Is taking a cruise to Alaska in 2024 and seeing glaciers, moose, dog sledding and whales the sort of summer adventure you want to try?
The 2024 Alaska cruises look to be the best lineup of cruises to The Last Frontier yet, with lots of ships visiting the beautiful ports in Southeast Alaska.
Now is the perfect time to start planning your Alaska cruise so that you can take advantage of lower prices and greater availability of excursions, airfare, and more.
Here's a roundup of the most frequently asked questions about Alaska cruises so you know everything you need to book the perfect Alaska cruise.
When is the 2024 Alaska cruise season?
The Alaska cruise season typically runs between April and October, although most cruise lines tend to offer cruises between May and September.
The choice of which month to sail to Alaska depends on a few variables:
- What wildlife or natural scenery you want to see
- How warm/cold you are comfortable with enduring
- Crowds
- Prices
You won't find Alaska cruises during the other months of the year due to the cold temperatures.
When is the best month to go on a 2024 Alaska cruise?
People that are have never visited Alaska often wonder what is the best month best month to go to Alaska on a cruise.
The months of April, May, September, and October 2024 tend to be the least crowded time to go because school is in session and the cooler temperatures.
Inversely, July 2024 and August 2024 and the most popular months to go on an Alaska cruise.
Summer sees warmer temperatures but comes with higher prices and more crowds. Fall and late spring have lower prices and less crowds, but it can be chillier.
Read more: When is the best time to visit Alaska?
Which cruise lines will sail to Alaska in 2024?
You will find a variety of cruise lines offering small and large cruise ships offering a 2024 Alaska cruise:
Major cruise lines
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Celebrity Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Princess Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Silversea Cruises
Small and Expedition cruise lines
- Alaskan Dream Cruises
- American Cruise Lines
- Lindblad Expeditions
- UnCruise
Which homeports can you sail from to Alaska?
To take a 2024 Alaska cruise, you can board a ship from these ports:
- Seattle, Washington
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Anchorage, Alaska
Read more: Where do Alaska cruises leave from & which should you choose?
There are several small ship lines, which generally have American-built ships and crew sail from and around Alaska waters:
- Juneau
- Sitka
- Ketchikan
- Yakutat
How long is an Alaska cruise?
Nearly all 2024 Alaska cruises are 7-nights long that visit the Inside Passage or Alaska Glacier cruises.
There are shorter and longer 2024 Alaska cruises, with some as long as 22-nights. But odds are your Alaska cruise will be a week long in duration.
What is the best 2024 Alaska cruise itinerary?
A majority of the Alaska cruises sail the Inside Passage, which is a waterway along the southeast coast of Alaska and British Columbia that visit the glaciers and the most popular cities along the way.
Some of the longer cruises will go further north in Alaska, sailing through the Gulf of Alaska. These typically begin or end in Anchorage.
Inside Passage cruises usually begin in Seattle or Vancouver. Expect to see lots of natural sights and wildlife, even while simply sailing between ports. Cruise ships sail along the coast, which means you could see eagles, whales, dolphins, or bears from the ship along the coast.
Another great benefit to sailing the Inside Passage is less risk of getting seasick. Since your ship is sailing between large land masses, ocean conditions usually remain quite calm.
Read more: Best Alaska cruise tips for a great visit
How much does an Alaska cruise cost?
Alaska cruise prices depend on a variety of factors, but there can be deals if you are strategic about your sailing.
How much an Alaska cruise costs will depend on: cabin category, time of year, length of sailing, and cruise line you select.
An Alaskan cruise cost can range between $600 – $10,000 per person, but if that number sounds quite large, it's because there are so many choices that greatly impact the price of a cruise.
It's a mistake to assume all Alaska cruises are the same, as well as the price is going to be same regardless of when you sail or when you book.
