Alaska Cruises

Alaska is a land of natural wonder and adventure that can truly be discovered on a cruising holiday, as Alaska is best experienced by both land and sea. Sail past ancient glaciers, majestic fjords and stunning landscape and surrounded by the rugged beauty of Alaska. On shore excursions, guests can explore Alaska by floatplane, glass-domed train, kayak or white water raft.

Experience the incredible Alaskan wildlife, such as moose, caribou, bald eagles, and bears up close and personal on hikes or tours. Take a zip-line through a rainforest or ice-climb a frozen waterfall. Discover the picturesque vistas on a mountain bike tour, white-water raft down a rushing river or pan for gold and learn about the fabled gold rush history of prospectors in Alaska.

Cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage past mammoth glaciers, lush rainforests, humpback whales, and towering fjords. Hubbard Glacier, North America’s longest river of ice, and one of the world’s most active glaciers, falling into the sea with great echoing crashes. Sail through Glacier Bay National Park, 3.3 million acres of untouched, tranquil landscapes. Take a day trip to the quiet and peaceful Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley.

Popular ports of call in Alaska include Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, where guests can take a helicopter over the amazing glacial landscape and take an authentic dogsled ride. In Skagway, take the unforgettable “Scenic Railway of the World”, travelling 20 miles to the summit of White Point, the same path of thousands who sought fortune in the gold rush. Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, tour the Alaska Native Heritage Center or travel to Resolution Park to see the snow-capped Talkeetna Mountains and Alaska Range.

Cruise types

There certainly is no shortage of Alaska Cruises to choose from. Specialty cruises offer a small ship experience, allowing you to get a lot closer to nature and most have experts on board to teach you about the regions flora and fauna. Larger cruise ships can cover more territory and give you a better overview of the area as well as letting you visit a range of ports to experience the different cultures that make up the Inside Passage. Inside Passage cruises generally start and end from Vancouver, Seattle or San Francisco and combine visits to a variety of the ports in the Inside Passage such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Sitka with scenic cruising to view some of the regions Glaciers. Inside Passage cruises are in protected waters so irrespective of weather, cruise conditions are usually smooth. Cruises from Vancouver to Anchorage allow passengers to extend their vacation and visit some of the key attractions of the State including Kodiak Island, Denali National Park, Fairbanks and more. NB cruises to Anchorage dock at the ports of Seward or Whittier as the tidal flow at Anchorage only allows small vessels to visit. The Cruise Lines provide transfers between Anchorage and Whittier or Seward. Finally there are some interesting repositioning cruises available at the start and end of each season which combine an Inside Passage cruise with a ocean crossing to Hawaii or a West Coast Cruise down to Los Angeles, San Diego or Mexico.

Cruise season

The Alaska Cruise season begins in May and ends in September. Although July and August are the warmest months to experience these incredible sites, autumn and spring are the most fun, the most beautiful and the savings are the best.

Main ports

Inside Passage - Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco
Anchorage - Vancouver and Whittier or Seward for Anchorage

Weather

Be prepared for one season colder than the time you are traveling. This is especially important for those who travel early and late in the season. The average temperature range is from overnight lows of 4°C to daytime temperatures of 17°C. The Inside Passage has an annual rainfall of over 50in but Anchorage rainfall is only 16in per year.

Cruiseabout offers great deals on Alaska and Canada cruises, so why not enquire today? We guarantee the best cruise deals and will beat any Canada or Alaska cruise quote, worldwide - or you'll sail for free.

Find out more about our Sail Free Guarantee