If you missed the just-ended 2025 Alaska cruise season, don’t worry your pretty little parka about it — your dream of glacier-gazing and totem-trail trekking is already within reach.
Alaska’s cruise season runs from late April to early October, but savvy travelers know the journey begins months earlier, when booking opens and prime itineraries start to fill. Still, many wait until spring to get serious about making that salmon-scented sojourn a reality.
Whether you work with a travel agent, deal directly with a cruise line or go it alone, it’s worth doing your homework. The ship you choose — and where it sails — can shape the entire experience. That’s true of any cruise, of course, but it’s especially critical in Alaska, a bucket-list destination where itinerary, cruise line and vessel truly matter.
Because this could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, let’s take some of the gamble out of your investment of time, money and expectations. By covering the basics, we’ll help ensure your Alaska adventure delivers a gold rush of awe, not a chorus of ah, shucks.
Charting the Inside Passage — and beyond
Alaska’s largest ports may peddle the same punny T-shirts and mass-produced snowdomes, but each has its own rhythm, history and bragging rights. Some itineraries favor glacier theatrics while others lean into cultural immersion, honoring the Tlingit people and Russian heritage. Whether you’re chasing wildlife, wilderness or waterfront charm, your choice of ports will shape not just your selfies, but your memories. Most weeklong cruises hit at least three of the big four: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. Let’s take a quick flyover of each.
An orca sighting brings a thrill to whale watchers in Juneau’s Auke Bay. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Juneau has perhaps the nation’s most forgettable capitol building — a drab neoclassical shoebox so uninspiring even the tour buses pretend it’s not there — and yet the widest and wildest range of shore excursions are offered here. This port is a launchpad for whale watching, and Juneau Tours (juneautours.com) is among the best at finding humpbacks and an occasional pod of orcas. Other popular options include the “Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip” with great views of the namesake glacier, and Mount Roberts Tramway, a high-wire wonder on clear days. Between all the shops, galleries, restaurants and bars within walking distance of most of the docks, Juneau (traveljuneau.com) has plenty to see and do without an organized tour, too.
Ketchikan’s iconic welcome arch proudly declares the port city as “Salmon Capital of the World.” (Photo by David Dickstein)
Ketchikan is compact, steeped in salmon lore and easy to explore on foot. Creek Street features shops on stilts and traces of its red-light past. Totem-rich Saxman Native Village offers a curated glimpse into Tlingit heritage, where towering cedar poles whisper ancestral stories. Just across town, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show (alaskanlumberjackshow.com) trades reverence for ruckus, complete with whirring chainsaws and roaring crowds. Modern-day Paul Bunyans compete in axe throwing, log rolling, speed climbing and carving, all wrapped in a scripted showdown that’s fast, loud and proudly touristy.
Sitka National Historical Park features approximately 20 totem poles along its forested trails. (Photo by David Dickstein)
While in Sitka, enjoy majestic Sitka National Historical Park, where trekking along totem-rich trails is free and just a short scenic stroll from the city center. For cruise tours that soar and splash, look to the “Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest” and bird-rehabbing Alaska Raptor Center.
Skagway tour highlights include the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and “Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Flightseeing” excursions. No visit to Skagway is complete without at least a peek inside the historic and colorful Red Onion Saloon.
Visitors to Icy Strait Point pause to admire a double rainbow arching over the shoreline. (Photo by David Dickstein)
A worthy stop on many itineraries is Icy Strait Point, a locally grounded alternative to the state’s busier cruise hubs. Built around a restored salmon cannery, circa 1912, Icy Strait Point (icystraitpoint.com) blends Tlingit cultural experiences with exhilarating excursions, locally owned shops and good grub and grog. Their famous Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary provides liquid courage to adults skittish about riding the world’s largest zipline or a gondola that climbs to a 1,550-foot summit.
The Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary is a house specialty served at Icy Strait Point. (Photo by David Dickstein)
We’d be remiss not to mention a multi-day, pre- or post-cruise excursion to Denali National Park, home of Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak. Roughly one in five Alaska cruise passengers venture inland for this add-on generally offered with one-way itineraries.
Whale of a season ahead in 2026
An estimated 1.8 million passengers will cruise to the Last Frontier next year. If these figures from government and industry sources hold, that will mark a third straight season of record-breaking tourism. Part of the projected growth stems from three brands making their Alaska debut. Together, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection account for less than 7% of the 728 sailings projected for 2026, dwarfed by the alpha grizzlies leading our roundup of cruise lines making waves in Alaskan waters next season.
Princess Cruises (princess.com) — The premium-class line is charting nearly 180 voyages next year aboard eight ships, including the new 4,300-guest Star Princess. Itineraries — both roundtrip and one-way — leave from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier, one of two gateways near Anchorage (the other being Seward).
Holland America, which has been sailing to Alaska longer than the Last Frontier has been a state, will make 135 voyages in 2026 on six ship, including the Westerdam, shown here. (Courtesy of Holland America via TNS)
Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com) — As the first major cruise line to operate in Alaska, this premium-class brand draws on what will be 79 years of experience next season. “Longer than any other cruise line and longer than it’s been a state,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management. That legacy affords guests preferred berth positions, maximizing port time, along with deeper access to Glacier Bay National Park. The venerable line is slated for 135 cruises aboard six ships — Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam — ranging from 1,432 to 2,650 passengers. Select voyages offer an optional, industry-exclusive overland tour into Canada’s Yukon Territory, with part of the route retracing the original Gold Rush Trail of 1898.
Norwegian Bliss docked in Juneau, Alaska’s most visited cruise port. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.com) — When it comes to consumer choice in 2026, the Last Frontier is anything but least for NCL, which is deploying five amenity-rich, mainstream-class ships for 87 sailings. NCL’s Bliss, Encore and Joy — three of the line’s impressive Breakaway Plus-class ships — will anchor a Seattle-based schedule of seven- to 10-night roundtrip sailings. Norwegian Jade (2,352 guests) will run weeklong itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier. For travelers aiming to conquer the 49th and 50th states in one go, Norwegian Spirit offers four 16-night voyages departing from either Vancouver or Honolulu.
Royal Caribbean International (royalcaribbean.com) — From skydiving simulators and robotic bartenders to classic cruise comforts, this mainstream-class line blends innovation with variety across its four-ship Alaska fleet. Serenade, Voyager, Anthem and Ovation — their full names all ending in “… of the Seas” — carry between 2,490 and 4,180 guests, and will sail a combined 79 seven-night roundtrips from Seattle and Vancouver.
Norwegian Bliss returns in 2026 for her eighth summer sailing to Alaska from Seattle. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Celebrity Cruises (celebritycruises.com) — A trio of premium-class ships will mix modern luxury with glacier-studded scenery on 56 seven-night sailings from Vancouver, Seward and Seattle. The 2,918-passenger Edge returns for a third season, bringing with it a unique outward-facing design featuring the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform at sea. Solstice (2,852 guests) and Summit (2,218) offer a more intimate, classic feel, along with what may be the industry’s finest collection of specialty dining rooms on a single ship.
Carnival Cruise Line (carnival.com) — Three Fun Ships will offer 53 itineraries for value-seeking cruisers in 2026. Miracle (2,124 passengers) and Spirit (2,700) will be homeported in Seattle for mostly weeklong sailings, while the 2,800-passenger Luminosa makes her Alaska debut from San Francisco. These roundtrips from the Bay Area include four sea days on 10-night itineraries — ideal for travelers who enjoy time on the open water.
Disney Cruise Line (disneycruise.com) — Promising mouse sightings — but not moose sightings — Disney ships helmed by co-captains Mickey and Minnie return to Alaska next season with 36 voyages from Vancouver. Their floating, premium-class theme parks, Wonder and Magic, each carry 2,713 guests and a cargo hold full of character charm.
MSC Cruises (msccruises.com) — The 3,223-guest Poesia, fresh off a major refurbishment that added the enviable MSC Yacht Club, is set for 20 roundtrips from Seattle. Club guests enjoy “ship within a ship” privileges that transform mainstream-category cruising into a temporary life of luxury.
Virgin Voyages (virginvoyages.com) — Virgin’s virgin season in Alaska has the adults-only, 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady making 14 roundtrip cruises of 7 to 12 nights from Seattle, plus two one-way sailings that either begin or end in Vancouver. Virgin falls into the premium cruise category.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com) — Offering an intimate, ultra-luxury experience aboard the all-suite 452-passenger Luminara, Ritz-Carlton will mark its Alaskan debut with 13 trips of seven to 11 nights between Vancouver and Whittier.
Windstar Cruises (windstarcruises.com) — Three of Star Seeker’s 13 itineraries next year will launch from Juneau, a port rarely used for embarkation. Vancouver and Seward will also serve as departure points for seven- to 12-night journeys aboard the 224-guest, boutique-style luxury yacht.
Passengers aboard the Norwegian Bliss capture the icy majesty of Dawes Glacier. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Azamara Cruises (azamara.com) — Specializing in small-ship cruising with a focus on destination immersion, Azamara, an upper-premium line, is taking guests to such quaint ports as Klawock and Wrangell on eight 10- and 11-night sails aboard the 702-passenger Pursuit.
Crystal (crystalcruises.com) — The gorgeous Crystal Symphony returns to Alaska in 2026 for the first time since 2019, offering seven ultra-luxury sailings from Vancouver and Seward. With longer port calls, curated shore excursions and intimate shipboard elegance, the 606-guest Symphony promises a refined lens on Alaska’s wild frontier for sails of seven to 11 nights. Crystal offers a four-day “Wild Whistler Adventure” pre-cruise extension on select Alaska sailings. Curated by Abercrombie & Kent, this add-on has guests traveling the Sea-to-Sky Highway in search of bonus wildlife and pinch-me moments.
A bald eagle perches on a spruce branch in Sitka, a classic sight in Southeast Alaska’s coastal wilderness. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Other cruise lines on Alaska’s 2026 docking docket include Cunard (cunard.com), National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions (expeditions.com), Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com), Regent Seven Seas Cruises (rssc.com), Seabourn (seabourn.com), Silversea (silversea.com) and Viking (viking.com).
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