Alaska Cruise Guide: Glaciers, Whales & Frontier Towns
An Alaska cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here's how to make every glacier-viewing, whale-watching, gold-panning moment count.
Alaska: The Last Frontier by Sea
Nothing compares to sailing through Alaska’s Inside Passage. Calving glaciers thunder into the sea. Humpback whales breach alongside your ship. Bald eagles circle overhead. It’s the kind of nature documentary experience you never thought you’d live.
The Itinerary
Inside Passage (7 Days)
Seattle or Vancouver → Juneau → Skagway → Glacier Bay → Ketchikan. This is the classic route and the best introduction to Alaska. Glacier Bay National Park is the crown jewel.
Gulf of Alaska (7–10 Days)
One-way between Vancouver and Anchorage/Whittier. Includes everything above plus College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier (the largest tidewater glacier in North America).
Port Highlights
Juneau
Alaska’s capital is only accessible by air or sea. Mendenhall Glacier is a 20-minute drive from the port. Whale watching from Juneau has an almost 100% success rate in summer.
Skagway
A gold rush town frozen in time. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway is a bucket-list train journey through mountain passes at 873 meters elevation.
Ketchikan
The “Salmon Capital of the World.” Visit during July–August to see bears catching salmon at nearby streams. Totem Bight State Historical Park showcases stunning Native Alaskan art.
What to Pack
When to Go
May–September is the only season. June–July offers the longest daylight (up to 18 hours). August has the best bear-viewing. May and September have lower prices and fewer crowds.
Check Alaska’s weather conditions on our dashboard before you cruise!
