viking alaska trip

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Viking Ocean Cruises

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Immerse yourself in the enchanting wilderness of Alaska with Viking Ocean Cruises. These voyages offer a unique way to explore Alaska's pristine landscapes, majestic wildlife, and intriguing culture. Viking's Alaskan cruises offer an unparalleled experience of exploration, discovery, and learning, wrapped in the comfort of Viking's award-winning cruise ships. From glacier-carved fjords to rugged mountain peaks, every day is an invitation to adventure in the Last Frontier.

Viking Ocean Cruises, a segment of Viking Cruises, is known for its small, luxury ships and destination-focused itineraries. It is the cruise line of choice for discerning travelers seeking a high-end experience with a touch of cultural immersion. With an emphasis on comfort and elegance, Viking's ships are designed to foster a relaxing and enriching journey. Offering an all-inclusive pricing model, Viking caters to travelers who value a sophisticated, yet casual atmosphere and an enriching voyage.

Viking Ocean Cruises Alaska Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises' Alaskan voyages typically span 11 days, providing ample time to explore the region's natural wonders. Guests will experience scenic cruising through the Inner Passage and the Tracy Arm Fjord, and visit captivating ports of call including Ketchikan, Sitka, and Valdez. The cruise line also provides a wide array of shore excursions, enabling guests to experience local culture, wildlife viewing, or adventurous hiking, and more.

Alaska Departure Ports

Viking's Alaskan voyages depart from conveniently located ports such as Seward and Vancouver . Both ports are easily accessible and offer pre- and post-cruise opportunities for exploration. Each cruise's departure process is carefully organized, ensuring a hassle-free start to your Alaskan adventure.

Viking Ocean Cruises Ships

Aboard Viking Ocean Cruises, guests can enjoy a plethora of amenities and services. The ships feature an array of dining venues, each promising culinary excellence, a luxury spa featuring a snow grotto, and a panoramic Explorers' Lounge. Cultural enrichment is a cornerstone of Viking's service, with onboard lectures, art classes, and cooking demonstrations available for guests. The ships also feature heated infinity pools and walking decks, ensuring guests can fully appreciate the Alaskan scenery from the comfort of the ship. The cruise line operates several ships in Alaska, including the Viking Orion and Viking Sea .

Viking Ocean Cruises offer an all-inclusive cruise package on their Alaskan voyages, enhancing the travel experience. This package covers accommodations, dining, and onboard activities, as well as a complimentary shore excursion in each port. Also included are specialty teas and coffees, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, unlimited Wi-Fi, and access to the thermal suite in the LivNordic Spa. This all-inclusive approach simplifies planning and creates a seamless, luxurious travel experience.

Viking Ocean Cruises Alaska Cruise Ship Schedule 2024

Viking Ocean Cruises promises an unforgettable journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of Alaska. With its luxurious amenities, enriching onboard activities, and extensive itinerary options, a Viking Alaskan cruise is truly an experience of a lifetime. The line's all-inclusive package ensures a hassle-free journey from the moment you board. Choose Viking Ocean Cruises for your Alaskan voyage to enjoy an enriching, luxury travel experience like no other. Find and plan your next 2024 Alaska cruise out of Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia . with Viking Ocean Cruises.

10-day Alaska cruise from Vancouver

Viking orion, viking ocean cruises.

Date: July 13, 2024

Ports of Call: Vancouver, Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait, Yakutat Bay, Valdez, Seward, Seward; View Itinerary

10-day Alaska cruise from Seward

Date: July 23, 2024

Ports of Call: Seward, Seward, Valdez, Yakutat Bay, Icy Strait, Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Inside Passage, Vancouver; View Itinerary

Date: August 2, 2024

Date: August 12, 2024

Date: August 22, 2024

Date: September 1, 2024

Viking Sea, Viking Ocean Cruises

Date: May 11, 2025

Date: May 21, 2025

Date: May 31, 2025

Date: June 6, 2025

Date: June 10, 2025

Date: June 16, 2025

Date: June 20, 2025

Date: June 26, 2025

Date: June 30, 2025

Please note that port orders, dates, and itinerary details, including content, are subject to change. Verify specific details for your chosen sailing date on the website.

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• Alaskan Cruises

10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts

We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year.

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

With its majestic wildlife, otherworldly glacial scenery, and endless outdoor adventure, a trip to Alaska is one for the books — and the best way to experience it, in our opinion, is by cruise. An Alaska sailing offers travelers the chance to get up close and personal to some of the destination’s most stunning natural wonders (think: Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, the Tracy Arm Fjord, and so much more). Fortunately, when it comes to the best Alaska cruises, options abound, from small-ship luxury sailings and expedition voyages to mega-ships that feel like a floating resort and theme park all in one. Ultimately, explains Travel + Leisure A-List travel advisor Eric Goldring , “The question of which are the ‘best’ cruise lines for Alaska really depends on the guest’s desires as there is a balance between how in-depth they wish to delve into Alaska’s nature and Indigenous culture, what type of onboard experience they desire, and, of course, whether the cruise is family-focused.” To determine which Alaska cruise is best for you, Goldring recommends using a travel advisor “who has actually been to Alaska more than once and on different ships” so that you have “access to important first-hand knowledge.” 

According to T+L A-List travel advisor Ashton Palmer , the Alaska cruise season is short (typically from May to September) and availability is limited, which is why travelers should plan their sailings six to eight months ahead of time. While the travel advisor notes that “most trips average a week in length,” he also recommends cruisers allow time to “visit the northern part of the state, including Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, and Fairbanks,” either before or after the cruise. Several cruise lines also offer land extensions (sometimes called “cruisetours”) to make the experience as seamless as possible. 

While the Alaska cruise season takes place in the warmer months, be sure to pack a few sweaters — and consider dressing in layers. When I cruised Alaska in summer 2022, the weather was (mostly) warm and sunny; however, when we sailed through Glacier Bay, it was chilly, and I was especially glad to have brought a scarf, hat, and light jacket to help brace the chill. Rob Clabbers , another T+L A-List travel advisor , agrees. What’s more, he says, “Weather can change quickly in Alaska, so one moment you may need a sweater, and the next you’re better off in shorts.” 

Meet the Expert

Eric Goldring is a T+L A-List travel advisor specializing in expedition, small-ship, and medium-ship cruises. 

Ashton Palmer is a Seattle-based T+L A-List travel advisor who specializes in expedition cruises.

Rob Clabbers is a T+L A-List travel advisor specializing in cruises, and he’s the founder of Q Cruise + Travel. 

Dawn Gabree is a travel advisor who specializes in Alaska cruises at Travels by Danielle.

Mary Curry is another T+L A-List advisor who specializes in small-ship cruises to Polar regions and the Galapagos. 

Now that we’ve covered the basics of all things Alaska cruising, keep reading to discover the best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler, featuring expert insight and award-winning picks.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruisees

Dawn Gabree, a travel advisor at Travels by Danielle who specializes in Alaska cruising, deems Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) "excellent for multigenerational families" thanks to the abundance of onboard activities. "Their larger vessels used in the Alaska market ( Encore and Bliss ) feature must-do activities like go-karting, laser tag, and water slides." On the contrary, "Their smaller vessels ( Jewel and Sun ) provide a more intimate atmosphere over the large ships." Regardless of which ship you choose, expect an array of entertainment options, including Broadway-caliber shows, which Gabree describes as "excellent." What's more, she says, "We saw their production of 'Six' on an Alaskan sailing, and it was phenomenal." The travel pro also loves the World's Best Award-winning mega-ship ocean line for its Freestyle Dining program (read: no assigned seating or fixed reservation times) and plentiful dining options to appease even the pickiest of eaters. Lastly, says Gabree, "A huge selling point for NCL is always their Free at Sea promotion, which includes perks like specialty dining, an unlimited open bar, Wi-Fi, and more. "It's a great value, in my honest opinion." 

Itinerary: The 7-day Alaska: Dawes Glacier, Juneau, and Ketchikan itinerary sails from Seattle on select dates between April and October. Ports of call include Sitka, Juneau, Ice Strait, and Ketchikan in Alaska, as well as Victoria in Canada. Scenic cruising through the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier is also included.

Holland America Line

Tim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Holland America Line (HAL) — which recently snapped up a 2023 World’s Best Award in the large-ship ocean cruise line category — has been cruising Alaska for over 75 years. HAL prides itself on having more permits for Glacier Bay National Park visits than any other cruise line. The cruise line also offers beloved live music programming, which I got to experience firsthand on a summer 2023 Alaska sailing. Most ships boast a “Music Walk,” a section home to venues like B.B. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard (a dueling piano bar), Lincoln Center Stage, and Rolling Stone Rock Room. After our shore excursions, we’d hop back on board the ship for drinks, dinner, and a nightcap at the dueling piano bar to jam out to hits from Billy Joel and Elton John. All of the above make HAL a popular pick among middle-aged and mature couples traveling without kids; however, onboard our summer sailing, I did notice quite a few small children traveling with their parents and grandparents. 

The onboard culinary offerings are especially noteworthy. While pulling into port one day, I remember digging into a hearty lunch of fish and chips featuring fresh-caught Alaskan halibut. (HAL is the first cruise line to serve fresh, certified-sustainable Alaskan seafood.) As of September, acclaimed chef Masaharu Morimoto is the Fresh Fish Ambassador as part of the line’s Global Fresh Fish Program . Cruisers can try his flavorful seafood dishes during their sailing. 

Itinerary: As a first-time Alaska cruiser, I thoroughly enjoyed the Alaska Explorer itinerary , which cruises round-trip from Seattle between June and September. Enjoy scenic cruising along the Puget Sound and Stephen’s Passage before calling on Juneau, followed by more scenic cruising in Glacier Bay. From there, it’s off to Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Victoria.

Related: The Ultimate Alaska Cruise Packing List

Royal Caribbean International

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International — or Royal Caribbean for short — offers great fun for families of all ages looking to experience Alaska. As such, it’s no wonder why the mega-ship ocean line is loved by T+L readers and travel advisors alike. What’s more, says Gabree, “Their larger ships (Quantum Class) have equally impressive amenities like skydiving simulators (RipCord by iFLY), the FlowRider surf simulator, and SeaPlex (an indoor recreation center with bumper cars),” says Gabree. The pro is also quick to highlight the North Star observation capsule, which is available on Ovation of the Seas , which cruises Alaska. The attraction whisks passengers over 300 feet above sea level, offering picture-perfect 360-degree views. Put simply, she says, “This is a one-of-a-kind experience when sailing scenic destinations like Alaska.”

The fun continues the minute cruisers disembark in each port, with excursions ranging from dogsledding to private helicopter tours. Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this. While on board a Caribbean sailing with the cruise line, I had the chance to indulge in this chef- and sommelier-led multi-course food and wine pairing adventure. Four years later, I still find myself dreaming of the delicious circular-shaped dessert known as “The World” — the perfect combo of peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel gelato).

Itinerary: Set sail on the aforementioned Ovation of the Seas and embark on a journey through Alaska with Royal Caribbean’s 7-night Alaska Experience itinerary . Cruising round-trip from Seattle, the ship stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka before heading onto Canada, where it calls on Victoria and Vancouver.

Princess Cruises

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Princess Cruises is among T+L readers’ top five favorite mega-ship ocean lines , and its Alaska sailings are not to be missed. Unlike other mega-ship lines, says Gabree, Princess is not at all flashy. That said, she recommends it for “more mature cruisers or those looking for a quieter atmosphere.” So, while you won’t find go-karts or race tracks aboard Princess ships, you can expect incredible educational programming. Don’t miss Puppies on the Piazza, which offers passengers the chance to interact with sled dogs brought on board by local mushers in Skagway. The line also partners with the Glacier Bay National Park rangers and the Discovery Channel to offer unique onboard exhibits and interactive activities like the Jr. Ranger Program. Similarly, says Gabree, “The naturalists that come aboard are extremely knowledgeable.” Last but not least, the service is top-notch. According to the pro, the staff is best described as “attentive and very pleasant.” 

Itinerary: Book the 14-day Voyage of the Glaciers Grand Adventure , which sets sail on select dates between May and September. Passengers will cruise round-trip from Vancouver and visit Juneau, Skagway, Anchorage, and Ketchikan. Bonus: Scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, and Hubbard Glacier is also built into the itinerary.

Related: All 16 Princess Cruises Ships, From Newest to Oldest

Seabourn Cruise Line

Courtesy of Seabourn

This World’s Best Award-winning cruise line combines the best of expedition-style and luxury cruising, making it a popular pick amongst well-heeled, adventure-seeking travelers. Highlights include bespoke service, all-suite oceanfront accommodations (most with private balconies), world-class dining (the cruise line has a partnership with Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller), and, last but not least, a swanky country club-esque atmosphere. According to Goldring, both Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Odyssey offer similar Alaska itineraries in 2024; however, it will be the latter’s final sailing since it was sold. 

Alaska sailings feature a team of academics, scientists, and naturalists, all of whom are on hand to provide expert insight and lead excursions (think: kayaking and Zodiac tours, hiking, bear viewing, and so on). Also, according to Goldring, Seabourn ships “travel no further north than Juneau” and offer a “more intensive and nature-focused experience.” On a similar note, says Clabbers, thanks to the vessels’ small size, cruisers can “spend more time sailing through places like Misty Fjords, where most ships can’t go.” Back onboard, says Clabbers, “enjoy Champagne and caviar when you like, or relax in your suite, the spa, or elsewhere.” 

Itinerary: The 7-day Alaska Fjords and Canadian Inside Passage cruise sails from Juneau to Vancouver, calling on Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, Wrangell, Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), and, finally, Prince Rupert in British Columbia. Scenic cruising through Stephens Passage, Decision Passage, Stikine Strait, and the Behm Canal are also included in the itinerary.

Celebrity Cruises

jewhyte/Getty Images

Those who prefer a “younger atmosphere on a modern, larger ship with lots of bars and restaurants and entertainment” should consider cruising Alaska aboard the Celebrity Edge, explains Clabbers. (While Edge is the newest Celebrity ship to cruise Alaska, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit also sail here . ) Per the pro, the seven-night sailings on Edge “include key destinations like Ketchikan and Skagway,” along with a quick visit to Victoria in British Columbia and scenic cruising through the beautiful Endicott Arm Fjord. Additionally, the World’s Best Award-winning line offers round-trip sailings from both Vancouver and Seattle — as well as one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, the latter of which offer more time to explore (read: fewer sea days).

Regardless of the ship, passengers can expect a wide range of entertainment offerings, an abundance of bars, restaurants, and lounges, and a handful of accommodation options. Speaking of the latter, wellness-seeking duos can reserve an AquaClass stateroom, which includes perks like complimentary dining at the exclusive Blu restaurant, their very own spa concierge, and unlimited access to the adults-only Sea Thermal Suite. Alternatively, for a worth-it splurge, opt for a suite in The Retreat, which includes a dedicated team of concierges and butlers, access to a private lounge and/or sundeck (note that the latter is not available on Celebrity Solstice ), premium drinks, Wi-Fi, and access to the private Luminae at The Retreat restaurant, helmed by chef Daniel Boulud. 

Itinerary : The aforementioned 7-night Alaska Dawes Glacier itinerary on Celebrity Edge cruises round-trip from Seattle and visits Ketchikan, Endicott Arm Fjord (scenic cruising), Juneau, Skagway, the Inside Passage (scenic cruising), and Victoria.

Related: What to Know About All 16 Ships in the Celebrity Cruises Fleet

Viking Ocean Cruises

Courtesy of Viking Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises recently nabbed a 2023 World’s Best Award in the midsize-ship ocean cruise lines category, coming in at first place for the second year in a row. The line’s identical ocean ships offer a sleek Scandinavian design, which only enhances the tranquil atmosphere on board. The luxury adults-only line is also all-inclusive, covering meals, activities, most beverages, Wi-Fi, port taxes and fees, spa access, and one complimentary excursion in every port of call. Cruisers can bask in the mountain and glacier views from the comfort of their private balcony — and, if they’re lucky, they may even spot a whale or two. Finally, in addition to classic ports like Juneau and Ketchikan, Viking Ocean Cruises’ Alaska itinerary also calls on Valdez, which is chock-full of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. 

Itinerary : The 10-night Alaska and the Inside Passage itinerary , which sails between Vancouver and Seward, “is a great choice for curious travelers who have a bit more time and want to learn more about Alaska,” says Clabbers.

Courtesy of Silversea

Those craving a luxury Alaska cruise need not look further than Silversea, says Goldring. Additionally, “While primarily for adults ranging from contemplative to active, Silversea is also a good option for families with more mature children who are more engaged with the journey than onboard child-focused activities.” Silversea guests enjoy all-suite staterooms with butler service and an all-around tony atmosphere. The line’s Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares cover private airport transfers, economy flights, business-class upgrades or air credits, and shore excursions. 

This luxury cruise line offers classic and expedition-style cruising, the latter of which takes aboard the 274-passenger Silver Wind . (Classic cruises, on the other hand, take place on board Silver Muse , Silver Nova , Silver Shadow , Silver Whisper , or Silver Moon ). Nova and Moon offer the Sea and Land Taste program (S.A.L.T), offering culinary connoisseurs the incredible opportunity to experience the local food scene and culture both on and off the ship. Last but not least, keep in mind that Silversea sails between Vancouver and Seward (with the exception of one September 2024 itinerary, which sails from Nome to Vancouver).

Itinerary : The 7-day Vancouver to Seward sailing on board Silver Nova features Inside Passage scenic cruising and stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka. Before disembarking in Seward, enjoy scenic cruising around Hubbard Glacier.

Related: This Is the Cheapest Time to Cruise to Alaska

UnCruise Adventures

Courtesy of UnCruise

“If you are looking for a more casual and laid-back experience, Seattle-based UnCruise Adventures offers down-to-earth trips with enthusiastic naturalist guides, simple accommodations, and hearty local cuisine,” says Palmer. Mary Curry , another T+L A-List travel advisor, echoes these sentiments, explaining that “small ships are the absolute best way to see Alaska if your goal is to immerse yourself in nature and wildlife.” While the cabins are no-frills, Curry stresses that the main focus of the cruise is “getting off the ship and exploring everything Alaska's Inside Passage has to offer.” With that said, when it comes to activities, options abound. Per the pro, travelers can “choose between a menu of included excursions such as kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, zodiac cruises, whale watching, and more.” All in all, UnCruise really does offer something for everyone. 

Itinerary : For a truly unique Alaska itinerary, consider the Aleutian Islands Adventure with Kodiak, Katmai, and Kenai Wilderness . Cruisers embark in Whittier before making their way to Kenai Fjords National Park, Kodiak Island and Foul Bay, Katmai National Park, Ugashik National Wildlife Refuge, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, the Shumagin and Unga Islands, False Pass, and Unalaska (where they’ll dock overnight in Dutch Harbor before disembarking the next day).

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Courtesy of Nation Geographic

For a true expedition-style experience, Lindblad Expeditions is your best bet. The cruise line offers itineraries in partnership with National Geographic, which have come highly recommended by almost every travel advisor we spoke to. Just take it from Curry, who tells T+L, “If you want to learn about Alaska from a team of exceptional experts, there's no better choice than a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic itinerary. “Every night before dinner,” she says, “We would hear about what we had seen on our excursions that day from the perspective of the experts — naturalists, geologists, marine mammal researchers, and even a diver who would share magical and colorful images from underwater of the area we had explored via Zodiac during the day.” According to the pro, the vessels are “some of the nicest and most modern small ships in the area,” some of which have private balconies along with “little extras” like water bottle filling stations, a mudroom to store gear, and multiple disembarkation platforms to get travelers on and off the ship quickly. Meanwhile, Goldring notes the line’s National Geographic Global Explorers family program, “which focus[es] on interactive and hands-on education with a true naturalist during outings.” As a result, cruisers can expect “a far more enriching experience [than those] offered by most other lines.” 

Itinerary : The weeklong Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness itinerary is “perfect for couples and multi-generational families interested in an engaging and authentic experience exploring the fjords, islands, and small coastal communities,” says Palmer. The itinerary sails between Juneau and Sitka throughout May and September. Along the way, cruisers will visit Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, the tiny fishing town of Petersburg, Glacier Bay National Park, and more.

Related : 21 Cruise Tips That Will Help Make Your Trip Even Better, According to Experts

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10 Night Alaska & The Inside Passage

Focusing their sailings on the culture of each cruises destination. Onboard each sailing you have lectures, demonstrations and tastings as part of a Culture Curriculum.

Gleaming walls of ice, pristine wilderness, charming seaside towns and misty fjords are a few breathtaking wonders of the cruise port of Alaska. Be led right into the heart of the Last Frontier on your Viking Oceans cruise to Alaska.

The beautiful small coastal town of Seward, which is most known for its picturesque scenic views and many visitors’ attractions, is a perfect addition for your next Alaska cruise.

• Viking Orion - Passenger Capacity: 930 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2018 Last Refurbished: N/A

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Viking Orion

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Seward, Alaska , Valdez, Alaska , Lynn Canal, Alaska , Icy Strait, Alaska , Juneau, Alaska , Sitka, Alaska , Ketchikan, Alaska , Vancouver, British Columbia

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The Alaska and Inside Passage Cruise with Viking

As a working photographer and a lover of active cruises, taking the Viking Alaska and the Inside Passage cruise in early June 2022 was a perfect opportunity to see the dramatic sights and scenes of this remote state. Over this, and the following articles, I’ll review the cruise from Seward to Vancouver and illustrate them with my favorite photos of the trip. I’m aiming these stories both at readers who love Alaska and those who are thinking of taking this cruise and want to know what to expect! Of course, if you have already taken the cruise, you might like the fond memories that these images might prompt!

Incidentally, we cruised with Viking for several years before I realized I was missing out on a discount. You can read more about that discount here .

June 2022 – an unseasonably warm start to the Alaska cruise

The weather had been unseasonably warm in Alaska but there was still snow on the mountains and we were generally lucky (I think) with the weather throughout the cruise. The ship was the Viking Orion, and while this isn’t really a review of this particular Viking cruise, we have been on cruises with them many times now, and I have nothing but praise for the quality of the ships, the experience on and off the boat, the food and the general peaceful and friendly conditions you find everywhere on board. Probably more expensive than other cruises but almost everything is included in the price and there is no “nickel and diming” that is common with other companies. This article is a summary of the cruise and links to all the separate stories I have written to describe and illustrate the voyage. I’ve enjoyed going through my images (and my memories) to put these stories together. I hope you will enjoy reading them, and, if you do, please comment and let me know what you think. You can also add your email to join my contact list and get updated whenever I add new posts to the site. I’m a professional photographer and so my best images are available as prints .

The cruise started in Seward although we had booked air using Viking and so we were taken by coach from Anchorage to Seward. If you are traveling with your own arrangements, the train from Anchorage pulls into Seward right by the ship, and so that seems to be a very easy way to get to the docks. The first day was registration and getting on board the ship and so our first real outing was the Resurrection Bay Wildlife cruise, which can be found via this link .

Day 3 was marked by the arrival in Valdez, which enjoys a breathtaking setting at the head of the fjord in Prince William Sound. We decided to take the Highlights of Valdez tour, which included the old town, the salmon hatchery and then a drive through Keystone Canyon to the Thompson Pass and Richardson Glacier . As a result, we didn’t get to walk around the town itself, although we could probably have fitted it in. The Norwegian pancakes were calling instead! I wrote a separate story about the waterfalls in Keystone Canyon which can be found here .

Hubbard Glacier

Leaving Valdez, we traveled through the night to end up, the following morning at the Hubbard Glacier. There was a real cold wind that came down off the ice and across the bay and, to be honest, it was cloudy and wet as we arrived. The clouds cleared at little, and we were able to see the full majesty of the glacier. Believe it or not, this is more than six miles wide where it meets the ocean and rises to 400 feet or so. The ship stayed around 2 hours in the bay, slowly rotating so that everyone could see the glacier and surrounding mountains before we cruised away for our next stop. The full story of the visit to the Hubbard Glacier can be found here .

That evening actually turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip! Firstly, we managed to get a window table in the Chef’s Table restaurant and watched the mountains glide by as the sun slowly set, and then we were treated to a magnificent sunset seen from the balcony of our cabin. A perfect end to the day that you can read about here .

By Monday morning, we had reached the small town of Skagway set in its glacial valley. Skagway was built to support the gold rush that created so much wealth (and destroyed so many lives) in the 1890s as it was one of main ways that miners aiming to try their luck in the Klondike started their journey in Alaska. The narrow-gauge railway was built in 1898 to get people over White Pass and it is now a key sightseeing opportunity in Skagway. However, it was raining when we arrived and so we chose to stroll around the town instead, checking out the historic buildings that still remain. Friends who went on the train ride were pretty impressed though, so perhaps this was a mistake! My story about Skagway can be found at this link .

Icy Strait Point and Hoonah

The reason the sail to Skagway takes so long is that it is way up a fjord and after visiting it, you basically reverse direction and sail back to the ocean to get to Icy Strait Point. So the Tuesday was spent in Icy Strait Point and Hoonah. For some reason, we were able to dock early in the morning and get off the ship, but then the ship went out into the bay and anchored as much larger cruise ships took our place at the dock! But arriving early meant that we could visit the various sights before the crowds descended from the other boats. We did take the shuttle to the small town of Hoonah, thinking it would be some sort of nice Tlinkit community, but it really has very little (OK, make that nothing) to make the journey worthwhile. Some people were walking there to save the cost of the shuttle bus, which must have been disappointing when they arrived. But Icy Strait Point now has two cable car/gondolas as well as a very fast zip line from the top of the mountain to the waterfront. I’ve written two stories about this day – one about the historic pier and salmon canning building , now a museum and shop and one about the cable car gondola ride up the mountain .

We pressed through the crowds leaving the Celebrity Eclipse to get back to the dock and caught the tender boats back to the Orion, thankful for two things – we had a free all-day pass to use the gondolas, and we had a small and friendly ship to go back to!

You will have seen the spectacular sunset that we had after leaving the Hubbard Glacier, and on the evening of the sail from Icy Strait Point (in a very similar part of the coastline), we had another. Not as spectacular, and we were also further from the coast, but who is complaining!

The next day was an early arrival in Sitka with its extinct volcano. Sitka is a lovely little town and after a presentation of a historic play/dance by the local community, we walked around the historic town – the site of the original Russian community in Alaska and also the site of the handover of Alaska to the USA following its purchase. There is the National Historical Park here with a collection of many totem poles carved by the local Tlinkit people installed in the forest as well as a Raptor rescue center, both of which are an easy walk from the town. Both well worth a visit and you can see my recollections of the place in this story about Sitka .

After Sitka, we sort of reversed direction again and made our way back up the fjords to Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Again, not a large place – nothing in Alaska is – but very interesting. We took the included tour to Mendenhall Glacier and Brotherhood Bridge although as the weather steadily improved as the day went on, I did regret not booking the Photo tour of the glacier and the whale watching. But it was all booked up when I made that decision. You can read my full story of a packed day in Juneau, from the glacier to the mountain top via the Gondola . All in all, a great day in Juneau!

By now, we were used to relatively cloudy conditions in the early morning with brighter sunny days later on, but our next visit to Ketchikan proved this wrong. We arrived on a very damp day with heavy rain. Luckily, we had packed our rain clothing and so we were able to trudge through the rain to the Potlatch Park and their demonstrations and stories of the Tlinkit people and their totem pole carvings. Interesting, indeed. Then we walked around the town, eventually finding the famous Creek Street houses and shops (and brothel). We thought this might have been on the coast, but it is actually just a little inland along the fast-running creek. I’ve written a story here about using digital painting techniques to bring some life and warmth back into the rather drab scene on Creek Street in the rain.

Ketchikan is rightly famous for being among the wettest places in Alaska and it lived up to that reputation for us. But still, an interesting place!

We were then at sea sailing in the Inside Passage towards Vancouver, and I was a little disappointed. The scenery was nice, but it was all a bit “the same” without as much drama as we had seen before. I do have some photos, but few of them are what I am proud of. The one below is of Campbell River, in Canada looking towards Vancouver Island:

After an overnight sail, we were in Vancouver early the next morning and on our way home. A very long day, but one filled with memories of where we had been. I hope you feel that you have learned something about this area via these articles and you can find all my Alaska prints here in my gallery . Please leave me a comment if you have!

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This post has 11 comments.

Alessandra Chaves

Sounds like a very nice trip through interesting places. The golden hour photos are particularly lovely. Skagway Would pass for a town on the west coast Sierra Nevada. The floating sea otter is adorable!

Thanks Alessandra – it was interesting and I’m enjoying reliving it and the photos. Yes, those sea otters were really cute – I bought a 100-400 lens just 3 days before travel and I’m certainly glad I bought and took it. Those otters were at full zoom. But as a result, I have some pretty high-resolution images of them. And thanks for commenting!

I am really enjoying your series on Alaska. Sun on the horizon is stunning and seeing those otters must have been a joy for you

Thanks Annie – it has been a pleasure writing it as well. Almost got to the end now and I will put links in each article so that you can read them in order I think.

A trip of a lifetime. You’ve been doing an excellent job of describing your adventures and supporting your words expertly with some outstanding imagery. Really been enjoying this series.

Thanks! It has been interesting for me as well, revisiting what I thought about these places, and I hope it will prove to be an entertaining and useful series of articles for people thinking of going on an Alaskan cruise in the future. I must get it finished!

Dan Hamilton

Guess what? My wife and I were on that exact cruise! We may have seen byou onboard. We had taken the pre excursion Fairbanks to Seward and stayed in Vancouver two extra days. Excellent article and I took the same sunset picture and use it on my PC. Only took two thousand shots on the trip! Do you remember the hostess Natalia? I gave her a few hundred pictures on a flash drive.

Hi Dan – that’s great! I came away with 2000 images as well, some of which I used for these articles. We only took the cruise, deciding that the extra days were more chance to test positive for the virus! I don’t think I recall Natalia – was that in the restaurant? Steve

Malcolm Jones

Hi Steve, Been really enjoying your pics and cruise stories. Just puts me even more in the mood for our trip next year. Got your site saved to my favourites now. Like Dan, am also doing the Fairbanks to Seward pre extension. Like you, I may have to purchase another lens before I go just for that trip to get just a little closer to what I’m taking.

Great! I hope you enjoy it – I’m planning to write about more cruises as you can see. You could subscribe to get an email when I create a new post!

Janet Bates

Great information! We have booked this cruise for May 2025. Can you offer some insight on the cost of the not-included excursions? I’m having a hard time finding any information on pricing for them. Also, can you do the included excursion and an add-on excursion … if both are shorter in time? Thanks!

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Madeleine organised a specific itinerary based on our hopes for a short visit to South East Alaska (through the Inside Passage). The trip met our every hope and way exceeded our expectations. The communication and travel organization were terrific. Thank you Madeleine!

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Reviewed july 17, 2023, great travel advice.

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6 Top Luxury Alaska Cruises for 2024 & Beyond

C ruising to Alaska on a small luxury ship affords a very different experience than sailing through The Great Land on a larger vessel. On a smaller luxury ship, you'll enjoy the expected perks like fewer passengers and more personalized service – but you'll also physically get closer to the boundless wilderness, abundant wildlife, icy blue glaciers and majestic snow-capped mountains that you've waited a lifetime to see.

While the fares to sail on such vessels are quite a bit higher than those of larger cruise providers, the all-inclusive (or mostly all-inclusive) prices typically include all-suite accommodations with balconies, all meals, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi access, gratuities, welcome bottles of sparkling wine, pillow selection, some shore excursions and butler service. Best of all, you won't feel like you're being nickel-and-dimed while on board. As a special touch, the attentive crew members may even learn your name and memorize your preferred pre-dinner cocktail.

Unlike many mainstream lines, most luxury Alaska cruises do not offer pre- and post-cruise tours to extend your adventure. However, you can plan these experiences on your own through third-party providers.

Alaska Tour & Travel has pre-cruise packages that include visits to Denali National Park & Preserve and the small, quirky Alaska towns of Homer and Talkeetna. You can also see a different side of Alaska via a train ride on the Alaska Railroad, take a national parks tour that includes Kenai Fjords National Park or head northbound to Fairbanks , one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights (if you visit during aurora season, from late August to late April). In addition, the company can plan a self-drive tour from Anchorage to Seward, which includes a stay at a wilderness lodge, helicopter flightseeing over Knik Glacier and guided tours in the parks.

The following luxury cruise lines will ensure you make the most of your voyage in Alaska – one of the most magical destinations on Earth.

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Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises' small luxury ships are designed for adventurers interested in visiting a mix of Alaska's top ports and more rugged, off-the-beaten-track locales. Extended itineraries offer stops in less-visited destinations like the towns of Haines and Wrangell. On board, guests can expect a personalized experience that includes luxurious ocean-view suites with butler service, multiple gourmet dining options, complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and attentive service with one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the industry.

Base fares for Silversea's 2024 and 2025 Alaska itineraries start at $3,250 per person. If you upgrade to Silversea 's door-to-door fare (which starts at $5,200 per person), you'll receive private chauffeur service from your home to the airport (and back home upon your return) and round-trip flights, with business class upgrades in some destinations.

Silversea also offers immersive pre- and post-cruise land experiences, departing from Seward, Alaska. Highlights include sightseeing flights over Denali National Park & Preserve or into bear country to see Alaska's magnificent grizzly bears. In Vancouver, travelers can take a flightseeing transfer to Victoria to tour the 55-acre Butchart Gardens or board the Rocky Mountaineer for a two-day train ride through the Canadian Rockies.

Silversea's Alaska itineraries extend from May to September, with voyages ranging between seven and 16 days. The line's newest and largest vessel, the 728-passenger Silver Nova , sails its inaugural Alaska season in 2024 along with two smaller ships, Silver Muse (596 guests) and Silver Shadow (392 guests). There are 35 Alaska voyages available in 2024. In 2025, luxury cruisers can hop aboard one of 45 scheduled voyages on either Silver Nova or the 596-guest Silver Moon .

For a seven-day itinerary, consider a sailing from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia. This voyage cruises the Hubbard Glacier and the Inside Passage and stops in the Alaska towns of Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan. Complimentary excursions in Ketchikan include a tour of Saxman Native Village; a visit to Bonfire Bay Oyster Farm, featuring a sea-to-table oyster tasting; the Alaskan Cultural, Culinary & Lumberjack show; the Alaskan Lodge Adventure & Seafeast and a day as a fisherman aboard the Aleutian Ballard, as seen on Discovery Channel's "The Deadliest Catch." You can also opt for a Selected Shore Excursion (for an additional cost), such as mountain biking or a private fishing trip.

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises' elegant Seven Seas Explorer sails the line's Alaska itineraries in 2024 and 2025. The lavish 746-guest ship was coined "The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built" when it debuted in 2016; among its impressive features are the 3,875-square-foot Regent Suite and a high-end collection of art displayed throughout the ship, including works by Pablo Picasso.

Alaska voyages with Regent in 2024 and 2025 start at $4,799 per person. Upgraded 2-for-1 all-inclusive fares (starting at $5,499 per person) cover elegant all-balcony suite accommodations; round-trip airfare (business class on international flights); a one-night pre-cruise hotel package; free two- or three-night land programs; free unlimited shore excursions; free unlimited beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic); complimentary specialty dining; and prepaid gratuities. You'll also receive complimentary airport transfers, unlimited Wi-Fi access and valet laundry service.

Every suite style includes a private balcony, roomy closets and upscale finishes. Concierge Suites (and above) add cozy in-room amenities like cashmere blankets, perfect to bundle up in while you take in the scenery. Meanwhile, Penthouse Suites (and higher) include a private butler who can book excursions, make dinner and spa reservations, unpack your luggage, arrange for a private cocktail soiree in your suite and indulge any other special requests.

Between May and September 2024, Regent sails 22 Alaska voyages. There are 16 Alaska sailings scheduled for the same period in 2025. Itineraries range from seven to 14 nights. For plenty of scenic cruising days, consider a round-trip itinerary from Vancouver departing May 28, 2025. The cruise includes five relaxing days at sea, where you'll enjoy scenic cruising through the Inside Passage (twice), Hubbard Glacier (twice) and Endicott Arm Fjord. Ports of call in Alaska include Wrangell, Juneau , Skagway, Sitka, Seward, Icy Strait (Hoonah) and Ketchikan. You'll also have a full day in Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Vancouver.

While in Wrangell, consider the Tongass Botanical Forest Walk excursion. Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the U.S., with towering old-growth trees and unique flora, fauna and ecosystems. While in the temperate rainforest with your naturalist guide, look for local wildlife like Sitka black-tailed deer, porcupines and birds of prey. Other complimentary excursions at this stop include a round of golf at Muskeg Meadows Golf Course; a canoe trip through Wrangell harbor and nearby islands, and a heritage tour about Tlingit culture and the history of the town.

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Recently relaunched Crystal offers just seven voyages in Alaska aboard Crystal Serenity in July and August 2024. The 740-guest luxury vessel was refurbished in 2023 and features the line's signature top-notch service, elegant interiors and suites, and personal butler service in every room category.

Other perks and amenities include plush bathrobes and Sicily's Ortigia bath products; an impressive passenger-to-crew ratio; prepaid gratuities; complimentary beverages; and outstanding cuisine, including Umi Uma (an exclusive Nobu restaurant at sea, available only on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony ). Guests can also feast on Italian cuisine at Osteria d'Ovidio; book an exclusive dining experience at The Vintage Room; indulge in Parisian cafe-style fare at The Bistro; opt for American cuisine at Waterside Restaurant or take their pick of several other casual indoor and alfresco options.

Cruisers also have their selection of unique shore experiences curated by Crystal's parent company A&K Travel Group, such as a ride on the world's largest zip line in Hoonah (Icy Strait Point); dog sledding and glacier flightseeing in Skagway; fishing and wilderness dining in Ketchikan and the Wildlife Quest and Fin Island Lodge experience in Sitka, boasting a feast of Alaska king crab and wild salmon.

Crystal offers seven- and eight-night round-trip voyages from Vancouver , as well as one-way cruises from Vancouver or Seward, Alaska. Select itineraries – like the July 30, 2024, voyage from Vancouver to Seward – offer a scenic cruising day in the Seymour Narrows in British Columbia. On this sailing, you'll also enjoy a day at sea cruising Hubbard Glacier, as well as stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, Hoonah (Icy Strait), Skagway and Sitka in Alaska. Or, opt for the July 2, 2024, round-trip sailing from Vancouver for three scenic cruising days in the Inside Passage, Endicott Arm and the Seymour Narrows.

The line's Aug. 13, 2024, round-trip sailing from Vancouver features a special guest: Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, the executive chairman of A&K Travel Group. As such, the cruise will include an exclusive gala dinner and other unique experiences. Other special voyages welcome marine biologist and National Geographic photographer Flip Nicklin, who will share personal stories from his extensive career and expert insights about humpback whale habitats and behaviors.

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Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises' 11-day Alaska & the Inside Passage cruise is available on 11 dates during the 2024 season. It sails from Vancouver to Seward (or the reverse) on the 930-passenger Viking Orion . In 2025, the line offers the same itinerary on 22 dates between May and September, split between Viking Orion and its sister ship, the 930-passenger Viking Sea .

Viking's destination-focused itineraries are curated for travelers who are interested in history, science, culture and cuisine, as they feature onboard enrichment like lectures by Viking's resident historians. You'll also find regionally inspired dishes in The Restaurant and special access to unique tours and excursions ashore.

The line's mostly all-inclusive fares cover accommodations in spacious all-veranda staterooms and suites; beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner; meals at all the dining venues; one shore excursion in every port; free Wi-Fi access; 24-hour specialty teas, coffees and bottled water; complimentary access to The Nordic Spa & Fitness Center; and other upscale amenities.

Voyages traveling northbound from Vancouver include one day of scenic cruising through the Inside Passage before stopping in Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point in Alaska. The eighth day of the cruise sails through picturesque Yakutat Bay, which includes the Hubbard Glacier. The ship then calls on Valdez, Alaska, before the trip ends with two days in Seward.

While in Valdez, take an optional tour to explore the incredible scenery surrounding the small fishing town. Viking offers a kayaking trip to see the Valdez Glacier; a scenic cruise through picturesque Prince William Sound to view the Columbia Glacier; a wildlife cruise where you can look for humpback whales, orcas, porpoises, sea otters and bald eagles; a helicopter ride over the area's rugged, icy wilderness; or a UTV adventure through the Chugach Mountains to Mineral Creek Canyon.

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Seabourn Cruise Line

Between May and August 2024, Seabourn Cruise Line will host 20 Alaska voyages aboard the Seabourn Odyssey , before the ship leaves the cruise line in the fall. In 2025, the line offers 27 Alaska sailings on Seabourn Quest. Both yacht-inspired ships accommodate up to 458 guests and feature Seabourn's signature all-inclusive amenities, including luxurious oceanfront suites with verandas; personalized service; complimentary fine wines and premium spirits; complimentary dining; and caviar served throughout the sailing. You'll also have a complimentary W-Fi package and an in-suite minibar stocked with your favorite beverages. Ashore, sign up for exclusive programs like shopping for fresh salmon, halibut and Alaska king crab alongside a Seabourn chef.

Guests booking Seabourn Quest for 2025 will be able to sample the line's new dining concept, Solis. Inspired by destinations in the Mediterranean, the menu features a fresh, modern take on traditional dishes and whimsical cocktails. The restaurant is a collaboration with master chef and culinary partner Anton Egger and senior corporate chef Franck Salein. In addition to dishes like salt-encrusted whole branzino and Tuscan-style steak, guests will also find a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

The seven-day Alaska Fjords & Canadian Inside Passage itinerary on May 31, 2024, aboard Seabourn Odyssey, sails from Juneau to Vancouver and includes a day in either Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, depending on the ice conditions. From there, you can take one of the optional guided excursions: Ventures by Seabourn. These tours are an additional cost but offer opportunities for up-close Zodiac, kayaking or catamaran experiences in the wilderness to see glaciers calving and view local wildlife, such as black bears, mountain goats, seals, wolves and seabirds.

You'll also enjoy many days of scenic cruising on this voyage, and have the opportunity for more optional adventures in Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords). The ship makes additional stops in Wrangell, Alaska, and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, before disembarking in Vancouver.

If you want to see stunning Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, then consider booking the seven-day Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier Bay sailing on May 10, 2024, from Vancouver to Juneau. This itinerary also includes the Seymour Narrows and Snow Pass, cruising Queen Island Sound and the Lynn Canal. There's a stop for Ventures by Seabourn activities like kayaking and Zodiac rides in the Inian Islands. The Alaska ports of call on this voyage are Ketchikan, Sitka, Icy Strait Point and Haines. You'll disembark in Juneau.

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French luxury expedition line PONANT offers 10 Alaska cruises in 2024; itineraries span between seven and 11 nights. Aboard the 264-guest yacht-style Le Soléal, you'll meet up to 10 naturalist experts and guides specializing in geology, history, ornithology or marine or land mammals. Guests can attend onboard lectures and embark on Zodiac landings with the guides.

The ship features elegant staterooms and suites, a library, a spa, a hair salon and a gym. Guests will be treated to movies in the theater, wine tastings and cooking demonstrations throughout the expedition. All fine dining meals, 24-hour room service, an open bar (including an in-room minibar) and complimentary and unlimited Wi-Fi access are covered in the pricing.

Two of PONTANT's eight-night voyages from Vancouver to Sitka are in partnership with Smithsonian Journeys and are curated for English-speaking travelers. Fares for these expeditions include transfers to and from the ship and a shore excursion in each port. On board, you can attend talks and discussions hosted by two Smithsonian Journeys experts: geologist Scott Burns and natural history filmmaker John Grabowska.

On these voyages, there is a sea day after departing Vancouver. You'll cruise through the Johnstone Strait, where you'll have an excellent chance of seeing humpback whales and orcas. After a day spent in the Inside Passage, the ship will call on the village of Metlakatla, Alaska, on the western coast of Annette Island, which is home to the Tsimshians from British Columbia. Other unique Alaska ports of call in this itinerary include the commercial fishing town of Petersburg, the Tlingit village of Kake and the small fishing community of Alfin Cove.

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Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi is a U.S. News & World Report contributor and an avid travel adventurer who fell in love with Alaska on her first visit to the state many years ago. She's returned several times both by land and sea to explore the state's vast wilderness and abundant wildlife, and to chase the northern lights in one of the best places on the planet to view them. Pratesi used her extensive knowledge of Alaska and the cruise industry to write this article.

You might also be interested in:

• Alaska Cruise Packing List: Must-Have Items
• The Most Affordable Alaska Cruises
• The Best Time to Cruise to Alaska
• The Best Alaska Cruise Lines
• The Best Alaska Cruises for Families

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• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska
• Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia

Alaska & the Inside Passage

• From $6,799
• 7 Guided Tours
• 2 Countries
• Dates & Pricing
• 2024 2025 2026
• Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia
• Day 1 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Day 2 Scenic Sailing: The Inside Passage
• Day 3 Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
• Day 4 Sitka, Alaska, United States
• Day 5 Juneau, Alaska, United States
• Day 6 Skagway, Alaska, United States
• Day 7 Icy Strait Point, Alaska, United States
• Day 8 Scenic Sailing: Yakutat Bay
• Day 9 Valdez, Alaska, United States
• Day 10 Seward, Alaska, United States
• Day 11 Seward, Alaska, United States

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Ketchikan is set among the soaring coastal mountains and sloping woodlands of the Tongass National Forest. The gateway into America’s 49th state, it is known to travelers journeying north by ship as Alaska’s “First City” and the “Salmon Capital of the World” for its thriving fishing industry. Ketchikan also embraces its rich and enduring Tlingit heritage; it is home to the most standing totem poles anywhere in the world. The artful icons are sprinkled throughout the town as well as its parks and cultural centers. 

Shore Excursions

Potlatch Totem Park & Ketchikan History

Discover the coastal community of Ketchikan and learn about the ancient native craft of totem pole carving.

Misty Fjords of Ketchikan

Fly deep into Alaska’s pristine wilderness and witness some of its most spectacular scenery from the air.

Saxman Native Village

Experience Native American culture through song, dance and stories during a visit to the Saxman Native Village.

Flightseeing & Taste of Alaska

Take flight on an exhilarating journey over spectacular Alaskan scenery and enjoy a traditional feast.

Forest Trail by 4x4

Enjoy an adrenaline-fueled ride along mountain trails in a 4x4 through the remote Alaskan backcountry.

Bear Country & Wildlife Expedition

Witness some of Alaska’s famed wildlife as you journey to Herring Cove in the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary.

Zip Line Above the Rain Forest Canopy

Explore the canopy of the rain forest as you traverse along zip lines, aerial bridges and a rappel element.

A Day in the Lives of Alaskan Fishermen

Delve into the lives of Alaskan fishermen as you sail on board a genuine crab-fishing vessel.

Cruise the Misty Fjords Through the Alaskan Wilderness

Cruise the Alaskan waters as you immerse yourself in stunning nature and magnificent wildlife.

Neets Bay Bear Watch by Floatplane

Get a bird’s-eye view of the stunning Alaskan landscape on a flightseeing excursion.

Alaskan Lodge & Seafood

Visit one of the oldest fishing resorts in Alaska, embark on a thrilling jet boat ride and savor a seafood feast.

Wilds of Alaska by Hovercraft

Enjoy an exhilarating ride in an environmentally friendly hovercraft en route to exploring a remote Alaskan beach.

Alaska Fishing & Wilderness Dining

Cast a line into the bountiful waters of the Inside Passage and savor an outdoor culinary experience.

The Art of Salmon Fishing

Learn the best techniques for catching wild salmon, then head out into the cold Alaskan waters to test your skill.

Alaskan Crab & Choose Your Own Adventure

Set out in search of tasty Dungeness crab, then settle beside a campsite fire and savor your delicious catch.

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• Expeditions
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• Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska
• Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia

Alaska & the Inside Passage

• From $4,799
• 7 Guided Tours
• 2 Countries
• Dates & Pricing
• 2024 2025 2026
• Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia

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Alaska Makes a big Impression on Beaver County traveler

A third grader who watches Bear Grylls could tell you that Alaska is a big state.

But how big? As a Juneau tour bus driver likes to remind folks from Texas, more than twice the size of the Lone Star state.

How big? I can’t see the tail end of the iridescent blue glacier I’m gawking at because it’s about as long as the distance from Conway Yards to Pittsburgh, with 250 feet of ice sticking upright and another 100 feet under the salt water of Tarr Inlet in Glacier Bay National Park.

From the distance of the cruise ship, it doesn’t look like it’s a mile across – but it is, and is impressive enough to draw oohs, aahs and wows from the passengers, especially after one sharp-eyed tourist catches the Margerie Glacier calving. The rest of us slowpokes just hear the crash and splash.

How big is Alaska? Big enough to hide a pod of humpback whales, except when they let us see their breath, released as a spout that looks like a shopping mall fountain. Generous enough to surreptitiously also hold a pod of orcas. Spacious enough to make a group of 200-pound harbor seals “hiding” from the orcas on an ice sheet look like ants on a breadcrumb. Diverse enough to support sea otters and eagles, Rocky Mountain goats and big-horned Dall sheep.

After a week on the Inside Passage, staring at the rounded, peaked and eroded black and gray and white mountains, with the composing rock layers turned all kinds of sideways and 90 degrees vertical, I still haven’t adjusted to “vast.” It’s my first trip to Alaska, plus my first cruise. Eye-popping all the way around.

What surprises you about Alaska?

Besides putting eyeballs on the meaning of “vast,” here are 15 other surprises I found in Alaska:

1. Hooray for the ship’s pool and hot tub. No weather martyr, I’m routinely derided for wearing a sweatshirt into June, maybe July if it’s rainy. So I was shocked that I actually enjoyed the ship’s pool, and more so, its hot tub, at the end of April and beginning of May. Don’t ask me how we hit temps in the mid- and high-60s, or why it seemed to feel warmer than the actual temperature. But it did. And we weren’t the only ones to enjoy it!

2. Double hooray for sunshine! Many tourists gripe about their rainy trip through the Inside Passage, so I broke down and ordered a brand-new rain suit. The short legs version was available only in camo, so I at least looked tough and outdoorsy. Wore the jacket twice and the pants never. By the way, in Ketchikan, a Forest Service ranger shared this fact: they don’t measure rain in inches; they measure it in feet because of the city’s special location at the edge of the water and mountains that keep playing paddleball with the clouds (and rain). Somehow in this temperate rainforest, we hit a dry, sunny week. No complaints here, very glad to have packed sunscreen and even happier that the mosquitos didn’t have time to emerge, let alone grow to Alaska size.

3. Speaking of lotions, slather me timbers! Water, water everywhere and even drier felt the air. I met TSA standards and packed a 1-ounce tube of shea butter lotion that would last me a month in Pittsburgh. It barely lasted a week on the ship.

4. Glaciers share their true color. The compression of snow and ice gives glaciers a beautiful but eerie blue color. Interestingly, pieces of the glacier that break off (but aren’t big enough to be called calves) retain that icy blue hue. (And there are dimension requirements for official “icebergs,” so we just called them “bergy bits.”) Amid the gray-toned landscape, it looks as if every photo with a bit of floating iceberg is photoshopped blue. Not so.

5. Glaciers advance, retreat and shape the land. The retreat of glaciers is definitely a trend; a display at the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau physically marked just how far the glacier had retreated since 1935; since 1929, it has shrunk 1.75 miles. As we often hear, the vast majority of glaciers – 95%, according to the National Park Service –are retreating. But a rare few are building up, and others like the Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay are holding steady. The water around Margerie shares its blue hue; in other places, glacier water may be green, depending on what all is in it.

Despite covering a daily distance measured only in centimeters, glacier movement wields power, crushing rocks and pushing and scouring the land beneath them. Mountainsides and boulders can be converted into pebbles or even fine gray, talc-like silt, which means not every glacier has that frosty blue glow, and tourists tend to overlook the dreary gray ones. Glacier silt and pummeled, gravelly rocks of a thousand different shapes and sizes make up the dull “beach” of the Mendenhall Glacier. While it seems the fresh melt from a glacier would provide a haven for fish and wildlife, water containing silt is as unfriendly to wildlife as it can be. Plus, as the silt gathers, it fabricates itself into a kind of cold-weather quicksand, potentially fatal to wildlife and humans.

6. Salmon grow hooked noses. During spawning season, male salmon grow a hook at the end of their noses, a tool for dominance and fighting, according to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. It’s the first I’ve ever heard this fishy Pinocchio story. I don’t know what the female salmon think, but I can’t say I find it attractive.

7. What’s with the rhubarb? I’ve been known to enjoy strawberry rhubarb pie and jelly, but don’t just regularly munch a stalk of rhubarb. Downtown Alaska park gardens and yards alike were displaying rhubarb plants, already in their growing season with ruffled leaves almost as big as Alaska (only slight exaggeration; if Adam and Eve had had these rhubarb leaves, they would never have invented clothes). Another surprise: Alaska supports cottonwood trees, which I had considered a southern and midwest plant. I learned a version grows in Alaska, as well as the Rockies.

8. Home of the Alaskan pipeline. What’s the benefit? Much of the world knows the term and purpose of “Alaskan Pipeline.” Alaskans have about 800 miles of it in their big backyard. “The Last Frontier” (which does not have a state tax) does share mineral rights benefits with its residents (after living in Alaska for a year), which was in the ballpark of $1,300 per citizen last year. But this situation doesn’t deliver any deals at the pumps. In Pittsburgh, gas was pumping at about $3.70 a gallon in late April. In Alaska, gas was nearly $5 a gallon. And that’s only a foreshadowing of the cost of living in Alaska.

9. Where’s the affordable housing? According to our bus driver to the Mendenhall Glacier outside Juneau, the three-bedroom, two-bath pre-fab house he bought a couple of decades ago for $175,000 has more than doubled in value. Good for him; bad for anyone starting out in the housing market. MSN Money concurs, noting “Juneau is the most expensive city in Alaska, with an overall cost of living of 133 compared to the state average of 127, which is well above the national average of 100.” To avoid the high cost of rentals, including dwellings in less than lovely condition, some Southeast Alaskans choose to live on the water in boats (even sailboats!) they call “liveaboards.”

10. Puffins can actually be sleek – or think they are. Puffins are an anomaly. The live birds could be mistaken for stuffies that are built like chickens, only with bigger heads and bills. They know how to shake a head – and a tail feather – and do so often. So you wouldn't expect them to double as underwater acrobats, but they do! They’re so quick in the water that it was hard to keep an eye on them in one of the amazing aquariums at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Their black feathers seem to turn a shimmery aluminum color in the water, a transformation kind of like Cinderella before midnight. On top of the water, they are splash magnets! So fun to watch!

11. Yinzer condiments. Alaska’s shipping industry apparently includes condiments, labeled as coming from 2,700 miles away. Generous bottles of Heinz ketchup and mustard graced the tables of our cruise ship. And a generous, historic jar of Heinz powdered horseradish (“First, mix with water”) is part of a kitchen display in the Skagway Museum focused on the Gold Rush era of the 1800s.

12. Unseasonal aurora. Northern Lights season usually ends in April in the Alaska panhandle. So I was ecstatic to be treated to a lightly glowing green horizon cruising between Juneau and Anchorage. Daylight seeps in early and late this time of year in Alaska, with the sun waking around 5 a.m. and darkness descending around 10 p.m. This was my introduction to learning that Northern Lights are very subtle to the naked eye, more vivid in photos (even without editing). So, after a lifetime of never seeing the Northern Lights, I caught an Alaskan view and a western PA perspective in the same week without having to worry about freezing fingers! It was like a surprise party, twice over!

13. It’s their fault. Somewhere between the U.S. and Canadian border on the Klondike trail outside of Skagway, reflective roadside poles about the size of our light poles populate the twisty mountain roads. The bi-color red and white (and/or reflective yellow) arms point toward the pavement. In the bare roads of spring, they look useless. That’s because they’re erected to keep snow plow drivers safe, the tour guide shared. Above the steep drop-offs overlooking the White Pass Railway, “White, you’re alright. Red, you’re dead.” Along one of the biggest curves, a deep trench in the unending, ear-popping mountains denotes the fault line between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates, the upward and downward pressures that gave rise to the mountains. The fault line is visible, gouged into the mountains. And so are the snow plow aids.

14. Kangaroo dogs. A definite highlight was a “summer ride” on a golf cart behind 12 huskies. Before the balmy weather arrived in southern Alaska, we had hopes of a Seavey IdidaRide down a glacier at Turnagain Pass, nearly midway between Seward and Anchorage. But the balmy weather that we so enjoyed had collapsed the glacier’s stability. Still, we visited the pups and took a spin on a trail through pristine woods in a dog-powered golf cart. The dogs ooze with personality, are friendly, eager, curious – but very clearly, real trail dogs, not cookie-cutter Hollywood pups. Explains Iditarod.com: "Siberian Huskies are the classic ‘sled dog’ that most people envision when they think of sled dog teams … That image is so pervasive, that many people are taken aback when they first see the diverse collection of sizes, coat colors, and bodily features present in today’s competitive sled dogs. Although Siberian Husky genes can be found in most sled dogs running today, very few purebred Siberian Huskies are used on Iditarod teams."

We saw dogs that looked like golden retrievers, labs, shepherds and other breeds, but I’d never before seen medium-sized dogs with such big feet and long tongues – and collective, unbridled excitement at going out! The harnessed dogs joyously bounded up and down in place, kangaroo fashion, talking to each other and us, with their energy rocking the cart containing our foursome until they got the OK to start running. Dogs staying in camp made their jealousy clear, whining like engines with bad belts. On the trail, we watched water cascading from glacier melt, saw “Old Man’s Beard,” a rare pale lichen hanging from trees, a sign of air untainted by pollution, according to Glacier Bay rangers. And we were thrilled that, after a rest along the trail, the dogs took off running on our amateur musher’s command. Afterward, a fascinating fashion show shared what the well-dressed pup wears on the Iditarod, from booties and body-warming pads to reflective jackets and fuzzy protection, especially for privates.

15. Kindness out of control. Across nine days, we were treated to various displays of kindness. The cruise originated in Vancouver, where I realized I might not be able to plug my droid directly into a USB outlet. (My friend is an Apple user, so no sharing.) I did emergency shopping at North Vancouver pharmacy, and the store employee was taken aback by the $44 price. “Come back tomorrow; I have five at home. I’ll give you one.” She did. She was finally convinced to take a Tim Horton’s gift card in return – not for herself but to share with a regular customer.

Pittsburghers are everywhere

In Juneau, we learned The Devil’s Club is not a band of ne’er-do-wells, but a brewpub named for a highly prickly, off-putting Alaskan plant that natives have used for a multitude of remedies for centuries. And one of the workers at The Devil’s Club made a beeline to my friend after he caught a quick glimpse of her shirt bearing the Penn Brewery logo. Turns out he grew up with the view of the city from Mount Washington. One of his coworkers was from Jeanette, and her grandma had a place in Freeport. Another friendly chat took place 3,800 feet up, on Mount Roberts outside of Juneau. While our companions took a short hike on trails laced with remnants of ice and snow, the Juneau resident shared that her grandma had run a small store in Pittsburgh.

In Seward, our disembarking point, we found the locally famous Saltwood Smokehouse perched along the highway, but nearly a mile off the bus line. At that point, our touristy knees weren’t happy with the idea of hoofing it. About 10 minutes after a phone conversation with the owner, he himself Door Dashed the smoked salmon and cod to our hotel, delivering it pre-packaged on an icy gel block that would keep the fish cool until we made it home to Pittsburgh. No extra charge.

Takeaway: We missed the Gold Rush, but struck it rich in Alaska!

Karen Ferrick-Roman is a Beaver County resident and former staff member for The Times.