Exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage Solo

Exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage solo is like stepping into a National Geographic documentary. The best part about cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage alone? There are no voices needed…..just your own sense of wonder as you take in the beauty of Alaska.

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Back in 2018, I took my first ever solo cruise. Where to? The Inside Passage of Alaska. This wasn’t my first cruise ever, but it was my first cruise alone. I couldn’t have been happier that I chose the Inside Passage to be my introduction into solo cruising. In this post, I’ll share with you the reasons why, including what to expect, stops you’ll make, and things to do. Hop onboard, and let’s get cruising 🙂

After discussions with my travel agent, I decided to cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage with Princess Cruises, as they offer the most itineraries for sailing Alaska. At the time, they were also offering the best solo cruise packages.

I was lucky enough snag a balcony room, in Canadian funds, with no solo supplement. This kind of deal is unheard of!

Just One Tip: Yes, I still use a travel agent as they are given perks that aren’t available to the general public, even when booking directly. This is the number 1 reason why you should use a travel agent to book your cruise.

What Makes Exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage Solo Special?

There’s a reason why cruising Alaska is on most everyone’s bucket list. There are so many reasons to fall in love with Alaska, the least of which is its diverse scenery.

Alaska’s Landcape and Scenery

When cruising through Alaska’s inside passage, cruisers will experience a never-ending change of scenery. This alone will keep you entertained throughout your cruise. At different points in your cruise, some of the beauty you will experience consists of:

• misty fjords
• dense rainforests
• snow-capped mountains
• calving glaciers

Alaska’s Wildlife

In addition to the magical scenery, it’s the potential of spotting wildlife that makes exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage solo so popular. If you’re a lucky cruiser, you might be fortunate enough to spot one or more of the following:

• grizzly bears fishing for salmon
• sea lions basking on rocky outcrops
• bald-headed eagles

Much of Alaska’s changing scenery and wildlife can be spotted right from your balcony. It’s this fact that makes cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage so special for solo travellers….especially if you’re more introverted.

Just One Tip: If doing a round-trip sailing from either Vancouver or Seattle, it doesn’t matter much which side of the ship your cabin is on. However, if you’re doing a one-way sailing, for northbound, the starboard (right) side is preferred, and for southbound, the portside (left) is preferred.

Ports of Call When Exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage Solo

Each of the ports of call offer different and unique vibes. While adventures seekers may opt to schedule a guided tour, independent solo travellers, will be safe should they choose to explore any of the ports on their own.

The ports of call you can choose to visit choosing the best itinerary are:

• Juneau
• Ketchikan
• Skagway
• Sitka
• Haines
• Seaward
• Whittier
• Victoria, British Columbia
• Glacier Bay National Park

The majority of Inside Passage itineraries include Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Victoria as the main ports of call. While each of the other ports are unique in their own way, I’m going to focus on the four main ports when making tour recommendations.

Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is Alaska’s capital city and the largest port you will visit when cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage. It offers many things for visitors young and old to do when in port.

Visit The Mendenhall Glacier

When docked in Juneau, passengers will have various options as to what to see and do. Top of my list when visiting Juneau was to hike up to the Mendenhall Glacier. This hike is definitely not accessible, as there is a fair amount of climbing to do. The breath-taking views from the summit, makes the struggle worthwhile.

Less adventurous passengers can also opt to take a trolley or book a guided tour to the Mendenhall Glacier.

Whichever way you choose to see the glacier, this is one thing you don’t want to miss while docked in Juneau.

Whale Watching In Juneau

Whale watching is an extremely popular tour to take while docked in Juneau. As much as I love seeing whales, I opted out of this tour as I wanted to explore more of the city on land.

They say that Juneau offers some of the best places in the world to spot humpback whales. You might even be lucky enough to witness them breaching or bubble-net feeding

Explore Downtown Juneau

More laid-back cruisers may wish to explore downtown Juneau on their own. Trust me when I say that there’s no shortage of things to see.

While strolling through Juneau’s historic downtown, cruisers can pop into the quirky shops and art galleries. Make sure you stop at Tracy’s King Crab Shack for legendary Alaskan king crab legs, or warm up with fresh seafood chowder.

Kayak or Canoe Tour In Juneau

Many active visitors to Juneau opt to take a kayak or canoe tour in search of wildlife from the water. This is one tour I wouldn’t recommend doing if you’re cruising alone. There are many tour operators that will guide you to the best spots for wildlife viewing, as well as keep you safe and provide historic information along the way.

A kayak tour can also be booked directly with most cruise lines.

Ketchikan, Alaska: The Ideal Port for Solo Alaskan Cruisers

Ketchikan is the first port you’ll visit when exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage solo. This friendly town is packed with charm, culture, and outdoor adventure. Known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,“ this coastal town is famous for its rich Native heritage, colorful waterfront, and lush rainforest surroundings.

Stroll Along Creek Street

This historic boardwalk, built on stilts over Ketchikan Creek, was once the town’s red-light district. Today, it’s lined with charming shops, galleries, and restaurants. In late summer, you can even see salmon swimming upstream!

Creek Street is just a 5 minute walk from the ship. It’s extremely safe for solo cruisers and a great way to spend part of your day when visiting Ketchikan. Be sure to stop into one of the quaint cafes to warm up with a hot chocolate or coffee.

Take A Seaplane To Misty Fjords Monument

If you’re up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, book a flightseeing tour over this jaw-dropping wilderness of fjords, waterfalls, and glacial valleys. The Misty Fjords Monument is often referred to as the the “Yosemite of the North.”

This is an awesome way to explore Alaska’s Inside Passage solo, as well as meet new people.

Salmon Fishing

As the Salmon Capital of the World, Ketchikan is a dream for anglers. Cruisers can join a guided fishing charter, or if you visit during the summer salmon run, watch the fish battle their way upstream at Ketchikan Creek.

Visit The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

This is one tour that I wish I had done while I was docked in Ketchikan. Everyone I talked to raved about how much fun it was. Next time for sure I will be doing this tour.

Cruisers described the lumberjack show as being fun and high-energy with a mix of history and competition thrown in. The tour featured real lumberjacks performing axe throwing, log rolling, and tree climbing stunts. I thought this was a great way to experience Alaska’s logging heritage!

Ketchikan is a port town along Alaska’s Inside Passage that’s full of fun, history, and adventure.

Skagway

Before I get into things you can do in Skagway, I make full disclosure. Skagway was by far my favourite spot while exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage solo. It was a mixture of fun and beauty that I’ll never forget.

I felt like I was stepping straight into an Old West boomtown. A boomtown that was surrounded by towering mountains, lush valleys, and glacial rivers!

This small but legendary town played a key role in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, when thousands of fortune-seekers flooded its dusty streets, hoping to strike it rich. Today, Skagway is considered to be one of the most fascinating stops on an Alaska Inside Passage cruise.

Red Onion Saloon

When in a Klondike town, why not experience how the Kondike’s lived? A morning tour took me for breakfast to a brothel with the name of Red Onion Saloon. I was given a choice of hot items from the menu, as well as either a Bloody Mary, or coffee and Baileys. I wasn’t able to decide, so they gave me both 🙂 .

When entering the saloon, you will be greeted by “working girls” dressed as “Madames”. They continued to play the part throughout breakfast, offering up many laughs. After breakfast, they took us upstairs to the “museum” where they shared stories about shenanigan’s from the past.

To this day, this was by far the best tour I’ve ever taken on a cruise.

Hike the Chilkoot Trail (or Just a Piece of It!)

This legendary 33 mile trail was once the most grueling part of the gold rush journey. Today, visitors can hike just a few miles of it which is surrounded by lush forests, wildflowers, and historic ruins from the Klondike era.

Dog Sledding and Musher’s Camp

Dog sledding is on many people’s Alaskan bucket list, and for good reason. Visitors will have the option of taking a helicopter to a glacier and being whisked away by dogsled. Visitors not wanting to break the bank can still experience the cute pups by arranging a tour to a Musher’s Camp where they will mingle with these friendly animals.

Into Canada’s Yukon

Some cruise lines still offer tours into nearby Yukon in Canada. Fortunately, when I cruised the Inside Passage in 2018, Princess still offered this tour.

The beauty that surrounded me in the Yukon was second to none. It was just nature and me-no need to have anyone with me.

When I was in the Yukon, I visited the Yukon Suspension Bridge, and enjoyed swinging 65 feet above the rapids below. I was so in love with the Yukon that I can’t wait to return for a longer period of time.

Victoria, British Columbia: A Safe Port For Solo Cruisers

Victoria, British Columbia, is an unforgettable surprise when exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage solo. This island off the coast of British Columbia offers the perfect blend of history, natural beauty, and solo friendly adventures.

As the capital of British Columbia, this charming port is known for its stunning waterfront, walkable downtown, and English-inspired architecture. Whether you’re into gardens, seaside strolls, or cozy cafés, Victoria is a fantastic place to explore on your own.

Wander Through Butchart Gardens

One of Victoria’s most famous attractions, Butchart Gardens is a breathtaking 55-acre floral paradise. Stroll through the Japanese Garden, Sunken Garden, and Rose Garden, taking in the vibrant blooms at your own pace. It’s a peaceful, picture-perfect spot to soak up nature.

Just One Tip: Unfortunately, when my Inside Passage cruise was in port in Victoria, night had already fallen. I only had a couple of hours to spend in these beautiful gardens which isn’t near enough. I recommend budgeting at least 3 hours to wander through this beauty.

Explore The Inner Harbour And Parliament Buildings

Victoria’s Inner Harbour is the heart of the city, lined with street performers, cafés, and historic buildings. You can admire the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, which light up beautifully at night, or stop by the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel for afternoon tea.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have just stuck to wandering the inner harbour and exploring the beauty of Victoria’s parliament buildings. Even though night had fallen, Victoria is incredibly safe for solo cruisers to wander on their own.

Whale Watching

Victoria is one of the best places in the world to see orcas in the wild! Join a whale watching tour and cruise through the Salish Sea, where you might spot humpback whales, sea lions, and even bald eagles.

Whale watching in British Columbia is near the top of the list for Canadian bucket list experiences. Now’s your chance!

Stroll Through Downtown And Fan Tan Alley

Downtown Victoria is incredibly solo-friendly, with walkable streets filled with unique shops and cafés. When in port, don’t miss Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada, located in Victoria’s historic Chinatown. It’s packed with cool boutiques and a fun place to wander.

Even though the cruise stop in Victoria is short, this vibrant and picturesque city makes a lasting impression. It’s the perfect way to end as you explore Alaska’s Inside Passage solo, offering a mix of culture, nature, and laid-back charm.

Glacier Bay National Park

I had to save the best for last. You wouldn’t be exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage without scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park. Believe me when I tell you that this is a once in a lifetime experience. It’s the reason why exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage solo is so amazing!

There are a limited number of permits issued to cruise lines which allow them to enter Glacier Bay National Park. Since Princess Cruises is the largest cruise line in Alaska, it only stands to reason that they are also issued the largest number of passes.

On every Inside Passage cruise with Princess, you can expect to spend one full day of scenic cruising through the Glacier Bay National Park. This will be your most memorable experience when exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage alone. The colour of the water was breath-taking, with the ice gleaming from on top. We were even lucky enough to have a whale sighting right from the ship.

When entering the park, a ranger will board the ship to sail with the cruise line. So, in addition to viewing some of the world’s best scenery, you receive personal information from the people who work hard to protect this natural wonder each and every day.

SAVE TO EXPLORE ALASKA’S INSIDE PASSAGE SOLO