How to Find Your Perfect Alaska Cruise

Comparing Cruise Lines

Let us tell you a little secret.....there really is a cruise line for everyone!

There are two options for cruising Alaska (large or mid-sized cruise ship of 500 to 3000 passengers

or a small ship of fewer than 500 passengers.)

For 2017, we’ll again see some “giant” cruise ships returning. Royal Caribbean brings back the 137,308-ton, 15-deck-high, 1,020-footlong, Explorer of the Seas to Alaska - the largest ship cruising Alaska. 2016 was the first time a ship of its size had been deployed to Alaska. With almost 4,000 passengers, it carries hundreds more than the next largest, Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice and Princess’ Ruby Princess and Crown Princess.

Below are some of our favorite cruiselines for Alaska cruises and cruisetours.

cruise line HIGHLIGHTS

CRYSTAL SERENITY

(7) Day inside passage
(7) and (10) day voyage of the Glaciers from Vancouver, BC
(10) Day itineraries also include call at the Tlingit community of Hoonah
Adds unusual extras like Queen Charlotte Sound and visits to Prince Rupert or Nanaimo, BC

CELEBRITY ECLIPSE

Round-trip sailings from Vancouver through the Inside Passage, visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, and more.
The popular luxury brand has also added more visits of over 12 hours to its ports of call, giving guests more time to explore these destinations to their fullest.
Named a Gold Star winner by Travel Weekly for “Best Overall Premium Ship”, Celebrity’s adults-only policy and amenities like it’s Canyon Ranch SpaClub® showcase the tranquility that this ship boasts. And with a maximum occupancy of just over 2,800 guests, it’s Alaska itineraries aim to offer an intimate setting with a focus on on-shore cultural immersion.

CELEBRITY SOLSTICE

(7) Day inside passage from Seattle, WA
(12-13) Night Canadian Rockies Cruise Tours available

CELEBRITY INFINITY

(7) Day inside passage from Vancouver, BC
(12-13) Night Canadian Rockies cruise tours available

CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM

(7) Day One-Way Voyage of the Glaciers to/from Vancouver, BC - Seward, AK (for Anchorage)
(9-13) Night Alaska Cruise Tours available
Family Tour Challenge Excursions - specifically targeted to families with 12-17 year olds. In Alaska: Island Rainforest Geocaching Adventure in Ketchikan - a high-tech treasure hunt in Tongass National Park and The Big Nugget in Skagway, competitive event with gold panning, dog-sled mushing tactics and a tour of a gold dredge.

NIEUW AMSTERDAM AND VOLENDAM

(7) Day inside passage from Vancouver, BC
Add Sitka and evening port of call in Victoria, BC instead of Skagway, AK
(11-16) Day cruise tours available - some including (3) nights at Denali National Park

EURODAM AND AMSTERDAM

7 Day Inside Passage from Seattle
Add Sitka and evening call at Victoria instead of Skagway
Amersterdam only - Four 14 Day Great Alaskan Explorer Cruises - (14) Day cruises from Seattle, WA - Visits Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Victoria and cruises Vancouver Island, Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier

NOORDAM AND ZAANDAM

(7) Day one-way voyage of the Glaciers to/from Vancouver, BC - Seward, AK (for Anchorage)
(12-20) Day cruise tours available - some including (3) nights at Denali National Park
“Base Camp” is at the entrance to Alaska’s Denali National Park. Serves as a new gathering area to relax, shop, and dine with an amphitheater, saloon, shops, artist in residence, special excursions and more.

Princess has won “BEST CRUISE LINE IN ALASKA” in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards, 14 out of the last 15 years. New this year is Alaska Onboard, where new, authentic Alaska experiences are brought onboard Princess cruise ships. Themed Alaska menus, special Alaska seafood menus in specialty restaurants, dishes based on local eateries, guest speakers from Discovery’s Deadliest Catch, and other shows, a Klondike gold rush festival and more are part of this new feature.

RUBY PRINCESS AND EMERALD PRINCESS

(7) Day inside passage from Seattle, WA
Adds evening port of call in Victoria, BC

GRAND PRINCESS

(14) Day inside passage from San Francisco, CA
Adds daylight port of call in Victoria, BC from 7am to 2pm

STAR PRINCESS, ISLAND PRINCESS AND CORAL PRINCESS

(7) Day one-way voyage of the Glaciers to/from Vancouver, BC - Seward, AK (for Anchorage)
Northbound sailings add College Fjord
(10-15) Night cruise tours available - at least (2) nights in Denali on all programs
(except Canada Rail)
(4) types of Cruise Tours - Escorted Connoisseur, Off the Beaten Path, Denali Explore, and On Your Own

REGENT SEVEN SEAS MARINER

(7) Day one-way voyage of the Glaciers to/from Vancouver, BC - Seward, AK (for Anchorage)
Additional port of call - Wrangell
Three (10-11) Voyage of the Glaciers Vancouver, BC to San Francisco, CA or reverse - additional port of call Astoria
Free shore excursions

EXPLORER OF THE SEAS

(7) Day inside passage from Seattle, WA
Only ship with a full day in Victoria, BC

OVATION OF THE SEAS

The biggest ship ever to sail Alaska, boasting a capacity of more than 4,100 passengers
Both (6) and (7) Day cruises explore the glaciers of Alaska’s Inside Passage, with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, as well as British Columbia favorites Victoria and Vancouver.
Onboard, guests will find new experiences such as North Star®, a unique jewel-shaped capsule with breathtaking 365-degree views at 300 feet above sea level, FlowRider®, the ship’s 40-foot long surf simulator, and iFLY®, a gravity-defying skydiving simulator.

RADIANCE OF THE SEAS

(7) Day one-way voyage of the Glaciers to/from Vancouver, BC - Seward, AK (for Anchorage)
Additional port - Icy Strait Point
(10-13) Night escorted cruise tours available

STAR BREEZE

7 to 23-Day cruises
Windstar Cruises allows you to explore the smaller ports on board Star Breeze, immersing yourself into the most remote reaches of Alaska.
With ocean views and at least 277 square feet of comfort, Star Breeze is the perfect yacht to watch glaciers and fjords drift by from the serenity of your suite. Carrying only 312 guests, Star Breeze still tucks into small ports like Sanary-sur-Mer, Haines and Wrangell or narrow waterways like the Corinth Canal and Keil Canal.

All Alaska itineraries feature eight onboard expedition experts who spend more one-on-one time with guests providing insight on glaciers, culture, and wildlife and lead optional Signature Expedition tours on Zodiacs and kayaks.