Cruises from Seward to Alaska

Which lines sail from Seward to Alaska?

• Celebrity Cruises
  Stylish, relaxed and adult-leaning; good food, good cocktails and a calmer pool deck than the big family brands.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.
• Silversea Cruises
  Quietly elegant and well-traveled, with butler-level service and a strong sense of place.
• Viking
  Quiet, elegant and intellectually curious; think a stylish Nordic hotel where the evening entertainment might be a history lecture.

When to go

1. January: Few or no cruises, average high 34 degrees F Jan 34°27°
2. February: Few or no cruises, average high 37 degrees F Feb 37°28°
3. March: Few or no cruises, average high 39 degrees F Mar 39°30°
4. April: Cruises run, average high 49 degrees F Apr 49°36°
5. May: Shoulder season, average high 57 degrees F May 57°43°
6. June: Best time, average high 62 degrees F Jun 62°49°
7. July: Best time, average high 63 degrees F Jul 63°52°
8. August: Best time, average high 62 degrees F Aug 62°51°
9. September: Shoulder season, average high 56 degrees F Sep 56°46°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 48 degrees F Oct 48°39°
11. November: Few or no cruises, average high 40 degrees F Nov 40°32°
12. December: Few or no cruises, average high 36 degrees F Dec 36°29°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

The cruise season runs from late April or early May to late September or early October. June through August is warmest with the longest days. May is often drier with good wildlife viewing and lower demand. September brings fall color, northern lights chances and more rain.

Southeast Alaska is a temperate rainforest, and rain is likely on some days in any month. Fog and low cloud can hide glaciers and occasionally cancel floatplane and helicopter tours. The open-water legs, especially the Gulf of Alaska crossing on one-way cruises, can be rough. Summer highs in port are usually in the upper 50s to low 60s F, and it is colder near the glaciers.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports Alaska cruises most often visit:

• Juneau, United States: Alaska's capital, with no road access, Mendenhall Glacier, whale-watching tours and the Mount Roberts Tramway near the docks.
• Ketchikan, United States: Totem pole parks, historic Creek Street, salmon streams and floatplane trips to Misty Fjords National Monument.
• Skagway, United States: A preserved Gold Rush town and the White Pass and Yukon Route railway, built in 1898, climbing toward the Canadian border.
• Sitka, United States: The former capital of Russian America, with an onion-domed cathedral, a raptor center and Tlingit cultural sites.
• Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), United States: A Native-owned port near a Tlingit village, known for whale watching, bear tours and a long zipline.
• Glacier Bay National Park, United States: A full day of scenic cruising with park rangers aboard; entry is limited by National Park Service permits.

Before you sail from Seward

There are three main ways between Anchorage and Seward. First, cruise-line transfers: Royal Caribbean Group charters Alaska Railroad trains that run directly between the Anchorage airport and the Seward terminal, and lines also sell motorcoach transfers, which are the simplest option because your luggage is handled. Second, the Alaska Railroad's public Coastal Classic train runs daily in summer between Anchorage and Seward via Girdwood, arriving in Seward in late morning and leaving in the evening at 6 p.m. Third, you can drive or take a shuttle down the Seward Highway, about 120 to 125 miles and roughly 2.5 to 3 hours without stops.

Few cruisers drive to Seward, since most fly into Anchorage. If you do, the town has public parking near the harbor and private long-term lots, but there is no large dedicated cruise garage; arrange multi-day parking in advance and confirm it with your hotel or a local lot.

• Confirm whether your one-way cruise uses Seward or Whittier before booking flights and hotels.
• Book your Anchorage transfer when you book the cruise; train seats and motorcoaches fill up in peak summer.
• Do not schedule a same-day flight too early after disembarking in Seward; allow at least 4 to 5 hours from the ship to the airport.
• Sit on the right side of the train or bus heading south from Anchorage for the best views of Turnagain Arm.

Documents: Round trips from Seattle are closed-loop cruises, and foreign-flagged ships sailing from Seattle must call at a Canadian port (usually Victoria) under the Passenger Vessel Services Act. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID, and Canada accepts proof of US citizenship plus photo ID for cruise visitors. Cruises from Vancouver and one-way Vancouver to Seward or Whittier sailings are not closed-loop: you will be flying or crossing into Canada, and a passport book is the practical requirement (a passport card works at land crossings but not for flights). US citizens do not need a Canadian eTA. A passport book is the safest choice for every Alaska cruise. Non-US citizens should check both US and Canadian rules. Check current requirements with your line before you sail.

More detail: our full Seward cruise port guide and our Alaska cruise guide.

Related routes

Alaska from other ports: San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver.