Frequently Asked Questions

Ring of Fire

General	Alaska	British Columbia	Columbia & Snake Rivers	California Wine Country
Grand Asia	Japan	Panama Canal & Costa Rica	Mexico's Sea of Cortes	South Pacific	Ring of Fire

Arrival
Q. When I arrive at the airport how will I find you?
A. On the day your Cruise West tour begins, Cruise West will have uniformed representatives at the airport to greet you when your flight arrives, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.  Should you arrive before 9:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m., please see your personal itinerary lists, included with your final documents, for taxi transfer vouchers.

In Anchorage, please make your way to the baggage claim area where you will be met by a uniformed Cruise West representative and transferred to your ship or hotel.

Money
Q. Can you change money onboard?
A. We are unable to change money onboard the Spirit of Oceanus. All money must be exchanged at an authorized bank or money changer. It is a good idea to exchange some money prior to your arrival in Japan.

Q. Is it okay to bring traveler’s checks?
A. Traveler’s checks can be exchanged at most major banks, larger hotels and some duty-free shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler’s checks in Japanese Yen or U.S. dollars

Northern Lights
Q. Will I see the Northern Lights?
A. The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights are an infrequent sighting that requires a combination of dark, clear nights and specific solar activity. Crew are on duty 24 hours a day and seven days a week and should this phenomenon be seen, we will be sure to awaken any interested guests.

Packing
Q. What clothes should I pack?
A. You should be prepared for a wide variety of weather conditions. Alaska is frequently cool and rainy but temperatures can at times reach the mid-80s Fahrenheit. We recommend that you check the weather forecast for the area before your departure.

We always recommend packing clothes you can layer to be prepared for temperature changes and be prepared with warm clothes, a rain jacket and rain pants, fleece or a sweater, a hooded windbreaker, and comfortable clothes for relaxing onboard. You may need a hat and gloves. Footwear should be comfortable, preferably water resistant, closed toe and appropriate for the level of activity on the specific itinerary you have selected. Umbrellas are provided in each cabin for your convenience.

Timing of Travel
Q. What is the best time to travel in Alaska and the Bering Sea region?
A. Most travelers choose to visit Alaska between the months of May and September. Each of these months has its benefits. Humpback whales arrive in mid-May and depart in early September. Wildflowers are most prevalent in June and July. Wildlife ashore, such as bears and mountain goats, can be seen throughout these summer months.

Weather
Q. What’s the weather in Alaska going to be like?
A. Weather can vary quite dramatically. Plan on cooler weather and always be prepared for rain.  May and June have longer, sunnier days, but are a bit cooler. July and August are warmer but have a greater chance of rain. Alaska’s coastal areas and interior also vary from one another. On average the highs will be between the mid-40s and mid-60s. When we are near glaciers the temperatures drop by about 10 degrees. You can check weather reports by visiting www.weather.com

Wildlife
Q. Will I see whales in Alaska?
A. Most likely. The most commonly seen whales in are humpback whales and killer whales, also known as orcas. Humpback whales migrate to Alaska waters to feed and usually begin arriving in early to mid-May and begin departing by mid-September. Orcas are much more elusive and have no predictable migration patterns, but we will always keep an eye out for them. In the Bering Sea region we will be looking for minkes, bowheads and humpback whales.

Q. Will I see bears?
A. We see bears on the majority of our trips. Coastal brown bears (sometimes called grizzly bears) and black bears inhabit the lands and islands of Alaska. The month of May typically presents the best sighting opportunities as the bears are near the shore in search
of food in the intertidal areas.

Both species can often be seen from the ship throughout the summer months. Bears tend to stay in the cool shade on warm sunny days and are more difficult to spot in the sunshine. If you take a land tour with us, you will also have a good chance of seeing bears in Denali National Park and Preserve