This is the number one source across North America for travel agents and travelers going to Alaska by cruise ship. This is such a good cruise to take, it makes good sense to take along the best cruise guidebook on Alaska.


reviewed:"A must-have reference for any Alaska cruise Anne Vipond's straightforward style, well-conceived organization, and excellent content make this book indispensable for Alaska-bound cruisers. Anne patiently describes all the major cruise ports in Alaska and the Inside Passage. The detailed town maps with keys to the text descriptions are excellent. Descriptions of various attractions meaty, yet brief. The thing that is most attractive about this book is its focus on activities interesting to cruisers, as opposed to the long list of hotels and restaurants common in other guide books. Anyone taking a cruise to Alaska will find this book invaluable. It seems to be the only reference available that provides assistance in planning your trip to make maximum benefit from your time in each port.

List price $19.95 ; Buy it for under $14.00

Thoroughly updated every year (unlike the rest of the competition), Frommer’s Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call is a compact guide that’s on top of all the latest developments and offerings in the rapidly changing cruise industry. Our author, a leading cruise journalists with years of experience, has compiled candid, first-hand reviews of each cruise line and each ship. The easy-to-use ratings, detailed drawings of each ship, and honest evaluations make it easy for you to find the cruise that suits your budget and your personal style, whether you want a luxury liner with fine dining or a small-ship cruise led by serious naturalists.

You’ll also find a nature guide that helps you understand what you’re seeing, complete with illustrations of glaciers and the various types of whales. We’ll show you how to get the best deals and how to maximize your time in the ports of call—all in one concise, pocket-sized volume.

reviewed:"A Handy Guide for Cruising Alaska   bought this book before an Alaskan cruise this summer, and found it to be invaluable, both for researching before hand and enjoying the ports of call on our cruise. It's small (so it's easily portable), and chock full of information about all the ports. We used it constantly during the trip!

List price $16.00 ; Buy it for under $12.00

This is the only cruise guide that provides the real prices people pay for cruises, not just the rack rates. Other guides tell you that a seven-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas costs $2,099. You can pay that if you want to, but only Frommer's tells you that the same cruise is selling for $649. We give both the rack rates and the discount price for every cruise we review. This feature alone makes Frommer's North American Cruises and Ports of Call by far the most valuable trip-planning book among cruise guides.

Our authors, noted cruise experts who've personally checked out every ship sailing in and around North America, offer candid and unbiased opinions on them all. They are completely up to date, with all the latest developments and the newest ships. You'll also get complete coverage of the major port destinations, with advice on how to spend your limited time ashore.

reviewed:"Frommer Has a Winner Here   This book is different. Here they came up with something very useful and novel for the traveler. When you go on a cruise normally you do not have a clue. You just follow what your travel agent recommends. But anyone that has taken an extended cruise or two knows there are big differences between boat lines and routes etc.( I like Holland America myself). So here is a nice review of what boats and cruises are available, it describes the boats, and where they go and what you can expect including on board entertainment. All great stuff.

List price $21.00 Buy it for under $15.00

A giant six-foot by 11-3/4" fold-out map opens up to reveal vital details of this magnificent 1,000 mile Inside Passage-- names of glaciers, islands and channels that the cruise ships navigate through. Read about early explorers and ancient Indian cultures. Information on land and sea mammals are colorfully illustrated along with various types of fishing vessels that are likely to be seen. Learn about the exciting cities and ports-of-call along the cruise line route. Each city and port-of-call is covered by descriptive text, photos and a map showing the major points of interest.

reviewed:"I LOVE this map   A foot wide and eleven feet tall IS a weird shape for a chart, but I find it to be very enjoyable because it shows the whole inside passage in detail. Where else can you find something like this? Let's hope this map stays around. It's a great concept and allows one a greater appreciation of the region.
List price $12.95 ; Buy it for under $11.00

Written and updated by the country's top cruise experts, Fodor's Alaska Ports of Call gives you all the essentials for a perfect day in port. This compact guide contains up-to-date coverage of the most popular ports in the world's top cruising regions, as well as restaurants, key sights, entertainment, and shops, all easily reached from the pier. And a helpful cruise primer packed with tips and important contact information and detailed maps facilitates your travel planning.

reviewed:"Good Basic Coverage of AK Cruise & Individual Ports of Call   Just enough detail to have an idea what's available, where it's located, and what generally to expect-- and to book your own shore excursions if you want. Would be a good book to stick in a backpack as you head for shore for the day."

Buy it for under $10.00

reviewed:"Concise, easy-to-read, candid   Concise, easy-to-read information fills every page of this bestseller. Unlike most cruise guidebooks, Cruising Alaska puts the emphasis on hard facts - not pretty pictures. Every detail is here, including stateroom size, passenger-crew ratio, dining options, current cruising routes, ship decor, onboard facilities and more. A candid analysis of the routes is given for every ship in Alaska this season, with details on the highlights, as well as what is missed. Maps, index. "

List price $12.95 ; Buy it for under $11.00

The Yukon and South Central Alaska guide has seven large-scale color maps that include Prince William Sound and Denali National Park. This guide is designed for cruises and tours that extend beyond the Inside Passage into the heart of Alaska and the Yukon. Color maps of the Glacier Route from Yakutat to the Katmai region fold out to over 4 feet long and include the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island. Interior maps of Alaska, Canada's Yukon and the Arctic region show road systems and points-of-interest.

The text examines native cultures, Russian exploration, the Klondike Goldrush. Information on cities and towns, glaciers, national parks, land and sea mammals including whales, and many other subjects are presented along with color photos and drawings.

List price $14.95 ; Buy it for under $11.00

Thoroughly updated every year (unlike the rest of the competition), Frommer’s Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call is a compact guide that’s on top of all the latest developments and offerings in the rapidly changing cruise industry. Our author, a leading cruise journalists with years of experience, has compiled candid, first-hand reviews of each cruise line and each ship. The easy-to-use ratings, detailed drawings of each ship, and honest evaluations make it easy for you to find the cruise that suits your budget and your personal style, whether you want a luxury liner with fine dining or a small-ship cruise led by serious naturalists.

You’ll also find a nature guide that helps you understand what you’re seeing, complete with illustrations of glaciers and the various types of whales. We’ll show you how to get the best deals and how to maximize your time in the ports of call—all in one concise, pocket-sized volume.

Buy it for under $16.00