Alaska is a must-see for everyone. Before you balk and think that it is just too darn cold, hear me out. I have gone twice, once in September when I wore long-sleeved t-shirts an jeans, and the other time in July, when I wore the same and some days my winter jacket. The weather is mild if you go in non-winter, and the cold is crisp, not damp.
I love Alaska because it is unlike any other place I have ever been. The glaciers, the expansive landscape, and best of all, the wildlife EVERYWHERE. We saw bald eagles, humpback whales, blue wales, (my dad saw an Orca, but we missed it), bears, sea otters, porpoises, and a moose! They were all roaming around freely, definitely making
Alaska live up to its nickname of "The Last Great Frontier."
Being there, you get the sense that (most of) Alaska has always looked like it does from the beginning of time. It feels less disturbed, more peaceful, and more natural--undisturbed by humankind. This concept alone took my breath away.
For most cruises, I would say that the balcony may not be worth the extra money. However, for an Alaskan cruise, definitely splurge for a balcony room. You will see more whales, more glaciers, and more icebergs with a balcony. We would sit for hours and one day were lucky enough to watch a baby whale play for about an hour alongside our cruiseship. It was definitely one of the biggest wow moments of my life.
My other favorite activity was an excursion on a smaller boat to get an upclose view of the glaciers. It was sad to see how quickly they were breaking off and crashing into the ocean, and the guide confirmed that they were deteriorating at a more rapid pace than ever before. Seeing this and the rest of the untouched beauty in Alaska definitely made me want to be more environmentally friendly and encourage others to be too.
You gain a deeper appreciation of nature, beauty, and wildlife by visiting Alaska. You also gain peace and clarity because everything is just so wide open. Oh, and if you aren't a fan of the fancy, sit-down cruises, try Norwegian Cruiseline (who we used). They have what they call "freestyle cruising" which means no black-tie, no assigned seats. Instead, you can make reservations to be seated when you want instead of a set time like many other cruiselines. Also, make sure to pack lots of layers :)