Alaska by Cruise Ship: Your Complete Planning Guide

Why Alaska Is Unlike Any Other Cruise Every cruise is different, but Alaska is in a category of its own. The landscape is extraordinary — towering glaciers, jagged fjords, snow-capped peaks, old-growth rainforest, and wildlife that exists nowhere else in the Lower 48. An Alaska cruise isn't a beach vacation. It's a nature expedition delivered with cruise ship convenience. And it is one of the single most spectacular experiences available to the average traveler. When to Go Alaska cruise season runs from early May through late September. The sweet spot is late May through early July: wildlife is active (including whale calving and eagle nesting season), wildflowers are blooming, and the days are extraordinarily long (Juneau gets nearly 18 hours of daylight in June). August and September bring fall colors and slightly better weather but shorter days. Early May can be cold but also the least crowded. Inside Passage vs. Gulf of Alaska There are two main Alaska cruise routes: Inside Passag…