Why a cruise is the best way to visit Alaska

Creaking glaciers, soaring mountains, iconic wildlife – think grizzly bears, bald eagles, majestic humpback whales, moose, and more – charming pioneer towns, and indigenous cultures…. it’s little wonder that the Great Land ranks high on most bucket lists.

Alaska first came to the world’s attention as a result of the Gold Rush when, between 1897 and 1904, over a million prospectors flooded into the Last Frontier in homemade boats – often in treacherous conditions – to search for the precious metal.

Fast forward to today, and modern travellers can visit Alaska in considerably more comfort and style than the early pioneers by taking a cruise.

For if you want to see the best of Alaska, there’s only one way to go – by sea. Make no mistake: the Great Land has more coastline (6,640 glorious miles) than all of the lower 48 US states combined.

But if it’s your first time planning an Alaskan cruise, you’ll probably have plenty of questions. Fortunately, World of Cruising has the answers.

Why choose an Alaska cruise

One of the key reasons to cruise Alaska is to visit the island-studded Inside Passage which, put simply, can’t be reached by road.

What’s more, many of Alaska’s startling blue glaciers – including the massive Hubbard Glacier – are best viewed from the sea, as is the superb wildlife: watch brown bears prowling the shorelines and seals, whales and dolphins playing in the water from the deck of your ship.

Crucially, a cruise is also the easiest and most economical way to explore the Great Land.

All the hassle is taken out of the planning, with accommodation, meals and transfers invariably included in the fare – making it a more cost-effective option than paying for each element separately in notoriously expensive Alaska.

Which Alaska itinerary should you book

Almost every cruise line under the sun offers a seven-day Alaska Inside Passage sailing.

Considered a 'marine highway’, the Inside Passage stretches some 500 miles along the Pacific Ocean and is lined with lush pine forests, wildlife-filled fjords and tidewater glaciers.

Round-trip Inside Passage cruises typically start in either Seattle or Vancouver, although there are also sailings from San Francisco and Anchorage available.

The main ports of call on an Alaska Inside Passage cruise are Juneau (the bustling state capital and the gateway to the mighty Mendenhall Glacier), Skagway (Alaska's most famous Gold Rush town), the pretty, formerly Russian-owned town of Sitka, and Ketchikan – aka the salmon capital of the world.

All Inside Passage cruises include at least a day of scenic sailing, whereby passengers savour the landscapes without going ashore. This might sound tedious, but in reality, it is anything but.

On a recent Inside Passage cruise, World of Cruising got up close with the famed Glacier Bay – a 65-mile-long fjord that proved so mesmerising we spent a whole day admiring the snow-capped mountains, forests, and turquoise-tinted icebergs from the water, with binoculars, unable to move for fear of missing something.

Elsewhere for repeat Alaska visitors – or those seeking deeper exploration – Gulf of Alaska voyages include the highlights of the Inside Passage route but also venture closer to the Arctic Circle and feature stops in Prince William Sound, such as College Fjord, Valdez, Hubbard Glacier, and Kodiak Island.

Gulf of Alaska cruises are one-way, northbound or southbound trips between Vancouver or Seattle and Seward or Whittier.

Because these voyages run one way rather than round trip, travellers wanting to extend their Alaska adventure can opt for pre- or post-cruise tours that visit interior destinations like the rugged Denali National Park.

What excursions are on offer?

Most visitors to Alaska want to spend time in its wilderness, something that is reflected in the excursions offered by the cruise lines.

Take a seaplane expedition in search of grizzly bears; watch the tails of humpback whales rise majestically from the water – pausing just long enough to allow you to snap a picture of them silhouetted against the skyline – before disappearing again beneath the waves; ascend over Alaska's imposing glaciers in a helicopter; embark on a thrilling dog sledding adventure… these are just some of the thrilling excursions on offer.

Meanwhile, tours to Ketchikan’s Totem Bight State Park – where you can admire sculptures carved using traditional tools that tell the ancestral stories of the Tlingit and Haida people – reinforce that there is more to Alaska than its wildlife.

One caveat: shore excursion prices can be a killer, so be sure to budget for time ashore.

Alternatively, consider sailing with an ultra-luxury line like Regent, which include excursions in the price, or, when possible, strike out solo.

In Juneau, for example, you can save money by hopping on the Glacier Express bus for the 12-mile journey to the Mendenhall Glacier, a stunning icefield that’s half a mile wide and hundreds of feet deep.

Similarly in Sitka, jump on the hop-on, hop-off bus to the Raptor Center to observe eagles and other powerful birds of prey in the final stages of rehabilitation.

What are the best lines for Alaska cruises?

Virtually every cruise line plies the Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska so, when choosing a cruise, think about the style of ship you’d prefer.

If you believe that bigger is better, all the major players from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity to NCL and Princess Cruises sail here. They’ll be joined in 2026 by Virgin Voyages.

Alternatively, if you’re after a ship that is small and luxurious, look to the likes of Seabourn and Silversea.

For something in between, consider Holland America Line’s elegant mid-sized ships.

The operator is considered an Alaskan expert, having been sailing to the Last Frontier longer than any other cruise line – even before it became an American state in 1959. 

Should I add a cruise tour?

While cruises are a great and practical way to see Alaska, not all of the state’s blockbuster sights lie along the coast.

To this end, time permitting, consider adding on a land package either before or after your sailing.

Princess Cruises and Holland America both pair an Inside Passage sailing with a scenic train ride to Denali National Park, home to America’s tallest mountain.

Here, you can spend your days spotting Alaska’s ‘Big Five’ – bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves – and evenings swapping stories at one of the lines’ exclusive wilderness lodges.

Both operators also offer cruise tours to Anchorage, the mysterious Yukon (which inspired Jack London’s 1903 novel The Call of the Wild), Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and historic Fairbanks.

When is the best time to take an Alaskan cruise?

The Alaska cruise season is short and typically runs from May to late September, when the weather is milder.

June, July, and August are the warmest months (although even then daytime temperatures only hover around 15C).

However, they are also the busiest and therefore more expensive months, coinciding with the school summer holidays.

To avoid the crowds (and score a better deal), consider sailing at the start or end of Alaska's cruise season.

How far in advance should I book?

Given that Alaska’s cruise season is short (and demand is high), it is recommended to book anywhere between six months to a year in advance for the best selection of sailing dates and cabins.

However, bargain hunters who are more flexible should look to book during Wave Season, which runs from January to March and is when cruise lines traditionally offer hefty discounts and promotions.

What should I pack?

The weather in Alaska is unpredictable, even in summer, so our suggestion is to pack base layers that you can use to build up warmth and also remove easily.

For excursions, pack comfortable walking shoes, a waterproof jacket, a hat and scarf, and, of course, your camera – Alaska’s dramatic and diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife make it a dream destination for photographers.

Back on board, you’ll need a few evening outfits for formal nights as well as swimwear if you want to take advantage of the ship’s pool and spa area.

Anything else I need to know?

As Alaska is part of the USA (even if it doesn’t look or feel like the rest of America), UK citizens travelling to the States on a cruise must obtain an ESTA before travelling.