Royal Caribbean is known for its fun and award-winning ships that welcome cruisers of all ages. It is the perfect cruise line for plenty of adventure both on and off the ship while sailing the scenic routes along the rugged coastline of Alaska.
As one of the largest cruise lines in the world, Royal Caribbean offers cruisers great value, with tons of amenities and activities onboard. The cruise line pushes the envelope with industry-leading advancements and ships that are designed to sail in cooler climates, making for the ultimate Alaska cruise vacation.
They also offer a myriad of itineraries with fantastic ports of call, as well as land tours to make the most of any Alaska cruise vacation. Whether it is sailing the 1,000 islands of the Inside Passage, whale watching, or hiking a glacier, Royal Caribbean lets its guests get up close and personal with the best of nature for the ultimate Alaska experience.
Since there are quite a few different options for a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska, here is a breakdown of what you need to know when choosing an unforgettable Alaska cruise vacation.
Royal Caribbean’s sailings to Alaska
For the upcoming Alaska cruise season, Royal Caribbean has 4 ships, two in each of the Radiance and Quantum classes, sailing a variety of different itineraries. With popular ships, including Brilliance of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Quantum of the Seas, cruisers have many choices for their dream Alaska vacation.
While most of the cruises are 7 days long, there are a few 6- and 8-day cruises, in addition to pre-and post-cruise land tours, which are an excellent opportunity to explore Alaska’s interior region, including its famed National Parks. Cruises of the Inside Passage, as well as north and southbound cruises, let travelers enjoy a wide range of ports and plenty of scenic cruising of glaciers.
Royal Caribbean ships homeport in both Seattle and Vancouver, popular West Coast locations that are a starting point for Inside Passage cruises. In addition, the cruise line has some one-way cruises leaving from Seward, Alaska, sailing southbound across the Gulf of Alaska. Seattle can be very convenient for departure as it has many affordable flight options. For those who depart Vancouver, travelers require a passport to fly to the Canadian port, an important point to consider when cruising.
Royal Caribbean’s Alaska itineraries
Cruising April through September, Royal Caribbean stops at a variety of ports of call, including Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Haines, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Victoria, and Vancouver. All roundtrip cruises from Seattle will visit at least one Canadian port.
There is scenic cruising of Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Endicott Arm & Dawes to witness the natural wonders of Alaska. Not only do cruisers get up close and personal views of some incredible glaciers, but they also get to witness the ever-changing nature of these magnificent ice formations. Glaciers can put on quite a show as they shed massive chunks of ice (a process called calving), splashing into the water below. A cruise to Alaska is also a great opportunity to see the region's abundant wildlife, including many marine animals, such as whales, sea lions, and otters.
One-way cruises provide the opportunity to explore a more northern route in Alaska. Spectacular itineraries and tours highlight the wilderness, tundra, interior, fjords, wildlife, and mountains, with visits to Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, and Talkeetna.
Royal Caribbean’s Alaska excursions
Royal Caribbean provides a wide assortment of excursion options for those looking for the ease of a cruise line outing. They also have Private Journeys, where the cruise line can create your own specific excursion that meets your interests and schedule. Whether you want a low-key walking tour, ziplining, or plenty of activities like hiking, canoeing, kayaking, or boat tours, Royal Caribbean has you covered. Some other highlights include:
- Glaciers – in addition to plenty of scenic cruising onboard its ships, guests of Royal Caribbean can explore these wonders of nature in any number of ways, such as flightseeing, helicopter rides, boat tours, and guided hikes.
- Wildlife – Alaska is famous for its incredible wildlife, including its Big Five: bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. The cruise line gives its guests a multitude of ways to see, learn, and interact with animals, including favorites like whale watching.
- National Parks - Explore one of the many stunning National Parks located in Alaska, including Glacier Bay National Park, the perfect place to spot baby seals. Kenai Fjords National Park is another epic park that covers a 1,047-square-mile location where the ocean touches mountains and massive glaciers.
- History and Culture - Explore the history and rich culture of Alaska. Highlights include a visit to Hoonah, the largest Tlingit village. Learn about the artistry of totem carving, like in Ketchikan, which has the most totem poles in the world. Explore the Gold Rush Era's remnants, including historic buildings and guided tours, try your hand at gold panning, or take an epic train ride through the wilderness.
- Food lovers will find much to love in Alaska’s culinary scene. The region is famous for its local Dungeness crab, salmon, and other local fish, as well as a number of local craft breweries.
Royal Caribbean’s add-on land tours
Royal Caribbean’s land tours, ” cruisetours” as they refer to them, give guests the opportunity to extend their cruise by as much as a week, visiting a number of locations and staying in lodges and central locations to take advantage of the local surroundings and activities. One popular add-on tour includes Denali Park Village, a great spot to take advantage of the scenic views, enjoy guided hikes, or whitewater rafting in the National Park.
The cruise line’s local specialists are a key component of this program, providing expertise to take guests to special places to best see and learn about the beauty, history, and culture of Alaska.
Once on land, cruisers stay in authentic lodges and travel remote roads and railways in deluxe motor coaches or on a luxurious train with domed glass ceilings. These tours head to locations like Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks, Alyeska, and Seward. Another highlight for land tours is the Wilderness Express, where passengers travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks with 360-degree windows and onboard cuisine.
Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska
Royal Caribbean has a total of four ships sailing north to Alaska, providing guests with some great choices.
Brilliance of the Seas
Launched in 2002, Brilliance of the Seas is more of a mid-sized cruise ship with a capacity for 2,543 guests. It received a major refurbishment in 2013 as well as more updates to dining and activity venues in 2018.
It has lots of fun, family-friendly activities like mini-golf, an arcade, a 40-foot rock climbing wall, live productions, kids camps, hot tubs, pools, a solarium, a sports court, and movie nights. Once all the activities for the day are done, there are several different food venues onboard, including classic options like the buffet or main dining room, as well as its Royal’s fan favorite Izumi, Chops Grille, and Italian.
More than 75% of the ship's cabins have ocean views (including balconies), great for taking in the incredible scenery of Alaska. While onboard, ocean-facing glass elevators and floor-to-ceiling windows make guests feel like they’re part of the sea and sky.
Radiance of the Seas
Radiance of the Seas is one year older than Brilliance of the Seas, and the first ship in the Radiance Class launched in 2001 but had updates in 2016 and some additional renovations in 2021. With a capacity of 2,466, it is one of the smaller ships sailing to Alaska.
It was designed to offer comfort while sailing through a variety of climates and landscapes. It offers a good selection of amenities onboard, with 10 dining venues, a spa, rock climbing, a solarium with hot tubs, table tennis, pools, live music, and productions the cruise line is known for, as well as kids clubs, sports courts, mini golf and more.
Brilliance and Radiance are very similar ships, launched only 1 year apart, with the main difference being their varied itineraries and that Radiance of the Seas has a few more dining venues, such as Samba Grill and Dog House. Brilliance of the Seas mainly does roundtrip weeklong cruises of the Inside Passage from Vancouver. Radiance offers more diverse options, such as southbound cruises from Seward and northbound from Vancouver, which provides the option for pre- or post-cruise land tours.
Quantum Class ships
The other two ships sailing to Alaska are part of the Quantum class of ships, which are newer and nearly double the size of the Radiance ships. They are an excellent option for cruisers who like the modern amenities that this class of ships provides. They were also designed for more diverse climates and feature some great indoor spaces as well as pools with a retractable roof.
Ovation of the Seas
Launched in 2016, Ovation of the Seas was built to sail in all weather conditions, such as Alaska. Onboard, guests can enjoy the Alaska views in several indoor spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows, such as the Two70 lounge.
Considerably larger than the Radiance class ships (almost double), it welcomes 4,905 passengers and is a great option for cruisers who like the modern amenities that this class of ships provides.
It has lots of onboard amenities like a surf simulator, rock climbing, and a North Star – 300-foot-high observation pod. It has 16 different dining options, numerous cabin options, including virtual balconies, and the much-touted Royal Suite Class, which offers stunning loft staterooms with butlers for those who want to splurge on some luxury during their Alaska cruise vacation. Ovation of the Seas departs from Seattle on 7 and 8-day round trips of the Inside Passage.
Quantum of the Seas
Launched in 2014, Quantum of the Seas is the same size as Ovation of the Seas and heads to the Last Frontier, mainly sailing out of Seattle. This adventure-packed ship offers glacier gazing from the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship and activities that can be enjoyed in any weather. It features plenty of entertainment, all-weather activities like the fan-favorite FlowRider, and unparalleled views from every angle.
Quantum of the Seas is the first ship in the Quantum Class and shares lots of similarities with Ovation. Quantum Class ships were designed to function in both warm and cold weather conditions, and the ships feature more indoor areas than other Royal Caribbean. Guests also love its SeaPlex, which hosts plenty of activities, such as the ever-popular bumper cars, pickleball, soccer, roller skating, and volleyball.
Royal Caribbean’s onboard offerings
Royal Caribbean is known for its plentiful onboard activities and innovation in the industry. There are both classic cruise ship experiences with the Radiance ships as well as some of the latest bells and whistles of the Quantum Class ships:
- Variety of inclusive and specialty dining options. Specialty dining includes sushi and Italian. Complimentary favorites like the Windjammer buffet, Café Promenade, or Sorrento’s Pizza mean no one will ever go hungry.
- Quantum ships also feature a SeaPlex, a versatile indoor space that houses bumper cars and sports. Other fun venues include a surf simulator and Two70 entertainment venue.
- Extensive entertainment like live music and original productions
- Complimentary kids programs, with dedicated spaces and supervision
- Adult activities include a variety of bars, lounges, nightclubs, spas, and casino
- Lots of additional onboard activities like basketball, volleyball, and mini-golf, numerous pools and hot tubs
- Variety of cabin categories with lots of balcony options for scenic viewing Numerous suite options, including the suite-only area and added perks and benefits such as dining and concierge service.
What to know when picking a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska
Royal Caribbean is known for family fun and provides ships that have a ton to offer onboard for a great Alaska vacation. With four 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 Royal Caribbean for your Alaska cruise vacation:
- Royal Caribbean is a family-friendly cruise line that is known for its technologically advanced ships, with plenty of bells and whistles. With so much choice of cruise itineraries and onboard amenities, the cruise line appeals to a wide range of cruisers.
- While kids will have a great time on a Royal Caribbean ship, there are also plenty of adult-focused activities, like shows, lounges, spas, adult-only solariums, casinos, and clubs.
- Their prices are among the most competitive in the marketplace, with many inclusions, such as food and entertainment, starting as low as $400 per person for a weeklong cruise. Frequent Kids Sail Free events can make it even more affordable for families wanting to take that ultimate Alaska cruise vacation.
- 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. Royal Caribbean 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, for those who want to splurge. Balcony cabins and virtual balconies can be other good options for an Alaska cruise, with so much fantastic scenery.
