Alaska —
bears, dog sleds and duck fart shots
We sailed from Vancouver on an Alaskan Inside Passage cruise — and what followed was one of the most spectacular, hilarious, and genuinely unforgettable trips we've ever done. Glaciers, humpback whales, grizzly bears, nine sled dogs pulling us at full speed through the Alaskan wilderness, a lumberjack show, and enough craic with Scottish strangers to last a lifetime. This is our honest account. In Nicola's words. 😄
Book a similar Alaska cruise we did — through TourRadar
We sailed on a Celebrity Cruise for our Alaskan adventure — and if you're looking to book something similar, TourRadar has excellent Alaskan cruise options worth checking out.
If an Alaskan cruise has been on your bucket list, this is the one worth looking at.
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. If you book through it we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
First impressions
Night one — and already winning (literally)
Check-in and bag drop was seamless — literally onboard and through passport control within 15 minutes of arriving at the port. The airport authorities could learn a lesson or two from these cruise ship crews!
There's absolutely loads to do onboard — trivia, pub quizzes, spa treatments, cocktails... and that's just before lunch! We dipped our toes into a couple of the quizzes and, would you believe it, we actually won one! Podge did the heavy lifting while I was held up in the spa at a raffle. Didn't win that. 😢
The cocktail menu has been thoroughly explored (purely for research purposes, of course!). Meanwhile, the Americans on board were getting absolutely plastered on Bud Light and had to retreat to their cabins by 8pm. Rookie mistake. But their early bedtime meant we had a wonderfully calm evening on deck, followed by dinner at Murano's — DIVINE. Easily one of the best meals I've ever had. So good, we've already booked in for lunch there on Friday.
We tried our luck in the casino — which basically means we donated a few dollars to the ship's retirement fund. 😂
Alaska — our photos
Stop 1 — Icy Strait Point
Bear watching at Icy Strait Point — two and a half hours in the rain
Landed and made our way to Icy Strait Point. Hopped on a gondola into Hoonah — a little village full of souvenir shops and chowder. Got the usual tourist tat: fridge magnets and key rings. Grabbed a bowl of shrimp chowder that was good, then headed off to the big event: bear watching.
Now. When I tell you we spent 2.5 hours wandering through the woods in the lashing rain like weirdos — I'm not messing! Not a sniff of a bear. At this point I was convinced we'd been scammed.
Just as we were heading back, ready to throw in the towel and demand a refund — we spot one. A BEAR! Big lad. Pure majestic. On the side of the road! Back to Hoonah we went, high on adrenaline and chowder fumes. 🐻
Book the bear watching excursion at Icy Strait Point
Worth every wet minute — the moment you spot a big brown bear in the wild makes the whole thing completely unforgettable.
Disclosure: If you book through this link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Stop 2 — Juneau
Dog sledding in Juneau — pure bucket list stuff
We disembarked in Juneau and were whisked away for our Dog Sledding Discovery Tour — talk about bucket list stuff! Our journey took us to the Musher's Camp, and if I could describe it in one word: EPIC. The adrenaline rush of being pulled by 9 dogs was something else. The speed? Insane. The control? Honestly, a little iffy at times!
After our high-speed mush, we had a lecture on mushers, their dogs, and the legendary Iditarod race — like the Olympics of dog sledding. Then came the pièce de résistance: the PUPPIES. So fluffy, so soft, I could've spent the entire day cuddling them. 🐶
Once we reluctantly pried ourselves away, we were dropped back in Juneau — Alaska's capital. After a browse of the shops, we made our way to the infamous Red Dog Saloon. If you're in Juneau, you've GOTTA try the Duck Fart Shot. It's a local specialty and, I'll be honest, delicious! 🍸
P.S. We won the table quiz that evening. Proud owners of the Celebrity Medal! 🙌
Our dog sledding reel from Juneau — watch before you book!
The most spectacular sea day
The Hubbard Glacier — nature at its most dramatic
Aw lads, the head was bursting today after the Scots had us up half the night — singing, dancing, having the craic! Wouldn't have minded so much if they weren't gliding about this morning, cocktails in hand, not a bother on them. Meanwhile, we were clinging to the coffee machine like it was life support.
Eventually we gazed at the Hubbard Glacier for a bit, trying not to fall asleep standing up. Then gave in and collapsed back into the cabin for a glorious, well-earned nap. 💤
Later, dinner at Le Petit Chef — dinner meets theatre meets Disney! Each course came with an animated show projected onto your table. The food was unreal. 😋
Stop 3 — Ketchikan
Ketchikan — Dolly's House, dive bars and the Lumberjack Show
Woke up ridiculously early and thought I'd take advantage of the peaceful hour by slipping into the hot tub. Changed into my tankini with great optimism... only to discover it wasn't open yet. And it was cold! 🥶 Sat shivering in a dressing gown ten times too small for me — all on display — chatting to a lovely Indian chap on deck. He wasn't expecting the sight, I can tell you! 😆
After lunch, we explored Ketchikan. First stop: Dolly's House on historic Creek Street — once the heart of the old Red Light District. Dolly was the last licensed madam in Ketchikan. Among the relics: her electric vibrator (way ahead of her time — go, girl!), a shower curtain embroidered with condoms, and all kinds of curious paraphernalia. An educational experience! 😆
The highlight of the day though was the Lumberjack Show — an energetic, one-hour show of rugged, muscly men scaling poles, log-rolling and axe-throwing with wild precision. A nice bit of afternoon eye candy!! 😄
The Ketchikan Lumberjack Show — our reel
Book the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan
Disclosure: If you book through this link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What to pack for Alaska
Alaska packing essentials — what we'd bring
Alaska is stunning but the weather changes fast and you will get wet. These are the things we'd pack without hesitation for an Alaskan cruise or shore excursion.
Non-negotiable. You will get rained on — especially at Icy Strait Point. A proper waterproof set keeps you comfortable and dry for the whole excursion.
View on Amazon →The terrain on shore excursions varies a lot. Waterproof boots with good grip are essential for bear watching, dog sledding and any woodland trails.
View on Amazon →Even good boots benefit from a waterproof spray top-up before you travel. A small can goes a long way and keeps your feet dry all day.
View on Amazon →Brilliant for the bear watching excursion when you're standing in the rain for two hours. Pocket-sized, cheap, and you'll be very glad you packed them.
View on Amazon →You'll want your phone out constantly for photos and videos — a waterproof pouch protects it on wet excursions and on the ship deck near the glacier.
View on Amazon →Essential for whale watching and glacier viewing from the ship deck. Bald eagles, humpback whales, bears on the shoreline — you'll use these constantly.
View on Amazon →Signal on a cruise can be expensive. An eSIM gives you data connectivity at the ports without paying cruise ship roaming rates. Well worth it.
View on Amazon →Your cruise card is your key, your payment card and your ID all in one — you need it constantly. A lanyard means you never have to hunt for it in your bag.
View on Amazon →Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These are all things we'd genuinely pack for an Alaskan cruise.
Why an Alaskan cruise is worth it
What makes an Alaskan cruise so special
One of the largest tidewater glaciers in North America. Watching it from the ship — the blue ice, the scale, the silence — is genuinely awe-inspiring.
The Inside Passage is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales breaching. Keep your eyes on the water at all times.
Alaska has the highest concentration of bald eagles in the world. You'll see them perched on trees, soaring overhead, fishing in the water — constantly.
Nine dogs, full speed, the Alaskan wilderness — and then puppies at the end. One of the most exhilarating and joyful experiences of our entire trip.
Two and a half hours in the rain at Icy Strait Point. One massive, majestic brown bear on the side of the road. Worth every single wet minute.
Quizzes, shows, specialty restaurants, Scottish friends who kept us up far too late, and a casino that kept Padraig in surprisingly good form. 😄
Common questions
Alaska cruise FAQ
Ready to book your Alaskan cruise?
We sailed Alaska on a Celebrity Cruise and it was one of the greatest experiences of our lives. If you're looking to book an Alaskan cruise, TourRadar has some brilliant similar options worth checking out.
Affiliate disclosure: if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend experiences we've done ourselves and would do again.