Trying a Late-Season Cruise Through Alaska on Ocean Victory

Trying a late-season Alaska cruise on Ocean Victory, she found it sunny and hot. She found herself wearing short sleeves and no jacket in Ketchikan and kayaking Misty Fjords without rain gear. She never knows what she's going to get when visiting Alaska.

The Ocean Victory was sailing its second-to-last cruise of the Alaska season. It was the best time to see wildlife in Alaska. The guides on the ship helped their guests see the animals. They saw humpback whales, otters, marbled murrelets, Steller sea lions and a black bear. Brad's Zodiac driver knew exactly where the salmon were running. He had been keeping an eye on that spot all season and it paid off with a bear sighting.

Ocean Victory is a hybrid expedition ship in Alaska. It visits Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg. Some shore tours are included, others come with an additional fee. The premium jetboat tour took us from Wrangll to the LeConte Glacier. It's worth noting that Ocean Victory doesn't have the permits for hiking or bushwacking in off-the-beaten path spots. However, in spots like Katchikan and Wringell, permits aren't needed. We enjoyed our complimentary tours. They included a visit to Sons of Norway Hall to watch traditional Norwegian dancing from the children of Petersburg and a journey to Kake.

The Alaska season has been lengthening over the past decade. Many of the other cruise operators have already called it quits in Alaska. There are fewer tourists visiting the bigger ports late in the season. Ocean Victory had 124 guests on its sailing. Norwegian Cruise Line has ships scheduled to visit till the end of October. The smaller ports have populations much lower than the number of passengers on the biggest ships that visit Alaska, so they don't overwhelm the towns.

Trying a late-season cruise through Alaska on Ocean Victory might be a little difficult as some shops and restaurants are closed for the season. Ocean Victory's expedition guides took great care to point out their favorite shops, mentioning them specifically in their nightly lectures. They also gave great personal suggestions for dive bars and bakeries. The expedition guide knows their spots so well that they are eager to share them with guests.

The weather for Ocean Victory's Alaska cruise was spectacular. The ship provides guests with Frogg Toggs, rain jackets and pants that are durable. They also provide waterproof boots. Alaska is unpredictable. The guide to Alaska can be found month-by-month. It's recommended to pack layers for the cruise. For more information, read the month by month guide.