How
My Dream Alaskan Vacation Became One Long Sales Pitch
There was a time when I believed an
Alaskan cruise would be one of the greatest vacations of my life. Every
commercial showed towering glaciers, breaching whales, soaring bald eagles,
charming fishing villages, and some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth.
It was presented as an opportunity to disconnect from the pressures of everyday
life and reconnect with nature.
The scenery delivered.
Everything else left me asking one
question.
At what point does a vacation stop being
a vacation and become one continuous sales presentation?
After spending time aboard the Norwegian
Joy, I came away with one overwhelming impression.
The business model felt less like
hospitality and more like maximizing revenue at nearly every opportunity.
I understand that cruise lines exist
to make money. Every successful business does. But there is a difference
between offering optional experiences and making guests feel as though they are
constantly being marketed to from the moment they wake up until they go to bed.
That is exactly how I felt.
Every
Day Begins With Another Opportunity to Spend
The cruise fare gets you on the
ship.
After that, it often feels like
everything else comes with another price tag.
Specialty dining.
Drink packages.
Internet upgrades.
Spa treatments.
Professional photographs.
Casino promotions.
Art auctions.
Jewelry sales.
Luxury boutiques.
Future cruise deposits.
Premium entertainment.
Exclusive experiences.
Everywhere you turn, there seems to
be another invitation to spend more money.
Eventually you stop seeing the ship
as a vacation destination and start seeing it as a floating shopping mall.
The
Ports Felt Like Tourist Shopping Districts
The biggest disappointment wasn't
Alaska.
It was what many of the cruise stops
had become.
I expected authentic coastal
communities where local culture would be the centerpiece.
Instead, much of what I experienced
near the cruise docks consisted of jewelry stores, souvenir shops, T-shirt
stores, candy stores, and businesses designed primarily for cruise passengers.
If your dream vacation is shopping,
you'll probably enjoy it.
If your dream is experiencing
authentic Alaska, you may have to look well beyond the main tourist areas.
Excursions
Can Become Shockingly Expensive
Then come the excursions.
Whale watching.
Zip lining.
Helicopter tours.
Dog sledding.
Fishing.
Kayaking.
Glacier adventures.
Many of these experiences sound
incredible.
Many probably are.
But the prices can be eye-opening.
A family of four can easily spend
hundreds or even thousands of dollars in addition to what they've already paid
for the cruise.
The advertised vacation can quickly
become far more expensive than many travelers expect.
Alaska
Is the Star, Not the Sales Pitch
Here's the irony.
The greatest part of the vacation
costs nothing.
Standing on deck as your ship glides
past glaciers.
Watching whales surface beside the
ship.
Seeing bald eagles soaring overhead.
Looking at mountains that have stood
for thousands of years.
Those moments don't require an
excursion ticket.
They don't require a premium
package.
They don't require another purchase.
Nature provides them free of charge.
My
Advice
If you're thinking about taking an
Alaskan cruise, do your homework.
Understand exactly what is included.
Research excursion prices before you
leave home.
Set a realistic budget.
Don't feel pressured to buy every
package that's offered.
Spend less time in the jewelry
stores and more time on the outside decks.
Because when this vacation is over,
I don't believe you'll remember the necklace, the watch, or the souvenir T-shirt.
You'll remember Glacier Bay.
You'll remember the mountains.
You'll remember the whales.
You'll remember the silence.
Those are the moments worth
traveling for.
Final
Thoughts
Would I recommend seeing Alaska?
Without hesitation.
Would I recommend going into the
experience with your eyes wide open?
Absolutely.
The true treasure of Alaska isn't
found in another shopping district or another sales presentation.
It is found in the breathtaking
landscapes that no cruise line created and no salesperson can improve upon.
The cruise may get you there.
But Alaska itself is the real
destination.
If I could give one piece of advice
to every future passenger, it would be this:
Don't let the constant opportunities
to spend distract you from the priceless beauty that surrounds you.
That beauty is the reason you came.
Everything else is optional.
Bill Conley
America's Favorite Life Coach
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