Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska: which cruise route is better?

An Inside Passage cruise is a seven-night round trip from Seattle or Vancouver through protected waters to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, with a glacier day at Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, or Endicott Arm. A Gulf of Alaska cruise is one-way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, adds Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord, and is the route to take if you want to add Denali by train. First-timers with a week usually do best on the Inside Passage round trip. If Denali or Hubbard Glacier matter to you, go one-way and accept the slightly higher airfare.

What is the best month for an Alaska cruise?

The season runs May through September. Late June and July bring the longest days and warmest weather. May and September are cheaper and quieter, with more snow on the peaks in May and fall color in September. July and August are best for whales, salmon runs, and bears. Late August and September are the only sailings with a realistic chance of seeing the northern lights.

Is a balcony worth it on an Alaska cruise?

More than on any other cruise. Alaska itineraries include a full day of scenic cruising past a glacier and long evenings of coastline, and a balcony lets you watch from your cabin instead of a crowded top deck. Which side of the ship doesn't matter, because ships turn at the glacier so both sides get the view. If a balcony is out of budget, an oceanview cabin on a ship with a wraparound promenade deck is the next best thing.

Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise?

Bring a valid passport. Every Alaska cruise calls at a Canadian port, and a passport is the document that works in every situation, including a medical emergency or missed ship. Check that it's valid for at least six months past your return date.

How far in advance should I book an Alaska cruise?

Nine to twelve months ahead for the best cabin choice, and earlier for family cabins, suites, and cruisetours, which sell out first. Book popular excursions like the White Pass train, whale watching, and bear-viewing flights at the same time as the cruise; they fill weeks before sailing.

How much does an Alaska cruise cost?

Roughly, per person and before flights: an inside cabin on a mainstream seven-night cruise starts around $1,000 to $1,500 in May or September, a balcony in peak season runs $2,000 to $3,500, a cruise plus Denali cruisetour runs $3,500 to $6,000, and small-ship and luxury lines run $5,000 to $12,000 with most excursions included. Compare the all-in price, not the sticker price, because the inclusive lines bundle what the mainstream lines charge extra for.

Which cruise line is best for Alaska?

It depends on how you travel. Princess and Holland America have the deepest Alaska programs and own the lodges and rail cars for Denali cruisetours. Celebrity is the premium mid-size choice. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have the newest big ships from Seattle and the best kids' programs. Windstar, UnCruise, and Lindblad are the small-ship and expedition options. Viking, Oceania, Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea cover the luxury end. The quiz above sorts you into one of those groups in about two minutes.

Free two-minute quiz

Which Alaska cruise is right for you?

Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska? Big ship or small? Add Denali or keep it to a week? Answer a few questions about how you like to travel and we'll tell you which kind of Alaska cruise fits, when to go, and what to look for when you book.

The five kinds of Alaska cruise

Nearly every Alaska sailing fits one of these five. The quiz above tells you which is yours. If you'd rather read first, here's how they differ.

The Classic Inside Passage

The best Alaska cruise for first-timers: a seven-night Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska sailing

You want the Alaska everyone pictures: Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, a full day cruising past a tidewater glacier, whales off the bow, and a comfortable ship to come back to each evening. A seven-night Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska sailing on a premium line delivers all of it without turning the trip into a project.

Itinerary:: Seven nights, round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver, or one-way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier. Make sure the itinerary includes a real glacier day: Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, or Tracy Arm.
Ship:: A premium mid-size ship. Princess, Holland America, and Celebrity have sailed Alaska for decades and their ships are built for scenery, with wraparound promenades and forward viewing lounges.

The Land and Sea Explorer

Cruise or cruisetour? When to add Denali to an Alaska cruise

For you, the cruise is half the trip. A one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier gets you the fjords, glaciers, and Inside Passage towns, then a cruisetour carries you by rail into the interior for Denali, Talkeetna, and a few nights with mountains instead of ocean out the window. It's a longer trip, and it's the one people call once in a lifetime.

Itinerary:: A seven-night one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise paired with a three- to six-night land package. Princess and Holland America own the lodges and rail cars, so their cruisetours are the smoothest way to do this.
Direction:: Land first, cruise second is the relaxing order: you do the early mornings and long drives while you're fresh, then unpack once for a week at sea.

The Small-Ship Adventurer

Small-ship Alaska cruises: for wildlife, kayaking, and no crowds

You'd trade the theater and the buffet for a skiff ride to a waterfall and a naturalist who knows every whale by its fluke. Small-ship and expedition cruising in Alaska means 100 to 300 guests, itineraries that duck into coves the mega-ships sail past, and days built around wildlife, hiking, and paddling rather than port shopping. It costs more per night, and nearly everything is included.

Ship:: Windstar's Star Breeze class for a yacht-like feel with real cabins and dining. UnCruise, Lindblad with National Geographic, and Alaskan Dream for true expedition style with kayaks, skiffs, and guides on every outing.
Itinerary:: Seven to twelve nights, usually round-trip Juneau or between Juneau and Sitka or Ketchikan. Look for Glacier Bay, Icy Strait, Tracy Arm, and days with no port at all.

The Refined Voyager

Luxury and premium Alaska cruises: the scenery with great food and quiet decks

You want to watch a glacier calve, then sit down to a genuinely good dinner with a glass of wine and no line for anything. That points you to the premium-plus and luxury end of Alaska: Celebrity's Retreat, Oceania, Viking, and the all-inclusive lines like Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea. Fewer kids, more space per guest, and ships that treat the scenery as the main event.

Ship:: Celebrity Silhouette or Solstice with a Retreat suite for the best value in this tier. Viking and Oceania for an adults-only, food-forward ship. Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea if you want everything included down to the shore excursions.
Cabin:: A suite or a large balcony on a high deck. In Alaska the view is the amenity, so spend the upgrade money on the cabin before the specialty dining.

The Family Fleet

The best Alaska cruise for families: big ships out of Seattle

When you're traveling with kids, teens, or three generations, the ship matters as much as the ports. The newest big ships sailing from Seattle bring water slides, kids' clubs, go-karts, and a dozen places to eat, so nobody's bored on a sea day, and Alaska's whales, glaciers, and gold-rush towns are still the headline. Seattle departures also keep flights simple from the Midwest.

Ship:: Norwegian Bliss or Encore and Royal Caribbean's Ovation or Quantum of the Seas from Seattle. Disney Wonder from Vancouver if the kids are young. All have serious kids' programs and Alaska-specific family excursions.
Itinerary:: Seven nights round-trip Seattle with Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and a glacier day at Dawes, Endicott Arm, or Glacier Bay. Keep it to a week; longer trips and long land days test younger travelers.

Find out which one is yours

Alaska cruise questions we get every week

Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska: which cruise route is better?: An Inside Passage cruise is a seven-night round trip from Seattle or Vancouver through protected waters to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, with a glacier day at Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, or Endicott Arm. A Gulf of Alaska cruise is one-way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, adds Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord, and is the route to take if you want to add Denali by train. First-timers with a week usually do best on the Inside Passage round trip. If Denali or Hubbard Glacier matter to you, go one-way and accept the slightly higher airfare.
What is the best month for an Alaska cruise?: The season runs May through September. Late June and July bring the longest days and warmest weather. May and September are cheaper and quieter, with more snow on the peaks in May and fall color in September. July and August are best for whales, salmon runs, and bears. Late August and September are the only sailings with a realistic chance of seeing the northern lights.
Is a balcony worth it on an Alaska cruise?: More than on any other cruise. Alaska itineraries include a full day of scenic cruising past a glacier and long evenings of coastline, and a balcony lets you watch from your cabin instead of a crowded top deck. Which side of the ship doesn't matter, because ships turn at the glacier so both sides get the view. If a balcony is out of budget, an oceanview cabin on a ship with a wraparound promenade deck is the next best thing.
Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise?: Bring a valid passport. Every Alaska cruise calls at a Canadian port, and a passport is the document that works in every situation, including a medical emergency or missed ship. Check that it's valid for at least six months past your return date.
How far in advance should I book an Alaska cruise?: Nine to twelve months ahead for the best cabin choice, and earlier for family cabins, suites, and cruisetours, which sell out first. Book popular excursions like the White Pass train, whale watching, and bear-viewing flights at the same time as the cruise; they fill weeks before sailing.
How much does an Alaska cruise cost?: Roughly, per person and before flights: an inside cabin on a mainstream seven-night cruise starts around $1,000 to $1,500 in May or September, a balcony in peak season runs $2,000 to $3,500, a cruise plus Denali cruisetour runs $3,500 to $6,000, and small-ship and luxury lines run $5,000 to $12,000 with most excursions included. Compare the all-in price, not the sticker price, because the inclusive lines bundle what the mainstream lines charge extra for.
Which cruise line is best for Alaska?: It depends on how you travel. Princess and Holland America have the deepest Alaska programs and own the lodges and rail cars for Denali cruisetours. Celebrity is the premium mid-size choice. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have the newest big ships from Seattle and the best kids' programs. Windstar, UnCruise, and Lindblad are the small-ship and expedition options. Viking, Oceania, Seabourn, Regent, and Silversea cover the luxury end. The quiz above sorts you into one of those groups in about two minutes.

Written by

Andrew Hooker, Ahnapee Travel

Andrew owns Ahnapee Travel in Algoma, Wisconsin, holds cruise line and destination specialist certifications, and hosts group sailings to Alaska. The advice on this page is what he tells clients across the desk. It's free, and so is a call to talk through your results.

About Andrew | Certifications | (920) 215-1872