There is no single best cruise line to Alaska for everyone. For most first-timers, Princess Cruises or Holland America Line is the safest choice: they have the most Alaska experience, the most visits to Glacier Bay National Park and their own lodges and rail links for adding Denali on land. Families usually do better with Royal Caribbean, Disney or Norwegian. If budget matters most, look at Carnival. For wildlife up close, a small-ship line like UnCruise or Lindblad Expeditions is hard to beat, and Regent, Silversea and Seabourn cover the all-inclusive luxury end. Below is how the main options compare for the 2027 season, and who each one suits.
Free: get the printable Alaska Cruise Planner 2027: best month, best route and real fares →
Alaska cruise lines compared for 2027
The table gives a quick overview based on each line’s published 2027 plans at the time of writing. Ships and ports can change, so check the specific sailing before you book.
| Cruise line | Best for | 2027 Alaska ships / scale | Main departure ports | Glacier Bay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess | First-timers, land + sea | 8 ships, around 85 Glacier Bay calls | Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier, San Francisco, Los Angeles | Yes, often |
| Holland America | Classic, relaxed cruising; Denali and Yukon tours | 6 mid-size ships | Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier | Yes, often |
| Royal Caribbean | Families with teens | Quantum, Anthem, Serenade, Voyager of the Seas | Seattle, Vancouver, Seward | Generally no |
| Norwegian (NCL) | Flexible dining, families | Bliss, Encore, Jade, Joy | Seattle, Vancouver, Whittier | Holds a permit; check the sailing |
| Disney | Young children | Disney Wonder and Disney Magic | Vancouver | No |
| Celebrity | Couples wanting a step up from mainstream | Edge, Solstice, Summit | Seattle, Vancouver, Seward | No |
| Carnival | Budget | Spirit, Legend, Luminosa | Seattle, San Francisco | No (Tracy Arm instead) |
| UnCruise / Lindblad / American Cruise Lines | Wildlife, small ports, active trips | Ships of roughly 22 to 180 guests | Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Vancouver, Seattle area | Depends on line and sailing |
| Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Viking, Oceania | Luxury and premium | A few ships each, mainly May to September | Vancouver, Seward, Seattle, Juneau | Seabourn and Viking hold permits; check the itinerary |
The most proven choice: Holland America Line
Holland America has been sailing to Alaska for decades and it shows. Its 2026-2027 programme uses six mid-size ships (Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam), which are big enough to be comfortable but small enough to feel calm. Wraparound promenade decks make glacier viewing easy, and National Park Service rangers and Huna Tlingit cultural guides come aboard on Glacier Bay days.
Its land-and-sea cruisetours run from 9 to 17 days and every one includes a stay at the line’s own Holland America Denali Lodge, near the entrance to Denali National Park. Some itineraries also go into the Yukon and Dawson City, which few other operators offer. The onboard atmosphere is relaxed and generally suits adults and older travellers better than young families.
Best for land and sea: Princess Cruises
Princess is the largest operator in Alaska. For 2027 it has announced eight ships, including the new Star Princess sailing from Seattle, plus about 85 calls at Glacier Bay. On land it runs five wilderness lodges near Denali, Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks, connected by rail, and offers 28 cruisetour itineraries. If you want to see Denali as well as the glaciers without organising it yourself, Princess makes it simple.
Princess sails both main routes: round trips from Seattle or Vancouver and one-way Gulf of Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, the port for Anchorage.
Best for families with teens: Royal Caribbean and Norwegian
Royal Caribbean brings four ships to Alaska in 2027. Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas have activities such as North Star, the glass capsule that lifts guests above the ship, plus indoor sports and dodgems in SeaPlex, which is useful on rainy days. Quantum and Voyager of the Seas sail round trips from Seattle, Serenade of the Seas sails from Vancouver, and Anthem sails one-way between Vancouver and Seward. If you are picking a Royal Caribbean ship by age group, see our guide to the best Royal Caribbean ships for kids of each age.
Norwegian uses Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy and Jade. The three larger ships have go-kart tracks and big observation lounges, and the line’s freestyle dining suits families who don’t want fixed meal times.
Best for young children: Disney Cruise Line
For children under about ten, Disney is the obvious pick. For summer 2027 both Disney Wonder and Disney Magic sail from Vancouver, mostly on seven-night trips, with some six- and eight-night options on the Magic. You get Disney’s kids’ clubs, character meetings and Disney’s rotational dining. It is usually the most expensive mainstream option, and neither ship enters Glacier Bay.
Best on a budget: Carnival
Carnival is generally the cheapest way to see Alaska on a big ship. In 2027 Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend sail mainly seven-day trips from Seattle from mid-April, and Carnival Luminosa sails ten-day trips from San Francisco. Carnival does not go to Glacier Bay, but its sailings include scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord. Booking early and watching for sales helps; our cruise deals 2027 guide covers when to book.
Best small ship and expedition lines
Small ships can get into narrow inlets, stop when whales appear and land guests by skiff or kayak. They cost more per night but often include excursions.
- UnCruise Adventures runs ships of roughly 22 to 86 guests, mainly from Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, with kayaking, hiking and paddleboarding. Many itineraries include Glacier Bay.
- Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic offers expedition cruises with naturalists and photographers, usually between Juneau and Sitka or Ketchikan or along the Inside Passage. Its Alaska fleet is changing, so check which ship your departure uses.
- American Cruise Lines sails US-flagged coastal ships of roughly 90 to 180 guests on 9- to 19-day itineraries, with plenty of small-town stops.
One change to note: Sitka-based Alaskan Dream Cruises shut down in February 2026 and is no longer selling sailings.
Best for ultra-luxury and premium
Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn offer the most inclusive fares. Regent’s fares include shore excursions, Silversea includes butler service in every suite, and Seabourn adds optional Zodiac and kayak trips through its Ventures programme. Most luxury sailings are one-way between Vancouver and Seward, with some from Seattle or Juneau. Viking and Oceania are a step below on price, with smaller ships than the mainstream lines and some extras included.
When to go: season length and off-season sailings
The Alaska cruise season runs from about mid-April to early October. The earliest 2027 departures start around 20 April and the last finish around 10 October. July is the busiest month. May and September are cheaper and less crowded, with a good chance of seeing wildlife, but the weather is cooler and more changeable. June to August has the longest days and the warmest weather.
The two main itineraries
Inside Passage round trip
Seven-night round trips from Seattle or Vancouver are the most popular choice. They usually call at Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, sometimes Sitka or Icy Strait Point, and include a scenic glacier day. Round trips mean simpler, cheaper flights.
One-way Gulf of Alaska
These sail between Vancouver and Whittier or Seward, and go further north to places like Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. They are the natural choice if you want to add Denali on land, but open-jaw flights usually cost more.
Departure ports and recent changes
Seattle is the busiest Alaska port, followed by Vancouver. Note that sailings from Seattle must call at a Canadian port such as Victoria under US cabotage law. Seward and Whittier serve Anchorage. In Whittier, the new Chugach Glacier Gateway dock used by Norwegian, Oceania and Regent was badly damaged by a fire in September 2026 and declared a total loss. The operator says it aims to be working again for 2027, but if you are booked through Whittier with those lines, keep an eye on any port changes. The older Whittier dock used by Princess and Holland America was not reported as affected.
Juneau also began daily passenger limits in 2026: 16,000 cruise visitors on most days and 12,000 on Saturdays. You don’t need to do anything yourself, but it limits how many ships can call on the same day, so popular Juneau tours can sell out.
Glacier Bay permits and ship size
Glacier Bay National Park allows only two large cruise ships per day. The current contracts, which run until 2029, are held by Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Cunard, Seabourn, Viking and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. In practice, Princess and Holland America make most of the visits. Having a permit does not mean every sailing goes there, so look for Glacier Bay by name on the day-by-day itinerary. Small-ship operators enter under a separate tour-vessel permit. Ship size matters elsewhere too: small ships can slip into narrow inlets and remote coves that large ships skip.
If you’re torn between the two biggest Alaska specialists, our Holland America vs Princess comparison sets out the differences in ships, cruisetours and packages.
Glare off glaciers and water can be strong in Alaska, which is why our guide to polarized sunglasses for cruising is worth a read.
Still deciding on the style of trip? Our small ship vs large ship Alaska cruise guide explains how big ships, luxury lines and expedition vessels differ.
FAQs
Which cruise line goes to Glacier Bay the most?
Princess and Holland America. Princess has announced about 85 Glacier Bay calls for 2027, and Holland America says it holds more permits than any other line.
Is it better to sail from Seattle or Vancouver?
Seattle is easier for most US travellers and mainly offers round trips. Vancouver offers both round trips and one-way Gulf of Alaska cruises, which are better if you want to add a Denali land tour.
What is the best Alaska cruise line for kids?
Disney for younger children, and Royal Caribbean or Norwegian for teens who want more activities on board.
When should I book an Alaska cruise for 2027?
Most 2027 sailings are already on sale. Booking early gives the best choice of balcony cabins and cruisetours, especially for July. Small-ship departures can sell out more than a year ahead.
