Alaska Cruises

How an Alaska cruise works

The structure of the season, the routes and the shape of a typical week.

Cruise ships reposition to Alaska in late April and May, run a season of roughly twenty weeks, and leave again in September and early October. Nothing sails in winter. That compressed season is why Alaska fares hold their value better than Caribbean fares and why shore excursion operators charge what they do.

The two main route types

What a typical week looks like

1. 1Day 1: embarkation in Seattle or Vancouver, usually early afternoon, sailing in the early evening.
2. 2Day 2: a sea day, running north through the Inside Passage. This is the day to explore the ship and attend the first naturalist talks.
3. 3Days 3 to 5: port days. Typically Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, each seven to eleven hours.
4. 4Day 4, 5 or 6: the glacier day. Glacier Bay, Hubbard, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, depending on your line.
5. 5Day 6 or 7: on a Seattle round trip, a short evening call at Victoria to satisfy United States cabotage law.
6. 6Day 8: disembarkation, usually between 7:00 and 10:00 am.

When to go

Month by month, the trade off is between weather, wildlife, crowds and price.

If you want one recommendation, mid June to mid July balances daylight, wildlife and weather better than any other window. If price matters more, the first two weeks of May and the last two weeks of September run 30 to 50 percent cheaper for a modest reduction in daylight and settled weather. The complete month by month analysis is in best time for an Alaska cruise.

Where to sail from

Six departure ports, and the choice between them is mostly about flights versus itinerary.

Choosing a cruise line

Twelve operators sail Alaska, and the differences that matter here are not the same as elsewhere.

In the Caribbean, the ship is the destination and the differences between lines are mostly about onboard experience. In Alaska the destination is the destination, and the differences that matter most are itinerary access, indoor viewing space and destination programming.

Full comparisons for all twelve operators are in our cruise line guides, and our ranked picks by traveller type are in best Alaska cruises.

The ports and what happens in them

Small towns, short days, and one decision that determines whether the day works.

Alaska cruise ports are small. Ketchikan has 8,200 residents, Skagway 1,100. On a busy day a single town can receive more cruise passengers than it has people. Understanding what each port is actually for is the difference between a good week and a repetitive one.

The glaciers

The scenic cruising days are the reason most people come, and they differ substantially.

The most common question in Alaska cruise planning is whether Glacier Bay is essential. It is the best single day available, because it lasts eight to ten hours, includes several glaciers and carries National Park Service rangers who explain what you are seeing. But Hubbard has a far larger ice face, Tracy Arm is more dramatic, and Endicott Arm at dawn is arguably the most beautiful hour of the whole itinerary. An itinerary without Glacier Bay is not a compromised itinerary.

What it costs

The fare is between 45 and 60 percent of the total for most travellers.

A realistic all in figure for two people on a seven night cruise, including flights, one hotel night, four excursions, gratuities and onboard spending, is $4,500 to $8,000. A budget conscious couple can complete the trip for around $3,500; a family of four should expect $8,000 to $13,000. The full breakdown is in Alaska cruise costs.

Wildlife: what you can realistically expect

Probability, not promise. Here is what the odds actually look like.

Nobody can guarantee an animal. Operators who promise sightings are describing a refund policy rather than a biological certainty. Our wildlife guide and whale watching guide cover behaviour, timing and how to improve your odds.

The order to make your decisions

Get these four right and the rest is detail.

1. Step 1

   Choose the month

   This determines price, weather, daylight and wildlife more than any other decision. See best time for an Alaska cruise.

2. Step 2

   Choose the route

   Inside Passage round trip for simplicity, Gulf of Alaska one way if you want Denali or more variety. This determines your flights.

3. Step 3

   Decide whether Glacier Bay matters

   If it does, your cruise line choice narrows to Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Carnival or Seabourn, and you must confirm it on the specific sailing.

4. Step 4

   Choose the cruise line and cabin

   Only now does the line matter, and cabin category matters less than most people think. See balcony versus interior.

5. Step 5

   Build the real budget

   Fare plus flights plus hotel plus excursions plus gratuities plus onboard. Use the method in our cruise budget guide.

6. Step 6

   Book excursions early

   Whale watching, the White Pass railway and helicopter tours sell out months ahead on busy dates.

Frequently asked questions