The best Alaska cruise itineraries offer numerous opportunities to see magnificent glaciers, spot exotic wildlife, and experience outdoor adventures. With stops in vibrant cities and former gold rush boomtowns, there’s no shortage of exciting Alaska cruises to embark on.
If you’re considering a vacation to the Last Frontier, here are some of the best itineraries tailored to the type of experience you’re looking for.
Best Alaska Cruises for Families
Whale-watching in Alaska
An Alaska cruise with kids offers plenty of adventures for the whole family to enjoy, like whale watching and kayaking.
While all of our Alaska itineraries have port stops and excursions that make for a great family cruise, it’s a good idea to research each port of call before deciding which cruise will be the best match for your family.
Find a cruise itinerary that stops in Ketchikan from midsummer to the beginning of fall in Alaska, when you’ll be able to witness a dramatic salmon run. Kids will be in awe when they spot massive amounts of salmon coming in from the ocean and swimming and leaping upstream in the river, where bears are waiting to feast.
Mount Roberts Tramway, Juneau
During a stop in Juneau, you can take the family up the Mount Roberts Tramway for hiking through woodlands and meadows at the top, with magnificent views.
White Pass & Yukon Railroad, Skagway
In Skagway, kids will be delighted to go on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Alaska. Built during the Gold Rush era, this thrilling journey takes you over mountain passes and through sheer-sided valleys, climbing almost 3,000 feet above sea level.
Enjoy the scenery while aboard the vintage passenger train, or for some extra family-friendly fun, combine your ride with an excursion to pan for gold.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for Couples
Seward
Alaska might not be the first destination that comes to mind for couples looking to go on a romantic getaway, but a scenic cruise to Alaska, with its promise of adventure and dreamy landscapes, makes for the perfect trip.
On a couple’s cruise to Alaska, strengthen your bond on a thrilling shore excursion, take a walk by the harbor, cuddle on your veranda with a cup of hot chocolate, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Situated on the Sitka Sound and surrounded by the Tongass National Rainforest, Sitka is an incredible place for couples and other cruisers to go on nature-filled excursions.
Take a kayaking trip around the sound, go on a hike through the forest, or explore the quaint seaside town of Sitka and enjoy a salmon bake for lunch, a quintessential Alaska food experience.
Watch: Discover Icy Strait Point With Celebrity Cruises
Animal and adventure-loving couples will find their oasis in Icy Strait Point, located on Chichagof Island, close to dramatic Glacier Bay. For thrill-seeking couples, excursions include forest hikes and expeditions along the Spasski River, a popular fishing spot for bears.
Go on the ZipRider, the largest ZipRider in the world, flying high above the forest canopy with views of the sparkling water of the bay below.
Best Itineraries for Seniors
Cruising in Alaska
Alaska is the ideal vacation destination for senior cruisers who either want to relax and enjoy the scenery or engage in some outdoor fun.
From the comfort of a veranda stateroom or one of the ship’s outdoor decks, enjoy jaw-dropping close-up views of towering glaciers while sipping a mug of hot chocolate, or spot whales in their natural habitat as an onboard naturalist shares interesting facts.
There is a wealth of excursions to choose from in each port of call you stop in. Go on a wine and distillery tour in Victoria, British Columbia, one of the most picturesque cities in North America and a popular destination in our Alaska itineraries.
Board a small boat in Icy Strait Point and explore the pristine waters around Port Frederick, where you’ll search for sea otters, whales, and puffins.
Glacier Bay National Park
Or soar high above Glacier Bay National Park during a flightseeing tour, flying over mile upon mile of spruce and hemlock forest, blue-white glaciers, and narrow sounds.
If you have an extra few days, you can venture further inland with a cruisetour that takes in the vast sweep of Denali National Park. Stay in cozy lodges and marvel at the colors and landscapes of the tundra, the icy peaks of the mighty Alaska Range as a constant backdrop.
Best Alaska Itineraries to See Wildlife
Brown bears
One of the biggest draws of taking a cruise to Alaska is the opportunity to spot abundant wildlife in its natural habitat.
An Alaska cruise route that stops in Icy Strait Point is sure to appeal to animal lovers. There, you can trek along the famous Trail of the Bears in Spasski River Valley, where you could spot brown bears, black-tailed deer, and regal bald eagles.
Victoria in British Columbia is considered one of the best places to spot whales in the wild. Climb aboard an eco-friendly zodiac boat and search for orcas, humpback whales, seals, sea lions, and marine birds.
Bald eagle
In Sitka, double up and take a guided boat tour through the Sitka Sound, where you’ll see marine wildlife including porpoises and harbor seals. Later, visit the Alaska Raptor Center, a facility where injured bald eagles and other birds of prey are rehabilitated and then released back into the wild.
Ketchikan is always a great place to spot bears in the wild, especially during the summer salmon run. If you’re lucky, you will see bears waiting beside rushing streams, plucking the fish out of the water as they surge upstream.
Juneau, meanwhile, is another great spot for whale watching. With luck, you’ll see a massive humpback whale breaching, an unforgettable sight.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for Adventure Seekers
Dog-sledding
Any Alaskan cruise is fantastic for adventure lovers. Perhaps the most high-octane thrills are to be had around Skagway, where you can fly over the forest on the Grizzly Falls Zipline or drive your own team of sled dogs along forest trails near the ghost town of Dyea.
Hiking enthusiasts can tackle the first couple of miles of the steep Chilkoot Trail, once used by gold prospectors as a route over the mountains to the Klondike.
From Juneau, you could take a thrilling helicopter ride high over the Juneau Icefield, landing on a glacier at a mushers’ camp. Here, you can experience the thrills of dog sledding on the ice.
Exit Glacier
If glaciers are your thing, pick an itinerary that includes a cruisetour and gives you time in Seward. Here, you can follow the four-mile trail along the moraine of the Exit Glacier, with close-up views of the blue-white ice, rushing glacial streams, and deep crevasses.
Nenana River
Another reason to take a cruisetour is to spend time in Talkeetna, where there’s a chance to try white water rafting against the backdrop of mighty Denali. Or test your nerve on a cruisetour to Denali National Park, tackling the white waters of the Nenana River with an experienced guide.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for First-Time Cruisers
Inside Passage
If you’re a first-time cruiser and you’ve chosen Alaska, congratulations. You have the journey of a lifetime ahead of you.
For your first cruise, try to incorporate a little history, local culture, adventure, and of course, wildlife into your itinerary. Spectacular scenery is a given; it will surround you for the whole voyage.
One of the best Alaska cruise itineraries for first-timers is a round-trip cruise from either Vancouver or Seattle. You’ll sail through the beautiful Inside Passage in daylight, the perfect chance to spot humpback whales and orca.
Creek Street, Ketchikan
A stop at pretty Ketchikan is an insight into the region’s history, as you wander along scenic Creek Street and explore deeper at Totem Bight State Historical Park, where there’s a wonderful display of totems.
Humpback whale
Juneau is the perfect spot from which to join a whale-watching cruise at Auke Bay, frequented every summer by pods of humpback whales.
You’ll spot wildlife as your ship glides along the 30-mile stretch of Endicott Arm Fjord, too, from sea lions to bald eagles and, with luck, bears. At the end of the fjord is the magnificent Dawes Glacier, some 600 feet tall and half a mile wide.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for Solo Travelers
Seward
Alaska is a great destination choice for solo cruisers. There’s so much to do here and so many shared experiences that it’s easy to make new friends, if that’s what you want to do. The people are friendly and always happy to chat—and Alaska is safe for single travelers, too.
Stroll around towns like Seward and Talkeetna, exploring cafés and galleries, and you’ll meet any number of locals who have fascinating stories to tell.
Whale-watching in Juneau
Bond with fellow travelers on an itinerary that includes Juneau, one of the best places in Alaska for whale-watching. Join a wilderness adventure from Ketchikan that includes a crab feast, a great chance to try the local produce.
Share the thrill of kayaking and spotting sea otters with new friends in Sitka Sound. Join fellow guests on a gold panning expedition in Skagway and at Icy Strait Point, challenge new friends to a “race” on the ZipRider, which can take six riders simultaneously.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for Culture & History
Icy Strait Point
While most travelers head to Alaska for the mountains and the wildlife, the 49th state is packed with intriguing history, too.
The best itinerary for an Alaska cruise that exposes you to local Alaskan culture might include Icy Strait Point. This port on Chichagof Island is owned and operated by the local Tlingit people, with all profits going back into the local community.
Join a hike with a Tlingit guide and learn about their deep connection to nature. Make time to visit the Heritage Theater to enjoy displays of Tlingit tribal dancing in traditional costume.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, Skagway
For Gold Rush history, head to Skagway, once a town teeming with thousands of prospectors and all the people who would provision them for their treacherous journey over the White Pass towards the gold fields of the Klondike.
Watch the informative film “Gold Fever—Race to the Klondike” in the Visitor Center, and then ride the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway high into the mountains, tracing one of the Gold Rush routes. The narrated journey will give you a real insight into the risks hopeful prospectors would take in their quest for gold.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for Glacier Viewing
Hubbard Glacier
Alaska’s glaciers are stupendous. You’ll see hanging glaciers draped over high mountain peaks and spectacular tidewater glaciers, their faces hundreds of feet high, edging their way to the sea. Take a scenic flight from any of the ports along the Inside Passage and admire these marvels from the air.
Seven-night cruises take you either to Dawes Glacier or Hubbard Glacier, each magnificent in its own right. Your ship will stop close to the glacier so you can take in the silence and admire the enormous face of ice in front of you. Every now and then, there’s an ear-splitting crack, followed by a thunderous rumble as great chunks of ice calve off the glacier.
Mendenhall Glacier
If you’re glacier-mad, there’s more fun to be had at Juneau, where you can take a trip to Mendenhall Glacier, one of dozens that flow from the massive Juneau Icefield. There are various hiking trails around Mendenhall Glacier, as well as opportunities to get close to its enormous face by kayak or canoe.
Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary for Wellness Travelers
River rafting in Denali National Park
Essentially, any Alaska cruise itinerary can be turned into a wellness experience. You’re in one of the most beautiful, pristine places on Earth, with clean, unpolluted air and unlimited chances to enjoy the great outdoors.
Hike sun-dappled forest trails around Ketchikan or Sitka, or paddle a kayak up to Mendenhall Glacier. At Icy Strait Point, join a Tlingit guide for a stroll to the Spasski River and learn about edible plants, foraging, their philosophy on life, and mindfulness.
Why not extend your cruise with a cruisetour to Denali National Park? Here, there are opportunities for hiking, river rafting, and wildlife spotting against a backdrop of the spectacular Alaska Range.
Persian Garden
You can turn your time on board into a wellness experience, too. Head up on deck at sunrise for your morning yoga practice as the ship glides through the Inside Passage. Join some of the classes in the Fitness Center and breathe the fresh air as you stroll or run on the ship’s Jogging Track.
Relax in the ship’s SEA Thermal Suite or Persian Garden, where there are multisensory showers, steam rooms, and saunas, and watch the scenery pass by from a heated stone lounger.
Cruising in Alaska
Find the Alaska cruise that matches your interests and timeframe by browsing all of our Alaska cruises.
