Alaska cruises in 2023 and Alaska cruises in 2024 are some of the best ways to experience its dramatic environment, with cruise lines offering a range of itineraries to choose from, such as Princess Cruise Alaska and Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises –letting you see towering glaciers, beautiful wildlife and even, in the right time of year, the mystifying spectacle of the aurora borealis – the northern lights!
Cheap cruises to Alaska from Seattle or the West Coast are easy to find on Expedia. Just sort your search results by price to put the cheaper options at the top of the results page. You can implement as many filters as you like, including comparing itineraries to visit places like Juneau and Skagway, but you're more likely to find the most affordable options with few to no filters and by having flexible dates. Booking an Alaska cruise in 2024 is usually cheaper than booking at the last minute, and a brief sojourn will be less costly than a 7-day cruise to Alaska.
Some of the best cruise lines to Alaska include Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises, both of which offer high-end luxury options like staterooms with balconies, 24-hour room service, and famous entertainment shows. A Princess cruise to Alaska is another fine option for its wide range of events, fine dining, and comfortable amenities, like hot tubs in your room. You can use the cruise line filter to ensure that your results only contain some of the best Alaskan cruise lines or even specific ships that you prefer. To get the widest choice, it's best to book your Alaska cruise in 2024.
Alaska cruise deals will be clearly marked on your search results page by a green text bubble above the estimated price. When searching for an Alaska cruise in 2023, keep an eye out for these markers to be able to see cruises that have special deals. A longer cruise to Alaska that lets you visit more ports like Victoria in Canada can pack in more travel than on a shorter Alaska cruise that only visits Juneau, even if it costs a bit more.
When booking a cruise trip to Alaska, use the filter options on the left-hand side of the results page to tailor the results to you. For example, you can filter by cruise line and cabin experience. To get the most out of your Alaska cruise vacation, you'll need to consider the type of cruise experience you want. If you're here for the boat, a massive luxury cruise ship, like Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, can get you to some of the most iconic spots like Juneau or Icy Strait Point while still having room for tons of amenities on board. Remember that while the ship is in port, you can usually come and go as you like if you wish to rest in your own stateroom or take some time out from sightseeing.
Cruises that go to Alaska have quite a few ports of call, and you'll be able to choose among places like Ketchikan and Haines cruise ports. Ketchikan is particularly interesting for travelers who want to do a bit of shopping on the shore, but Haines boasts onshore activities like kayaking, hiking, and bird watching. The best cruises in Alaska boast a multitude of different activities, from Kenai fjords tours to the Alaskan northern lights.
The best time for a cruise trip to Alaska tends to be around July and August when the temperatures are warm, the wildlife is active, and the days are long. This is also the busiest season, so some travelers who don't mind lower temperatures may prefer the shoulder seasons around late spring and early fall. The famous Northern Lights are easiest to see on Alaska cruises between August and April, though the temperatures are frigid, and you may have a trickier time finding a cruise during those months.
The length of the cruises that go to Alaska depends on where you depart from and where in Alaska you're going, but a 2- to 3-night cruise to Alaska is possible with just a day of sailing. For example, a cruise to Juneau from Seattle can get you there on day 3 after leaving Seattle in the early evening. Some of the best Alaskan cruise lines visit the state's more northern reaches, and could necessitate a 5-day cruise to Alaska or longer.
Some great options for a luxury cruise to Alaska can be found through Royal Caribbean on the Brilliance of the Seas, or through the Holland America Line. A luxury cruise to Alaska tends to be outfitted with a variety of high-end amenities, such as private pools, hot tubs, solariums, and even full suites with living rooms and separate bedrooms. Royal Caribbean's ship specifically offers a solarium with a private pool and hot tubs to you can stay as cozy as you want.
Some of the best all-inclusive cruises to Alaska are offered by Princess and Norwegian and feature live music and even Broadway shows. On the Discovery Princess, for instance, you'll find 2 sky suites on the top deck with stunning views, along with several restaurants and activities. If you're looking to relax and enjoy your vacation without thinking too much, an all-inclusive cruise to Alaska is the way to go!
To find a family cruise to Alaska, keep an eye out for those that have amenities for all ages; Norwegian and Celebrity cruises to Alaska offer a lot of different options in this respect. For example, the Norwegian Bliss ship has an open-air laser tag area and a 1,000-foot-long racetrack. The best family cruises to Alaska offer different amenities for different age groups. Cruises such as the Celebrity Solstice feature adults-only areas, like lounges with private pools, bars, and more.
You'll find quite a few options available from Princess and Celebrity for an adults-only cruise. The Celebrity Solstice specifically has its own adults-only solarium and a variety of bars, lounges, and spas. An adults-only cruise to Alaska is a great choice to enjoy the solitude of the Arctic, without bringing the whole family along.
You and your partner can enjoy an Alaska honeymoon cruise with couples-oriented activities with cruise lines like Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. On the Norwegian Jewel, for example, couples can experience 15 dining options and 15 bars and nightclubs. These special honeymoon ships offer enhanced amenities like spa treatments, massage, sauna, and more to make your romantic holiday one for the ages.
Whether you're getting your Alaska cruise from Seattle or further afield, such as an Alaska Cruise from Los Angeles, the best way to book a cruise that goes to Alaska on Expedia is to take advantage of our multiple search filters to find the cruise that fits your needs best. When you find the right cruise, you can book everything you need right on our site and be well on your way to the scenic glaciers of Alaska, such as on a Glacier Bay tour from Juneau.
Depending on when you search, you can find last-minute Alaska cruises by entering your travel dates into Expedia search to see what's on offer. Keep in mind that as the departure date approaches, some cruises offer discounts on tickets as they seek to fill their few remaining vacancies. This can often be the case for short trips like a 3-night cruise to Alaska or a cruise to Alaska from Seattle for example.
No, American citizens do not need a passport for Alaska cruises. Because of this, you don't have to worry about whether or not you're booking a closed-loop cruise to Alaska. The exception is Alaska cruises from Canada, as you'll need your passport to get to Canada.
To cancel your cruise tickets to Alaska, simply go to your My Trips page and follow the instructions for cancellation. Keep in mind that your refund amount often depends on how far in advance you cancel. Every cruise has different policies, so make sure you check what they are before finalizing your booking.
Booking with Expedia makes planning the ultimate Alaska cruise in 2023 easy thanks to the array of cruise line options and convenient search filters. For example, you could save money by finding current deals by looking for green text above the price in the search results. Expedia Rewards members may even be able to earn points on their booking that can be redeemed for later discounts. Join for free today.
Alaska is one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations, famed for relentlessly beautiful scenery stretching along its icy coastline. From the boat, you may see orcas playing in the water or bald eagles flying overhead. Gaze in awe at rocky, snow-capped mountains cascading into glacial blue waters. Alaska cruises offers myriad options for ports, ships and itineraries.
Typical Alaska cruise vacations last about seven days, either heading inland to ports along the Gulf of Alaska such as Juneau, Seward, or Whittier. These shorter journeys tend to leave from Seattle or Vancouver. Longer sailings are available, with 14-day round-trip Alaska cruise from San Francisco offering spectacular views of the American and Canadian west coasts.
Alaska is immensely popular as a cruise destination, which means you can shop around for Alaska cruise deals. Peak times are the summer months of June, July and August, when you have the warmest weather and the best chance of spotting wildlife. Plan your cruise during the months on either side to get a cheap cruise to Alaska with fewer fellow travelers.
Kyle Keeling - May 21, 2019
Check out why you should consider the Norwegian Joy for your Alaska cruise