Norwegian Cruise Line is popular for its relaxed, free-style approach to cruising. With tons of exciting itineraries, including many to Alaska, it is an excellent choice for cruisers of any age who want to explore the Last Frontier.
With seven ships sailing to Alaska, Norwegian Cruise Line offers customers a lot of choices with everything from larger ships that can hold up to 4,000 passengers all the way down to less than 2,000 guests. Regardless of the size, guests are treated to a range of dining options, entertainment, and plenty of activities.
Visiting Alaska's famed ports of call and scenic cruising of glaciers and fjords make for an incredible adventure both on and off the ship. The cruise line's extensive selection of unique excursions and add-on tours make a cruise vacation even better, with more opportunities to explore what makes Alaska so special.
Since there are a lot of different options for a cruise to Alaska when booking with Norwegian Cruise Line, here is a breakdown of what you need to know when picking the best itinerary and ship for the ultimate Alaska cruise vacation.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s sailings to Alaska
Norwegian offers many different ways to experience Alaska. A week-long cruise to popular ports filled with glaciers and marine life, or longer itineraries that allow cruisers to become more immersed in all that the Last Fortier is renowned for. They have 59 cruise vacations, leaving from popular ports such as Seattle and Vancouver, as well as Seward, Whittier, Honolulu, and Tokyo. Sailing from April to October, meaning there is tons of choice for every type of cruiser.
Spanning four different classes, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Spirit, and Norwegian Sun are all heading to the land of the Midnight Sun for cruises in 2024.
Many of the cruises are weeklong to sailing the endless islands of the Inside Passage, in addition to north and southbound cruises that cross the Gulf of Alaska.
Cruises range from 7-18 days, with the addition of up to a week of add-on land tours and visits to a number of ports such as Sitka, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Victoria, Haines, Skagway, Kodiak, and Seward. Scenic viewing includes Endicott Arm Fjord& Dawes Glacier, Glacier Bay, and Hubbard Glacier. They also have some transpacific voyages that include Alaska with Hawaii or Japan for the ultimate bucket list vacation.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Alaska excursions
Guests of Norwegian Cruise Line can choose from a wide range of Alaska excursions at all levels of activity and interest, such as wilderness adventures, hiking on glaciers, and inland tours. Explore the rugged landscape of Denali National Park, which covers 6 million acres of wilderness. Enjoy a ride on an Alaskan railway, go sightseeing, enjoy some locally caught fish, or even have the opportunity to hug a husky puppy—something for everyone. The cruise line offers its guests 214 shore excursions on its cruises to Alaska. They have three different activity levels and four categories, including adventure, family, featured, and sightseeing. Some other highlights include:
- Glaciers – in addition to plenty of scenic cruising onboard its ships, there are some truly majestic ways to see these wonders of Alaska, such as flightseeing, helicopter rides, boat tours, and guided hikes. Visit the famed Mendenhall Glacier, followed by a trip to a temperate rainforest at Glacier Gardens, for an unforgettable day onshore.
- Wildlife – Alaska is famous for abundant wildlife, including whales, sea lions, bears, and much more. Some great excursions include water rafting through a bald eagle preserve in Haines or an incredible day of whale watching followed by a feast of local seafood.
- National Parks - Explore one of the many stunning National Parks located in Alaska, including a day strolling through Tongass National Forest, with many family-friendly activities led by a local guide.
- History and Culture - Explore the history and rich culture of Alaska by visiting the Tlingit people or learning about the artistry of totem carving, like in Ketchikan, which has the most totem poles in the world. Explore the Gold Rush Era by walking in the footsteps of Joe Juneau, whose strike at Gold Creek set off the Alaska gold rush 130 years ago.
- Food lovers will find much to love in Alaska’s culinary scene, with plenty of opportunities to try local favorites. Attend a seaside, local salmon bake, and savor sweet crab. If you want to combine the outdoors with some local brew – there is the Sitka Pedal Pub, biking in between pubs.
- There are so many ways to explore Alaska, including boat tours, trains, flightseeing, helicopter, off-roading on an ATV, wave runners, or heading out on a fisherman’s boat for the day. For the more adventurous, try ziplining or an aerial tram.
Norwegian Cruise Line add-on land tours
For those who want more time in the Last Frontier to explore its rugged wilderness and travel off the beaten path, Norwegian Cruise Line offers add-on land tours. Local Alaska guides provide a more immersive experience with a number of options. Starting from Fairbanks, Seward, and Anchorage, there are 4-7 extra days on north and southbound cruises.
Local experts escort guests as they travel to a number of bucket list-type locations, such as Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, Alyeska, Homer, and Talkeetna. Some notable activities include riding the Alaska Railroad, visiting the Iditarod race dogs, exploring Denali for flightseeing, water rafting, hiking, fishing, and much more.
Norwegian makes all the arrangements, including transportation and hotels, and focuses on Alaskan-owned and locally operated hotels to help guests experience as much of the rugged and rustic atmosphere of Alaska whenever possible.
Norwegian Cruise Line ships sailing to Alaska
Norwegian Cruise Line has 7 seven different ships sailing to Alaska for the next cruise season. They have everything from an old-school classic cruise experience on Norwegian Sun to all the bells and whistles of the Breakaway Plus class that even has race tracks on the top of the ship. Their brightly painted ships, laden with activities and fun, compete with major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its relaxed atmosphere, along with a vast array of dining options. Although it varies by ship, guests can expect to have plenty of amenities and entertainment onboard these ships, including tasty complimentary and specialty dining meals, live entertainment, spas, casinos, pools, sports, and a variety of cabin options, even suites.
In particular, the Norwegian Breakaway Plus Class of ships are among the newest in the fleet sailing to Alaska. Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, and Norwegian Joy are all part of this class and provide lots of amenities and resort-style cruising. There is an endless amount of dining options, including the standard specialty restaurants that cruisers have come to love. This, in addition to epic race tracks, laser tag, slides, waterparks, gaming pavilions, and a wide selection of cabins, including deluxe suites, makes Norwegian Cruise Line a popular choice for cruises to Alaska.
Norwegian Bliss (Breakaway Plus class)
Built in 2018, the Norwegian Bliss was refurbished in 2021. It is one of the largest ships in the Norwegian fleet sailing to Alaska, welcoming up to 4,004 guests.
The ship was custom-built with Alaska cruises in mind and has several great features, such as a 20,000-square-foot revolutionary Observation Lounge, perfect for taking in the breathtaking view of Alaska. It has a number of specialty dining options, numerous bars, live musical productions, including the Jersey Boys Show, and lots of fun activities like a racetrack, aqua park, laser tag, and mini golf.
Norwegian Encore (Breakaway Plus class)
Built in 2019, the Norwegian Encore is also part of the Breakaway Plus class and shares many of the same characteristics as the Norwegian Bliss. It received the 2020 Best New Ship award from Porthole Cruise Magazine.
Norwegian Encore has a capacity of 3,998 passengers and 1,735 crew, and it is well known for providing fun activities for adults and kids. Notable venues include the District Brew House and fantastic entertainment options such as Choir of Men, laser tag with augmented reality, and the adult-only Vibe Beach Club, along with great views from the 180-degree observation lounge.
Norwegian Joy (Breakaway Plus class)
Launched in 2017 and refurbished in 2020, Norwegian Joy has a lot to offer, similar to the other ships in this class. It has a capacity of 3,852 guests and is well-rated by cruisers whose array of onboard amenities and activities and a wide selection of cabin options.
Guests can enjoy its 80s-themed Footloose show, relax in the Humidor Cigar Lounge, or catch some classic tunes at the Beattle’s inspired Cavern Club. The ship boasts 11 dining venues, including numerous specialty dining options. It has lots of fun things to do with a racetrack, laser tag Galaxy Pavilion- for virtual gaming, mini-golf, waterpark, splash pad, a salon, kids clubs, and an arcade. Adults can enjoy the fitness center, new Thermal suite spa, adult-only Beach Club, and a fitness center.
Norwegian Jewel (Jewel class)
This ship set sail in 2005 but was refurbished in 2022 and had a capacity of 2,376 guests and 1,069 crew. Smaller than the Breakaway class of ships, it still provides a variety of great features and is a good solution for cruisers who like smaller, intimate ships but still want some of the modern activities and amenities.
It has several complimentary dining venues – a buffet, main dining, a pub, and an outdoor venue, specialty dining, including a Brazilian steakhouse, sushi, and Italian, 13 bars, lounges, whisky and sake bars; live productions - Rock You Tonight, a sports court, arcade, casino, and spa. It runs at almost half the capacity of the Norwegian Bliss and Encore, which is great for those who like a smaller, more intimate ship atmosphere. Being a slightly older ship offers great value to those who want a budget-friendly option.
Norwegian Jade (Jewel class)
Built in 2006, Norwegian Jade was refurbished in 2022. A mid-sized cruise ship, it has a capacity of 2402 passengers. After extensive upgrades, it has new venues, modern décor and design, and refurbished staterooms.
Among the highlights is O'Sheehan's Neighbourhood Bar & Grill, a 24-hour pub serving up favorite comfort foods. Stop by The Pit Stop, a new concept that combines poolside fun and fare, and a new Bliss Ultra Lounge. Guests can also enjoy a full-scale production Blazing Boots, a sports court, a cigar lounge, youth programs, pools, hot tubs, a spa, and more.
Norwegian Sun (Sun class)
The Norwegian Sun, part of the Sun class of ships, set sail in 2001 but was refurbished in 2021. It welcomes 1,936 guests and 906 crew, a smaller ship for Norwegian Cruise Line.
It has some amenities such as pools, hot tubs, sports, and live productions such as the Rock You Tonight Show, as well as a number of dining venues and bars, a casino, a spa, and a fitness center, but no Haven suites. This ship is well suited for cruisers who like a classic cruise experience with a focus on the destination and often provides good value for the cruise fare.
Norwegian Spirit (Leo class)
This ship first sailed in 1998 but was refurbished in 2022 and can hold up to 2,032 passengers and 912 crew. It is both the oldest and smallest ship sailing to Alaska (and in the fleet). Despite its smaller size and age, the cruise line has done a good job keeping it new, as it has a number of great features.
Norwegian describes this ship as adult-focused (with no youth programs), providing guests with laid-back luxury. Every stateroom has been modernized, and dining and beverage venues were redesigned, adding fresh appeal. It does provide both complimentary and specialty dining options, as well as live productions, comedy, casino and spa, and a good selection of cabin options.
What to know when picking a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to Alaska
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for family fun and provides ships that have a ton to offer onboard for a great Alaska vacation. But it also has plenty of adult-only areas, as well as smaller ships that are geared toward a more classic cruise experience. With seven different ships and numerous itineraries and add-on land tours, there is something for everyone. Here are a couple of other points to consider when booking with Norwegian Cruise LIne for your Alaska cruise vacation:
- There are tons of choices – with seven different ships varying vastly in size and age, there are numerous options -something for adults who like a more class cruise, all the way to family-friendly, fun-filled ships.
- The cruise line’s relaxed approach makes it a family-friendly cruise line. Their newer ships in the Breakaway Plus Class offer plenty of fun board activities, like a race track.
- While kids will have a great time on a Norwegian ship, there are also plenty of adult-focused activities, like shows, lounges, spas, adult-only solariums, casinos, and clubs.
- Norwegian has a number of ongoing promotions as part of its Free at Sea discounts with numerous inclusions, such as drinks, wi-fi, specialty dining, airfare, and excursions, to help make your Alaska cruise vacation even more affordable. Although there are some limitations, such as dollar maximums on excursions and total bar bills. It is important to make sure you understand the policies relating to the program prior to booking.
- North or southbound cruises allow for optional add-on tours, which can be a great way to explore Alaska in more depth, especially areas in the interior that are farther from cruise ports of call. Norwegian arranges all of the transportation, including trains, high-end lodgings, and expert guides to accompany the tours.
- The cruise line has a wide variety of cabin options, including high-end staterooms found in the Haven, with some of the best deluxe suites at sea for those who want to splurge. Norwegian also has a number of solo cabins, a great perk for those who don’t want to pay that pesty single supplement fee.
