Alaska & Hawaii Cruises
Glaciers and volcanoes: how to choose the right route to America’s two great cruise frontiers.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesAlaska: America’s Great Cruise Frontier
Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, and for good reason: tidewater glaciers, whales, bald eagles and frontier towns that are hard to reach any other way.
The two main routes
- Inside Passage round trips from Seattle or Vancouver, usually 7 nights, calling at ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, with scenic cruising in a glacier fjord.
- Gulf of Alaska one-way voyages between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, which add more glaciers and connect with land tours to Denali.
Small-ship lines offer a different Alaska: fewer passengers, smaller ports and more time in the wilderness.
Planning excursions? See Alaska shore excursions at Shore Activities.
Hawaii: Two Very Different Ways to Cruise
- Island-hopping on a US-flag ship. NCL’s Pride of America sails seven nights round trip from Honolulu, visiting Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. Because she flies the US flag, she needs no foreign port. Read Mister Cruise’s Pride of America review.
- Longer voyages from the West Coast or Vancouver. Foreign-flagged ships sail roughly two weeks round trip, with several days at sea each way and a foreign stop, often Ensenada. Ideal if you love sea days.
Hawaii shore excursions cost more than in the Caribbean — budget for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Alaska cruise season?
Roughly May through September. May and September can bring lower fares and fewer crowds; June through August bring the warmest weather and the longest days.
Inside Passage round trip or one-way Gulf of Alaska?
Round trips from Seattle or Vancouver are simpler to book and fly. One-way voyages between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier (for Anchorage) cover more ground and pair easily with a land tour to Denali, but usually cost more in airfare.
Why do Hawaii cruises from California stop in Mexico?
Foreign-flagged ships sailing from a US port must call at a foreign port. On Hawaii round trips from the West Coast, that is often Ensenada in Mexico. See the foreign-port rule.
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