These are the best Alaska cruises for travelers who want glaciers, wildlife and remote coastal towns without giving up onboard comfort. Glaciers calving into the sea, whales breaching off the bow, and towns you can only reach by boat or plane — Alaska is unlike any other cruise region.
By Vacation Intel
Why Cruise Alaska
Alaska cruises trade beach time for scenery: towering glaciers, dense rainforest, and wildlife you simply will not see on a Caribbean itinerary. Balcony cabins are especially worth the upgrade here, since much of the experience is watching the landscape go by.
Best Time to Go
The season runs May through September. Late May and June bring longer daylight hours and lower prices; July and August are peak season with the warmest weather and the highest fares; September brings a chance at fall colors and thinner crowds.
Popular Ports and Sights
- Juneau — Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching tours
- Skagway — Gold Rush history and the White Pass Railway
- Ketchikan — Totem poles and Misty Fjords floatplane tours
- Glacier Bay National Park — a full day of scenic cruising, no docking required
- Icy Strait Point — ziplining above the Tongass rainforest
Inside Passage vs. Gulf of Alaska Itineraries
Inside Passage cruises are round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver and stick to the sheltered coastal waterway. Gulf of Alaska itineraries are one-way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, crossing more open water and typically including Hubbard Glacier — a great option if you plan to extend your trip into Denali or the Alaska interior.
More Tips for Booking the Best Alaska Cruises
When comparing the best Alaska cruises, decide between an Inside Passage itinerary and a Gulf of Alaska route before picking a ship. Inside Passage sailings round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver and revisit the same port at the end, while Gulf of Alaska itineraries sail one-way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, often paired with a land tour to Denali.
A one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing combined with a rail or bus trip into Denali National Park is one of the most popular ways to see interior Alaska on the best Alaska cruises, since it pairs the coastal glacier scenery with the mountains and wildlife you cannot reach from the ship alone.
Book a balcony or ocean-view cabin if your budget allows it on any of the best Alaska cruises, since glacier viewing and whale spotting from your own cabin is one of the region’s biggest draws, unlike most Caribbean itineraries where cabin location matters less. Our Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival comparison is a useful read if you are weighing two mainstream lines that both run Alaska itineraries. For current wildlife and park conditions before booking shore excursions, the National Park Service’s Alaska region site is a useful outside resource.
Pack serious layers regardless of the season, since Alaska’s weather shifts quickly and a sunny morning on deck can turn cold and rainy by afternoon, especially near glaciers where the air temperature drops noticeably.
Peak season for the best Alaska cruises runs June through August, with July generally offering the most reliable weather, while May and September sailings trade a slightly higher chance of rain for noticeably lower fares and smaller crowds in port towns.
Book shore excursions through the cruise line for the best Alaska cruises when your itinerary is tight, since ship-sponsored tours guarantee the ship waits if there is a delay, unlike an independently booked excursion in a remote port.
Vacation Intel Tip
Book a balcony cabin on the starboard (right) side sailing north or port (left) side sailing south for the best glacier views on most Inside Passage routes — ask your travel advisor to confirm for your specific ship.