Planning a Cruise to Alaska
Routes, months, ships and port planning for a short and popular season.
Start Planning With an AdvisorPlanning a Cruise to Alaska: A Worked Example
Alaska shows why planning order matters. The season is short, the choices are many, and the land tours that make the trip special need booking early. Here is how planning a cruise to Alaska works in practice.
Step 1: Choose the Route
| Route | How it works | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip from Seattle | Inside Passage ports, with a stop in Canada | Foreign-flag ships call at a foreign port on round trips from U.S. ports, often Victoria, B.C. |
| Round trip from Vancouver | Inside Passage ports | Flights into Canada; check entry documents |
| One-way Gulf of Alaska | Between Vancouver and a port near Anchorage, such as Seward or Whittier | Open-jaw flights; the natural way to add a land tour |
| Cruisetour | A one-way cruise plus days on land, often including Denali | Book well ahead; land portions are limited |
Step 2: Choose the Month and Ship
Mid-summer brings the longest days and the most company; May and September can be quieter. Decide what matters more: wildlife, weather, crowds or school holidays. Then compare ships on the route: small ships reach narrower waterways, while large ships offer more onboard facilities.
Check whether the itinerary includes Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier or another scenic cruising day. the National Park Service manages Glacier Bay and limits cruise ship entries.
Step 3: Book Early, Then Plan the Ports
- Reserve the cruise or cruisetour about a year ahead for the best choice of balconies and dates.
- Book flights that arrive the day before, or two days before if you want to see the port city.
- Research excursions in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and other ports; Alaska Port Excursions covers each port and its tours.
- Book popular excursions, such as floatplane and whale-watching trips, once your cruise is confirmed.
- Pack layers and rain gear: weather changes quickly along the coast.
Adding a Land Tour
Many travelers combine an Alaska cruise with several days on land, usually in the interior around Denali National Park, either as a cruisetour sold by the line or as an independent extension. A land tour fits most naturally with a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, because you start or finish near Anchorage. Plan it at the same time as the cruise: lodges and rail seats are limited, and the order (land first or cruise first) changes which ports you fly in and out of. Allow for long travel days between stops; distances in Alaska are large.
Planning a Cruise to Alaska: Questions
When is the Alaska cruise season?
Large-ship Alaska cruises generally sail from about May to September. Late spring and early autumn are quieter; mid-summer is busiest.
Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise?
Most Alaska cruises call in Canada. On a closed-loop cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port, U.S. Customs and Border Protection accepts other documents for U.S. citizens, but a passport is strongly recommended and is needed for some routes and for flying home from abroad.
Does every Alaska cruise visit Glacier Bay?
No. The National Park Service limits the number of cruise ships that may enter Glacier Bay each day, so some itineraries visit other glaciers instead.
Plan Your Alaska Cruise With an Advisor
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise compare routes, ships and cruisetours for your dates and book the whole trip. Free.
Plan My Alaska Cruise