Closer afield, but no less secluded, is the Prince William Sound Explorer from Uncruise, where guests will depart Whittier and wake up among the glaciers of little-visited Icy Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Much of the itinerary is “Captain’s choice” based on conditions and sea life movements, but the massive Columbia and Meares glaciers and the Sound communities of Cordova and Valdez—also off the big ship routes—hold prized spots on the itinerary.
The best Alaska cruises 2025
Alaska cruises have long followed a well-sailed route up the Inside Passage from Seattle or Vancouver, but as many destinations begin to reach capacity, cruise lines have to seek out new ports to call at, or new areas for scenic cruising. Glacier Bay is a popular classic for scenic cruising, but entry permits are limited for environmental reasons, so some cruises take in glaciers at Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier instead.
Alaska ports like Juneau are also approaching the limits of its local visitor infrastructure, so less-visited destinations like Wrangell, Kodiak, and the brand-new cruise dock at Klawock are starting to pop up on some cruise itineraries in 2025. Below, see our favorite Alaska cruise itineraries coming up next year.
Oceania Cruises – Wilds of Alaska
Oceania’s Riviera will sail in Alaskan waters for the first time in 2025, and the itineraries are extraordinary. This 12-day itinerary goes beyond the well-beaten Inside Passage, venturing to lesser-visited ports like Kodiak, Homer, and Wrangell—even stopping into the brand-new cruise port at Klawock, on Prince of Wales Islands, for forest-set culinary experiences, whale watching, and exploring the secluded fishing villages of Klawock and Craig with just a few hundred inhabitants. On board, the culinary experiences continue with a host of included-in-the-fare specialty restaurants and a purpose-built demonstration and teaching kitchen where passengers can take intimate cooking classes led by a master chef.
Alaskan Dream Cruises – Alaska’s Glacier Bay & Island Adventure
Alaska’s only Indigenous-owned cruise line is Sitka’s Alaskan Dream Cruises, which offers small-ship journeys in Southeast Alaska, focusing on the nooks and crannies where larger ships are unable to venture. This weeklong sailing between Juneau and Sitka delivers passengers to small, untouched communities like Norwegian fishermen-founded village of Petersburg and tiny Pelican, with just 70 year-round residents before heading to the company’s own Orca Point Lodge for a seafood feast ahead of a full day of scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.
Princess Cruises – Ultimate Alaska Solstice
In a departure from the norm, this Princess sailing departs from San Francisco, giving guests a few extra sea days to enjoy the ship before it dives into 11 ports on this 22-day itinerary. Coinciding with Summer Solstice—the longest day of the year, when the sun shines for nearly 24 hours throughout most of Alaska—this sailing is a Glacierpalooza. Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, and College Fjord are all on the itinerary, as well as a good mix of interesting ports such as Valdez, known as the “Switzerland of Alaska”, and Sitka, with its fascinating mix of Indigenous Łingit and Russian heritage.
Holland America Line – Great Alaska Explorer
Many cruises begin and end in Anchorage, but actually dock in ports at Whittier or Seward. This 14-night Holland America Line sailing actually calls directly in Anchorage on a roundtrip from Vancouver—rare for a ship the size of the MS Nieuw Amsterdam. The early-in-the-season voyage captures Anchorage at its spring-blooming best. While Denali isn’t a focal point for this itinerary, flightseeing tours can be taken from Anchorage. The ship also calls at Kodiak, where guests can board boats for wildlife viewing or fish for king salmon or halibut, before continuing to the scenic glacier cruising and fascinating communities in Southeast Alaska.
Viking – Alaska & The Inside Passage
Viking’s ocean-going ships are a bit of a departure from the norm for Alaska cruises. Designed with clean Nordic lines and the aesthetic of a land-based luxury hotel, these ships are well-suited for understated exploring—you won’t find a casino onboard here. The 11-day itinerary from Vancouver calls at Alaska’s collection of “Greatest Hits” ports like Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau, but also overnights in Seward before passengers disembark, giving them a chance to check out rescued wildlife at the fascinating Alaska SeaLife Center or take an excursion in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Celebrity Cruises – Alaska Northbound Glacier
Alaska itineraries have grown most varied in recent years, particularly as ports and scenic cruising spots reach capacity. But this 7-day sailing onboard the recently refreshed Celebrity Summit is almost as traditional as it gets. Departing from Vancouver, it calls at Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau—Southeast Alaska’s three largest communities—before stopping into Icy Straight Point near tiny Hoonah for a day of ziplining and whale-watching (the port operator, the Indigenous-owned Huna Totem Corporation, even guarantees passengers will see whales or they’ll refund the tour price in cash—a guarantee that as of press time they’ve never had to pay out on in two decades of operation). The Celebrity sailing ends with scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier and ends its journey in Seward.
Windstar – Alaskan Splendors
Many weeklong Alaska cruises just call in Southeast Alaska and return to ports in Seattle or Vancouver or stop at a limited number of ports before crossing the Gulf of Alaska to Seward or Whittier. This 10-day itinerary on Windstar’s Star Seeker calls at all the top spots in the Inside Passage—even calling in Wrangell for trips to see its ancient oceanfront petroglyphs and Haines to see demonstrations by Łingit artisan carvers at the Alaska Indian Arts Center before docking in Seward to disembark passengers wanting to explore Denali and Alaska’s interior.