There are no words, no pictures, no blogs or books that can adequately describe the beauty and grandeur of Alaska. It simply must be experienced. Whether you are a hearty and intrepid soul whose aim is to hike the Chilkoot Trail into the Yukon like the Klondike gold miners of days gone by, or aim to cruise the southeastern coast of Alaska by luxury cruise ship, you will experience something that you will never forget, long to repeat, and fail miserably to put into words.
My first trip to Alaska was in July 2002. Like the one from which I returned only today, it was aboard a luxurious mega ship (the Island Princess, which is actually small compared to many of today’s cruise ships.) And as much as the two trips followed the same route, they could not have been more different. Alaska changes all of the time: seasons (even weeks within seasons), time of day, weather conditions - even a change of the sun's angle can alter the landscape.
People take cruises for a variety of very good reasons: to “get away from it all,” to be pampered, to party until dawn while someone else does the driving, to “see the world,” etc. But a cruise to Alaska is unlike a typical cruise experience. Of course all of the usual cruise trappings are available, and many people take advantage of them: spa treatments, art auctions, bingo, trivia quizzes. But an Alaskan cruise makes you privy to the magnificence of nature along the southeastern coast of the USA’s 
largest state. (You can fit 2.5 Texases within its borders.)
You can take Alaskan cruises of several varieties, but the two most popular are the round-trip “Inside Passage” voyage and the one-way Vancouver to Seward (or Whittier) cruise or its reverse. The round-trip voyages are a little easier to plan, and purchasing round-trip airfare to Seattle or Vancouver is a little less expensive than “open jaw” airfares that fly you into one city and out of another, which the north/south-bound sailings require. But a trip where you get to Skagway (the northernmost city in the Inside Passage cruises) and then just turn around, after all that sailing, causes you to miss out (usually) on the spectacular Glacier Bay and College Fjord, the Kenai Peninsula, and the opportunity to travel even further into Alaska’s interior. 
Article comments
1 - Lisa Damian
I travel pretty extensively, but I've yet to experience Alaska. I'll definitely consider going by cruise, thanks to your vivid descriptions and photos. Thank you for sharing your personal vacation imagery.
2 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Lisa. There really are no words to describe the power and beauty of that land. going by cruise is a great value (Alaska is so expensive to visit). I think I took something like 1500 photos in the week we were there! Thanks for reading.
3 - tink
Captivated by your imagery, I sent a friend to read this piece as he had also taken an Alaskan cruise recently.
His take? That you had come the closest in describing his experience than any other article he'd read.
4 - Barbara Barnett
Thank you, Tink. I appreciate sharing your friend's comments.
5 - Mary K. Williams
Very nice Barbara.
6 - Andy Marsh
I mad my first trip to Alaska last February. Mine was short, only four days, but I did take the time to wander some and it really is an incredible place.
Nice piece!
7 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks Mary and Andy,
I can't even imagine Alaska in February. The limited light must make for an extraordinary landscape. I'd love to get up there at a time when the northern lights are visible (it's been too light the two times I've been there).
8 - Andy Marsh
It got light pretty late, around 9, 9:30 and the sun went down pretty early too. I want to say around 4:30.
I was on Kodiak Island, which is part of what they say is actually temperate rain forest, but man it was cold!!! They also had an unusually high snow fall last winter, for the island anyway. It was quite stunning.
I only really had a day and a half to explore, the rest of the time I was either working, or watching the Superbowl, hey look, I'm a Gaint fan, I had to, Alaska or not!
I put up some pics from my trip. I'd love to take one of those inland passage trips. My folks took one years ago and still talk about it! I also want to go back in the summer, whatever two weeks that might be!