Plan Your Alaska Cruise with Simply Travel by Ashley
Glaciers calving into quiet fjords, humpback whales off the bow, and a domed train winding toward Denali. Alaska is a trip you can take by sea, by land or both. At Simply Travel by Ashley, Ashley Muhlenkamp helps couples, families and groups decide how to see Alaska, from a classic seven-night cruise to a longer cruise-and-land adventure. She's based in Bellbrook, Ohio, and plans trips for clients anywhere in the United States, plus select international clients. Her planning services are completely free to you, with no hidden fees.
Plan My Alaska CruiseCruise Only or Cruisetour? Choosing Water, Land or Both
A cruise-only trip is usually about seven nights. You unpack once and see Alaska's coast, glaciers and port towns from the ship.
A cruisetour pairs the cruise with a guided land tour before or after you sail. Land portions typically run from about 2 to 10 nights, and most cruisetours total roughly 9 to 17 nights. Packages generally include hotels or lodges, some transportation and tours, and most visit Denali National Park. You can often choose whether the land portion comes first or last.
Cruise lines such as Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian, among others, offer Alaska cruisetours. Packages differ from line to line. Princess and Holland America, for example, include stays at their own lodges near Denali, and some Holland America cruisetours continue into Canada's Yukon. Ashley can compare options across lines so you can see what each package includes.
Many travelers see the Inside Passage by sea and then explore Alaska's interior by train or motorcoach. If this may be your only trip to Alaska, a cruisetour is worth a look.
Inside Passage Round Trip or Gulf of Alaska One-Way?
Round-trip Inside Passage. The Inside Passage is Alaska's most popular cruise route. It follows the southeast coast, sheltered from rough seas by hundreds of islands. These sailings usually last 7 to 10 days and leave from Seattle or Vancouver, so you fly in and out of the same city. Typical ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, with others such as Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Sitka, Haines, Wrangell and Petersburg. Seattle round trips usually include a stop in Victoria, British Columbia, because of US rules for foreign-flagged ships.
One-way Gulf of Alaska. These itineraries sail between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, the ports that serve Anchorage. Many cross the Gulf of Alaska and add glacier days along the way.
Why one-way cruises pair so well with land. Seward and Whittier sit on the Alaska Railroad, which runs north through Anchorage and Talkeetna to Denali and Fairbanks. That means no backtracking: you fly into one city, fly home from another, and fit the land tour in between. Some packages run rail almost directly from the ship to lodges near Denali.
Alaska by Land: Denali, Rail and the Yukon
Denali National Park. Most cruisetours include a visit. Private cars can drive only to Mile 15 (Savage River) in summer. Beyond that, visitors ride the park's narrated tour buses or non-narrated transit buses. A landslide at Pretty Rocks has kept buses from going past Mile 43 since 2021. A new bridge there is now complete, and the National Park Service expects full bus service on the park road to return in 2027. Ashley can check the current-season schedule when you plan.
Other land stops. Depending on the package, you might add:
- Talkeetna, the town that serves as Denali's mountaineering base
- Fairbanks, with riverboat and gold-mining heritage tours
- The Kenai Peninsula, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park
- Canada's Yukon, including historic Dawson City on select tours, such as some Holland America cruisetours
The Alaska Railroad and domed rail cars. The railroad covers more than 500 miles of track. Its Denali Star train runs from Anchorage through Talkeetna to Denali and Fairbanks, and the Coastal Classic runs from Anchorage to Seward, both daily from mid-May to mid-September. GoldStar Service adds glass-dome ceilings, an outdoor viewing platform, a dining room and onboard narration. Some cruise lines run their own domed rail service too. For example, Princess and Holland America operate their own glass-domed railcars, and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruisetours ride in glass-domed Wilderness Express railcars on Alaska Railroad tracks.
White Pass & Yukon Route from Skagway. This historic railway climbs from Skagway along the Trail of '98, past waterfalls and gold rush landmarks. The shorter summit excursion doesn't require a passport, while the longer Bennett Scenic Journey crosses into Canada and does. Check current-season schedules before you book.
Big Ship or Small Ship?
Large ships, from lines such as Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian, among others, generally offer extensive dining, entertainment, shopping and many shore excursions. They're a great fit for families and groups who want variety.
Small expedition ships carry far fewer guests and focus on adventure and personal service. Small-ship operators such as UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions, among others, sail Alaska's coast. UnCruise includes kayaks and paddleboards, and Lindblad offers Zodiac and kayak outings. Small ships can reach narrow fjords and remote coves that larger ships can't, and Lindblad offers an optional Denali extension on select departures. Ashley can help you weigh comfort, activity level and itinerary.
When to Go
Alaska cruises usually run May through September, and June through August is the most popular stretch. Summer brings the warmest weather, the longest days and the best wildlife viewing. May and September are often quieter, and September adds fall color. Some lines also sail in April and October.
Humpback whales are commonly seen from May through September. Pack rain gear and layers: Southeast Alaska is wet, and summer highs are typically about 50 to 60°F. Travel Alaska suggests booking at least six months ahead for package tours and groups.
Signature Alaska Experiences
How Ashley Helps
Tell us about your trip. Fill out the "Let's Plan Your Vacation!" form on our homepage or call Ashley at (419) 852-4445. Share who's traveling, your dates and what you most want to see.
Compare your options. Ashley lays out cruise-only and cruisetour choices, round-trip and one-way routes, and big-ship and small-ship styles, and explains the differences.
Book and get ready. Once you choose, Ashley takes care of the booking details, including the land portion and how it connects to your flights.
Alaska Cruise FAQ
Does it cost more to book an Alaska cruise through a travel advisor?
No. Ashley's planning services are completely free to you, with no hidden fees. You get personal help comparing cruises and cruisetours and booking your trip.
What is an Alaska cruisetour?
A cruisetour pairs an Alaska cruise with a guided land tour before or after the sailing. It generally includes hotels or lodges, some transportation and tours, and most visit Denali National Park.
Should I choose a round-trip or one-way Alaska cruise?
Round-trip Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver are simple to fly in and out of. One-way Gulf of Alaska cruises end or begin near Anchorage, which makes them a natural fit for adding a land tour to Denali.
When is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
Alaska cruises usually run May through September, with June through August the most popular. Summer offers the longest days and best wildlife viewing, while May and September are often quieter.
Can I visit Denali National Park on an Alaska cruise?
Not by ship alone. Denali National Park is inland, so you reach it on a cruisetour or a separate land trip, usually by train or motorcoach.
Do I need a passport for an Alaska cruise?
It depends on your itinerary, but a passport book is the safest choice. On a closed-loop cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port, such as a Seattle round trip that calls in Canada, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says U.S. citizens can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. The State Department still strongly recommends that all cruise passengers carry a passport book in case they need to fly home because of an emergency, such as an illness that keeps them ashore after the ship sails. One-way cruises that start or end in Vancouver usually mean flying to or from Canada, and a passport card can't be used for international air travel, so plan on a passport book or another CBP-approved document. Shore excursions into Canada, such as the White Pass & Yukon Route's Bennett Scenic Journey, also require a passport. Your cruise line may require a passport even when the government doesn't, and non-U.S. citizens should check their own requirements. Always confirm current rules with your cruise line and official government sources before you travel.
Will my cruise visit Glacier Bay?
Not necessarily. Many Alaska cruises do not visit Glacier Bay, so check the itinerary. Ashley can help you find sailings that include it.
Let's Plan Your Alaska Adventure
Ready to see Alaska by land and sea? Fill out the "Let's Plan Your Vacation!" form on our homepage, call (419) 852-4445, or email simplytravelbyashley@gmail.com. Ashley is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern.
Plan My Alaska Cruise