An Alaska cruise is the easiest way to see a huge, roadless coastline. Ships sail the Inside Passage, a protected route of channels and islands in Southeast Alaska, stopping at towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway that are reachable only by sea or air. Days are built around scenic cruising past tidewater glaciers and fjords, plus whale, bear and eagle watching ashore and from the deck.
There are two main itinerary types. Round trips from Seattle or Vancouver spend a week in the Inside Passage. One-way "Gulf of Alaska" cruises sail between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, near Anchorage, and add a glacier such as Hubbard or College Fjord. One-way cruises pair well with a land tour to Denali National Park, sold by several lines as a cruisetour.
Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight, but the National Park Service limits how many cruise ships can enter each day, so only some itineraries include it. Others substitute Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm or Dawes Glacier. Weather is cool and often wet whichever month you choose, so layers and rain gear are part of the trip.
- January: Few or no cruises, average high 34 degrees F
- February: Few or no cruises, average high 37 degrees F
- March: Few or no cruises, average high 39 degrees F
- April: Cruises run, average high 49 degrees F
- May: Shoulder season, average high 57 degrees F
- June: Best time, average high 62 degrees F
- July: Best time, average high 63 degrees F
- August: Best time, average high 62 degrees F
- September: Shoulder season, average high 56 degrees F
- October: Cruises run, average high 48 degrees F
- November: Few or no cruises, average high 40 degrees F
- December: Few or no cruises, average high 36 degrees F
- 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.
Weather to plan around: 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.
Ports you'll likely 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. - Hubbard Glacier, United States
One of the largest tidewater glaciers in North America, a common scenic-cruising stop on Gulf of Alaska routes. - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
The required Canadian call on many Seattle round trips, usually an evening stop with gardens and a historic harbor.
Highlights
Tidewater glaciers
Watch ice calve into the sea at Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier or Tracy Arm.
Wildlife
Humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bald eagles and bears are common sightings.
Towns without roads
Juneau and other Inside Passage towns are reachable only by sea or air.
Gold Rush history
Skagway and the White Pass railway tell the story of the 1898 Klondike rush.
Denali add-ons
One-way cruises pair with land tours to Denali National Park.
How long, and what documents
7 nights is standard, either round trip from Seattle or Vancouver or one-way between Vancouver and Seward/Whittier. Cruisetours add 3-7 nights on land, and some round trips from San Francisco or Los Angeles run 10-14 nights.
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.
Specialist tips
- If Glacier Bay matters to you, check the itinerary before booking, since not every ship has a permit.
- Pack layers, a waterproof jacket and binoculars. Summer days in port can be 50s F and rainy.
- A balcony is worth more in Alaska than almost anywhere, because the scenery passes by the ship all day.
- Book popular tours (floatplanes, helicopter glacier landings, whale watching) early; capacity is limited.
- One-way cruises often have cheaper fares but pricier flights; compare the total cost including airfare.
