How to Plan the Perfect Cruise to Alaska

If you’re considering a cruise to Alaska, you’re embarking on the best decision of your life. Transporting yourself to this sacred corner of the earth is healing, magical, and unforgettable. 

We’ve outlined 15 tips to help you choose the best ports of call, the nicest cruise lines, and pack for success. Let’s start planning! 

Consider Your Ports of Call

The first thing to hone in on is the area you’d like to see the most. 

For example, Juneau is quite popular. In which case, you might want to aim for the Inside Passage. Ketchikan and Sitka are also wonderlands you may not want to miss. 

There’s also the Cross Gulf if you’d like to travel further north to Seward or Whittier and focus on the astonishing Glacier Bay. 

Whatever floats your boat! But, with an itinerary in place, you can let that be your guiding star. 

Research your Ports of Call

Once you know how much you’d like to see a bald eagle in Sitka or Creek Street in Ketchikan, conduct further research on each port of call. 

Your cruise line will offer a host of exciting activities at each port. But, you can also DIY the day your ship is docked – as long as you’re back on board for last call! 

Choose Your Cruise Liner

As you do your research, see which ship you like the look of the most. For example, The Holland America Line sends luxurious ships up the Inside Passage all the time. 

But, other lines like Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line head north, as well. 

Select Your Ship Size

This will allow you to do a little crowd control. Most of the main cruise lines we see out on the open seas are mega-ships. 

That is, they can have anywhere from 2,000 to over 3,500 people on board. For something a little more intimate, you might want to look into mid-sized ships. 

Our guide to the 20 best cruises on small ships will give you a feel for what a smaller cruise line has to offer.