Last Updated on 07/12/25 by Rose Palmer
There is no doubt that Alaska is a beautiful state. With glacier studded mountain ranges, rugged coastlines, wildlife galore, and ancient native cultural traditions, it’s no surprise that it is a bucket list destination for many. Cruising southeast Alaska is an easy and (relatively) budget friendly way to see one of the most scenic parts of this huge state.
My Alaska cruise planning tips
I’ve cruised to Alaska four times and road tripped four times and would happily go back again and again. Each time I discover something new in every port, and the scenery always looks different depending on the weather and light conditions.
I’ve always said that if you ever only do one cruise in your life, it should be to Alaska. But planning an Alaskan cruise can feel daunting with so many choices. After planning my Alaskan cruises these are some of the things I consider.
The best cruise line for an Alaskan cruise
Alaska cruises are very popular, and all the major cruise lines have itineraries to the 49th state. That said, Holland America and Princess have been cruising here the longest. Holland America started in 1947, and Princess started in 1969 so they both have a lot of experience and know what they are doing. I’ve cruised to Alaska with both cruise lines and loved my expereinces each time.
I think that Glacier Bay National Park is THE must see gem when visiting southeast Alaska. The park is very strict with the number of permits it gives out every year and allows only two large cruise ships into the park each day. Because of their long history cruising in Alaska, both Princess and Holland America get the lion’s share of these permits.
Besides the large cruise ships, cruise lines with smaller ships are also an option. Windstar, Uncruise, and American Cruise Lines offer locations in their itineraries where the big ships can’t go, but it comes with a much higher price tag.
Best length for an Alaskan cruise
The majority of the Alaskan cruise itineraries are seven days. This fits in well with a typical American vacation schedule. A seven day itinerary will certainly hit the highlights and provide a sampling of the coastal towns and visit a glacier or two.
Personally, I prefer longer cruises, especially in Alaska where there is so much to see. I suggest taking the longest cruise that time and budget allows, especially if this is a once in a lifetime event. I recently cruised on a unique 22 day itinerary on the Ruby Princess that included all the cruise ports in southeast Alaska along with scenic cruising into all the fjords that are big enough for a big cruise ship. It was my most memorable Alaskan cruise yet.
Best time for an Alaskan Cruise
The Alaskan cruising season extends from the end of April through the end of September. The peak summer months of June, July, and August are the most popular and the busiest, and prices will reflect that. These are also the warmest months and have the most amount of daylight hours.
The summer months are also prime whale watching season in the nutrient rich Alaskan waters. Other wildlife like otters, seals, and sea lions are also active.
The Tongass National Forest which covers most of southeast Alaska is the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Cloudy, overcast days are typical, even in summer. In general, the months of May and June have the least amount of precipitation while September is one of the wettest. May and September also offer the possibility of seeing the northern lights, if the skies are clear and there is enough solar activity to create good auroras.
Book an Alaska cruise on your own or with a travel agent
I have always booked my cruises directly on the cruise line website. This way I can be sure I get exactly the type of cabin I want. I also make my own travel arrangement to and from the ship. I travel a lot so making these types of plans is second nature. I also usually cruise alone so the logistics are quite easy.
There are many travel agents that specialize in cruise travel and can make all the necessary arrangements. For those who don’t often plan their own trips or for those travelling in larger groups, having a travel agent take care of all the necessary arrangements may be preferable. A good travel agent will also keep track of prices and refare the trip if the price goes down. They will also deal with the cruise line if any issues arise with the reservation, saving me the time and the hassle.
Choosing a one way or round-trip Alaska cruise
There are basically two types of Alaska cruises: those that travel round trip from one departure point and those that go one way from one port and end the cruise in another port.
Round trip Alaska cruises usually start in Seattle, Washington in the US or in Vancouver, Canada. Occasionally a cruise may also go round trip from Los Angeles or San Francisco. The advantage to these cruises is that it is easy and normally less expensive to purchase round trip airfare. These round trip itineraries usually only go as far as Skagway and then turn around.
One way trips go from Vancouver to one of the ports near Anchorage (Seward or Whittier), or vice versa. These itineraries can include sights further north near Anchorage, like the stunning College Fjord, which the round trip cruises don’t have time for. However, these will require one way airfare for two different destinations, which can be more expensive.
One advantage to starting or ending a cruise in Anchorage is that it allows time to explore mainland Alaska before or after a cruise. I’ve done this a few times and it was easy to rent a car and explore on my own.
From Anchorage I’ve headed north to Denali National Park, southwest on the Kenai Peninsula towards Homer, and east toward Wrangell-St. Elias National Park or the Alcan Highway which took me into the Yukon, Canada. Despite its size, Alaska only has a handful of paved roads so it’s easy to navigate and hard to get lost.
Some of the cruise lines also offer combination cruise-tours which combine a sea cruise with a land tour to a few of Alaska’s most popular sites. These tours take away all the complexities of planning a land tour as long as you don’t mind seeing the scenery through a bus window.
Booking the cruise line shore excursions or going on your own in Alaska
I’ve done shore excursions through both the cruise line and on my own. The cruise lines work with local tour operators to provide a selection of excursions in a variety of price ranges and for all levels of mobility.
Some cruisers prefer to do only shore excursions through the cruise line because they are assured that if the tour runs late, the ship will wait for them, and they won’t be left behind.
I look through the list of excursions offered from the ship to see if there is something that interests me or that is unique and would be hard to do on my own. For example, in Skagway I chose to book the 3 hour White Pass Yukon train ride through the Princess excursion desk. The price was the same as booking it on my own but had the advantage that I could board the train right by the cruise dock.
I also look into sightseeing on my own. The What’s In Port website has a comprehensive list of all there is to do in every cruise port around the world. As a photographer, I usually prefer to explore on my own so that I can take my time.
On one cruise I chose to rent a car in Skagway and drove the incredibly scenic road to Carcross, Canada and back. It was the same scenery that I experienced on the White Pass and Yukon train ride, but I spent all day taking in the stunning landscape and exploring the Tlingit traditions in Carcross. Yes, there is a chance I might not get back to the ship on time, but I think the risk is very small.
I did the same during my recent cruise stop in Haines, Alaska. I rented a car and drove the spectacular Haines Highway where I discovered unparalleled scenery and a bear munching his way along the side of the road.
Alaska is an incredibly beautiful state and everyone should visit at least once in their life. Taking a cruise to southeast Alaska makes it easy to experience some of its most scenic locations, many that can only be reached by boat.
I also share my alaska cruising tips in a podcast: The Ultimate Alaska Cruise Experience: What to Know Before You Go
Other stories about my Alaska adventures:
Viewing the northern lights: Yes, You Should Visit Fairbanks in Winter to See the Northern Lights!
Driving the scenic Klondike Highway from Skagway: A Skagway Excursion On My Own: Driving off the Beaten Path on the Scenic Klondike Highway
Alaska Cruise Excursion tips: My Many Alaska Cruise Excursion Experiences
I’ve cruised to Alaska in May, 1993; June 2015, July 2019, June 2025.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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