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Mainstream cruise line

Royal Caribbean in Alaska

By Reviewed by Dana OkaforUpdated 9 min readLast fact checked on .

Royal Caribbean brings the biggest and most activity dense ships in Alaska, led by Quantum class vessels with features no other Alaska operator offers. It does not hold Glacier Bay National Park entry, so its glacier days are built around Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier and the Tracy Arm area instead. For families and first time cruisers who want the ship to be part of the holiday, it is the strongest option in the region.

The short answer

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.

Key points

  • The largest ships in Alaska, including Quantum class vessels carrying up to about 4,900 guests.
  • No Glacier Bay National Park entry. Glacier days use Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier or the Tracy Arm area.
  • North Star and the indoor Solarium pool are genuinely well suited to Alaska weather and unique in the region.
  • Strongest youth and teen programming of any large Alaska operator apart from Disney.
  • Sails from Seattle and Vancouver, with 7 night round trips and some longer one way options.

Royal Caribbean International at a glance

Segment
Mainstream
Price band
$$$
Alaska home ports
Seattle, Vancouver
Parent company
Royal Caribbean Group
Glacier access
Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm area. No Glacier Bay National Park entry.
Best for
Families with children · First time cruisers · Travellers who want ship activities · Groups with mixed interests

Ships used in Alaska

ShipGuestsLaunchedNotes
Ovation of the Seas4,9052016Quantum class. Carries North Star, indoor Solarium, RipCord skydiving simulator and SeaPlex. The most feature dense ship in Alaska.
Quantum of the Seas4,9052014Quantum class sister to Ovation.
Anthem of the Seas4,9052015Quantum class. Occasionally deployed to Alaska.
Radiance of the Seas2,1432001Radiance class. Built with unusually large glass areas, which makes it arguably the best designed Royal Caribbean ship for scenic cruising.
Serenade of the Seas2,4762003Radiance class. Smaller, calmer and easier in port than the Quantum ships.
Brilliance of the Seas2,5432002Radiance class sister with the same glass forward design.

Typical Alaska itineraries

Alaska Dawes Glacier round trip

7 nights

Seattle round trip

Juneau · Skagway · Dawes Glacier · Ketchikan · Victoria BC

Alaska Hubbard Glacier round trip

7 nights

Seattle round trip

Sitka · Juneau · Skagway · Hubbard Glacier · Victoria BC

Inside Passage from Vancouver

7 nights

Vancouver round trip

Juneau · Skagway · Icy Strait Point · Dawes Glacier · Ketchikan

Alaska and Pacific Northwest

9 to 12 nights

Seattle or Vancouver

Sitka · Kodiak · Icy Strait Point · Hubbard Glacier

Cabins

Quantum class cabins are efficiently designed and slightly larger than the Royal Caribbean fleet average, and the class introduced Virtual Balcony interiors, which are a real if imperfect answer to the windowless cabin problem.

Royal Caribbean cabin categories in Alaska
CategoryTypical sizeAlaska specific note
Interior166 to 172 sq ftCheapest way onto a Quantum ship. Total darkness is genuinely useful in June.
Virtual Balcony interior166 to 172 sq ftA floor to ceiling live view screen. Better than a blank wall, no substitute for air.
Oceanview179 to 199 sq ftSealed window, warm and dry. Underrated in Alaska.
Balcony182 to 214 sq ftThe default choice. Quantum class balconies are on the small side.
Junior suite267 to 297 sq ftLarger balcony and a bath tub, without full suite privileges.
Grand suite and above351 to 1,600 sq ftSuite lounge access, priority tender and concierge service.

Dining

Royal Caribbean runs the widest dining choice in Alaska by venue count. Quality is inconsistent by venue rather than by ship, and the specialty restaurants are where the food actually gets good.

  • Main Dining Room with either traditional fixed seating or My Time flexible dining.
  • Windjammer buffet, which is large, busy and efficient. The practical choice before an early excursion.
  • Chops Grille is the steakhouse and the most reliable paid venue on board.
  • Izumi covers Japanese and sushi, and is usually the best value specialty option.
  • Wonderland on Quantum class is an experimental tasting menu concept that people either love or find gimmicky.
  • Solarium Bistro is a quieter, lighter alternative that most passengers overlook entirely.

Entertainment and programming

This is the strongest entertainment product in Alaska by a wide margin, and on Quantum class it is genuinely unusual rather than simply plentiful.

  • North Star is a glass observation capsule on a jointed arm that lifts guests roughly 300 feet above sea level. In a fjord or approaching Hubbard Glacier it is the best view available from any cruise ship in Alaska. Complimentary on sea days, with a charge in some ports.
  • Two70 is a rear facing lounge with a three deck glass wall that becomes a projection surface at night. During scenic cruising it is one of the best seats on the ship.
  • SeaPlex is an indoor sports complex with bumper cars, a circus school and basketball, which is exactly what you want when it rains for two days.
  • RipCord by iFLY is an onboard skydiving simulator, and FlowRider is the surf simulator. Both operate in Alaska, weather permitting.
  • Production shows are the strongest in the mainstream segment, with full theatre casts.

Family suitability

For families, Royal Caribbean is the strongest large ship option in Alaska. The reason is simple: Alaska weather does not cooperate with children, and Royal Caribbean has more indoor, weatherproof things for a child to do than any other line in the region.

Strengths

  • Adventure Ocean youth programme covers ages 6 months to 17, with well staffed age bands.
  • SeaPlex, indoor pool and the theatre give genuine wet weather options.
  • Connecting cabins are plentiful and family suites are available.
  • Teens have a dedicated space and a peer group large enough to actually form.
  • Late night youth programming lets parents have an adult dinner.

Trade offs

  • The ship is very large, so port days involve long gangway queues with tired children.
  • No Glacier Bay, and the ranger programme that comes with it is a genuine loss for curious children.
  • Extra cost activities add up fast with more than one child.
  • Alaska sailings attract fewer children than Caribbean sailings, so youth clubs are quieter than families expect.

Suites and luxury features

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream line with a well developed suite tier rather than a luxury operator.

  • Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen on Quantum class give suite guests a quiet restaurant and bar with excellent glass, which is a serious advantage on a scenic cruising day.
  • Royal Genie service applies to the top star class suites only and is not offered on every Alaska sailing.
  • Priority tender and disembarkation materially shortens port day queues on a 4,900 guest ship.
  • Reserved theatre seating matters less in Alaska than elsewhere, since evenings are quieter.

Strengths and trade offs

Our editorial assessment: 4.1 out of 5 for Alaska specifically, weighing itinerary access, suitability for the travellers this line serves, and value. How we rate is explained in our editorial policy.

Strengths

  • The best wet weather ship experience in Alaska, which matters far more than brochures admit.
  • North Star and Two70 give viewing options no other Alaska line can match.
  • Strongest family and teen programming among the large ship operators.
  • Radiance class ships are among the best designed vessels in Alaska for scenic cruising thanks to their glass.
  • Competitive pricing, with frequent promotions and a large inventory that keeps fares honest.

Trade offs

  • No Glacier Bay National Park access. This is the single biggest itinerary limitation.
  • A 4,900 guest ship overwhelms small ports. Juneau and Ketchikan feel very different when Ovation is in.
  • Onboard spending pressure is constant, with paid venues, packages and photo sales throughout.
  • Long tender and gangway queues cut into short port days.
  • Destination programming is thinner than Princess or Holland America.

Pricing

Royal Caribbean typically prices below Princess and Holland America on a like for like cabin, and its large Alaska capacity means promotional pricing appears more often. The gap narrows once you add the packages that make a Quantum class ship enjoyable.

Typical Royal Caribbean Alaska fare bands, per person, double occupancy, seven nights
CabinShoulder seasonPeak seasonNote
Interior$550 to $850$950 to $1,450Quantum class interiors sell fastest
Virtual Balcony$650 to $950$1,100 to $1,600Usually a small premium over a standard interior
Oceanview$700 to $1,000$1,200 to $1,700Limited inventory on Quantum class
Balcony$950 to $1,400$1,550 to $2,400Radiance class balconies are larger for similar money
Junior suite$1,500 to $2,100$2,400 to $3,500
Grand suite and above$2,600 to $4,000$4,200 to $7,000Coastal Kitchen access is the main draw
Excludes airfare, taxes, fees and gratuities. Gratuities run roughly $18 to $23 per person per day.

Frequently asked questions

Does Royal Caribbean go to Glacier Bay?
No. Royal Caribbean does not hold National Park Service concession permits for Glacier Bay National Park, so its Alaska itineraries do not enter the park. Glacier viewing takes place at Hubbard Glacier, at Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm, or in the Tracy Arm area depending on the sailing. Hubbard is the largest tidewater glacier face on any Alaska cruise itinerary, so this is a difference in experience rather than a straightforward downgrade.
Which Royal Caribbean ship is best for Alaska?
Ovation of the Seas if you want maximum facilities and are travelling with children, because North Star, SeaPlex and the indoor Solarium transform a wet week. Radiance of the Seas or Serenade of the Seas if you want the destination to dominate, because the Radiance class glass design gives better scenic viewing and the smaller size means far less time queueing in port.
Is North Star worth it in Alaska?
Yes, on a scenic cruising day. Rising 300 feet above the water in a glass capsule as the ship approaches a glacier is a genuinely distinctive experience and it is complimentary at sea. It is far less compelling in port. Book the glacier day slot immediately at embarkation because they go quickly.
Is Royal Caribbean good for families in Alaska?
It is the best large ship option for families in the region. The decisive factor is weather: Alaska port days are often cold and wet, and Royal Caribbean has more indoor activity than any competitor except Disney. The trade off is very large ships that make port days slower.
How crowded are ports when Royal Caribbean is in?
Very. A Quantum class ship discharges roughly 4,900 passengers into a town like Ketchikan, population around 8,000. Book excursions in advance, get off the ship in the first wave, and plan to walk away from the immediate dock area if you want space. See our Juneau and Ketchikan guides for how to handle a busy port day.
Does Royal Caribbean sail from Seattle or Vancouver?
Both. Seattle round trips are more common and are usually cheaper to reach from the continental United States. Vancouver sailings can access ports that Seattle round trips cannot fit in, because a Seattle round trip must include a Canadian port call to satisfy US cabotage rules, which is why Victoria appears on so many itineraries. See Seattle and Vancouver.

Related destinations and planning guides

Hubbard Glacier

A complete Hubbard Glacier cruise guide: the six mile wide calving face, why it is advancing, which lines visit, what to expect from the day and photography advice.

Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier

A complete Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier cruise guide: why ships choose it over Tracy Arm, what the day involves, wildlife, ice conditions and photography advice.

Juneau, Alaska

A complete Juneau cruise port guide: Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching, Mount Roberts Tramway, excursion costs, how to plan a port day and what to do if it rains.

Icy Strait Point, Alaska

A complete Icy Strait Point cruise port guide: Tlingit owned destination, whale watching in Icy Strait, the ZipRider, Hoonah village and excursion costs.

Alaska Cruises with Children

How to plan an Alaska cruise with children: which lines suit which ages, wet weather planning, excursions that work for kids, cabin choices and what to pack.

Alaska Cruise Shore Excursions

How to choose Alaska shore excursions: what is worth booking, ship versus independent operators, real prices by port, weather cancellations and how many to book.

Internet and WiFi on an Alaska Cruise

How cruise ship WiFi works in Alaska: satellite versus Starlink, package types and costs, where coverage fails, port WiFi alternatives and mobile roaming advice.

Alaska Cruise Drink Packages

Whether an Alaska cruise drink package is worth it: real break even points by line, why Alaska drinking patterns differ, gratuity traps and the alternatives.

Call an Alaska cruise specialist