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Even with a season that only runs from April through October, Alaska draws roughly 40 big cruise ships and dozens of smaller cruise vessels each year, making it one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world after the Caribbean and Europe. The best Alaska cruises range from off-the-beaten-path voyages on vessels carrying fewer than 100 passengers to weeklong jaunts through the Inside Passage aboard megaships that hold thousands.

It can be hard to figure out which cruise ship will deliver your idea of a “bucket list” experience in the Last Frontier. A lot comes down to your travel style, preferences and budget.

Some travelers demand luxury Alaska cruises, while others don’t mind going less fancy if it means close encounters with bears and other creatures in the wilderness. Some look for romance, and others want to introduce the kids or grandkids to glaciers and eagles, gold panning and sled dogs.

The good news is there’s a ship in Alaska for you, no matter your taste or style. Here’s a beginners guide to the best Alaska cruises to help you narrow down your choices.

Best for megaresort fans: Anthem of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is known for its floating megaresorts that carry thousands and are big on amenities, glitz and a certain amount of glamour (think: flashy casinos, high-tech shows and lavish spas). Dining and drinking venues number in the dozens, while amusement park features thrill the kids and adrenaline-seekers.

The line always stations one or two Quantum Class ships in Alaska for the season. On 4,180-passenger Anthem of the Seas, you can order a drink from a robotic bartender, try simulated skydiving or surfing experiences, and take a ride in a glass capsule that travels high above your ship on a mechanical arm — a weird and wonderful way to see the Alaska scenery. Adults can linger in the glass-walled Solarium, relaxing in the indoor pools and whirlpools, while their kids zoom around the SeaPlex in bumper cars.

Anthem of the Seas sails round-trip from Seattle on seven-night cruises, but the exact itinerary varies by week. The ship cruises Endicott Arm for scenic views of Dawes Glacier and typically visits two Alaska ports and Victoria, British Columbia.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Best for land and sea adventures: Nieuw Amsterdam

Holland America Line has offered Alaska cruises for 75 years and is clearly a market leader. The line tops the list in terms of cruises, as well as cruisetours, which combine time sailing with overnight stays on land. The company operates its own lodges, rail cars and motorcoaches for exploration of Alaska’s interior and beyond.

Related: Why a Holland America Alaska cruise should top your list in the Last Frontier

The line will send six ships to Alaska in 2026, with a wide range of stand-alone cruises and cruisetours that combine a cruise with visits to such interior destinations as Denali National Park & Preserve, Fairbanks and Anchorage. But it’s 2,106-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam that offers some of the most interesting Alaska cruisetour itineraries in 2026.

The ship offers nine- to 14-night cruisetours that head into the Canadian Yukon, following the route of the Klondike gold rush from Alaska to northwestern Canada. You’ll sail from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Skagway, Alaska, with a stop in Tracy Arm or Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, then travel to Whitehorse and Dawson City in the Yukon before continuing on to Fairbanks (the gateway to Arctic Alaska), Denali National Park (home to North America’s largest peak) and Anchorage.

On board, enjoy live music at Billboard Onboard and B.B. King’s Blues Club, play a game of pickleball on the outer deck or enjoy fine dining at numerous restaurants serving sushi and Asian cuisine, steak, seafood, Italian fare and Dutch treats.

Best for families: Disney Wonder

If you’re traveling with young kids in Alaska and want an activity- and entertainment-packed experience, make a beeline for Disney Cruise Line and its Alaska-based Disney Wonder. The ship has an extensive children’s program, high-quality entertainment and activities such as waterslides and play areas.

Cabins are designed with families in mind and include split bathrooms (one with a toilet and a sink, the other with a shower-tub combo and a sink), as well as pullout sofa beds and bunks to sleep four in a cabin. Disney-themed restaurants and attentive waitstaff take the stress out of family mealtimes.

Bonus: Everyone’s favorite Disney characters will be on board for shows and meet-and-greets. Goofy might even make an appearance as you admire soaring eagles, blue icebergs and glaciers.

Related: The best cruise lines for families

The ship might not have all the wild attractions of its Alaska counterpart Anthem of the Seas, but it still offers kids clubs, outdoor movies, an indoor adults-only solarium, a rock-climbing wall, themed parties and multiple dining venues, making it a great value for the price.

Related: Best time to cruise Alaska

If you’re looking for other surefire ways to save, inside and ocean-view cabins are often much cheaper than balcony cabins on Alaska cruises. Those private verandas are highly desirable, with everyone seeking views of the wilderness, snowcapped peaks and glaciers. As those reserves get low, the prices tend to get higher.

Bargain seekers should either book early for these accommodations or choose inside, outside or guarantee cabins (where you don’t pick your room location) to save more.

Best for Alaskan adventure: Wilderness Legacy

If adventure is what you crave on an Alaska cruise, you should seek out the small ships of UnCruise Adventures. All the line’s itineraries offer an active component, but its “Wild, Woolly and Wow” itinerary claims to be “the most active backcountry itinerary” of UnCruise’s 2026 Alaska cruises.

A day aboard 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy might start out with a hike through a forest to see waterfalls, followed by a late-day kayak adventure in Thomas Bay. Or, you might enjoy a bit of scenic cruising by LeConte Glacier (where the big ships don’t go) by small boat or even stand-up paddleboard. Big ships can only offer deckside viewing of the marvels of Glacier Bay, but UnCruise Adventures sends its ships to the rarely visited outback.

Mountain biking, whale watching and glacier hiking are all on your cruise agenda. Just when you’re ready for a rest, guided skiff tours will take guests in search of Alaskan wildlife in remote bays and secret coves.

The seven-night itinerary sails round-trip from Juneau, Alaska.

Best for multigenerational groups: Star Princess

Alaska has become a hot spot for multigenerational family travel, with grandparents taking their kids and grandkids of all ages on a memory-making holiday. Princess Cruises is a line that offers something for everyone, and its soon-to-be Alaska-based Star Princess is our top choice for family reunion groups.

The brand-new Star Princess, which just debuted earlier this month, will sail round-trip to Alaska from Seattle — a convenient U.S. home port for families to reach by plane or car — throughout the summer of 2026. Its “North to Alaska” program will delight kids with totem pole decorating, sled dog puppies in the ship’s Piazza and northern lights viewing in an on-ship planetarium. Parents and grandparents will appreciate local seafood on restaurant menus and onboard cultural programming with Alaska residents.

Related: The best Alaska cruise shore excursions — from heli-hiking to whale watching

While the kids enjoy Star Princess’ spacious children’s and teens clubs, the adults might linger over a craft cocktail or enjoy a massage in the onboard spa. The family can come together for meals in a variety of casual and fine dining restaurants and enjoy original production shows as the ship sails between ports.

With room for 4,300 passengers, Star Princess will be the largest Princess cruise ship ever to sail Alaska.

Best for luxury lovers: Seabourn Encore

If you envision sipping Champagne as you watch a glacier thunderously calve into the sea, consider booking an all-inclusive luxury cruise on a Seabourn ship.

Seabourn Encore, which can accommodate up to 600 passengers, throws a dash of adventure into its luxurious surroundings. In addition to offering passengers complimentary Champagne and caviar and housing them in spacious suites, the ship has an onboard expedition team and does a posh version of expedition cruising in Alaska, using inflatable Zodiac craft and kayaks.

Seabourn calls its program “Ventures by Seabourn.” Experts on board these sailings include naturalists, biologists and other scientists who are members of the expedition team. They lead the outdoor activities (including hikes) and provide passengers with a deeper insight into Alaska. Once guests finish communing with nature, they can indulge in gourmet cuisine in multiple restaurants, enjoy a complimentary cocktail or relax in an upscale spa.

Seabourn Encore sails both one-way, weeklong itineraries between Vancouver and Juneau and two-week, round-trip itineraries from Vancouver in 2026. It visits popular Alaska ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, as well as less touristed destinations like Wrangell, Alaska, and Prince Rupert and Alert Bay in British Columbia.

Related: The best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

Best for off-the-beaten-path travel: National Geographic Quest

If you’re looking to get away from the megaship crowds, the best Alaska cruise for you might be with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. National Geographic Quest, with space for up to 100 passengers, frequents off-the-beaten-path destinations in Alaska on weeklong itineraries between Juneau and Sitka in 2026.

Guests can explore the small fishing town of Petersburg or search for orca and humpback whales in Frederick Sound. Lindblad has special permits to bring passengers into the wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and the Tongass National Forest, beyond what the big ships can offer. A hike on Chichagof Island is the perfect opportunity to spot bald eagles in the wild.

One day is even dedicated to serendipitous exploration. The ship’s captain has the flexibility to seek out the best remote islands and bays for beachcombing, tide pooling, hiking and kayaking adventures.

As long as you don’t mind a mellower environment where lectures and impromptu guitar sing-alongs replace casinos and show productions, you’ll be right at home as you deeply experience coastal Alaska.

Best for solo travelers: Norwegian Bliss

Solo travelers don’t always have to pay double to cruise Alaska on their own. Several ships feature cabins designed and priced for one. Several Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature cozy studio cabins designed and priced for one person, and 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss offers 82 solo rooms on its round-trip Seattle cruises to Alaska.

These solo cabins get our vote because they’re located in a complex where a private lounge encourages mingling. Lone travelers can also meet their shipmates while waiting to hop into a race car on the ship’s go-kart track, at a showing of “Jersey Boys” or over a muddled drink at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar.

The ship sails seven-night cruises from Seattle, visiting Dawes Glacier, Sitka and Icy Strait Point, as well as Juneau and Ketchikan in Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia.

Best for foodies: Riviera

You might not have Alaska on your list as a hot spot for culinary travel, but Oceania Cruises sees every destination as a potential foodie paradise. Its 1,250-passenger Riviera just sailed its first Alaska cruises this year and is returning to the state in 2026, giving guests many opportunities for good eats on board and off.

Try a food-forward shore excursion to see what culinary magic Alaska has hidden behind its glaciers and mountains. Take a culinary tour of Sitka and sip local beers, snack on Russian dumplings and sample other treats like reindeer hot dogs. In Juneau, you can sign up for a seafood tour around the city’s favorite restaurants. Or, try a chef-led Culinary Discovery Tour in Ketchikan, where you visit an oyster farm and taste its products.

On board, guests can sign up for new regionally themed, hands-on cooking classes and learn to make treats from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Plus, passengers can enjoy Riviera’s multiple restaurants at no extra charge. A recent refurb has given the ship a new outdoor pizzeria and Italian trattoria, or if it’s too chilly, head indoors for French cuisine (in partnership with renowned chef Jacques Pépin), steakhouse favorites or spicy Asian fare.

Riviera will sail seven- to 12-night cruises from Seattle in 2026, and some feature the up-and-coming cruise port of Klawock, Alaska.

Best for fun-loving adults: Brilliant Lady

In 2026, Virgin Voyages will make its Alaska debut with new cruise ship Brilliant Lady. The irreverent and playful cruise line will bring its signature style from its bread-and-butter warm-weather destinations in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean to chilly Alaska to heat things up.

Brilliant Lady is an adults-only ship that can accommodate up to 2,770 passengers, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. On its northern sailings, the ship will still offer guests the chance to get a tattoo on board, enjoy the scenery from a private balcony hammock, split their sides at a drag show, dance all night at the Scarlet Night party and immerse themselves in some of the best onboard entertainment at sea. The ship eschews cavernous cruise ship restaurants and buffets for a plethora of complimentary onboard restaurants serving everything from Korean barbecue to Mexican specialties and veggie-forward dishes.

Virgin Voyages cruisers love variety, so Brilliant Lady won’t sail one itinerary on repeat in summer 2026. The ship will sail a mix of seven- to 12-night Alaska cruises from Seattle, with scenic cruising in Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin