Which Cruise Line Is Better For Alaska?

The Good Housekeeping Institute travel experts have compiled a list of the best Alaskan cruise lines to consider for families, couples, luxury, and small ship expeditions. The list includes nine different cruise lines and ships, from megaresorts to small vessels. Cruise Critic, the world’s largest cruise site, offers over 25 options for Alaska cruises.

Some of the best Alaska cruise lines include Holland America and Princess Cruises. Carnival Alaskan Cruises, Celebrity Alaskan Cruises Crystal Alaskan Cruises Disney Alaskan Cruises, Holland America Line Norwegian Alaskan Cruise Oceania, Royal Caribbeans Quantum of the Seas, and Princess Cruises.

The list of cruise ships operating in Alaska in 2021 includes Carnival Alaskan Cruises, Celebrity Alaskan Cruises Crystal Alaskan Cruises Disney Alaskan Cruises, Holland America Line Norwegian Alaskan Cruise Oceania, Royal Caribbeans Quantum of the Seas, Celebrity Edge, Seven Seas Explorer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Viking Orion, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Princess Cruises.

According to travel experts, Holland America Line is a market leader in Alaska cruises, having offered Alaska cruises for 75 years. Princess Cruises is considered the best for Alaska, winning numerous awards for its offerings. The best Alaska cruises deliver on amenities, accommodations, and off-boat excursions, whether you want luxury or a rugged adventure.

In summary, the Good Housekeeping Institute travel experts have compiled a list of the best Alaska cruise lines for families, couples, luxury, and small ship expeditions.

What is the best month to cruise to Alaska?

Temperature & Daylight Hours. For the warmest temperatures, cruise between mid-June and mid-August.

For the most Midnight Sun, come 3 weeks before or after the summer solstice and longest day of the year, June 21.

Want to see the northern lights? That’s a long shot during cruising season. It does get dark enough at night to see them by the second week of September, but it’s still not as brilliant as what you’ll see on a winter, land-based Alaska aurora viewing vacation.

Alaska Cruise Highlights By Month. This table can help you pick the best time to cruise Alaska.

• Spring flowers
• Big waterfalls
• Few Bugs
• Season begins 2nd week

How many days is best for an Alaskan cruise?

10 Days. This is a very popular vacation length, and no wonder: 10 days is enough time to combine a cruise with a land tour and experience both sides of Alaska. Trips of this length usually include a whirlwind tour of some of Alaska’s popular interior and Southcentral destinations, plus a 7-day cruise. Here are some things to consider.

• Take a Small Ship: An alternative to the large-ship cruise and land tour would be to fly into Anchorage and combine an independent land tour with a small-ship cruise in Prince William Sound. Get a similar experience with a small ship and lodge package in Southeast Alaska.
• Go All Mainland: Fly round-trip to Alaska and spend all your time in the Southcentral and Interior region. A 7-day trip may allow adequate time to visit 2 national parks, but a 10-day vacation allows you to immerse yourself in those destinations. Along with parks like Denali and Kenai Fjords, you can spend 2–3 nights at wilderness lodge in either location. Or combine 2 or 3 wilderness lodges and spend your entire vacation immersed in the Alaskan wilderness.
• Get Off the Beaten Path: Another option is to choose one region (like Southcentral) and take the extra time to explore more off-the-beaten-path destinations. Stay at intimate roadside adventure lodges, where you’ll meet local Alaskans and fellow travelers. On a 10-day self-drive tour, you could combine 3–4 different roadside adventure lodges: one emphasizing glaciers, another fishing and hiking, and another history and culture.
• Take a Relaxed Group or Alaska Railroad Tour: See the highlights without rushing. You can incorporate more railroad travel into your itinerary (the Alaska Railroad operates on a set schedule and takes 1–3 hours more than driving). If you don’t mind traveling at someone else’s pace, the views can be rewarding and you don’t have to worry about navigating.
• See the Railbelt, Fairbanks, and the Arctic: With 10 days, you can comfortably include Fairbanks in your itinerary. And from there, you can take a 1- or 2-night overnight with Northern Alaska Tour Company to any number of Arctic destinations where you’ll visit an Alaska bush community for an in-depth experience of Alaska history and native culture.

12–14 Days. Spend more time and you’ll not only see more but have more varied experiences. And two full weeks is enough to slip into an “Alaska state of mind.” You’ll slow down, relax, and appreciate each experience more, because you won’t be worried about rushing to squeeze everything in. Here are some options.

What is the average cost of a 7-day Alaska cruise?

Between $3,000 and $5,000 per person An average budget for a 7-day cruise along Alaska’s Inside Passage route, with several shore excursions and additional amenities, is typically between $3,000 and $5,000 per person. We’ll provide more details below, as we’ve experienced such a cruise twice ourselves.

Which passage is the best on an Alaskan cruise?

One nice thing about the Inside Passage is how calm the water is because you’re sailing between land masses. If you worry about seasickness, an Inside Passage trip is the best Alaska cruise itinerary versus a sailing where your ship transits rougher, open waters.

Related: The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.

Gulf of Alaska. If you book a weeklong Gulf of Alaska voyage, you’ll also enjoy exploring parts of the Inside Passage and its ports that could include a mix of Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan, Haines and Icy Strait Point.

What is the best way to see Alaska for the first time?

Best Way To See AlaskaIf You Cruise, Make It A Means to an End. Cruises are a great way to see Alaska’s coastal mountains, glaciers, marine wildlife, and towns. … Do An Independent Land Tour. … Reserve A Healthy Budget For Excursions. … Come At The Right Time Of Year. … Don’t Fixate On “Highlights”

The short answer: Stay away from the crowds and experience Alaska in an authentic way. This requires more planning, but you’ll have a more richly rewarding vacation. Here are five tips to see the real Alaska:

1. If You Cruise, Make It A Means to an End. Cruises are a great way to see Alaska’s coastal mountains, glaciers, marine wildlife, and towns. But you don’t want to miss our highest mountains, “Big Five” land mammals, or vast interior landscapes, so…

• If you choose a conventional cruise, take a cross-Gulf itinerary and add a land tour.
• When you hit ports of call, have your excursions well thought out beforehand. Here are our recommendations.
• Consider a small ship cruise that gets you closer to glaciers and wildlife, and allows you to visit smaller ports and bays where big ships can’t go.

What is the cheapest month to take a cruise to Alaska?

1. April and May: Early bird savings. Think about going on a cruise around April or May if you want to save the most. In these months, Alaska has its shoulder season when costs often decrease, and there are fewer visitors. Despite the potential for a little bit of a chill, you’ll see nature’s breathtaking springtime blossoming. This time of year is a preferable option for travelers on a tight budget because of the snow-capped mountains, blooming wildflowers, and reduced crowds.

2. June and July: The glory of the peak season. The busiest months for cruises to Alaska are June and July. There are possibilities to witness bears, whales, and eagles in their native settings, and the weather is warmer. Although these months offer the best weather, they also have higher prices because of the higher demand. However, June and July are worth taking into consideration if you’re ready to spend a little extra and want to see Alaska at its finest.

3. Catch the last of the Summer sun in August and September. As the summer draws to a close, the months of August and September provide comfortable weather and reasonable costs. You may take advantage of the continuing warmth throughout these months while watching the first indications of fall. The landscapes are painted in vivid red and gold tones, providing a beautiful setting for your trip. In some areas of Alaska, September is also the best month for seeing the Northern Lights, which will give your voyage an extra element of wonder.

Where is the best place to depart for an Alaskan cruise?

Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Haines, Sitka, Wrangell, and Thorne Bay are the best ports of call for cruises throughout Alaska. The state of Alaska is unrivaled in the United States as a place to discover the breathtaking wilderness, history, and culture that surrounds the Northwest.

JuneauOften a starting point for Alaska cruises, the capital city of Juneau gives a fresh look into the culture of the country, highlighting the history and rugged wilderness that makes visiting Alaska a full immersion into the Northwestern lifestyle of old. The Mendenhall Glacier is within the city limits, and the Mount Roberts Tram takes guests from the port to an observation platform that overlooks downtown, the nearby Douglas Island, and the Inside Passage. Other points of interest within the city are the Alaska State Museum and the Franklin Street Historic District.

SitkaSitka, once the capital of Russian Alaska, has an interesting blend of history, between the Russian and Tlingit influences on the area, which makes exploring the area a truly unique experience. Things to see and do include visiting the Sitka National Historical Park, where original totem poles are on display, and checking out the Fortress of The Bear, a brown bear cub rescue center where you can see some of the majestic, native animals in a nature reserve.

Is Alaska Inside Passage worth it?

After the intense beauty of the Glacier Bay National Park, I wondered if this famous sea lane would live up to its reputation. The Inside Passage is frequently named one of the most scenic stretches in the world, particularly because of geography that allows boats to sail up close to the passage’s steep walls. This proximity grants an up close and personal perspective on the glaciers, mountains, and sea.

Though the Inside Passage is often buzzing with activity – its beauty attracts many visitors – most travelers on my cruise watched in silence as we sailed through, simply leaning on the railing and taking it all in, trying, I imagined, to find words for the colors of the glaciers. Turquoise? Cerulean? Aquamarine? None of them seemed quite right.

The multiple personalities of the glaciers couldn’t be captured in a single word: not cobalt, not ultramarine, not sapphire. The glaciers were bright white one moment, and almost teal the next.

What is the best cruise line to take to Alaska?

#1. Celebrity Edge. Celebrity Cruises. … #2. Seven Seas Explorer. Regent Seven Seas Cruises. … #3. Viking Orion. Viking Ocean Cruises. … #4. Silver Muse. Silversea Cruises. … #4. Seabourn Odyssey. Seabourn Cruise Line. … #6. Regatta. Oceania Cruises. … #7. Celebrity Solstice. Celebrity Cruises. … #7. Koningsdam. Holland America Line.