same day.   We boarded our ship and explored a bit before it was time for the safety drill and and sail away.
   
Day 1 and 2 - Inside Passage and scenic cruising
Our first 2 days were sea days where we learned what was to come on our cruise. We got to see the mud room and request boots and raingear if needed.  We also learned about the zodiacs and what wildlife we might see along the way.   There was a leader from the Tlingit tribe onboard that gave a few talks about life in Alaska.   

Day 3 - Ketchikan, AK
 We made our fist stop which was Ketchikan.   I have been there a couple times on bigger ships and was a little disappointed that our small ship that can go places the big ones can't was stopping here.   We were also docked at the port that is a bit of a ways out of town so we had to rely on shuttles to get into town and back to the ship.  There were a few big ships docked right in town so it was a bit crowded, but not as crowded as I have seen in before covid.   The cruise did include an excursion which was a city highlights tour but since I have been there before I chose to skip that.   There were also some premium excursions available for book for a fee but none of those appealed to me.  It was just nice to wander around town, grab some lunch, and do some shopping.


Day 4  - Misty Fjords
This is what I have been waiting for - an expedition day!   We started out with a zodiac ride and got really lucky to have an Orca go past us rather close to our boat.   After lunch it was time to kayak!   They were keeping us travel agents together so our kayaking group was a big larger than the other groups so it took quite a bit of time to get everyone out on the water but it was a nice paddle. Misty Fjords is almost 2.2 million acres of National Monument Wilderness so it is a wonderful protected area for spotting wildlife.   I had been to Misty Fjords on my first Alaska cruise but it was via floatplane from Ketchikan so it was nice to go back and spend time on the water.

Day 5 - Wrangell Island, AK
We are on land again but this time in a cute small town that the big ships cannot stop at.  It is the 3rd oldest town in Alaska.  There was an included heritage tour along with some premium excursions for purchase.   We opted to explore town on our own.  We found a little pizza shop for lunch that has the most delicious crust I think I have had.  Everyone in town was super friendly and genuinely seemed happy to have us.  One local even said that the residents of Wrangell are the friendliest of all Alaska.  There was a Petroglyph Beach that was an easy walking distance so we headed there to check out some of the carved rocks. 


Day 6 - Bay of Pillars 
Another expedition day.   We started with kayak in the morning and this time they split our group up so the more experienced paddlers got to do a bit more.   We came across a bunch of otters and I loved watching them watching us.   After lunch we did a zodiac ride but didn't really see much of anything new.   It was still fun just to be out on the water.  Alaska's cruise season is rather short from May - September but there are big differences in what you will see based on when you visit.   In May and early June you will see a lot of snow topped mountains and floating ice but you also have a lot of melting snow creating lots of amazing waterfalls.   We got to see a lot of them on this cruise some of which looked like they started miles above of us as we looked up from the zodiacs.  Mid June - July is salmon running season so that the time go if you want to see them and the bears grabbing them out of the water.  June and July also tend to be the rainiest and most crowded though.  August tends to offer nice weather and usually clearer skies so if you are looking for those photos filled with flowers and mountain tops instead of clouds August can be better.  You can spot wildlife anytime you visit though.


Day 7 - Petersburg, AK         
On land again, and our first really rainy day (we got really lucky with the weather since SE Alaska is part of a temperate rainforest you usually have rain every day).  This is another town the big ships cannot get to so it was nice to enjoy the small town vibe again.   This town was founded back in 1910 by a Norwegian and it turned out a lot of people from Norway ended up joining him here so you almost felt like you were in Norway when walking around.   I have always thought Alaska and Norway were very similar.   There was the usual included excursion and a couple premium options.   One of the premium was a sport fishing experience.   I did not try it but it did sound like a fun an adventure.  The Sons of Norway Hall is where you can experience a bit of the culture from Alaska's Little Norway.   Here we were treated to a private dance from the local kids and tried a few local pastries.  It was a cute experience.   
Shortly after leaving Petersburg our expedition leader, Jess, announced that there were some Orca off the front of the ship.   What I love about expedition cruises is the Captain can decide to stop or change course if we spot some wildlife.   While keeping a safe distance away our ship pretty much sopped and allowed us to watch these playful Orcas for over an hour!   It really was the highlight of the trip for me.   We later found out it was 3 pods of resident Orcas that were pretty much just playing around and showing off for us.   They were rolling around, tail flapping and spy-hopping (term for when they pop their head out of the water like the photo below).  Then just as the ship decided to turn around and get back on our way one Orca decide to breach!   I of course had walked right to the back of the ship as soon as we started sailing away so I could watch these guys as long as possible so I had a perfect view of it.   One thing I have learned from 4 visits to Alaska is that trying to capture the perfect photo means you really do miss out on just enjoying yourself so I did not have a camera out at all and totally loved just watching!   

Day 8 - Tracy Arm
This was our last expedition day (if you ask me they need to add more expedition time if they really want to call this cruise an expedition)   Today we were going to be getting close to a glacier.   Unfortunately not by kayak though.   Today was zodiac only.   Our group got really lucky and we saw a lot of calving with some humongous pieces falling off the glacier while watched.  Our guide said the one piece was probably as big as a 2 story building.  It sounds like thunder when it happens and then you will feel the waves is creates as it crashes into the water.  You cannot get too close to the glacier due to this but our zodiac drivers were always within safe distance.  We also saw some momma and baby seals but not as many as I saw last year in this area.


Day 9 - Kake, AK
   Well this was supposed to be our last stop but unfortunately we were not able to go on shore.   They did bring some locals onboard to talk and perform for us though.   Kake is a tribal village and 70% of the residents are of Tlingit heritage.   This is the location of the tallest totem ever carved from a single tree.   We could see if from the ship but it was a bummer not to get to stand in front of it.   

Day 10 - Sitka
Sitka is where our cruise ended.   You could choose from a couple premium excursions here all of which pretty much got you to the airport.  There are a couple of hotels in town so if you wanted to enjoy Sitka a little more you could stay over.   The airport is very small so not a lot of flight options so that could be another reason to stay over a night.   I however opted for a long day of traveling to get home.   We flew out of Sitka to Seattle and then had a few hours before our red-eye flight back home which connected in Philly before getting us back to FL.  It was pretty much 24 hours of traveling.   This is why it can be easier to get to Europe from the East Coast instead of Alaska.  It was a wonderful cruise though so well worth the time to get there.   
 
Overall Cruise rating
Ship - 5 Stars.   Beautiful small luxury ship with all the extras needed for expedition.
Food - 3 Stars. This was a tough one for me because for a luxury cruise I just do not feel like the food was up to that standard and if you know me you know I am not a foodie person.   The only reason I even give it 3 stars was because there was an option to order steak and lobster for dinner every night.   I am hoping part of the food issues were from supply chain problems.   I really hope they will start including local foods and more variety.
Excursions - 2 Stars.   I think this is an area they really need to work on if they want to be an expedition cruise.   There just was not enough expedition time.   They need to add some hikes, bushwhacking, and beachcombing.   The culture excursions are nice for an expedition there has to be as much adventure as culture.
Ports - 4 Stars.  I loved the 2 small towns we stopped in.  I also understand that things happen so while is was a bummer to miss one port that can happen on any cruise.   I would avoid the big port like Ketchikan and instead build in some time to get to on land on uninhabited islands. 
Crew - 4 Stars.   I would love to give them 5 stars however there was still a bit of learning to do.  Plus I also know there are shortages thanks to covid so that definitely played a part in the service.   The dining staff were always eager to please but without enough of them things were a little slow.   The guides onboard were friendly and knowledgeable.   

I would definitely recommend this cruise.   As a brand new ship and new destination for American Queen Voyages I do think they have some things to work on but it was a true luxury small ship experience in Alaska which is hard to find.   I also believe they will improve on the things that were lacking.  ​

Ocean Victory
Ocean Victory is a new and very unique looking ship that was built for sailing in cold waters.   Ocean Victory started her first year down in Antarctica sailing for Albatros Expeditions.  Then American Queen Voyages took over when she headed north to Alaska.   American Queen Voyages is known for its iconic looking paddlewheel boats that sail the rivers of the US but they are branching out into more adventurous waters with Alaska on Ocean Victory.   For the half the year that American Queen Voyages is running the ship they are offering one way sailings from Vancouver to Sitka and reverse.  I will talk more about the cruise portion in my trip report.  Today let's just talk about the ship.

Ocean Victory is a brand new build and really is one of the most modern small ship vessels in the market.  I am going to break this report into 3 sections - Technical Details, Staterooms, and Public Spaces.  

Technical Details

• Started sailing November 2021  
• 342 Feet long
• 6 Guests decks
• 93 staterooms
• 186 guests plus 100 crew
• Registered in Nassau, Bahamas (yes that surprised me).

With the highest Polar code 6 and Ice class 1A, Ocean Victory is the ideal vessel for small-ship cruising due to her sturdy construction and X-Bow®-Infinity class, which provides high stability in rough weather and allows for the smoothest movements on high waves, and a Solas 2012 classification which facilitates a safe return to port.
The vessel is part of a brand new generation of low-energy vessels, with 4 diesel engines and 2 electro engines, all controlled electronically to optimize speed and fuel consumption.

Staterooms

•  93 staterooms (90% with balcony, 100% with a view) 
• 22 sets of connecting rooms
• 49 rooms that can accommodate 3 guests
• 2 accessible rooms however there are parts of the ship where a wheelchair couldn't access so that is something to keep in mind.

  I was in a Category C - Deluxe Stateroom with Private Balcony (213-265 sq ft.)   This is the category that has the most rooms onboard.  It is very spacious with lots of storage areas which is great.   It says private balcony however at first you might not think that when you board as there are partition walls that will need to be locked in place.  Technically if the partition walls were not locked you could easily walk around the whole outside deck.  

The stateroom was definitely the most luxurious room I have had on an expedition ship.  Of course being a brand new build helps with that since the other expedition ships I have been on have been older ships.   The bathroom was a nice size with walk in shower but the best feature was the heated floor!   The ship has no single-use plastics onboard so do not expect to find any take home toiletries.  They do have the shampoo and body wash caddies in the shower that most cruise ships and hotels are using now.  I am used to expedition ships not offering fancy toiletries so I knew to bring my own stuff but some guests did not.  
The room could be set up as 2 twins or the bed put together just like most ships.   I found the bed to be comfy but I will say 2 of the 4 pillows were the hardest pillows I have ever felt.   There is a large TV that even offered a nice selection of movies and tv shows to watch.  Most expedition ships do not have TVs in the room or if they do the TVs only play things like video from the underwater camera on the ship.  Honestly on my other expeditions there just wasn't really time for tv watching but this one was a bit different (more on that in my trip report to come next).
There is also a couch and desk area with plenty of space and then the door out to the balcony.   My room was one of the ones that could sleep 3 so the couch could turn into a bed (more child size I would think).   Rooms also include things like binoculars, hair dryer, and a mini fridge.   The sockets might seem like they won't work for your plugs but pretty much most things were fine without a converter.  The things we heard that were not compatible with the room sockets were hair styling things. 
I did get to tour a few other stateroom categories and to be honest they are all very similar.   The suites of course are larger but that was about the only difference.  

Public Spaces
For a small ship Ocean Victory actually has a lot of public spaces.  There are 6 decks of guest area and there is an elevator to get to most floors.  I am going to start from the top down.

• Observation lounge - Up on Deck 8 all the way forward on the ship you will find this cozy lounge with 180 degree views.   There is a bar for refreshments and a good amount of comfy seating.   This area also had some nice spotting scopes and microscopes.   The guides and naturalists will do the hands on science stuff  and other talks in this location.
• Bistro - Also on deck 8 this is a smaller dining location which on our cruise was only open for breakfast and lunch.   There were not many tables in there and we were told on our cruise it was serving the same food as the main dining room so we didn't bother trying to get a seat in there.   There is also a BBQ area with outside seating in this area.   If the weather cooperates there is usually a BBQ lunch served during the cruise (didn't work out on our cruise though).
• Fitness center - Deck 7 also offered the fitness center which for a small ship was a really good size and quite a few people used it during the cruise (not me in case you don't know me).
• Spa - Deck 7 is also home to a small spa room which is something you usually won't get on expedition ship.   It offered a nice variety of services.


• Pool deck - yes even though this ship is doing Alaska and Antarctica it actually has a good size infinity pool at the back of the ship on Deck 7.  There are also 2 hot tubs.  I didn't try either on my cruise but a lot of guests did.  There are also some lounge chairs and other comfy seating options for soaking up any sun that might appear on your cruise.  
• Observation Deck - Deck 5 is basically all public spaces starting at the front with the observation deck.   This is where the special folding platforms are that can open up so you can do some wildlife spotting from a nice location.  It is a pretty unique feature of the ship.
• Expedition Lecture room - this is sort of like the theater onboard and it is where you go to learn all about each day's adventures the night before.  There were also other informative talks in here such as when some locals came onboard.
• Explorer Bar and Lounge - This is where you could grab a drink pretty much anytime during the cruise.   Also this area usually hosted an afternoon tea time with snacks and some nice piano music.  
• Voyager Library - this is a small room right off the lecture room.  It was a nice quiet location with things like books, puzzles, and other games.
• The Reception Desk - right in the middle of Deck 5 so very easy to find anytime you need something. 
• Ocean Boutique -  Yep there was even a ship store with some local items along with branded things.   There was also a small selection of sundry type items that you might have forgotten to pack.
• Main Dining Room - this took up the back of Deck 5 and had lots of nice windows.   There are mostly large tables but since our cruise wasn't full it was easy to get a table for yourself if you wanted.   The dining room served breakfast and lunch buffet style.  Dinner was sit down and open seating so you can arrive anytime during the open hours and grab a seat.   There is also a small section of the dining room that was separated that we were told will be a specialty restaurant but it wasn't operating as such during our cruise.  
• Expedition Desk - this is the only publc area on Deck 4.   It is conveniently located where you will many times get off and back on the ship on days when the ship is docked.  Expedition information was posted here and at certain times a guide would be available for questions.   
• Medical Clinic is down on Deck 3
• Mud Room - Also on Deck 3 and this was probably my favorite addition to an expedition ship.   This area is sort of like a locker room where you are able to store all of your expedition gear that you don't want to have to lug back to your room each time.  If you do not bring gear with you the ship even has some you can borrow such as mud boots and rain gear.  Your life jackets for going out on the zodiacs are also kept in your locker.  Directly from the mudroom you could board the zodiacs and kayaks easily.   The ship is even able to tilt a bit to one side to help with getting on and off the zodiacs.  One important note about the mud room is that you can only get to that via stairs so anyone that cannot walk down a flight of stairs will not be able to get to this area of the ship.   Since the zodiacs are not only used for exploring but also used for getting into some of the ports we stopped at it could mean some people might miss out on a bunch of stuff.

Ocean Victory really offers a premium experience for an expedition cruise.  If you want to get out into nature on your vacation but don't want to rough it this is the ship for you.   I would call it the glamping of the seas.  If you are ready to explore Alaska or Antarctica on this beautiful ship just let me know.

​
Last week Canada announced no cruise ships in Canadian waters until February 2022.   This really is a big blow to Alaska since this could mean the end to the summer cruise season this year in Alaska.   You might be asking why would that matter if the ships just went from Seattle to Alaska but there is a law that prevents foreign flagged ships from going from one US port to another US port without stopping at a foreign port. All of the big cruise lines are foreign flagged so that only leaves just a couple small ships that US based that can still sail Alaska if things do not change.  
The cruise lines and Alaska representatives are petitioning to have that one law, which is 135 years old, either revoked or maybe just waived for this year.   Alaska relies heavily on tourism so going a second year without cruises is just crushing to them.      
None of the cruise lines have cancelled the Alaska sailings for this summer just yet.  They are hoping to find a way to somehow salvage the season and I hope they are able to as well.  I love Alaska really hate to see all of those people who depend on the tourists hurt by this.   
There are a few small cruise lines that will be sailing Alaska for sure so if you have your heart set on Alaska this summer or you really love the idea of maybe getting to see Alaska with not as many other people you might want to grab a room on one of these soon!   

Here are the 4 Cruise Lines that are not affected by the Canada Ban - 


Uncruise - This one is my favorite!   I sailed with them in Sea of Cortes last year (had no idea at that time it would be my last cruise  for a long time).  "Our Alaska adventure cruises deliver action, exploration, and the unexpected—paddling and hiking, calving glaciers, Glacier Bay National Park, bears, whales, and polar plunges. Nobody does Alaska better."

​American Cruise Line  - This one offers more of a river cruise experience onboard the ship vs the expedition style of UnCruise.   So if you are looking for a more relaxed cruise this might be the right choice.  "Onboard the newest small cruise ships in the region, you will experience the breathtaking scenery and inspiring wildlife of Alaska like never before. Get up close and personal to the natural beauty of Alaska as we cruise to Mendenhall Glacier, Glacier Bay and more.  Choose from three unique and fascinating itineraries."

​If you want to be sure you don't miss out on the Alaska cruise season this summer or if you are want to plan for 2022 I would be happy to help you find the right ship and itinerary for you!

  You might be asking - what does Shoulder Season mean?  Most travel destinations will have a Peak Season and an Off Season but there will also be a bit of in between time which is the Shoulder Season.  Most popular travel destinations will have some sort of shoulder season.  In some places where year round travel is pretty popular, like here in Central Florida for example,  we don't have much of an off season or shoulder season. 
Cruising in Alaska has such a short Season in total that it offer a great example of Shoulder Season.   Cruise ships can only sail Alaska in May - September (maybe very late April and into very early October but not much).   The Peak Season is Mid-June through Mid-August so that leaves May and September as the Shoulder Season.   The rest of the year is totally Off Season since the ships cannot even go there if they wanted to.  There is some good and bad to choosing shoulder season anywhere.

There are 2 good reasons to cruise Alaska during Shoulder Season - 

#1 - Lower Prices - since it isn't the most popular time the rates are lower to try and entice more visitors.

#2 - Smaller Crowds - Most people either only want to or can only travel during the dates of the Peak Season so there are more crowds at that time leaving smaller crowds in the Shoulder Season.

There are also 2 not so good reason to choose Shoulder Season - 

#1 - Not everything will be open or available.   For example Denali National Park won't open until Mid June so if you want to go there you need to pretty much stick to Peak Season.  Another thing to consider is snow melting over summer will cause some excursions to not be offered in September.

#2 - There won't be as much wildlife.   If you are really going to Alaska for the wildlife the best times for that is going to be Peak Season when the Salmon are running and the Bears are out of hibernation.

You might think that weather would be a reason to choose peak season but in Alaska the weather can be all over the map at anytime of the cruise season.   You should be prepared for rain anytime you cruise Alaska.   It is possible that May and September will be colder than June - August but it might not be.   There is a slight chance you could catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights during shoulder season but you shouldn't plan your trip around that since it isn't very likely. 
 I have cruised Alaska twice - once in May and just this year the end of August so my dates have been shoulder season.   The photo I posted above shows one of the big differences in May and August since you see a lot less snow in the August photo.   As pretty as the snow was in May we almost didn't get close to the glacier because there were still a lot of big ice chunks and frozen water in that area.   I enjoyed both times of year and I think the smaller crowds of shoulder season were nice too but I would still like to try peak season too.

​  Alaska really is an amazing wilderness and one that everyone should have on their must see list.   An Alaska cruise is not your typical cruise though.   There are certain things that are worth the splurge when it comes to an Alaska Cruise. 

  #1 Your room - This is one of those times when splurging for a balcony is really worth it.   There will be a lot to see outside and it is nice to be able to watch some of it from the comfort of your room.  

#2  The excursions.    On some cruises you can get away with just exploring town or finding a beach to relax on but in Alaska the excursions are really worth the splurge.   There are many that can be a bit pricey so it is good to budget for those in advance.   I have done a few that were big splurges and they were all worth every penny.  On this visit I went big with the Helicopter to a glacier to go dog sledding.   It was truly amazing!    There were only a total of 4 adults on our excursion so it felt very private and we got a lot of time on the glacier with the dogs.   This is something you really cannot do anywhere else so it one of those once in a lifetime moments you won't soon forget.  The other big splurge we did last time in Alaska was a flight-seeing ride on a float-plane.   Alaska is really best seen by air and you can only get to some places via a plane.   Our float-plane flew around some fjords and even landed on a lake so we could pop out of plane for a bit.   Again there were only 4 people total in our plane so it was pretty much a private excursion.   If you are into fishing then Alaska is one of those places you must book a fishing excursion.  You can even have the chef back onboard cook up your catch for your for dinner!   You can also ship your big catch home if you prefer.   
   
#3 Private viewing areas.  Find out if you ship offers any private areas that you can reserve for your time in Glacier Bay or whichever glacier you might visit on your cruise.   The top decks can get very crowded on the glacier day so if you ship offers a private area you can reserve a spot it is worth the cost.   For our cruise Princess offers the Sanctuary up on the top deck in the very aft of the ship.   This area is available to reserve anytime during the cruise for a small fee but on glacier day it really it a great place to be.   The lounge chairs are super comfy with extra blankets and attentive service.   You do get to actually reserve a specific chair so you can come and go and not worry about losing your spot.  For our cruise they served pastries, lunch, and tea during our time in Glacier Bay.   They would also bring hot chocolate, coffee and tea or water anytime you needed more.   With the limited number of guests in the Sanctuary it was very easy to get all the perfect photos you wanted while viewing the glaciers.

#4 The right wardrobe.  Packing for Alaska can be tricky as you really do need a little bit of everything since you just never know what kind of weather you might get.  Generally in summer you can pretty much count on rain though.   Having the right gear can really help make sure you get the most out of your vacation.   Depending on where you live you might not get a lot of regular use out of some of these things but they are worth the splurge to have for Alaska.   Number one would be a nice pair of waterproof hiking type shoes.   It is no fun to be walking around in wet shoes with cold feet.   Another item that you might not normally purchase would be some water resistant clothing.    I bought a pair of water resistant hiking pants from Columbia that worked out really well for the wet days.  A good rain jacket is also much easier than carrying an umbrella.   One tip though  when it comes to certain excursions be sure to note if they will provide some gear.  We did a few excursions that did give us boots or other outerwear to keep us protected on the excursion so that was a nice bonus.

#5 Camera - Alaska has a lot of wildlife to catch a glimpse of and if you want to really capture that image your cell phone camera just isn't going to cut it.   This is one of those trips when having a nicer camera is worth it.   Binoculars also come in handy so they are worth picking up a pair before your cruise.  
  
#6 - The spa.   With all the excursions and outdoor activities to choose from in Alaska a spa treatment might be just the splurge you need to recover and also warm up.   Some ship spas will also offer a thermal spa and I cannot think of anywhere better to warm up than a heated lounge chair inside the relaxing atmosphere of the spa.   Some ships will have the thermal spa set up where you can even have an amazing view of the outside while lounging.    You might be able to get just a day passes but many times only length of cruise passes are offered.   There are even some ships that have specific stateroom categories that will come with spa access included with the room.  

​

When you think of summer vacations do you picture sitting on a beach or by a pool somewhere?  I know those of you that live somewhere that gets cold in winter look forward to summer vacation and think about laying in the sun but then summer comes and some of you might be complaining it is too hot.  Sure you could cool off a little with a dip in the ocean or pool but why not go somewhere really cool like Alaska or Norway?  Would I go to these places in winter - NO WAY!   However summer is a great time to head North to escape the heat and enjoy a literally cool vacation.   Another bonus is the longer hours of daylight make you feel like you get so much more vacation time.   There is just something really memorable about looking outside at midnight and the sun is still out.

There are 4 cool places to cruise that are only available in summer.

#1 Alaska
   If you had asked me about 5 years ago what I thought about traveling anywhere that is considered a colder climate I would have said no way.   That was before I actually sucked it up and went to Alaska for the first time.  I admit I was worried that I was going to be too cold to enjoy it.   I did prepare by buying a cold weather wardrobe but was happily surprised to find that Alaska really wasn't that cold in summer.  I actually found it a nice break from the Florida heat.  After that I started thinking where else can we cruise in summer that will offer a refreshing break from summer sizzle.
Alaska really is huge with so many breathtaking things to see and explore.  Most cruise lines offer the typical 7 night round trip cruise out of either Seattle or Vancouver.   Some cruise lines have been in Alaska longer and they offer some stops that the others cannot.   Princess and Holland America have both been in Alaska for 50 years so they really are the experts and offer the best options.   If you are just doing a 7 night cruise your really want to be sure it includes one of the big glaciers - Glacier Bay really is the BIG one but the other is Hubbard Glacier.  Doing just a cruise only lets you see the very edge of Alaska.  If you really want to get more in depth into Alaska you would want to book a cruise along with a cruisetour.   The cruisetour portion will be either before or after your cruise and you can choose the number of nights.   Holland America and Princess have their own lodges but the other cruise lines will offer some type of cruisetour.   I am actually headed up to Alaska next week to do a cruise tour before my cruise so stay tuned for my trip report and  hopefully some live updates.  

#2 Norwegian Fjords
   After cruising Alaska and realizing that cooler locations make a nice summer break we started looking at other options.  The Norwegian Fjords always looked so picture perfect with all the waterfalls and cute villages.    It did not disappoint!  I loved every stop and even though weather conditions caused the ship to cancel our 2 stops above the Arctic circle it was still very cool to be able to say I have been above the Arctic Circle.   We went in May and even though that isn't Peak season we had wonderful weather with even a bit of a heat wave where it was in the 80s.  For those of us on the East Coast we are kind of in the middle of either Alaska or Norway so it would a tough call as to which to pick as they are similar but also different.  If you really want wildlife I think Alaska offers more options but Norway seemed to have more waterfalls. 

#3 British Isles  
  You might think the British Isles are too small to warrant their own cruises but trust me they are not!   The typical British Isles cruise is 10 - 14 days.   You might think that means you are only visiting British ports but you will usually have some that are not as well.    Some cruises might even include Iceland.   Our British Isles cruise mostly focused on Ireland but we also had a few UK stops and we started and ended in Amsterdam.    Generally smaller ships do these cruises which is what I love since that means you never really feel overcrowded even when visiting some of the big cities.  Our cruise stopped at the big ones like Dublin, Cork, Belfast, and Liverpool but we also had some smaller stops too.   I really enjoyed the smaller ports where you could walk to the local pub from the ship and really feel like you were part of this small town even if only for the day.  The North Atlantic can be a little rough on the West Coast of Ireland though and on our cruise it was so rough we had to turn around and go back around the other way.   I guess they don't call it the Wild Atlantic Way for nothing. 

#4 The Baltics
  A Baltic cruise is also sometimes called Northern Europe and will typically include Scandinavia and Russia.   You might stop in places like Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn, and St Petersburg.   If you have always wanted to visit Russia a Baltic cruise is one of the easiest ways to do it.   The Visa requirements for Russia can be tricky but booking a cruise shore excursion will usually take care of all of that for you.   You really get to see a wide range of cultures and histories on these cruises since you are visiting so many countries.   A Baltic cruise can be pretty port intensive for that reason so that is important to take into consideration.  

 Cruise lines only sail these locations April - October.  Peak season for these really is June  and July.   Earlier or Later in the season can offer less crowds and lower prices but might also not have the best weather.  School vacations also mean more kids during those peak dates.
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Bermuda and Canada/New England are also places that have a limited summer window for cruising but may not offer the same cooling effect as the others.   Generally  Bermuda cruises are April - November with with June - August being peak season.   For Canada/New England cruises will run May - October with August - October being the time to leaf peep.  
If you are sweating right now and thinking how can I cool off why not start thinking about planning a cool cruise for next summer (there might still be some last minute deals for cool cruises this summer too - just contact me to find out).