The Alaska Coast + Vancouver
While Alaska and Vancouver are technically part of the Pacific Northwest and could have rightfully been added to that page on my blog, I thought it would be best to give them their own page on the blog since there’s so much to say! I ventured down the coast of Alaska and Canada in September 2022 with my boyfriend and his two aunts for a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas and needless to say, it was absolutely magical.
I’m talking massive insane glaciers, the open water, the most graceful breathtaking sea creatures, major Titanic vibes (but in the best way), and endless amounts of multiple-course meals every single freaking night.
We chose the 7 Night Southbound Alaska & Hubbard cruise, which trailed along Southcentral and Southeastern Alaska (also known as “The Panhandle”) and stopped at four towns in between, ending in Vancouver. The overall trip was filled with surprises and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but there were definitely pros and cons throughout — many of which I hadn’t expected.
To map out our elaborate week-long trip for reference…
We flew from Seattle (where my boyfriend and I lived at the time — we recently moved to Chicago for those who haven’t heard!). Our flight landed in Anchorage and then we took a 2-hour bus ride to Seward that had plenty of amazing views of Alaska. Then on the cruise, we stopped at Hubbard Glacier (pictured above), Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, and ended in Vancouver BC.
Don’t worry! I will totally go into each of these towns and what I thought of them in a post inside the blog. But FYI — I will just say that the towns themselves weren’t what impressed me the most. And I’ll also go into details on the cruise too so you can snap up the same deal (or choose an even better one) without spending a fortune like some people think they have to.
Just to rave about some of the highlights that I was so grateful to experience…
The whale watching excursions are an absolute MUST, the canoeing and glacier spotting excursion was unlike anything I had experienced before (but was physically very intense considering the fact that Aidan and I were the only people under 55 years old and were doing most of the work LOL), and Vancouver BC is bougie AF and my newest favorite city.
What are you waiting for? Dive more into the blog to hear all about my cruise vacay and why you should plan yours next!
Looking out on Hubbard Glacier in Disenchantment Bay from our Royal Caribbean Cruise