The A to Z Guide of Alaska Cruising in 2023 (2024)

It's shaping up as a potentially blockbuster cruise season in Alaska, with CLIA Alaska predicting that cruise arrivals will return to 2019's record of 1.3 million-and could go as high as 1.65 million. It's also shaping up as an affordable cruise season, with some lines promoting fares starting at as little as $47 a day for a seven-day cruise. The Alaska cruise season is getting longer, as well, with CLIA Alaska reporting that the first ship of 2023 is scheduled for April 17 and the last on October 25. Altogether, more than 20 cruise lines are sailing in Alaska for 2023, with nearly 60 cruise ships large and small sailing around 700 voyages. All rates quoted are per person based on double occupancy as listed on cruise line websites as of January 2023.

Alaskan Dream Cruises-Alaska's only Indigenous-owned cruise line-invites guests to experience the "True Alaska with True Alaskans." ADC offers 72 sailings this season on nine different Inside Passage itineraries of five, seven, eight or nine nights. The company's fleet of six small ships ranges from the 10-passenger Misty Fjord to the 76-passenger Chichagof Dream. One vessel, the 12-passenger Kruzof Explorer, is a former Bering Sea crab-fishing boat converted to cruise service. Prices start at $2,795.

American Cruise Lines has three different Alaska itineraries to choose from aboard the 170-passenger/2017-built American Constellation: An eight-day/seven-night "Southeast Alaska" cruise sails roundtrip from Juneau. Longer 11-day/10-night "Alaskan Explorer" cruises also depart roundtrip from Juneau. The line's longest Alaska itineraries are 15-day/14-night "Alaska Inside Passage" cruises one-way between Seattle and Juneau to begin and end the season. Prices start at $6,355.

American Queen Voyages returns for a second season of adventures in Alaska with a series of 12- and 13-day itineraries aboard the Ocean Victory. Featuring a unique x-bow design, the 186-passenger/2021-built Ocean Victory ice-class ship is fully equipped for expedition cruising with inflatable Zodiac landing craft, kayaks for up-close exploration and platforms for water-level viewing. Fourteen departures are scheduled from May through September, traveling one way between Vancouver and Sitka. Prices start at $3,571.24.

Carnival Cruise Line introduces the newly transformed Carnival Luminosa (formerly the Costa Luminosa), which makes its northern debut on six-, seven- and eight-day cruises out of Seattle. The vessel also offers two longer transpacific Carnival Journeys to begin and end the season, including a 22-day eastbound voyage from Brisbane to Seattle departing April 13 and a 30-day return trip on September 14. Joining the Luminosa in Alaska are the Carnival Spirit on seven- or 14-day voyages from Seattle and the Carnival Miracle on 10- and 11-day sailings from San Francisco or 14-day sailings from Los Angeles. Prices start at $534.

Celebrity Cruises brings a trio of ships north with the Celebrity Millennium and two Solstice-class ships-the series namesake Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Eclipse-offering seven different itineraries including a variety of mostly weeklong cruises from Seattle, Vancouver or Seward/Anchorage. The longest voyage of the season, a single nine-night itinerary from Vancouver to Seattle, kicks off the season on May 3. Prices start at $450.

Cunard Line's sole Alaska ship, the Queen Elizabeth, offers seven voyages roundtrip out of Vancouver, ranging in length from seven to 12 nights. Cunard recently announced a new partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and will feature an RCGS expert on every voyage in Alaska as part of its Insights enrichment program. Guests can also choose a three-night or four-night post- or pre-cruise land package through the Canadian Rockies aboard the historic Rocky Mountaineer scenic railway. Prices start at $698.

Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder sails to Alaska roundtrip from Vancouver on a series of five-, seven-, eight- and nine-night cruises. Ports of call include Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka and Icy Strait Point with glacier viewing at Dawes Glacier or Hubbard Glacier, depending on departure date and itinerary. Prices start at $1,078.

Germany's Hapag-Lloyd Cruises brings the 230-passenger/2019-built Hanseatic nature to Alaska for two expedition-style voyages of the Inside Passage. A 15-day, one-way voyage from Anchorage/Seward to Vancouver departs July 15, with a reverse itinerary commencing on July 30. Tours on these cruises are conducted in German only, although the crew is multilingual. Prices start at $11,790.

Holland America Line follows up its 75th year of sailing in Alaska with its 150th global anniversary celebration. From April through September, guests can explore Alaska on 121 cruises aboard six ships-the Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam or Westerdam. In addition to traditional seven-day itineraries, Holland America Line is bringing back its longer, 14-day "Great Alaska Explorer" sailings, with two departures scheduled. All cruises embarking in Vancouver include a free ride on the gold-rush-era White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway in Skagway. Holland America is the only cruise line sailing in Alaska to have earned Responsible Fisheries Management certification for serving wild Alaskan seafood aboard its ships. Prices start at $399.

Norway-based Hurtigruten operates the Alaska market's only hybrid-powered cruise ship-the 528-passenger Roald Amundsen-on expedition-style voyages. Six different northbound or southbound itineraries of 14 to 19 days are scheduled. Shorter cruises explore the Inside Passage ports of Alaska and British Columbia. Longer expeditions add the Aleutian Islands. Several departures call in out-of-the-way Cordova, an unspoiled jewel of an Alaskan small town in eastern Prince William Sound that's rarely visited by cruise ships. Prices start at $5,826.

Lindblad Expeditions has six Alaska expeditions aboard its American-flagged small ships: the 100-passenger National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest or the 62-passenger Sea Bird and Sea Lion. Voyages range from six to 15 days including the classic eight-day "Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness" sailing one way between Juneau and Sitka from May through September. Shorter cruises explore the Inside Passage environs surrounding Tracy Arm or LeConte Bay. Longer voyages travel the length of the Inside Passage from Seattle to Alaska. In the Arctic, a 22-day transit of the Northwest Passage sails westbound from Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) to Nome/Anchorage on the National Geographic Resolution. Prices start at $4,660.

Norwegian Cruise Line returns north with five ships sailing in Alaska: the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Sun. Departures are scheduled from four embarkation points-Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage/Seward or Anchorage/Whittier-on voyages of seven, nine, 10 or 11 days. Transpacific cruises of 12 or 16 days to or from Hawaii and Japan also are scheduled to begin and end the season. Prices start at $399.

Oceana Cruises' 656-passenger Regatta sails 13 Alaska cruises ranging from seven to 20 days. These include the first-ever calls by any line at the Native community of Klawock-Alaska's newest cruise destination located on Prince of Wales Island, midway up the Inside Passage. The Regatta currently has four port calls scheduled here on May 18, June 23, July 3 and August 8. Prices start at $1,599.

France-based Ponant has three different Alaska/Arctic itineraries this season on three different ships. The 25-day "Northwest Passage in the Wake of Roald Amundsen" aboard Le Boreal travels from Kangerlussuaq (Greenland) to Nome/Anchorage from August 31 to September 24. The line's LNG-powered icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot also travels the Northwest Passage from Reykjavik (Iceland) to Nome/Anchorage on a 25-day voyage from September 11 to October 5. For a more traditional cruise, L'Austral has a 15-day "Alaska and Its Fur Traders" Bering Sea and Inside Passage itinerary from Anchorage/Nome to Vancouver from September 18 to October 2. Prices begin at $13,230.

Princess Cruises brings seven MedallionClass ships to Alaska including its newest-the Discovery Princess-returning for a second season. Also sailing north this year are the Crown, Grand, Majestic, Royal, Ruby and Sapphire Princess on seven-day "Voyage of the Glaciers" itineraries one-way between Vancouver and Whittier/Anchorage or seven-, 10- and 11-day Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Seattle, Vancouver or San Francisco. "North to Alaska" enrichment programming immerses guests in Alaska history and culture. Five different glacier-viewing experiences include 84 calls in Glacier Bay National Park, which is featured on nearly three-quarters of all cruise itineraries. Prices start at $398.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Explorer operates its customary schedule of seven-day Gulf of Alaska cruises one way between Vancouver and Seward/Anchorage. The first cruise of the season departs June 7, with the last embarking on September 13 for a total of 15 departures. The ultra-luxury Seven Seas Explorer carries 732 passengers in all-balcony, all-suite accommodations. Prices start at $6,699.

Royal Caribbean International has four ships sailing in Alaska: the enormous Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas-two of the largest ships sailing in Alaska-and the somewhat smaller Brilliance of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas-renowned for their walls of glass affording sensational views of the surrounding Alaskan landscapes. Quantum and Ovation both offer seven-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle. Brilliance sails seven-day loops from Vancouver; Radiance sails seven-day, one-way Gulf of Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Seward/Anchorage. Prices start at $331.

Scenic's 16-day "Adventures through the Inside Passage" itinerary travels from Vancouver to Nome/Anchorage on the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse, departing May 12 and arriving May 27. An escorted land tour roundtrip from Anchorage can be added to the end of the cruise for a 22-day land-and-sea journey. Billed as "the world's first discovery yacht," the Scenic Eclipse features two onboard helicopters and a Neptune submarine for the ultimate in air-and-sea adventure. Prices start at $14,445.

Seabourn Cruise Line offers Alaska guests a choice of an all-suite yacht or a purpose-built expedition vessel. The 458-passenger Seabourn Odyssey operates on a variety of seven- to 15-day Inside Passage itineraries sailing roundtrip from Vancouver or one way between Vancouver and Juneau. The new 264-passenger Seabourn Venture has a single Bering Sea and Inside Passage expedition itinerary departing Anchorage/Nome on September 16 and arriving in Vancouver 12 days later. Prices start at $3,263.

Silversea Cruises also offers a choice of traditional luxury or expedition-style cruising. The 596-passenger Silver Muse operates a series of weeklong Gulf of Alaska cruises one-way between Vancouver and Seward/Anchorage, while the 392-passenger Silver Whisper also offers seven-day, one-way Gulf of Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Seward/Anchorage plus longer 14-day Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Vancouver. The 274-passenger Silver Wind has a single 18-day Bering Sea and Inside Passage expedition itinerary scheduled, departing Anchorage/Nome on September 14 and arriving in Vancouver on October 2. Altogether, the line has more than 40 Alaska sailings scheduled for this season. Prices start at $3,150.

UnCruise Adventures has one of the longest Alaska seasons with cruises beginning in April and running through September. Itineraries run seven, 12 and 14 nights. Come February 2024, the company will extend the season even further with its first-ever, small ship winter sports cruise. The eight-day/seven-night "Winter Sports & Northern Lights" itinerary, sailing roundtrip from Juneau, capitalizes on Southeast Alaska's outdoor winter activities including skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating, while also exploring Glacier Bay National Park and providing northern lights viewing opportunities. Prices start at $3,600.

Viking reprises its 11-day "Alaska and the Inside Passage" itinerary aboard the 930-passenger Viking Orion. Twelve departures are scheduled from May 20 through September 7 sailing one-way between Vancouver and Seward/Anchorage. Fares include one shore excursion in each of the vessel's seven ports of call. Prices start at $4,999.

Windstar Cruises' all-suite, 312-passenger Star Breeze sails in Alaska from May through August on four itineraries of seven to 11 days out of homeports in Vancouver, Juneau and Seward/Anchorage. New in 2023, Windstar sails into Prince William Sound and visits Valdez and College Fjord; it's also the first time that Windstar has cruised to Hubbard Glacier. Other ports of call include less-visited towns such as Wrangell and Haines and scenic attractions such as Kenai Fjords, Misty Fjords and Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm. Prices start at $4,799.