Cruise Comparison
Alaska by sea:
glaciers, fjords and wildlife.
A bucket-list coastline, best seen from the water.
Alaska cruises run roughly May through September, when the weather is workable and the wildlife is at its most active. The voyage itself is the attraction: glaciers, fiords, whales, and pocket-sized port towns, all woven into a week at sea. This guide walks you through the two main itinerary styles, how glacier viewing works, and which major lines sail here each season.
Before you compare ships, decide what matters most to you. Passengers who want a calm, scenic first introduction to Alaska favor the Inside Passage; travelers with more time and a desire to see interior Alaska tend toward a one-way Gulf route with a land extension.
Two itinerary styles
Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska?
Nearly every Alaska cruise fits one of two shapes. Here is the easy way to tell them apart.
01
Inside Passage (Round-trip)
Best for first-time Alaska cruisers
The Inside Passage threads a sheltered network of islands and channels between the mainland and the coast, so the sailing is calm and the scenery steep: forested fiords, waterfalls, and small coastal towns you reach nearly every day. Glacier Bay often anchors the itinerary, and many first-time cruisers rate it the perfect Alaska introduction.
- Best for
- A protected, scenic waterway routed as a round-trip, usually from Seattle, Vancouver, or Anchorage.
02
Gulf of Alaska (One-way)
Best for travelers who want more of Alaska beyond the ship
The one-way Gulf of Alaska route crosses the open Gulf of Alaska rather than looping back, which opens up different ports and pairs beautifully with a Denali or interior land extension. It suits travelers who want to see both the coastline and the mountains in one trip.
- Best for
- A one-way voyage, often between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, with a chance to add a land tour before or after.
Glacier viewing
Where the ice meets the sea.
Glacier-viewing days are the heart of an Alaska cruise. The ship slows, the naturalist narration begins, and everyone gathers on deck as the coastline turns to ice. Three names come up again and again.
Glacier Bay
A national park and preserve reached by permit. One of the most celebrated glacier-viewing days in cruising, where the ship glides past tidewater glaciers and calving ice.
Hubbard Glacier
One of the largest tidewater glaciers in North America, at the head of Disenchantment Bay. Ships pause here to watch ice break off the face.
Tracy Arm Fjord
A narrow, steep-sided fiord south of Juneau, often ending at the twin Sawyer Glaciers, with waterfalls and icebergs along the way.
Wildlife is the other highlight. Humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bald eagles, and brown bears are common along the coast, and whale-watching excursions are a favorite in ports like Juneau and Sitka. Pack binoculars and layers rather than swimwear; even in summer, an Alaska balcony day is a cozy-glaciers-and-coffee kind of day.
Which lines sail Alaska
The majors that call here home.
Six major lines dominate the Alaska season. Which one you pick depends on whether you want a big-ship buzz in port or a quieter, port-focused week.
Princess
One of the largest Alaska operators, with strong land-and-sea Alaska packages
Holland America
A long-time Alaska line, known for scenic cruising and glacier routes
Celebrity
A premium feel and modern ships on many Alaska itineraries
Norwegian
Freestyle cruising and several Alaska home ports
Royal Caribbean
Large ships and family-friendly Alaska sailings
Carnival
A value-focused way to see Southeast Alaska
Pack layers, not just sunscreen.
Alaska weather swings within a single day, from warm sun to drizzle to a crisp glacier breeze. The winning formula is a waterproof outer shell, a warm mid-layer, and comfortable base layers you can add or shed. Good shoes for wet docks, binoculars, and a camera with room to spare round out the kit.
Shore excursions tend to be active, from dog-sledding on a glacier to whale-watching zodiac tours, so dressing for the outdoors matters more here than on a Caribbean week. Your Destination Engineer can tailor the packing list to your specific itinerary and ports.
Ports of call
The ports that shape the week.
Most Alaska itineraries visit three to five ports, each with its own character, from capital cities to gold-rush towns to native-owned shore stops. Here is what to see and do at the major ports you are likely to call on.
Juneau
Alaska's capital city, framed by mountains and the Gastineau Channel, with glacier-cruising, wildlife and gold-rush history all in one port.
- Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
- Whale-watching and wildlife cruises on Auke Bay / Stephens Passage
- Mount Roberts Tramway for harbor views
- The State Capitol and Alaska State Museum
- Gold-mine and sled-dog experiences
Ketchikan
The “Salmon Capital of the World,” famous for its wooden boardwalk, colorful totem poles and rain-forest ringing the waterfront.
- Creek Street's historic boardwalk
- Totem Heritage Center and Totem Bight State Historical Park
- Misty Fjords flightseeing or wilderness cruise
- Salmon-viewing at Creek Street (in season)
- Shopping and galleries along the waterfront
Sitka
A charming, history-rich town where Tlingit, Russian and American heritage meet beneath a dramatic volcano-rimmed coast.
- Sitka National Historical Park totem trail
- Russian Bishop's House and St. Michael's Cathedral heritage
- Fortress of the Bear and Alaska Raptor Center
- Whale-watching and sea-life excursions (sea otters, eagles)
- Scenic coastal and fishing trips
Skagway
A gold-rush town straight out of 1898, a narrow-gauge railway to the mountain pass and a low-key boardwalk set in majestic peaks.
- White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railroad
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Gold Rush Cemetery
- Hiking the Dewey Lakes or Lower Reid Falls trail
- Axe-throwing and saloon-era tours along Broadway
- Scenic helicopter trips over the glaciers
Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)
Alaska's largest native-owned tourism development, a one-stop port for wildlife and the world's longest zipline over the forest and sea.
- The mountain-top zipline (ZipRider)
- Brown-bear viewing at Port Frederick
- Whale-watching and wildlife cruises in Icy Strait
- The restored cannery and native cultural center
- Forest canopy walks
Whittier
A gateway town surrounded by glacier-carved fjords and peaks, where ships slip past tidewater ice on the way in and out of Prince William Sound.
- Glacier-viewing cruises on Blackstone and Belit fjords
- Kayak and jet-ski tours among the ice
- The one-way Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (a roadside curiosity)
- Fishing charters in Prince William Sound
- Shore-side trails and wildlife spotting (sea lions, otters, eagles)
Victoria (British Columbia)
The “Garden City,” an elegant British-flavored stop with the Inner Harbour, gardens and a mountain-and-sea setting on Vancouver Island.
- Butchart Gardens
- Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress along the Inner Harbour
- Royal BC Museum
- Whale-watching and seaplane harbor tours
- Wandering Government Street and Fisherman's Wharf
Vancouver (British Columbia)
A stunning gateway at the base of the North Shore mountains, pairing a glassy downtown with the harbor, parks and beaches that make it a favorite turn-around port.
- Stanley Park seawall, totem poles and beaches
- Canada Place and the waterfront
- Gastown and Granville Island
- Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain
- Crossing to the harbour's museums and markets
Ready to see Alaska by sea?
Tell us who is traveling and what a dream Alaska day looks like, and a Destination Engineer will match you to the right itinerary, line, and cabin, with no cost and no obligation to book.