The Best Alaska Cruises for Couples: Explore Together

Alaska
The Best Alaska Cruises for Couples: Explore Together preview image

Picture this: landscapes dotted with towering spruce trees, majestic glaciers spanning dozens of miles, and a bright green aurora painting the sky above. Alaska offers an atmosphere characterized by raw, natural beauty, and what better way to experience it than cruising down its mighty straits with your partner?

The Frontier State is the perfect backdrop for romantic cruises for couples, but choosing the right cruise line to suit all needs can be difficult. This article will help guide you through the top cruises for couples to Alaska, so you can set sail on your romantic getaway with ease.

Read more about the best Alaska cruise itinerary for couples here

On This Page:

  1. Top Alaskan Cruise Lines for Couple
    1.1 Best Amenities & Premium Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
    1.2 Best Shore Excursions: Princess Cruises
    1.3 Best for Entertainment: Holland America Line
    1.4 Most Luxurious: Seabourn Cruise Line
    1.5 Best for Cultural Enrichment: Viking Ocean Cruises

Best Alaskan Cruise Lines for Couples

Best for Amenities & Cabins: Celebrity Cruises

Aqua class balcony stateroom on Celebrity Summit featuring comfortable outdoor seating and expansive ocean views at sunset.

If you’re seeking exciting amenities tailored to couples and premium suites with exclusive perks, then Celebrity Cruises offers the best Alaska cruise for couples. Celebrity boasts a fleet of Alaska-ready ships, including the Celebrity Edge, ranked the best Alaska cruise ship for couples by US News.

Onboard you’ll enjoy Broadway-caliber shows like "Tree of Life," "Rockumentary," and "Arte.” These performances are staged on a unique circular platform with a giant LED screen backdrop, creating a uniquely immersive theater experience. If you want a truly unique experience, check out Eden, a three-story sensory immersion and interactive venue that offers performances, an open-air kitchen, a café, a bar, and a restaurant.

For something both fun and active, try a game of Pickleball at Sea with your partner on the open-air courts. If you prefer to kick back and unwind, head to the Solarium, an adults-only retreat with a covered pool, jacuzzi, and bar.

At The Spa, indulge in a pampering couples massage tailored to your individual desires. Choose from a variety of specialty massages like Aroma Spa Seaweed, Zero Gravity Immersion, and Restorative Salt Stone, among others. Spa facilities are expansive and luxuriously inspired by natural elements, offering Eastern and holistic healing treatments, Turkish baths and saunas, facials, medspa treatments, and more.

ship_11_images_3a086e3f-15f8-42f4-92aa-8af025361efb.jpeg

Celebrity cabins are a major reason why they rank among the best Alaskan cruise lines for couples. The AquaClass staterooms are perfect for duo travelers, offering luxurious perks. Share an intimate dining experience at the exclusive Blu restaurant, enjoy couples treatments arranged by a personal spa concierge, and unwind together with exclusive access to the SEA Thermal Suite amenities.

If you’re celebrating with your special someone or simply want to indulge a bit more, opt for a suite in The Retreat. These suites offer the ultimate couples getaway with a team of personal concierges, access to a private sundeck, complimentary laundry services, and exclusive access to the specialty restaurant Luminae at The Retreat.

Beyond incredible accommodations, Celebrity also offers some exciting excursions tailored for couples. Share an adventure, kayaking to the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and soak in its expansive beauty together. Or, for a more intrepid journey, soar over Skagway on an epic helicopter ride, followed by dog sledding across the Denver Glacier to create a memory of a lifetime.

Best Shore Excursions: Princess Cruises

Couple exploring a vast, icy Alaskan glacier, highlighting adventurous shore excursions.

Princess Cruises ranks among the best cruises for couples to Alaska thanks to their uniquely immersive and intimate shore excursions.

For nature lovers, Princess offers unique excursions to some of Alaska’s most majestic national parks. Soak in the vast beauty of Denali National Park, or get up close to world-famous glaciers at Glacier Bay. Cruise through the Kenai Fjords on a specialized small boat, or visit the crown jewel of a Princess Alaska cruise, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is home to nine of the 16 highest peaks in the United States.

Opt for the Discovery Channel-recommended White Pass Rail Bennett Lake & Yukon Adventure, where you get to indulge in the stunning views of Bennett Lake, take a self-guided tour of an abandoned gold rush town, and enjoy enrichment at the historic White Pass Museum.

Two couples enjoying a scenic lookout point in Alaska, with mountainous views in the background.

For couples seeking a fully immersive experience, book an itinerary that includes a stay at one of Princess's Alaska Hotels & Wilderness Lodges. These hotels let you live deep within the Alaskan wilderness and fully expose you to the untouched, raw beauty of the state.

These hotels include the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, which is the only hotel of its kind bordering Wrangell-St. Elias. At this lodge, you can enjoy one-of-a-kind excursions like Scenic Wilderness Rafting, where you’ll witness stunning views of Wrangell-St. Elias while rafting down the mighty Copper River.

The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is another great pick for couples, offering spectacular views of towering Mt. McKinley. Adventures will love the McKinley Wilderness Trail Ride excursion, where you get to saddle up on your very own horse and ride off the beaten path through breathtaking scenery.

Princess also offers romantic onboard amenities for couples such as top-deck stargazing on ships like the famed Sapphire Princess, which creates a magical evening under the pristine Alaskan sky. Couples looking for relaxation can head to the Lotus Spa for a couple's massages, while those seeking a more enriching experience can opt for the Scholarship at Sea program, which offers classes in photography, cooking, and pottery.

Best for Entertainment: Holland America Line

Cruise ship theater with a large audience, watching an immersive, visually stunning performance.

If you’re a mature couple that loves music and good vibes, Holland America Line is your best option for top Alaska cruises. Offering a diverse music and entertainment scene with venues like Billboard Onboard, a lively karaoke and music trivia lounge with a festive atmosphere.

Start your evenings at the Rolling Stone Lounge, a live music venue hosting a seven-piece band playing an eclectic mix of rock, pop, country, and more. Don’t miss BB King’s Blues Club, featuring classic soul and rock & roll performances by B.B. King's All-Star Band. Rock and roll lovers can head over to Rolling Stone Rock Room to hear classic hits performed in a rock-themed venue.

Holland America also hosts a range of live theater performances on board their ships, including Eurodam, voted the best Alaska cruise by USA Today. Cantare performs electrifying pop music with performances like “Classic” featuring a collection of fan-favorite songs from every era, as well as “I’m Your Man”, covering the most popular songs by male artists. Step One Dance Company is a group of six elite dancers who perform shows like “Humanity” and “Stages,” blending contemporary dance with artistic imagery for a unique and fascinating show.

Passengers dancing to live music on a cruise ship, vibrant nightlife entertainment.

Couples seeking enrichment during the day can head to the World Stage for exclusive EXC Talk lectures hosted by the ship’s Cruise & Travel Director.

Holland America also offers engaging couples shore excursions, such as The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where you can watch some of the world's best lumberjacks go head to head in chopping, ax throwing, log rolling, and a 50-foot speed climb. If you enjoy sightseeing, opt for Alaska's Whales & Mendenhall Glacier Trail excursion, offering the chance to watch magnificent humpback whales up close and a guided hike in Tongass National Forest.

Most Luxurious: Seabourn Cruise Line

Scenic cruise ship deck dining area at sunset, offering ocean views and comfortable seating.

If you want a luxurious, all-inclusive cruise where the staff caters to your every need, Seabourn Cruise Line offers the best Alaskan cruise for couples. Seabourn epitomizes luxury on ships like the Seabourn Odyssey, with amenities such as The Spa, featuring a one of a kind program pioneered by Dr. Andrew Weil, where couples can partake in holistic mind and body practices with the guidance of Seabourn’s certified Mindful Living Coach.

Couples can also relax at The Observation Bar, an elegant lounge and bar with stunning panoramic views, or dance the night away at the Evening Under the Stars poolside party with live performances from The Band.

If you want a romantic evening drink, head to the Sky Bar, a classy, open-air observation bar overlooking the pool patio, or opt for the Patio Bar, featuring a relaxing unwinding pool right next to the sundeck, perfect for long summer nights.

Elegant, modern rooftop lounge on a cruise ship with unique architecture and ambient evening lighting.

Seabourn suites are designed as a couple’s retreat, featuring in-suite bars with complimentary wines and spirits, personal suite hosts and attendants, and spacious marble bathtubs to unwind after a long day of frontier exploration.

Seabourn also offers exclusive luxury excursions for discerning pairs. Opt for the All-Inclusive Luxury Whale Watch, a relaxing yacht ride on Auke Bay where you and your partner can spot humpback whales, orcas, and Steller sea lions.

Foodie couples can savor gourmet dishes on the Chef-Guided Meze Tasting & Vintage Trolley Scenic Drive, a gastronomic experience featuring flavorful Mediterranean cuisine amidst the rugged beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Best for Cultural Enrichment: Viking Ocean Cruises

Colorful totem poles at a lush Alaskan port-of-call, showcasing indigenous art amidst green foliage.

If you’re seeking an enriching, adults-only journey, Viking Ocean Cruises offers the best Alaska cruise for adults that blends cultural immersion with exploration.

Cultural enrichment is a cornerstone of the Viking experience, ensuring guests leave with a deeper knowledge and appreciation for each destination.

Attend a lecture from one of Viking’s esteemed world-class guests on ships such as the Viking Orion, which will give you profound insights into Alaskan history and culture. Engage in discussions with Viking Resident Historians, who provide lectures tailored to the specific destinations on your cruise. These activities are ideal for couples looking to enrich their experience together.

For a more entertaining form of enrichment, attend on board destination performances showcasing the native performing arts of Alaska. Or join The Kitchen Table, the onboard cooking school emphasizing Alaskan dishes, and connect with your partner over the region’s unique cuisine.

Viking Orion.jpg

After a day of learning and exploring, unwind at the inclusive Nordic Spa, which boasts a Finnish sauna, a warm-water thalassotherapy pool, and a unique thermal suite. The snow grotto thermal suite is a freezing, glass-enclosed room filled with man-made snow that embodies the Scandinavian bathing ritual consisting of hot and cold therapies. These adult-only cruises ensure a peaceful and romantic atmosphere, allowing you to make the most of your couples cruise.

An excursion at every port is included in your fare. The Potlatch Totem Park & Ketchikan History allows you to explore a modern recreation of a 19th-century native village on the historic Tlingit tribe’s fishing grounds. Another enriching excursion at Ketchikan is Saxman Native Village, where you'll experience native culture at the Beaver Clan House through song-and-dance performances by members of the Tlingit tribe. These experiences provide memorable, authentic cultural moments to cherish with your partner.

Discover Your Alaskan Adventure

An Alaska cruise for couples offers a unique blend of luxury, relaxation, and adventure. Whether you’re exploring glaciers, enjoying world-class entertainment, or unwinding at the spa, there is something for every couple to enjoy on an Alaskan cruise.

Ready to find the best cruise to Alaska for couples for you? We’ve got you covered. Our cruising expertise will help you find and book the perfect trip with ease, so you can enjoy your romantic getaway without having to sweat the small stuff. Book your trip with Cruisebound today.

FAQ’s:

Q: What is the best Alaska cruise line for couples?
A: The best cruise for couples to Alaska are Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, and Viking.

Q: What is the best adults only Alaska cruise?
A: Viking Ocean Cruises offers the best Alaskan cruise for adults-only.

Q: What Alaskan cruise line offers the best couples cruise deals?
A: Princess offers the best cruise deals for couples.

Q: What is the best Alaskan cruise line for couples 2024?
A: The best Alaskan cruises for couples are Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, and Viking.

Ready to set sail?