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Cruises to Alaska

Alaska is a short, weather-driven season and a small set of ships — which makes ship quality matter more here than almost anywhere. These are the vessels sailing Alaska, ranked by our Vessel Class grade.

See all Alaska sailings →
◆Which ship is right for you◆
Top of the class
Silver Dawn
This Small ship from Silversea Cruises leads every Alaska vessel on our grade.
Travelers' favorite
4.3
AIDAperla
Highest review score in the region: 4.3/5 across 284 published reviews.
Best for families
Azura
The top-graded Alaska ship that earns our family tag on its own data.
◆Best ships sailing Alaska◆
#10
Silver Dawn
Silversea Cruises · Ultra-luxury
Small ship (596 guests) · Great food · Great service · New ship
Vessel
3.5Reviews
#11
Silver Muse
Silversea Cruises · Ultra-luxury
Small ship (596 guests) · Great food · Great service · Spacious
Vessel
3.7Reviews
#21
Queen Elizabeth
Cunard Line · Luxury
Large resort ship (2,092 guests) · refit 2023 · Great service · Just refreshed
Vessel
3.7Reviews
#22
Seabourn Venture
Seabourn Cruise Line · Ultra-luxury
Small ship (264 guests) · new in 2022 · Great food · Great service · New ship
Vessel
4.0Reviews
#27
Silver Spirit
Silversea Cruises · Ultra-luxury
Small ship (608 guests) · refit 2018 · Great food · Great service · Spacious
Vessel
3.8Reviews
#29
Riviera
Oceania Cruises · Luxury
Mid-size ship (1,250 guests) · refit 2022 · Great food · Just refreshed · Spacious
Vessel
3.9Reviews
#30
Seabourn Quest
Seabourn Cruise Line · Ultra-luxury
Small ship (450 guests) · refit 2013 · Great food · Great service · Spacious
Vessel
4.1Reviews
#36
Seven Seas Voyager
Regent Seven Seas Cruises · Ultra-luxury
Small ship (698 guests) · Great service · Spacious · Ultra-luxury
Vessel
3.6Reviews
#47
MSC Grandiosa
MSC Cruises · Contemporary
Large resort ship (4,842 guests) · New ship
Vessel
2.9Reviews
#48
MSC Seaview
MSC Cruises · Contemporary
Large resort ship (4,132 guests)
Vessel
3.1Reviews
#56
Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Cruises · Premium
Large resort ship (3,260 guests) · new in 2022 · Lots to do · New ship
Vessel
3.8Reviews
#66
MSC Virtuosa
MSC Cruises · Contemporary
Large resort ship (4,842 guests) · refit 2025 · New ship
Vessel
2.9Reviews
#71
Legend of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International · Contemporary
Large resort ship (5,610 guests) · new in 2026 · Lots to do · New ship
Vessel
—Reviews
#81
Discovery Princess
Princess Cruises · Premium
Large resort ship (3,660 guests) · new in 2022 · New ship
Vessel
3.4Reviews
#88
Disney Treasure
Disney Cruise Line · Premium
Large resort ship (4,000 guests) · new in 2024 · Lots to do · New ship
Vessel
3.1Reviews
◆Ports you’ll visit◆
Ketchikan
Salmon capital and totem poles.
Juneau
Capital reachable only by sea or air.
Heads up: Mendenhall Glacier is a 30-min bus ride, not walkable from the ship.
Hubbard Glacier
Icy Strait Point
Tlingit port near Glacier Bay.
Heads up: It's a built-for-cruisers excursion site; Hoonah village is a 2km stroll away.
Glacier Bay
Skagway
Gold-rush time capsule.
Seattle
Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.
Heads up: Pier 91 is not downtown; only Pier 66 lets you walk to Pike Place.
Sitka
Victoria
Wrangell
Vancouver
Mountains meet ocean; Stanley Park at the terminal.
Cruising Inside Passage
◆When to go◆
Alaska's cruise season runs early May to late September. May and September are cheaper and quieter with a chance of cooler, wetter days; June through August is peak for long daylight, wildlife and the best odds of clear glacier views. Ships don't sail Alaska in winter.
Aug 202610 sailingsSep 20265 sailingsOct 202611 sailingsNov 20266 sailingsDec 20267 sailingsJan 202711 sailingsJul 20262 sailingsJul 20275 sailingsMay 20272 sailingsAug 20273 sailingsJul 20284 sailingsMay 20283 sailingsSep 20271 sailingsJun 20284 sailingsAug 20284 sailingsJun 20273 sailings
◆Common questions◆
When is the best time to cruise Alaska?

Alaska's cruise season runs early May to late September. May and September are cheaper and quieter with a chance of cooler, wetter days; June through August is peak for long daylight, wildlife and the best odds of clear glacier views. Ships don't sail Alaska in winter.

How long are Alaska cruises?

The Alaska sailings CruiseIndex tracks run 5 to 12 nights.

Which ports do Alaska cruises visit?

Tracked Alaska itineraries call at Ketchikan, Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay and Skagway.

What is the best cruise ship in Alaska?

Silver Dawn (Silversea Cruises) currently holds the region's top Vessel Class grade, #10 in our fleet-wide ranking.

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Lines sailing AlaskaAIDA CruisesCarnival Cruise LineCelebrity CruisesCosta CruisesCunard LineDisney Cruise LineHolland America LineMSC CruisesNorwegian Cruise LineOceania CruisesP&O CruisesPrincess CruisesRegent Seven Seas CruisesRoyal Caribbean InternationalSeabourn Cruise LineSilversea Cruises

Vessel Class and Review Score scores are live and real. Fares shown on sailing pages are preview samples until the live fare feed arrives.