Alaska is the bucket‑list cruise — glaciers calving into the sea, whales breaching off the bow, and frontier towns you reach best by ship. Most sailings run the sheltered Inside Passage round‑trip from Seattle or Vancouver; one‑way Gulf of Alaska voyages add Hubbard Glacier and connect to Denali land tours.
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See Alaska fares & book →Almost every Alaska sailing leaves from Seattle or Vancouver — both West Coast ports, and both drivable or a short hop for anyone out west. See the West Coast guide ›
The stops that make up a typical Alaska sailing — tap any to browse places to stay in port.
The only U.S. capital you can’t drive to — Mendenhall Glacier and prime whale‑watching.
Check Juneau prices & book ›Totem poles, Creek Street on stilts, and the gateway to Misty Fjords.
Check Ketchikan prices & book ›A Gold‑Rush time capsule and the storied White Pass & Yukon railway.
Check Skagway prices & book ›A scenic‑cruising day (no dock) among tidewater glaciers with park rangers aboard.
Scenic cruising — no dock, nothing ashore to book.Hoonah’s Tlingit culture and one of the world’s longest ziplines.
Check Hoonah prices & book ›Gulf turnaround ports and the doorway to Denali and Kenai Fjords.
Check Seward prices & book ›The season is short: late April through late September, with May to mid-September the practical window. June to August bring the warmest days and longest light; May and September are quieter and cheaper, with better odds of clear glacier views and fall color late in the run.
Alaska runs on a calendar, and it is worth knowing which one you are shopping. The ships come north in late April and are gone by the end of September, so for about half the year there is nothing here to sail. Search in autumn or winter and what you will find is the following summer — that is the normal way to book Alaska, not a sign you have missed something.
Major lines cruising Alaska:
When is the Alaska cruise season?Roughly late April through late September, with May to mid-September the practical window. Ships leave the region for the winter, so there is no such thing as an Alaska cruise in January. Late May to early July gives the longest daylight; late August and September are quieter and often cheaper, with fall colour and better odds of clear glacier viewing.
Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska — what is the difference?The Inside Passage round trip from Seattle or Vancouver stays in sheltered water, returns you to the airport you flew into, and is the simpler holiday. A one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier adds Hubbard Glacier and connects to the Denali land tours, but you fly into one city and home from another, which costs more and takes more arranging.
Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise?Take one. Every Alaska itinerary calls in Canada, and a passport is required outright if you fly into or out of Vancouver. U.S. citizens on a closed-loop sailing that starts and ends at the same U.S. port may be allowed to board on a birth certificate and photo ID, but that will not get you home by air if you miss the ship. Confirm the current requirement with your cruise line before you sail.
What should I pack for the weather?Layers and a waterproof shell. Daytime highs in port sit in the 50s and low 60s Fahrenheit through the season, and rain is normal rather than unlucky — Ketchikan is one of the wettest towns in the United States. Bring a warm mid-layer for glacier days on deck, and shoes you do not mind getting wet.
I am searching out of season - which summer am I booking?The following one. Ships work Alaska from late April to the end of September and spend the winter elsewhere, so an autumn or winter search returns next season's sailings and nothing sooner. The lines open Alaska a long way ahead, and the balcony cabins on the Glacier Bay itineraries are the first to go, so booking out of season is the sensible way round rather than the late one.
Which side of the ship has the better view?Neither, reliably. Ships turn in Glacier Bay and at Hubbard so both sides get their turn at the ice, and the captain usually says so over the tannoy. A balcony is worth the money in Alaska for the scenic cruising days, but do not pay extra for a particular side.
Trip.com carries Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Cunard, MSC and Costa — but not Royal Caribbean, so book that line with your travel agent or direct. Fares are per person and include port fees.
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated September 2026
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