Overview
Why go to Alaska
Alaska delivers scenery on a scale that’s hard to overstate: glaciers calving into the sea, forested fjords, and wildlife from bald eagles to breaching whales, often visible from your own balcony. Most travelers cruise it, and for good reason — the ports (Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan) are compact and the scenic-cruising days through Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm are the highlight. The big decision is round-trip Inside Passage (usually from Seattle or Vancouver) versus a one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing that pairs naturally with a Denali land tour. We’ll walk you through both.
Best time to visit
May–September. June–August is peak for warmth, long daylight and wildlife; May and September are shoulder season with lower prices, fewer crowds and slightly better odds of the Northern Lights late in the season.
Top attractions
Glacier Bay National Park
A UNESCO-listed scenic-cruising day; rangers board the ship to narrate. Not every itinerary includes it — we prioritize the ones that do.
Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau)
An accessible glacier and salmon-spawning stream, easily paired with a whale-watching catamaran tour.
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway (Skagway)
A gold-rush-era narrow-gauge railway climbing into dramatic mountain passes.
Denali National Park
Home to the tallest peak in North America — best reached on a cruisetour rail extension after your sailing.
Cruises to Alaska
Alaska is dominated by Princess and Celebrity (our two most-recommended lines here), with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian also sailing strong programs. Princess leads on land tours; Celebrity leads on onboard dining and viewing decks.
Sample itinerary
Days 1–2
Embark & Inside Passage
Board in Seattle or Vancouver and cruise the sheltered, island-dotted Inside Passage.
Day 3
Juneau
Mendenhall Glacier and a whale-watching tour in Auke Bay.
Day 4
Skagway
Ride the White Pass railway, then explore the gold-rush boardwalk.
Day 5
Glacier Bay or Endicott Arm
A full day of scenic glacier cruising — the trip’s centerpiece.
Day 6
Ketchikan
Totem parks, Creek Street and the Misty Fjords by floatplane.
Day 7
Optional Denali extension
One-way sailings continue by dome train into the interior.
Recommended hotels
Alyeska Resort (Girdwood)
A mountainside resort near Anchorage — ideal pre- or post-cruise for a Gulf sailing.
The Hotel Captain Cook (Anchorage)
A classic downtown base for one-way itineraries.
Princess Wilderness Lodges
Riverside lodges near Denali and Kenai, seamlessly built into Princess land tours.
Where to eat
Tracy’s King Crab Shack (Juneau)
Legendary crab bisque and king crab legs right on the dock.
Red Onion Saloon (Skagway)
A gold-rush-era saloon with local character and hearty fare.
Travel tips
- Book excursions like Glacier Bay flightseeing and whale watching early — the best ones sell out weeks ahead.
- For a one-way Gulf cruise, add Denali; for a first, fuss-free trip, a round-trip Inside Passage is simpler.
- Cabin side matters less than you think — the ship turns, so both sides get views. A balcony, however, is worth it here.
Packing tips
- Layers are everything: a waterproof shell, fleece and a warm hat even in July.
- Binoculars for wildlife and a zoom lens or good phone camera.
- Comfortable waterproof walking shoes for wet docks and trails.
Photo inspiration
Alaska travel FAQs
June through August for the warmest weather, longest days and best wildlife viewing. May and September are cheaper and less crowded, with September offering a small chance of Northern Lights on late sailings.
Round-trip Inside Passage (from Seattle/Vancouver) is simpler and needs no one-way flights. A one-way Gulf sailing reaches farther north and pairs perfectly with a Denali land tour — the better choice if you want to see the interior.
Round-trip US sailings that stop in Canada technically allow a passport or other WHTI-compliant document, but we strongly recommend a valid passport for every Alaska cruise — it’s required if you ever need to fly home from Canada mid-trip.