Alaska Cruises: The Complete 2026 Guide
Glaciers, wildlife, and the Inside Passage — here’s everything you need to plan an Alaska cruise, from itinerary types to packing.
An Alaska cruise is less about ports and more about scenery: calving glaciers, humpback whales, and towering fjords seen from the deck. Sailings run primarily May through September on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, Disney, and Holland America-style Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska itineraries.
Explore the Alaska Cruise Guide
Popular Alaska Cruise Ports
Juneau
Alaska’s capital, reachable only by air or sea, with easy access to Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching tours right from the port.
Ketchikan
Known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” with totem pole heritage sites and rainforest zipline excursions.
Skagway
A Gold Rush-era town and gateway to the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, one of Alaska’s most popular excursions.
Glacier Bay / Hubbard Glacier
Scenic cruising days (no docking) where the ship spends hours in front of active tidewater glaciers.
Alaska Cruises by Line
Royal Caribbean
Inside Passage and Glacier itineraries from Seattle and Vancouver.
Norwegian
7-night Inside Passage sailings with strong port-day flexibility.
Celebrity
Premium Alaska sailings with strong naturalist and scenic-cruising programming.
Princess
The longtime Alaska specialist, with the widest range of cruise-and-land-tour combinations.
How long is an Alaska cruise?
Most cruise-only Alaska sailings run 7 nights round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver; cruise-tour packages that add Denali or Fairbanks run 10-14 days total.
When does the Alaska cruise season run?
The Alaska cruise season runs roughly early May through late September, with peak wildlife and weather conditions in June and July.