Destination Guide
Alaska Cruises
Glaciers calving into the sea, whales off the balcony, and scenery that makes the ship feel incidental.
Best time to sail
May through September only. May and September are quieter and cheaper with cooler temperatures. June and July bring the longest daylight and the best wildlife viewing. Late August and September deliver the strongest salmon runs, bear activity, and a real chance at the northern lights.
Departure ports
Seattle, Vancouver, Seward and Whittier (for Anchorage), and occasionally San Francisco
Typical length
7 nights round-trip, or 7 nights one-way paired with a land tour
Choosing your itinerary
Inside Passage
Round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver through protected waters. Calmer seas, easier logistics, no one-way airfare. The right call for most first-time Alaska cruisers.
Gulf of Alaska
One-way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier. Adds Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord and gets you deeper into the state - but you'll fly into one city and out of another.
Cruisetour
A cruise bolted to a multi-day rail and lodge journey inland to Denali and Fairbanks. The only way to see the interior, and where Holland America and Princess genuinely lead.
Don't miss
- Glacier Bay National Park - permit-limited, so not every ship gets in
- Hubbard Glacier, the most active calving glacier on the itinerary
- Whale watching in Icy Strait Point and Juneau
- The White Pass & Yukon Route railway out of Skagway
- Denali National Park on an extended cruisetour
Ready to price a Alaska cruise?
Send Katie your dates and who's traveling. You'll get real options with real prices - not a sales pitch. It's free, and it never costs more than booking direct.