Everything in Alaska is oversized. The state is beautiful and large, with 36,000 miles of glacial coastline. The number of lakes exceeds the number of people. Bears, caribou and moose roam the wilderness. You’ll also find Denali, North America’s highest peak, and the largest bald eagle population in the country.
Coastal cruises will bring you face to face with whales, icebergs and massive tidewater glaciers. But if you want to see the postcard Alaska—towering peaks, vast forests, mirror-like lakes, and wild bears—you’ll need to venture inland.
This is where cruising comes in.
What is a cruise?
An Alaska cruise is the ultimate two-in-one vacation: It combines a weeklong Inner Passage cruise with a multi-day land trip into Alaska’s vast wilderness.
One day you might kayak past the surreal blue icebergs of Glacier Bay, and the next you might ride a glass-domed train through the Alaska Range to watch moose graze on the tundra. This is one of the smartest ways to experience the state, as it combines coastal beauty, Gold Rush history, and wildlife encounters with Alaska’s “Big Five” (bears, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, and wolves), all on one trip.
Related: Stop it! Before booking your Alaska cruise, make sure you do one of the following things
How long does a cruise take?
Cruise trips vary in length. Some only stay inland for a few nights. Others last a week or more and venture deep into the Alaskan wilderness. All itineraries include a seven-night Inner Bay Passage cruise and a land-based adventure with Denali National Park and Preserve as the star attraction.
When is the best time to cruise?
Alaska’s cruise season is short—May through September—and tours tend to book up quickly. Summers are mild, with longer days, temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to mid-70s, and 24 hours of sunshine. Still, each month has its own appeal.
May and June mean smaller crowds and lower prices. The snow on the top of the mountain is still there, wildflowers are in bloom, and the glacier viewing conditions are good. This is also prime time for wildlife viewing. Whales and migratory birds are passing by, and bears are just emerging from hibernation.
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July is a sweet time. The long, sunny days are perfect for hiking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing on both sea and land. This is Alaska’s most popular month, so expect a lot of people at the port.
August is the season of salmon runs and the bears that follow them. The coast gets more rain, but that’s a small price to pay for the wildlife you’ll encounter on land.
Come September, the weather is cool and the tundra is golden. The crowds dwindle and booking a cruise becomes easier. You also have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
RELATED: 15 Alaska Cruise Mistakes You Absolutely Don’t Want to Make
Why combine cruise and land?
The Inside Passage offers fjords, glaciers and charming towns. But Alaska’s true wilderness—Denali, its vast tundra, its big game—is hundreds of miles inland. A cruise allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds without having to worry about planning it all yourself. Transport, trains, accommodation and guided outings are all included, often making it a better deal than booking a cruise and land trip separately.
What different tours can I book?
Most itineraries combine a weeklong Inside Passage cruise with a few days of inland adventure—usually Denali National Park and Preserve and a ride on the Glass Dome Train. From here, longer trips might continue north to Fairbanks or south to Kenai Fjords National Park and add wildlife lodges, gold mining towns, and glacier cruises.
Related: The 10 Best Alaska Cruises for Every Type of Traveler
Which cruise lines offer cruise tours?
There are several lines that combine Alaska cruises with land adventures. Some of these cruises—such as Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Holland America Line—extend to the Canadian Rockies, with stops in Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta. Azamara goes a step further, with itineraries in both Japan and Canada, and has the rare opportunity to explore three countries in one trip.
princess cruise
Princess has been a leader in Alaska for more than 50 years. Its Denali Explorer itinerary is a classic, combining a seven-night Glacier Tour cruise with a Wilderness Express rail trip and two or three nights at a Princess-owned wilderness cabin in Denali. You can spot wildlife on a guided tour, talk to rangers, and, if you’re lucky, get a clear view of Denali’s 20,320-foot peak.
Holland America Line
Holland America’s Denali and Yukon tour stretches from Denali to Dawson City in the Yukon Territory, the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. In addition to the Glacier Discovery cruise, you’ll ride the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, sip cocktails in a frontier-era saloon, and stay in a rustic cabin. It combines the wild beauty of Alaska with the history of the Gold Rush.
royal caribbean international cruise ship
Royal Caribbean is bringing large-cruise excitement to Alaska with Ovation of the Seas, a Quantum-class ship equipped with dining, bars and entertainment facilities; including attractions such as the Polaris Observation Module, which rises 300 feet above the sea. Cruises include the Glass Dome Railroad and Denali Excursions, including wilderness hikes, dog sledding, zip lining through the boreal forest and more.
Azamara Cruises
Azamara will return to Alaska in 2026 with its signature brand of immersive slow travel and new cruises that add two to six nights of onshore accommodations. Options like the “Alaska Explorer” combine a private tour of Denali, a jet boat trip on the Susitna River, and time in the quirky frontier town of Talkeetna, Alaska. Long-distance travel extends to Japan and Canada.
norwegian cruise line
Norwegian has its newest fleet in Alaska, complete with luxury suites, spas, big-name shows, a go-kart track and multiple bars and restaurants. Once you disembark, the adventure continues with rail tours, Denali wilderness hikes, unique dog sledding kennel visits, and adrenaline-pumping activities like whitewater rafting and scenic helicopter flights.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity offers an immersive Alaskan experience with cruises highlighting Gold Rush history, national parks and local cuisine. The 10-day “Authentic Alaska” itinerary is a moveable feast: you can sample local smoked salmon, ice cream made from Aboriginal recipes and candies made from tree sap while admiring Alaska’s majestic scenery.
windstar cruise
Windstar will also return to Alaska in 2026 with the Star Seeker, combining small luxury ships with expedition-style adventure. With eight naturalists on board, every moment will come to life, whether rafting among the glaciers of the Zodiacs, kayaking among the icebergs of the Tongass National Forest, biking the Coastal Trail in Sitka, Alaska, or hiking the tundra of McKinley in search of the Big Five.
bottom line
Alaska is filled with oversized landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Cruises offer views not only of the glaciers and fjords of the coast, but also of the mountains, tundra and wildlife on land.
When you leave is just as important as which line you take. Book early – the best tours disappear quickly. Packing for all weathers. Get ready for a journey that will take you to the best of Alaska’s sea and land.
