Cruise line guides
Twelve operators sail Alaska, and the differences that matter here are not the ones that matter in the Caribbean. Glacier Bay access, indoor viewing space and destination programming decide the trip.
| Line | Segment | Price | Glacier access | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Cruises | Premium | $$$ | Glacier Bay National Park on a large share of sailings, plus Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord on Gulf of Alaska routes. | First time Alaska cruisers, Cruisetours to Denali |
| Holland America Line | Premium | $$$ | Glacier Bay National Park on many sailings, Hubbard Glacier on Gulf of Alaska routes, and Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm as substitutes. | Older and repeat cruisers, Yukon and Denali land extensions |
| Royal Caribbean International | Mainstream | $$$ | Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm area. No Glacier Bay National Park entry. | Families with children, First time cruisers |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Mainstream | $$$ | Glacier Bay National Park on selected sailings, plus Dawes Glacier, Hubbard Glacier and the Sawyer glaciers depending on route. | Travellers who dislike fixed dining, Solo travellers |
| Celebrity Cruises | Premium | $$$$ | Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm area. No Glacier Bay National Park entry. | Couples, Food focused travellers |
| Disney Cruise Line | Family | $$$$$ | Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier on most sailings, with Tracy Arm as an alternative. Glacier Bay is not a regular feature of Disney Alaska itineraries. | Families with children under twelve, Multigenerational groups |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Mainstream | $$ | Glacier Bay National Park on selected sailings, plus Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier depending on route. | Budget conscious travellers, First time cruisers |
| Cunard Line | Premium | $$$$ | Hubbard Glacier and the Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm area on most Alaska routings. Glacier Bay is not a standard feature of Cunard Alaska itineraries. | Travellers who enjoy formality, Longer itineraries |
| Silversea Cruises | Ultra Luxury | $$$$$ | Varies by product. Classic ships use Hubbard Glacier and the Tracy Arm area; expedition voyages reach smaller tidewater glaciers and remote fjords inaccessible to large ships. | Luxury travellers, Expedition and wildlife focused travellers |
| Seabourn | Ultra Luxury | $$$$$ | Glacier Bay National Park on selected sailings, plus Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm and small fjords reachable only by a shallow draft vessel. | Ultra luxury travellers, Active travellers who want kayaking |
| Oceania Cruises | Luxury | $$$$ | Hubbard Glacier and the Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm area on most Alaska routings, with itineraries varying more than on the large lines. | Food focused travellers, Experienced cruisers |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Ultra Luxury | $$$$$ | Hubbard Glacier and the Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm area on most sailings, with itineraries varying by season. | Travellers who want everything included, Heavy excursion users |
Price bands describe a typical seven night mid range fare relative to the market. See average Alaska cruise cost for real numbers, and the Glacier Bay guide for why glacier access differs.
Royal Caribbean is the best Alaska line for families and for anyone who wants a lot to do on board, thanks to Quantum class ships with indoor pools, the North Star observation capsule and extensive youth programming. It does not sail into Glacier Bay National Park, using Hubbard Glacier or Dawes Glacier instead, which is the main trade off to weigh..
Best for: Families with children, First time cruisers, Travellers who want ship activities
Norwegian suits travellers who want flexibility rather than structure: no fixed dinner seating, no formal nights, and the widest choice of casual dining venues in Alaska. It holds Glacier Bay entry on some sailings.
Best for: Travellers who dislike fixed dining, Solo travellers, Suite travellers wanting value
Carnival offers the cheapest way to cruise Alaska on a mainstream ship, often 20 to 35 percent below Princess or Holland America for a comparable cabin. Its Spirit class ships are a good size for Alaska ports, and some sailings include Glacier Bay.
Best for: Budget conscious travellers, First time cruisers, Groups who want a casual atmosphere
Disney is the best Alaska cruise line for families with children under twelve, thanks to unmatched youth programming, family friendly cabin design and adult only areas that let parents get a break. It sails from Vancouver on a short season and costs roughly 60 to 120 percent more than comparable mainstream lines, which is the central trade off..
Best for: Families with children under twelve, Multigenerational groups, First time cruising families
Princess is the default choice for a first Alaska cruise if you want Glacier Bay and a land extension. It combines frequent Glacier Bay entry, the widest choice of departure ports, and a company owned lodge and rail network that lets a cruisetour run end to end under one booking.
Best for: First time Alaska cruisers, Cruisetours to Denali, Glacier Bay seekers
Holland America suits travellers who want a quieter, more traditional Alaska cruise on a mid size ship with strong destination content. It offers Glacier Bay frequently, runs the widest range of land extensions including the Yukon, and skews older and calmer than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian.
Best for: Older and repeat cruisers, Yukon and Denali land extensions, Quiet ship seekers
Celebrity suits couples and adults who want a stylish, food focused Alaska cruise on a modern ship without paying luxury line prices. Its Edge and Solstice class vessels are the most design forward large ships in Alaska.
Best for: Couples, Food focused travellers, Design conscious cruisers
Cunard suits travellers who want formality, ceremony and a proper ocean liner atmosphere rather than a resort at sea. Queen Elizabeth typically sails Alaska from Vancouver on itineraries longer than the usual seven nights.
Best for: Travellers who enjoy formality, Longer itineraries, Enrichment and lecture programmes
Oceania suits travellers who want excellent food, a mid size ship and longer itineraries with more ports, without paying full ultra luxury prices. Fares are not fully inclusive but specialty restaurants carry no surcharge.
Best for: Food focused travellers, Experienced cruisers, Longer itineraries
Silversea suits travellers who want a small ship, an all inclusive fare and either polished luxury or a genuine expedition. Its classic ships carry a few hundred guests with butler service throughout, while its expedition vessels use zodiacs to reach bays, glaciers and wildlife sites that no large ship visits.
Best for: Luxury travellers, Expedition and wildlife focused travellers, Repeat Alaska visitors
Seabourn combines ultra luxury service with a real expedition programme. Ships carry 450 to 600 guests, all accommodation is suites, and the fare includes drinks, gratuities and most dining.
Best for: Ultra luxury travellers, Active travellers who want kayaking, Repeat Alaska visitors
Regent Seven Seas offers the most inclusive fare in cruising: shore excursions, flights, drinks, gratuities and WiFi are all bundled. In Alaska, where excursions routinely cost $150 to $600 each, that inclusion is worth more than in almost any other region.
Best for: Travellers who want everything included, Heavy excursion users, Couples
