Alaska, USA

How to Plan the Perfect Alaska Cruise

Last Updated on December 22, 2025

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Alaska cruises are often a bucket list trip, so you want to make sure you plan it well, which is not the easiest and quickest process. There are a lot of options out there and a lot of decisions to be made, which makes planning an Alaskan cruise quite overwhelming.

With so many cruise lines, itineraries, different cabin types and excursions to choose from, you want to make sure, that you do it right and book a cruise, that will end up being an amazing adventure. Because these cruises are not cheap. Careful planning is the key, so you get the best experience possible, and your trip is worth the money at the end.

So, if an Alaskan cruise is on your bucket list too and you’re thinking of taking one in the near future, this post will hopefully make the planning process clearer. This guide walks you through all the decision-making steps, from choosing the perfect cruise line and itinerary to picking the best excursions, plus my top Alaska cruise tips.

For a detailed Alaska Packing Guide check out What to pack for an Alaskan Cruise

Things to know about taking a cruise to Alaska

  • Alaska cruising season is short and runs from May to September
  • Alaska cruises are not cheap
  • Excursions in each port are not cheap either, but you should definitely plan on doing them

How much is an Alaskan cruise

Short answer, probably way more than you expect. I know the final cost was a surprise to me. Whenever you see the advertised price, it’s always for the cheapest inside cabin, in the shoulder season, excluding any extra costs and fees. If you want to go in high season and have a cabin with balcony, the cost will be quite a bit higher. Then if you decide to add things like Wi-Fi and the beverage package, the price goes up and it doesn’t end there. You also need to add port taxes and fees, as well as gratuity.

In general, the cost of a 7-day Alaskan cruise ranges from $1000 to $3,500 per person (depending on the cabin) without any extras like packages, fees etc.

The final price will be determined by the cruise line and cabin you choose which month you travel and whether you add the drink package or not. As a point of reference, my husband and I went on a 7-day cruise with Holland America in July, we had a cabin with a balcony and the drink package for both. The price for both of us was almost $5000. I did book it during the Black Friday promotion and got a credit towards one excursion and one specialty dinner (which was not included in the dining package).

The earlier you book, the better chances you have to get a better deal. A lot of the cruise lines have early booking discounts or offer other perks such as free Wi-Fi, on board credit towards excursions or specialty dinners.

In addition to paying for the cruise, you also need to set aside a good amount of money for shore excursions. And those are not cheap. While of course you are not forced to book anything, you will be missing out on a lot of beauty if you never get off ship. So be sure to set some money aside for some excursions.

Also, you need to have to factor in the cost of flights, which of course will vary depending how far you need to travel.

How to plan an Alaska cruise – step by step guide

Planning an Alaskan Cruise can be a bit overwhelming at first, as it comes with a lot of decision making. From choosing the cruise line, itinerary to picking a cabin and excursions in port, there is a lot to consider. To make the process a bit easier and clear, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you plan a perfect Alaska cruise. From the very first to last decision you need to make.

How many days

Your very first decision when it comes to planning an Alaska cruise will be the duration. It can be as short as 5 days or as long as 20+ days. The standard cruise is 7-10 days long. A lot of the very long cruises are a combination of sea+land.

When to go

The Alaska cruising season is short and runs from April to September. Although some cruise lines might offer early October itineraries. Your decision here is whether you want to go in shoulder or peak season.

Late June, July and August are prime months for Alaska cruising, both due to weather and wildlife viewing opportunities. This is when Alaska is the warmest and days are the longest. It’s the prime time for all the outdoor activities like boating and hiking. But this is also the high season in Alaska, so cruising during those months will be most expensive and Ports most crowded. The most popular excursions also sell out faster, so you need to book those well in advance.

April, May and September are considered shoulder season in Alaska. Weather will be on the colder side and more unpredictable. There is more risk of your shore excursions being cancelled during those months. You will however pay less when cruising during shoulder season, so if cost is a deciding factor, this is a good time to plan your Alaska cruise. Crowds will also be on the smaller side.

Round trip or one way?

The next decision is whether to book a one way or a round-trip cruise. One-way means the cruise starts in one port but ends in another. Which is usually from Seattle or Vancouver to Seaward or Whittier in Alaska (or the other way around). When doing a round-trip cruise, you leave and return to the same port.

One of the pros of one-way cruises is that you get to see more of Alaska. You don’t have to backtrack to the city you started from, so you get more days to explore instead of turning around to go back. The downside of one-way cruises is that the airfare will most likely cost you more. Instead of buying a round-trip flight, you will need two one-way tickets for two different cities, which is usually more expensive.

Round trip cruises will be easier to plan and generally cheaper, but you get less time to explore Alaska, since you have to make it back to the starting port within the same amount of time.

I personally prefer the one-way itinerary, because you get to experience more of Alaska.

Southbound or Northbound (for one way Alaska cruise)

If you book a one-way Alaska cruise, you then need to decide whether you want to go Southbound or Northbound. Both have the same itinerary and make the exact same stops, although times in port might be different. Which way you go will again depend on personal preference or simply practical/financial reasons.

Northbound cruises start in Vancouver and end in Seaward or Whittier, Alaska. Some people prefer going North, as the scenery slowly builds up. The more North you go, the more spectacular and dramatic it gets. However, cruising the Inside Passage often happens at night.

Going North and ending in Alaska is also good for those who want to continue exploring on land.

Southbound cruises start in Alaska (either Seaward or Whittier) and end in Vancouver, Canada. Those who want to spend some time on land, will need to do that first, then continue with the cruise.

Another thing to consider is the airfare. Flights to and from Anchorage are generally more difficult and expensive, especially if you’re coming from the East Coast (USA). A lot of people prefer to do the longer flight at the start of the trip and have the easier flight for the return home.

In this case choosing a Southbound cruise makes better sense. You fly into Anchorage, get the longer flight (often involving a connection) out of the way, and fly home from either Vancouver or Seattle, which tends to have more flight options.

Pick the cruise line

Once you decide on what you want to see on your Alaska cruise, starting and ending point, it’s time to decide which cruise line you want to go with. Different cruise lines and ships target different kinds of travelers. Some are more family friendly, while others cater to adults or more mature crowd. Your decision will again be based on your individual needs.

First of all, cruises to Alaska are not like Caribbean cruises and the like. Alaska cruises are more about the destination than the cruise ship itself. The focus is more on the scenery, nature and educational talks, not on the party atmosphere.

Some of the cruise lines that go to Alaska include Princess Cruises, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line. There are also small ship expeditions like UnCruise, that offer an intimate and adventure filled experience. Those ships have 90 passengers or less, so it’s a very different experience than the big cruise ships. And a few times more expensive.

Having said that, Holland America and Princess are considered to be the best cruise lines for Alaska. Both have the longest history of cruising the region, which gets them priority treatment. They get permits and access to places like Glacier Bay National Park. They also get the best docking spots in ports, closest to town.

Both Holland America and Princess have relatively smaller ships, which not only means fewer people, but also, they are easier to navigate and get better access to glaciers and places big ships can’t reach.

Choose the itinerary

Choosing your Alaska Cruise itinerary is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make.

The most popular is the Inside Passage route. It’s usually either round trip from Seattle or Vancouver or one-way trips from Alaska (Whittier or Seaward) to Vancouver or Seattle (or the other way around). 7-day cruises will usually have 3 port stops and a couple of days at Sea. The most popular ports are Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, but some ships will go to Sitka or Icy Strait.

I highly recommend choosing an itinerary, that includes scenic cruising to Glacier Bay National Park. It’s incredibly beautiful and was definitely a highlight of our Alaska Cruise. Not all ships have permits to enter the Park, so you’d need to book with those that do.

When choosing your Alaska cruise itinerary, pay close attention to times in port. You want to have the longest time possible in each one of them, which will give you ample time to do excursions and explore. You also don’t want to stress whether you will make it back to ship on time or not. While a lot of itineraries might look similar at first glance, some stop in port for just 4-5 hours, which is not long enough.

Ketchikan – one of the popular Alaska Cruise port stops

Pick a cabin

There are several types of cabins to choose from on the ship. Inside cabins, ocean view, balcony cabins and suites.

  • Inside Cabin – there are no windows and it’s usually the smallest cabin on the ship. This is the cheapest option.
  • Oceanview Cabin – those cabins come with a big window with a direct ocean view (windows don’t open), which means a lot of natural light. Some rooms have a partial view, meaning the view is obstructed, usually by a lifeboat or part of the ship.
  • Cabin with a Balcony (Veranda) – those cabins have floor to ceiling windows with a big sliding glass door that opens into a private balcony. There are a couple of chairs there and a small table.
  • Suite – bigger than standard room with a separate living area and unless labeled otherwise comes with a private balcony. Usually includes extra amenities like priority check in, welcome drink etc.

So which cabin should you choose? Well, the decision comes down to your budget, your personality and how you intend to spend the days on the ship.

If you’re someone who’s very social and enjoys spending time in common areas and that’s where you will be most of the time, a standard cabin might be fine. You might choose to put the extra money towards experiences. But if you enjoy alone time and will need a break in peace and quiet, paying extra for a cabin with balcony is definitely worth the money.

Once you settle on the cabin, you need to decide on the location. Your choices are Aft (back of the ship), Midship or Forward, Midship being the most centrally located to everything on the ship. When it comes to choosing the deck, I would avoid being right above or below restaurants or other common areas, as those tend to be loud.

cabin with a balcony
view from the Aft cabin with a balcony on Holland America

Pick a package

While booking the cruise, there are certain packages you can add on, like beverage and drink package, specialty dining, shore excursion packages etc.

What you should add (and if you should add anything at all) will depend on what you want to do during your cruise and whether it’s worth it for you or not.

Let’s use as an example the most popular package which is always Beverage and Drink package. If you don’t drink alcohol, obviously you will be skipping the drink package.

If you plan on having several drinks a day, paying for a package will probably save you some money at the end. If you think you’ll have a glass of wine with dinner or 1-2 drinks a day at the most, the drink package will be a waste of money, and you are better off paying for the individual drinks.

Also, keep in mind, some days you will be off the ship for excursions for a good chunk of the day. That means you won’t have as much time to order drinks onboard. So basically, just do the math and see if it makes sense for you financially.

Choose your Alaska excursions

Once your Alaska cruise is booked, it’s time to choose your excursions. Each port offers all kinds of activities, so your first step would be to look at your options and pick what interests you.

All cruise lines give you an option, and most importantly encourage you, to book tours through them. Those tours tend to be more expensive than those booked locally once in port. Cruise lines take a chunk of whatever you book, and for that reason, I personally prefer to book directly with locals, so all the money goes to them.

So, if you asked me, whether to book your tours through the cruise line or once in port, I’d say, that depends how long your time in port is. Those can differ from just 6 hours to a full day. The thing is, if you book through the cruise line and something comes up and you are running late or cutting it short to get back to ship on time, they will wait for you. If you book your tour independently, with no involvement of the cruise line whatsoever, they will leave as scheduled, whether you are there or not.

Having said that, I still encourage you to book directly with local companies once you are off the ship, as long as your day in port is long, which is usually 10-12 hours. You’ll have plenty of time to do a tour or two and have time to get back on the ship. If your ship docks in port for 5-6 hours and your planned excursion is 4 hours long, I personally wouldn’t risk it. In that case, do book through the cruise line.

Best Alaska excursions

So which Alaska tours should you book? Obviously, that depends on what interests you, however, each port has something unique for the region and is known for specific excursions.

If you really want to go whale watching, Juneau and Icy Straits are two places where you want to do it. If a helicopter ride to the glacier and dog sledding is on your bucket list, do it in Skagway and Juneau.

Here are the most popular excursions in Alaska in different ports.

Juneau

Skagway

NOTE: If you book The Helicopter Glacier and Dogsled Tour in Skagway, you will no longer get to ride the sled pulled by Alaska sled dogs. That activity has been discontinued and now you just get to spend time in the Dog Sled camp and watch the demonstration. If you really want to do the dog sledding, book the Helicopter Glacier tour in Juneau instead. In Juneau, riding an actual dog sled is still part of the tour.

Ketchikan

Icy Strait

Sitka

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No matter which excursions you decide to book, do it as early as you can. If you have your heart set on something, book as soon as it becomes available. The most popular Alaska excursions sell out way in advance. Even the really pricey ones like Helicopter rides.

Knowing that both the train ride in Skagway and Whale Watching in Juneau are really popular, I booked those months before the cruise. I also planned to do the Helicopter Ride to the Glacier in Skagway, but waited too long to book it, assuming that given the price tag, it won’t sell out. Well, I was wrong.

Whale watching in Juneau is a must do excursion
Skagway White Pass Railroad – one of the top excursions in Skagway, Alaska

Alaska Cruise Tips

Book your cruise early

Alaska cruises are insanely popular and do sell out months in advance. By booking early you also have a chance to score some kind of discount. If you plan on traveling in the prime months of July and August, don’t expect any huge sales on those cruises, but if you book early enough or during Black Friday sales, you will most likely get some perks like on board credit or free Wi-Fi package.

Pay attention to times in port

When choosing your itinerary, pay close attention to how long your stops in ports are. The longer the better. There is a lot to see and do in each place, and you want to have enough time to explore and also not stress about getting back to ship on time from excursions.

Glacier Bay is a must

I highly recommend booking a cruise, that includes a day cruising at Glacier Bay. It was without a doubt the highlight of our Alaska cruise. Only some of the cruise lines get permits to enter Glacier Bay National Park.

Pick a cabin with a balcony

Alaska cruises are all about scenery and being able to enjoy it from your own balcony is amazing. For me personally, having a cabin with a balcony is a must while cruising in Alaska.

Book your Alaska excursions early

There are a lot of great excursions to book in each port, and the most popular ones usually sell out way in advance. If you have your heart set on something, don’t wait too long. Even though a lot of those tours will give you a sticker shock, they do sell out quick.

Make reservations at specialty restaurants

There are several dining options available on the cruise, from big buffets, cafes to main dining room and specialty restaurants. The number of specialty restaurants varies depending on the cruise line and the ship, but it’s usually from 3-6. Those restaurants are not included in the price of your cruise, so you’ll have to pay extra for that meal.

However, you might be able to score free specialty dining as part of a promotion. We got one free meal at a restaurant of our choice while booking the cruise during a Black Friday sale. These are much smaller, more intimate restaurants, so don’t forget to make a reservation.

Choose alternative activities in port

Alaska weather can be finicky and sometimes excursions get canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions. If you booked a Helicopter ride to the top of the Glacier and it ends up being a windy day or poor visibility, that excursion will be canceled. As it should, for safety reasons. Have a plan B with other activities to do while in Port.

Arrive a couple of days before your Alaska cruise starts

Whether your cruise starts in Seattle, Vancouver or Anchorage, do not book your flight on the same day as your cruise starts. One slight flight delay or cancellation and you are not going to make it on time to your ship. And trust me, no one is waiting for you. So, book flight early enough, so in case of any flight interruptions (which is very common these days), you have enough wiggle time.

Any of the cities above are great destinations on itself, so plan on 2 days to explore them before you board the ship. And if your flight gets delayed, the worst thing that happens is, that you won’t be able to do that, but will still make it to ship on time.

Bring your passport

If you’re a US citizen and your Alaska cruise starts or ends in Canada; it’s a no brainer that you’ll need your passport. But it’s also recommended you bring it even if you are doing the so-called closed loop itinerary (start and end in the US). For example, if you plan on doing the White Pass & Yukon Route train excursion in Skagway, the train crosses into Canada and passport is required for that tour. I’ve heard of people being denied boarding the train without it.

Binoculars are a must

I highly recommend packing a good quality pair of binoculars. Alaska is known for incredible wildlife and there will be opportunities to see i.e. bears, moose and whales as you are cruising, but without binoculars, they will be just dots in the distance. That’s one of the items I didn’t have and regret not bringing. They sell them on the ship, but they are much more expensive.

Pack your swimsuit

There are pools and Jacuzzis on the ship, so don’t forget to pack a swimsuit. We really enjoyed the outdoor hot tub on the sea day in Glacier Bay. The views around very simply magical. I have a separate post about What to pack for an Alaskan Cruise, so be sure to check it out.

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