What Cruise Terminology Should I Learn Before My Alaska Cruise?

cruise terminology

alaska cruise

Klondike Highway – This highway follows the original route created by the stampede of miners during the gold rush. The highway runs from Skagway to Dawson City in the Yukon. It’s called Yukon Highway 2 in Canada and Alaska Route 98 in Alaska.

Mt. McKinley – Mt. McKinley is also known as Denali. It’s the highest mountain peak in North America and is located in Alaska in the Denali National Park. Its summit towers at 20,237 feet.

Motorcoach or Coach – The motorcoach is a comfortable luxury bus for transporting passengers to and from their ship for shore excursions, cruise tours, and vacation packages. Snacks and beverages are provided.

Aurora Borealis – Also known as the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis displays an amazing light show in the sky. The best time to see is when night hours are the longest, such s in September.

Port/Port of Call – The port stops where passengers can disembark and explore the destination. Cruises (depending on length) may have several ports of call.

Scenic Cruising – When scenic cruising is listed on your itinerary, your ship will be sailing through the Inside Passage, a bay, or fjord on the way to its next destination. Amazing views of glaciers, cliffs, and marine life can be expected. Keep your camera handy.

Shore (Optional) Excursion – You can book a shore or optional excursion at any time as long as it has not filled up. The excursion generally includes guides, transportation, and any required fees. Reserve early as popular excursions sells out first.

Juneau, Alaska Tram – This is commonly a gondola ride up the side of a mountain, transporting skiers in the winter months. During the summer, visitors ride the tram for fantastic views.

Transfer – Your transfer may be a luxurious motor coach or a comfortable van depending on group size. It will be stated when your transfer is included in the price of a tour. For a reasonable fee, you can also add a transfer from the airport to your cruise ship to be sure you arrive on time.

Viewing Decks – Viewing Decks are public areas on the cruise ship where passengers can enjoy spectacular views.

Train from White Pass to Skagway Alaska White Pass & Yukon Route Railway – Created during the Klondike Gold Rush, the train is now used for tourists. It’s one of the most popular shore excursions for all ages.

Yukon – Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon, a wilderness region in northwest Canada.

Zip Lining – A zip line is a stainless-steel rope that is mounted on an incline for a suspended, hanging, free-flowing ride across forests, canyons or rivers. The ZipRider at Icy Strait Point holds the record for the longest zip line stretching one mile long with a 1,150-foot vertical drop. The six side-by-side cables allow entire groups to fly at the same time. The SuperFly in Whistler is Canada’s newest long course, almost one mile long, with six tandem lines as well.

Discover even more about Alaska cruises in part 2 of our Alaska cruise guide.

Call us at 1.888.804.CRUISE (2784) to book your Alaska cruise. As with every cruise we book, we’ll get you the very best deals and discounts available with no charge ever for our services. We can answer all your questions, book plane flights (when needed), hotels, your cruise, excursions, and more. Our job is to lessen your workload, save you money and time, eliminate guesswork, and give you more time to enjoy your amazing cruise. We can help you with all your cruise-related questions, and we love doing it.

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