By Captain Sail, Book with the Captain
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Ahoy, explorers! I'm Captain Sail, the guide for Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel. An Alaska cruise is one of the few trips where the scenery is the main event. Here's how to plan a 2027 sailing: when to go, where to board, which glaciers you'll see, and what to pack.
Ready to plan?
from Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel.
Quick facts: Alaska cruise 2027
- Season: roughly late April to early October.
- Main ports: Seattle and Vancouver for round trips; Seward or Whittier, near Anchorage, for one-way trips.
- Glacier routes: Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, and College Fjord, depending on the itinerary.
- Common length: 7 nights round trip, or about 7 days one way.
- First decision: pick the glacier route you want. Not every Alaska cruise goes into Glacier Bay.
When does Alaska cruise season run?
Alaska is a short-season destination. Royal Caribbean's cruise-timing guide says the season generally runs from late April to early October. The Port of Seattle's 2026 fact sheet listed cruise season from April 17 to October 11. Seattle has also posted a preliminary 2027 schedule, so you can check which ships are planned before you choose dates.
The months differ in daylight, crowds and wildlife. I cover that month by month in a separate guide, so this post sticks to ports, routes and planning.
Captain's tip: Choose your glacier route first, then your month. A great month on the wrong itinerary can still miss the glacier you came for.
Alaska cruise departure ports compared
Most Alaska cruises start in one of three places. Your choice affects the route, how you fly, and whether the trip is a loop or one way.
| Port | Trip style | Good fit if you... | Things to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | Round trip, often 7 nights | Want to fly into and out of the same U.S. city | Which terminal: Bell Street Pier 66 or Smith Cove Pier 91 |
| Vancouver, BC | Round trip or one way through the Inside Passage | Want Canada Place downtown, or a one-way trip north | Passport and border rules for entering Canada |
| Seward or Whittier, AK | One way to or from Vancouver | Want to add land time in Alaska before or after | Transfer from Anchorage, and open-jaw flights |
The Port of Seattle calls itself the gateway to Alaska for more than 100 years. It runs two cruise terminals: Bell Street Pier 66 near downtown and Smith Cove Pier 91 to the north. Your cruise documents will name your pier.
Vancouver's cruise terminal is Canada Place on the downtown waterfront. Round trips sail the Inside Passage. One-way trips head north to the Anchorage area. Princess's Voyage of the Glaciers route, for example, sails one way between Vancouver and Whittier in about seven days.
Good to know: A one-way cruise means flying into one city and home from another. Compare both flights before you commit, and leave room for a cruisetour if you want time on land.
Alaska glacier routes: which one sails where?
This is the part most first-timers miss. "Alaska cruise" can mean very different glacier days. Here's how the main routes compare, from the National Park Service and cruise line pages.
| Glacier route | Where it is | What the day looks like | Who goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Bay | Glacier Bay National Park | Ships stay in the bay 9 to 10 hours, including about an hour at a tidewater glacier. Park rangers come aboard. | Only some itineraries. Entries are limited. |
| Hubbard Glacier | Yakutat coast, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park area | Ship sails toward a huge glacier face, weather and ice allowing | Often one-way Gulf of Alaska trips |
| Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm | South of Juneau | Narrow fjord to Sawyer or Dawes Glacier | Many Inside Passage loops |
| College Fjord | Prince William Sound | A fjord lined with glaciers | Some one-way trips near Whittier |
In Glacier Bay, ships don't dock. The NPS says rangers board to narrate and staff an information desk. A park map is often delivered to your cabin the night before. Ships may enter Johns Hopkins Inlet only in late summer, to protect harbor seals.
Good to know: The NPS says many Alaska cruises do not visit Glacier Bay. If it's on your must-see list, confirm it's on the itinerary by name before you book.
Why plan an Alaska cruise early
When should you book an Alaska cruise? I suggest starting once you know your travel window, for a few practical reasons:
- Glacier Bay entries are limited. The NPS says typically two ships a day go up the West Arm, so only certain sailings include it.
- Itineraries vary a lot. Loop, one way, Glacier Bay or Hubbard: you want time to compare.
- Cabin side matters. On scenic cruising days, a balcony or window on the right side helps. My cabin guide walks through the choices.
- Flights and land time. One-way trips and cruisetours need flights planned around them.
Let's match you to a route.
from Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel.
Ports you'll likely visit
Most Inside Passage itineraries call at a mix of towns like Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. Port order can change, and cruise lines say so in their itineraries. If Juneau is on yours, my Juneau port guide covers what to know before you step ashore.
Captain's tip: Book shore time around the glacier you most want. Some glaciers are seen from the ship; others need a tour from port.
What to pack for an Alaska cruise
Alaska weather can change in an hour, even in summer. Pack for layers, not for one temperature.
- Waterproof jacket with a hood. Rain is common along the coast.
- Warm middle layer. A fleece or light puffy for deck time near the ice.
- Hat and gloves. It's colder on deck by a glacier than in port.
- Binoculars. For whales, eagles and the glacier face.
- Comfortable waterproof shoes. Docks and trails can be wet.
- Small daypack. For layers, snacks and a camera ashore.
- Travel documents. Check passport needs with the U.S. State Department, especially if you sail from Vancouver.
If this is your first cruise of any kind, my first cruise guide covers the basics from check-in to the last night.
Your Alaska cruise 2027 checklist
- Pick your must-see glacier: Glacier Bay, Hubbard, a fjord or College Fjord
- Choose round trip or one way
- Choose your port: Seattle, Vancouver, Seward or Whittier
- Confirm Glacier Bay by name if it matters to you
- Pick a cabin side for scenic cruising days
- Plan flights, plus any land time
- Check passport rules for your route
- Pack layers, rain gear and binoculars
FAQ
When is the best time to book an Alaska cruise for 2027?
Start once you know your travel window. Glacier Bay entries are limited to only some sailings, and one-way trips need flights planned around them. Booking with time to spare lets you compare routes, cabin sides and dates. There's no single magic date.
Which is better for Alaska, Seattle or Vancouver?
It depends on your trip. Seattle mostly runs round trips from a U.S. city, using Pier 66 or Pier 91. Vancouver's Canada Place offers round trips and one-way trips north. If you want a one-way cruise with land time in Alaska, Vancouver, Seward or Whittier is usually the fit.
Do all Alaska cruises go to Glacier Bay?
No. The National Park Service says many Alaska cruises do not visit Glacier Bay, and typically only two ships a day go up the West Arm. Others visit Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm or College Fjord instead. If Glacier Bay matters to you, confirm it on the itinerary by name.
What should I pack for an Alaska cruise?
Pack layers. Bring a waterproof hooded jacket, a fleece or light puffy, a hat and gloves for deck time near the ice, waterproof walking shoes, binoculars and a small daypack. Weather along the coast can change quickly, even in summer, so plan for rain and cool air.
Ready for Alaska?
Tell me your dates, who's coming and the glacier you most want to see. I'll compare routes and ports for you, and a human advisor checks every detail.
from Book with the Captain, an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel.
No Book with the Captain fees and no markup on cruise and hotel bookings: you pay the cruise line's or hotel's rate.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or Princess Cruises. Ship and route names belong to their owners.
Sources (read Oct 25, 2026)
- National Park Service, Glacier Bay: Cruise Ship Visits. https://www.nps.gov/glba/planyourvisit/cruise.htm
- National Park Service, Glacier Bay: Boating and Cruising. https://www.nps.gov/glba/planyourvisit/cruising.htm
- National Park Service, Wrangell–St. Elias: Yakutat and the Coast. https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/yakutat-and-coast.htm
- Port of Seattle, 2026 Cruise Fact Sheet. https://www.portseattle.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Cruise-FactSheet_2026_V6_3.19.pdf
- Port of Seattle, Cruise (terminals, 2027 preliminary schedule). https://www.portseattle.org/maritime/cruise
- Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Cruise. https://www.portvancouver.com/about/cruise
- Royal Caribbean, Alaska Cruises. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/alaska-cruises
- Royal Caribbean, The Best Time to Go on a Cruise (Alaska season range). https://www.royalcaribbean.com/guides/best-time-go-cruise
- Princess Cruises, Voyage of the Glaciers. https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-destinations/alaska-cruises/voyage-of-the-glaciers-cruise-in-alaska/
- Images: Wikimedia Commons. The credit and license for each photo are shown under it.
Keep planning
- First Caribbean Cruise Tips: What I Tell First-Timers
- First Cruise Checklist: 12 Steps Before You Sail
- Cruises I can plan
- Cruise port guides