Carnival Cruises To Alaska: Things To Know & Tips (2024)

Carnival Miracle Docked In Skagway

Scenic Cruise Days In Tracy Arm Fjord
Many of Carnival's Alaska cruise itineraries offer a day in Tracy Arm Fjord. The day listed for Tracy Arm Fjord is not a port of call, but instead a scenic cruise day. This means the ship will not dock or anchor for guests to get off. At a specific point during the day the ship will be scheduled to sail through Tracy Arm Fjord. Be on the lookout for a Tracy Arm Fjord shore excursion that allows guests to get on a smaller boat that gets even closer to the glacier. This tour is usually sold through the cruise booking manager in advance of the cruise or onboard at the shore excursions desk if space is available.

Dinner Time Options Differ For Alaska Cruises
The dining room seating options vary for Alaska cruises. Carnival's website shows that Your-Time Dining opens at 5:15pm and closes at 9:00pm. The Early Seating dining room is at 5:30pm and the Late Seating dining room option is at 7:45pm. These times are earlier than normal domestic US or Europe cruises. When you book your cruise you should be able to select the dining option you want or waitlist for an option if what you want is full. Guests who book themselves can complete this in the online cruise manager. If you use a travel agent or book a cruise with one of Carnival's agents, they should be able to help you complete this action.

Pools & Waterslides Onboard
I recommend packing your swim suit because depending on the weather you might be able to enjoy the pool & waterslide. When I cruised the Carnival Miracle to Alaska back in 2013 the temperature was warm and the pools & hottubs were open outside. The waterslide opened for a brief period during the cruise too. Whether these amenities will be available during your cruise is likely dependent on the weather & temperature, but you should be able to find out onboard by checking the Carnival Hub App.

Bringing Kids On Your Alaska Cruise: Are youth programs available?
​ When I cruised Alaska, there were many families on the ship with kids (though probably fewer compared to a Caribbean cruise). Carnival's youth programs are usually open on Alaska cruises. Camp Ocean is open for kids 2-11, Circle C is for 12-14 year olds, and Club 02 is for 15-17 year olds. Each of the different age groups has age appropriate activities. You can find out more about the activities offered in these programs once you are onboard. Parents/guardians must register their children for the youth programs - this can be done pre-cruise as part of online check-in or once onboard.

Should I avoid getting an interior stateroom for a Carnival Alaska cruise?
Alaska cruises are great for looking out and seeing the scenery/nature as the ship passes by. Many people will get a room with a window or balcony in order to be able to lookout at the views from their room. However, an interior room is often one of the cheapest rooms and great for those who want to get onboard cheaply (this is me). If you decide you want to stay in an interior room, there are other ways you can enjoy the view. You can go outside to the ship's public decks to look outside. Carnival ships also have TV channels showing the view from the front of the ship which you can use to see outside while in your stateroom. The only thing with an interior room that you are giving up is the ability to quickly look outside directly from your stateroom.

Are the same activities offered on Carnival Cruises to Alaska compared to Caribbean/Mexico cruises?
You will see a lot of same types of activities offered on a Carnival Cruise to Alaska. For example, you will likely see day-time events such as trivia, karaoke, & games scheduled throughout your Alaska cruise. Evening events such as comedy shows, Playlist Productions shows, piano bar entertainment, and more are also usually held on Alaska cruises too. These is a lot of overlap when it comes to the onboard events & activities scheduled on an Alaska cruise & Caribbean/Mexico cruises. The exact line-up of what is scheduled for your Carnival Cruise to Alaska can be found onboard through the Carnival Hub App.

Does Carnival ever run sales or deals on Alaska cruises?
Yes, Carnival does run sales and deals on Alaska cruises. You can check Carnival's website, your VIFP profile for offers, or check with your travel agent to find out about sales or deals going on related to Carnival's Alaska cruises.

Is the casino open during Alaska cruises?
The casino will open during your Alaska cruise, but the casino can only be open when it is legal. Very likely the casino will open the first day after your ship has left the homeport and entered international waters. On my Carnival Miracle cruise to Alaska the casino was open while the ship was at sea in international waters and closed while the ship was docked in ports of call. After the ship has departed the port of call (except the last night if docked in Victoria, B.C.) the casino will likely open. There will be chances to play in the casino during your Alaska cruise so make sure you check your Carnival Hub App daily for the hours.

Why does my Alaska cruise make a very brief stop in Victoria, B.C.?
The Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Spirit's Alaska cruises from Seattle commonly stop in Victoria, B.C. Generally this stop is the last evening of the cruise and only 5-6 hours. This is required because the ships are required to make a foreign port of call stop prior to returning to the US. Despite the time in the port of call being short there are usually shore excursions for sale and further you can get off the ship. Make sure you get back on the ship on-time!

Do the gift shops sale Alaska themed merchandise?
This is hard to answer because it is not guaranteed. However, when I cruised to Alaska in 2013 the gift shops sold Alaska t-shirts, magnets, postcards, and all sorts of Alaska related items. If you get onboard and don't see the items you are wanting, check the gift shops in the ports of call your cruise visits.

Alaska Ports of Call: Does Carnival make guests use water shuttles ever?
A water shuttle is a smaller ship that takes guests from the ship to shore when the ship cannot dock at the port, but instead has to anchor off-shore. Carnival's website states that water shuttles are sometimes used in Alaskan ports such as Icy Straight Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka. Further, Carnival's website notes that the availability of accessible water shuttles can vary by sailing and is based on local availability. If you need to use an accessible water shuttle you need to check with Carnival in advance of your cruise to see if one will be available.

Is the Behind the Fun Tour offered on Alaska cruises?
The Behind the Fun Tour is an onboard excursion where a limited number of guests can pay for the opportunity to see some behind the scenes area. At the time of writing, the Behind the Fun Tour is not yet back. However, when it returns it is expected the Behind the Fun Tour will be offered on Carnival's Alaska cruise itineraries.

Are 2024 Alaska cruises available for sale yet?
Carnival has already opened Alaska cruises for the 2024 season. The ships sailing & itineraries for the 2024 Alaska Cruise season are similar to 2023. The 2025 Alaska cruises are not yet open for sale.

5 Random Tips For Scenic Cruise Days:
1. The outside decks can get crowded on scenic cruise days, especially when the ship is entering a fjord or nearing a glacier. Arrive early outside if you want to make sure you get a good spot to stand.
2. If you are planning on using a camera to take pictures, I recommend keeping an extra battery in your pocket.
3. Bring binoculars! You may want to get a closer view of the wildlife.
​4. Dress appropriately if you plan on being outside.
5. During the ship's time scenic cruising there will still be activities & events held onboard, but there may be fewer organized things to do.

If you are planning a Carnival Cruise to Alaska I hope you have found this information helpful. Alaska is a great cruise destination.