Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary

An Alaskan cruise offers a unique blend of stunning natural beauty, one-of-a-kind wildlife sightings, and serene relaxation. You’ll relish in the awe-inspiring ambiance of the last frontier when you disembark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

However, before you book your Alaskan cruise it's important to consider the different itineraries you can opt for. Each itinerary offers stops at unique ports with excursions that can't be found anywhere else, and this guide will help you compare each itinerary and figure out the best Alaska cruise itinerary for you.

What Is The Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary?

The best Alaska cruise routes are the inside passage, the cross Gulf of Alaska, and longer sailings from the west. Each route boasts its own adventure, which comes from a mix of duration, departure port, final destination, and ports of call.

Inside Passage

If you’re looking for sheltered waters and breathtaking scenery, the inside passage is the best Alaskan cruise route for you. The numerous fjords, glaciers, and islands, provide a stunning backdrop for your journey.

Inside Passage cruises typically depart from Seattle or Vancouver and last between 4 to 7 nights. These cruises are often “closed loop” or round trip, meaning you’ll end at the same port that you started from.

You’ll be exposed to a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences and adventures at your ports of call, which include Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

Juneau

Juneau is the capital city of Alaska and one of the state's most popular cruise ports. The city boasts a multitude of activities for travelers to enjoy, from restaurants with authentic local food to walks on one of Alaska’s longest glaciers.

One popular excursion in Juneau is Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter offered by Princess Cruises. On this wild excursion, you’ll get to take a scenic helicopter ride over the lush Alaskan wilderness and land on top of the majestic Mendenhall Glacier, where a group of huskies will be waiting to take you on a heart-pumping thrill ride.

If you’d prefer something more calm, opt for the Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest excursion from Holland America Line. This relaxing trip will bring you to Auke Bay, where you’ll hop on a water-jet-powered catamaran and savor stunning views of humpback whales, killer whales, and Steller sea lions.

Skagway

Just north of Juneau is the port city of Skagway, another key stop on the inside passage itinerary. Skagway is renowned for its flowing waterfalls and dazzling lakes, perfect for nature lovers and photographers alike.

An excellent excursion for families is the Grizzly Falls Ziplining Adventure Expedition from Disney Cruise Line. Travelers of all ages can experience the thrill of zip-lining through the forest canopy while navigating suspension bridges and other exciting obstacles.

Another exciting adventure is the White Pass Railway, Klondike Gold Fields & Panning from Norwegian Cruise Line, which offers a scenic ride up the White Pass Summit, followed by gold panning at Alaska 360.

Ketchikan

Just south of Juneau and Skagway, Ketchikan is a beacon of culture and tradition, with a rich history regarding the Tinglit tribe, and the largest collection of standing totem poles in the world.

Ketchikan offers intimate experiences, like the Potlatch Totem Park & Ketchikan History from Viking Ocean Cruises. This excursion lets you discover the art of totem pole carving and the history of Ketchikan at Potlatch Totem Park, a recreated 19th-century native village located on historic Tlingit fishing grounds.

Ketchikan also offers entertainment that’s fun for the whole family, such as the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show from Royal Caribbean International. You’ll start in awe as world-class timber athletes compete in twelve different thrilling high-stakes events such as tree climbing, ax throwing, and log rolling.

Cross Gulf of Alaska

A Gulf of Alaska cruise is typically longer than a standard inside passage itinerary, offering additional unique stops at ports along Alaska's southern coast. These cruises are open-loop, meaning they only go one way and do not drop you off at the port you started from.

You can opt for a northbound or southbound cruise, with the two options usually offering stops at the same ports of call, the only difference being which ports you depart from and end up at. These cruises usually last between 4 to 7 nights, departing from Vancouver or Seattle for northbound journeys, and Anchorage (Whittier) or Seward for southbound trips.

The key ports of call on this itinerary offer a mix of inside passage ports (Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, etc) and ports on the outer-facing parts of Alaska, like Sitka, Anchorage, and Icy Strait Point.

Sitka

Situated on the outer coast of Alaska’s inside passage, Sitka is a popular stop on many cross-Gulf of Alaska itineraries. Known for its diverse array of marine life, Sitka is perfect for those who are seeking an immersive experience with tons of great photo opportunities.

One popular excursion is the Volcano Coast Exploration by Ocean Raft, offered by Carnival Cruise Line. You’ll get to travel at high speeds on an ocean raft to explore the volcanic coastline of Kruzof Island, where you can spot whales and sea otters swimming in their natural habitat, as well as rare volcanic sea caves.

If you’d rather opt for something more relaxing, go on the Wilderness Sea Kayaking Adventure from Seabourn Cruise Line. Unwind on a scenic tour of Sitka's tranquil waterways, while your guide navigates you through reefs, kelp forests, and coastal rainforests. Wildlife sightings are also common on this excursion, such as sea lions, eagles, and even whales.

Anchorage

Nested just above the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage is an extremely popular spot on many Alaska itineraries, due to its proximity to many attractions further inland, like Denali National Park and Fairbanks. Anchorage is known for its dense forestry and northern lights viewing opportunities, making it one of the most popular Alaskan cruise ports.

Cruisers looking to explore the natural beauty of Anchorage should book the Chugach National Forest excursion, offered by Holland America Line. You’ll get to choose between hiking, kayaking, or salmon fishing in the 5.4-million-acre forest, dotted with vibrant wildlife and unique plants native to Alaska.

For a more in-depth wildlife tour, head to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which you can book with Princess Cruises. You can enjoy this refuge dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife, boasting a variety of moose, elk, caribou, bears, and more.

Icy Strait Point

Well technically located within the inside passage, Icy Strait Point is commonly found on many Gulf of Alaska itineraries, since it lies one of the main channels connecting Alaska Gulf and the inside passage.

Icy Strait Point offers a unique excursion that can’t be found anywhere else - the Scenic Mountain Ascent & World’s Largest ZipRider. This thrilling adventure features a gondola ride to a stunning viewpoint, followed by a heart-pumping zip line descent over dense forests and scenic vistas. You can book this excursion with Princess Cruises.

If you’d prefer something a bit less fast-paced, you can opt for the Whale & Marine Mammals Cruise from Regent Seven Seas Cruises. You’ll get to marvel at massive humpback whales and other marine life on this educational and exciting tour, well the resident naturalist answers any questions you might have.

Longer Sailings from the West

Alaska has so much to offer, and many cruisers want to explore its vast wonder as in-depth as possible. If you find yourself among that group, then we would strongly recommend opting for a longer sailing from the west.

These longer cruises typically depart from San Francisco, San Diego, and Vancouver, and range from 10 to 14 days, combining elements of the inside passage and cross Gulf of Alaska itineraries.

The main difference is due to the length of these cruises, you’ll get more time to explore your port of call, allowing you to do things you can't on regular cruises, like venture inland or explore multiple nearby cities. You’ll also get the chance to visit more locations, making the longer sailings from the west most scenic Alaska cruise itinerary.

Adventure to Alaska

Sailing on an Alaskan cruise is the adventure of a lifetime. From the flowing waterfalls of Skagway to the majestic humpback whales at Icy Strait Point, each of the Alaska cruise itineraries offers its own excitement to behold.

Now that you know which itinerary is right for you, book your Alaskan cruise with Cruisebound. Our website makes it easy to find great cruise deals, so you can spend more time enjoying your Alaskan escapade. Book and save with Cruisebound today.

FAQs:

Q: What is the best itinerary for Alaska cruises?
A: The best Alaskan cruise itinerary is the inside passage, the Gulf of Alaska itinerary, and longer sailings from the west.

Q: What is the best Alaskan cruise line?
A: The best cruise lines Alaska has to offer are Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Viking Ocean.

Q: What is the best route for Alaska cruise?
A: The best Alaskan cruise routes are the inside passage, the Gulf of Alaska itinerary, and longer sailings from the west.