Best Alaskan cruise line for 2026–2027: seven lines ranked
Princess is the best Alaskan cruise line for most travelers: it carries more Alaska guests than any other line, makes more Glacier Bay calls than anyone else and pairs cruises with its own lodges near Denali. Holland America is a close second for a calmer ship, Celebrity is the pick for food, and Royal Caribbean suits families with teens.
Book it if
- It's your first Alaska cruise and you want a line that knows the region.
- Glacier Bay National Park is on your list.
- You'd like to add a few nights inland, near Denali, before or after the cruise.
Skip it if
- You want a round trip with no flights into Alaska and don't care which glacier you see. Any line from Seattle will do.
- You're cruising with young kids who need a big waterpark and constant activities.
- You want wildlife up close from small boats every day. That's what small expedition ships are for.
How we picked
We ranked the lines on what makes an Alaska cruise good, using the criteria in how we rate cruises. For Alaska we weight four things most: which glacier the itinerary reaches, how easy it is to add a land tour, how much time the ship spends in Alaska rather than getting there, and whether the ship suits cold, wet days at sea. Food, service and value count too, as they do in our overall cruise line rankings.
These are editorial picks with a reason for each place, not scores. The ship named for each line is one of its confirmed 2027 Alaska ships; most lines send several, so check which one sails on your date.
The best cruise lines for Alaska, ranked
Best Alaska cruise line overall
Princess Cruises, Star Princess (Sphere class)
Why: Eight ships in Alaska for 2027, 85 planned Glacier Bay calls, and five of its own wilderness lodges for cruisetours that include Denali.
Watch out: Its Alaska fleet mixes older and newer ships. Check which ship your date is on.
Best for a calm, classic Alaska trip
Holland America Line, Eurodam (Seattle round trip with Glacier Bay)
Why: Mid-size ships, a slower pace and 80 years in the region, with Glacier Bay on many itineraries and Cruisetours into the interior.
Watch out: Evenings are quiet and there's little for teenagers.
Best food on an Alaska cruise
Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Edge (Edge class)
Why: Better dining than the mass-market lines and a modern, adult-leaning feel, without luxury-line fares.
Watch out: Celebrity isn't on the Park Service's list of Glacier Bay cruise lines, so its sailings go to Hubbard Glacier or Endicott Arm instead.
Best for families with teens
Royal Caribbean, Quantum of the Seas (Quantum class)
Why: Its Alaska ships keep the climbing walls, surf simulators and kids' clubs, so sea days are easy with older children.
Watch out: Big ships with lots to do inside can pull attention away from the scenery. Royal Caribbean isn't on the Park Service's current list of Glacier Bay cruise lines, so expect Hubbard Glacier or Endicott Arm instead.
Best for flexible schedules
Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Encore (Breakaway-Plus class)
Why: No fixed dinner times, which suits long port days, and three ships sailing round trip from Seattle. Norwegian holds a Glacier Bay permit, though only some sailings go in.
Watch out: Many of the better restaurants cost extra, and indoor space is busy on cold or rainy sea days.
Best smaller ship
Oceania Cruises, Riviera (Oceania class)
Why: About 1,250 guests instead of several thousand, with specialty restaurants included and fewer crowds at each port.
Watch out: Fewer Alaska sailings than the big lines, and a higher fare per night.
Cheapest Alaska cruise
Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Spirit or Carnival Legend (Seattle round trip)
Why: Usually the lowest fares in Alaska, which makes a first look at the Inside Passage affordable.
Watch out: Fewer sailings, a simpler dining experience, and no Glacier Bay: the 2027 Seattle sailings go to Tracy Arm Fjord instead.
Why Princess and Holland America lead
Both lines have run Alaska cruises for decades, and it shows in three places.
Glacier Bay. The National Park Service allows no more than two cruise ships a day in Glacier Bay and caps the total for each season, and only lines holding a park concession contract can go in. The Park Service lists six: Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Seabourn, Cunard and Viking. The current contracts began in 2019 and run for ten years, so they cover 2026 and 2027. Princess plans 85 Glacier Bay calls in 2027 and says it takes more guests there than any other line, and Holland America includes it on many itineraries.
Land tours. Both lines sell cruisetours that add several nights inland, including Denali National Park, at lodges they run themselves. Princess has five wilderness lodges, including the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge a mile from the park entrance, 28 cruisetour itineraries for 2027 and rail service from the ship to the Denali area. Holland America’s Cruisetours stay at its own Denali Lodge. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian sell Denali cruisetours too, but with far fewer options.
Choice of dates and ports. Between them they sail from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier, the port for Anchorage, in both round-trip and one-way formats. Princess also runs longer Alaska sailings from San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Choose Princess for the widest range of dates and ships. Choose Holland America for a quieter ship and a slower pace. Our Princess Alaska guide and Holland America Alaska guide break down each line’s ships and routes.
Round trip or one-way?
Round trip from Seattle or Vancouver covers the Inside Passage (Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and a glacier day) in 7 nights with no one-way flight. Sailings from Seattle also stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Our guide to an Alaska cruise from Seattle covers terminals and parking.
One-way between Vancouver and Whittier or Seward (Princess, Holland America and Norwegian use Whittier; Celebrity and Royal Caribbean use Seward) crosses the Gulf of Alaska, often adds Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord, and connects directly with a Denali land tour. You’ll need an open-jaw flight.
Category winners
- Best for Glacier Bay: Princess and Holland America.
- Best for Denali land tours: Princess, then Holland America.
- Best for young children: Disney, which sends Disney Magic and Disney Wonder to Alaska in 2027, round trip from Vancouver. For older kids and teens, Royal Caribbean.
- Best Alaskan cruise line for adults: Oceania or Celebrity. See our best cruise lines for adults.
- Best budget option: Carnival, or a Seattle round trip on Norwegian booked outside July.
- Best for wildlife close up: small expedition ships such as those run by UnCruise Adventures or Lindblad Expeditions. UnCruise ships carry 22 to 86 guests, and Lindblad’s 2027 Alaska ship, Greg Mortimer, carries 154, so they reach inlets the big ships can’t.
- Best luxury option: Regent Seven Seas, Silversea or Seabourn, on ships with more space per guest and most extras included. See our luxury and small-ship picks.
Virgin Voyages and MSC are new to Alaska: both started in 2026 and return in 2027. Virgin’s Brilliant Lady sails from Seattle and Vancouver (adults only), and MSC Poesia sails 7-night round trips from Seattle. Neither goes into Glacier Bay; they visit Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm instead.
Sample sailings
| Departs | Line and ship | Nights | Itinerary | From | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 2027 | Azamara, Azamara Quest | 91 | 91 Night Grand Voyage Cruise (from Sydney Australia) | $31,459 | Check price |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Princess Cruises, Coral Princess | 46 | 46 Night World Cruise (from Singapore Singapore) | $27,292 | Check price |
| Apr 20, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Legend | 6 | 7 Day Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier (from Seattle Washington) | $614 | Check price |
| Apr 23, 2027 | Princess Cruises, Coral Princess | 23 | 23 Night Southeast Asia Cruise (from Tokyo Japan) | $3,314 | Check price |
| Apr 23, 2027 | Princess Cruises, Coral Princess | 19 | 19 Night Southeast Asia Cruise (from Tokyo Japan) | $2,841 | Check price |
| Apr 24, 2027 | Holland America Line, Eurodam | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle Washington) | $959 | Check price |
| Apr 24, 2027 | Holland America Line, Koningsdam | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Vancouver British Columbia) | $894 | Check price |
| Apr 24, 2027 | Holland America Line, Zaandam | 18 | 18 Night Alaska Cruise (from Vancouver British Columbia) | $2,409 | Check price |
| Apr 24, 2027 | Seabourn, Seabourn Encore | 21 | 21 Night Southeast Asia Cruise (from Tokyo Japan) | $9,598 | Check price |
| Apr 25, 2027 | Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Encore | 7 | 7 Night Alaska (from Seattle Washington) | $1,079 | Check price |
| Apr 26, 2027 | MSC Cruises, MSC Poesia | 7 | 7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle Washington) | $679 | Check price |
| Apr 27, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Legend | 6 | 7 Day Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier (from Seattle Washington) | $574 | Check price |
Alaska cruise line FAQ
What cruise lines go to Alaska?
Of the big lines, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, Disney, Oceania, Virgin Voyages and MSC all sail to Alaska in 2027. Luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn go too, as do small expedition ships. The season runs from about May to September.
What cruise lines go to Glacier Bay?
Only lines with a National Park Service concession contract. The Park Service lists Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Seabourn, Cunard and Viking, and those contracts run through 2029. Princess visits most often. Even on those lines, not every sailing goes in, so check the itinerary for your date. Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Virgin Voyages and MSC go to other glaciers instead.
What is the best cruise ship for Alaska?
A mid-size ship with plenty of indoor viewing space and outside decks close to the water, on an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay. That points to Princess and Holland America ships for most travelers. We’ll name specific ships once the 2027 deployments are confirmed.
When is the best time for an Alaska cruise?
June to August has the longest days and warmest weather, and July is the busiest and most expensive month. May and September are usually cheaper, with cooler weather and a better chance of rain.
Is Seattle or Vancouver better for an Alaska cruise?
Seattle is simplest for US travelers who want a round trip on the Inside Passage. Vancouver is the better choice for one-way sailings across the Gulf of Alaska and a Denali land tour.
Sources
- National Park Service: Glacier Bay concession contracts (cruise ship quotas and authorized lines)
- National Park Service: Glacier Bay issues new contracts for cruise ship services (2019)
- Princess Cruises: 2027 Alaska season announcement (PR Newswire)
- Princess Cruises: Alaska cruises, cruisetours and wilderness lodges
- Holland America Line: 2027 Alaska season announcement
- Celebrity Cruises: 2027 Alaska cruises
- Royal Caribbean: Alaska cruises 2026–2027
- Norwegian Cruise Line: 2027 itineraries (Alaska section)
- Carnival Cruise Line: 2027 Alaska announcement
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Oceania's 1,250-guest Riviera in Alaska
- Disney Parks Blog: Disney Cruise Line summer 2027 itineraries
- Virgin Voyages: Alaska cruises
- MSC Cruises press area: MSC Poesia's first Alaska season from Seattle
- UnCruise Adventures: fleet and guest capacities
- Travel Market Report: Lindblad's 2027 Alaska ship