Planning to take the land to the largest state in the United States (double the size of Texas) is not easy. This is why cruising along vast and diverse terrain is arguably the best way to experience it. From May to September, most major cruise ships operated by ships depart from Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco and sail north through Pacific coastal waters, calling on Alaska ports that provide access to large glaciers, scenic bays with back-selling whales and orcas. Just select your cruise, boat and route.
Before booking a cruise to the last border, please know Two major Alaska cruise routes – Internal glacier access and navigation (also known as glacier routes). There is some overlap, but each route is beneficial to your interests and activity levels.
Here we break down the basic elements of each route – remember that details such as port calls and scenic cruising environments may vary depending on the cruising route and specific itinerary.
Internal channel route
This is the most famous and most popular Alaska cruise route – for several reasons. The internal passage is shaped by a large number of glaciers millions of years ago, extending more than 1,000 miles from Puget Sound in Washington State along the Pacific Coast of British Columbia before entering southern Alaska to Skagway. This itinerary is known for its spectacular scenery, including rich islands and lush rainforests and dramatic tidal glaciers.
One of the main reasons internal access itineraries are popular is because of their convenience: cruise ships sail round trips from Seattle or Vancouver in just one week, which allows you to book round trip flights instead of two one-way flights (including longer, longer flights, to or from anchorage).
Mainstream cruise companies, e.g. Norway,,,,, Royal Caribbeanand Princess Also sailed their new larger ship internal access routes (4,300 passengers) Star Princess Will be The largest cruise ship ever Sailing in Alaska when the route started in Alaska in May 2026). This makes these sailings appeal to families seeking interesting boats in activities on board.
Stroke length: Most internal access itineraries are seven nights round trips from Seattle or Vancouver, although you can also find some 9 and 11 night round trips from those Pacific Northwest ports in San Francisco and 10 and 11 night round trips.
Reason for selection: In addition to the convenience of round trip sailing and spectacular coastal scenery, the internal access cruise is famous for sailing into calm coastal waters sheltered by large islands rather than the chopped open waters of the Gulf of Alaska. The port visited on the internal access itinerary also offers easy access to exciting activities such as kayaking, salmon fishing, hiking, zipping, dog sledding and whale observation, as well as many souvenir shops and fresh seafood restaurants, just outside the gangway on board.
Usually access ports: A seven-night access cruise usually visits three to four Alaska ports, including Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Skagway, Icy Strait Point or Haines, as well as a cruise in Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier or Endicott Arm. Cruises from Seattle sails round trips and also visits Victoria, British Columbia.
Top Attractions and Coast Tours:
Juno: In the capital of Alaska (accessed only by air or water, not by road), you can see the Mendenhall Glacier, adventure to Tracy Bon Fjord on a full day tour, watch whales from a comfortable sightseeing boat or kayaking, and visit the Alaskan Malamute at Camp Musher.
Skyway: As you admire the gold, in the northernmost passage port, you can taste the 19th-century Klondike gold rush, ride the historic white pass with scenic railways, or book a wildlife safari to observe glacial creatures to see wildlife such as whales, seals and sea lions.
Sitka and Haynes: Both of these two adjacent ports are known for their large populations of bears, so visits to find them in the wild are popular, as are visits to wildlife reserves Alaska Raptor Center Near Sitka. Different activities such as kayaking and hiking are also focused on seeing wildlife, including otters, eagles and black-tailed deer.
Cold Strait Point: This port is ideal for anyone looking to experience the Alaskan native tlingit culture, although wildlife enthusiasts can also catch whales or see bears from rear jeeps, ATVs or elevated observation platforms.
Ketchikan: This southern Alaska port is a place to try on salmon fishing, or at least indulge in shore salmon and crab baking, and enjoy kayaking or canoeing wildlife safari, weak fjord flights, and Zip-line adventures in the area’s barbaric rainforest.
Victoria, British Columbia: The capital of British Columbia is the call port for Seattle. Located on the scenic island of Vancouver, Victoria is home to its 19th-century architecture, food and wine scene, watching whales and beautiful Buttal Gardens (which have been transformed into a lush garden oasis over the past 100 years).
Glacier Bay National Park: Many of the internal access itineraries also spend a day cruise the Glacier Bay National Park, which offers huge glacier views (most impressively the Margerie Glacier) and lays eggs on icebergs that are filled with cracks and a soundtrack of prosperity. Some cruise routes also visited the Endicott Arm and the Dawes Glacier or the Hubbard Glacier.
Voyage of glacier routes
A voyage of the glacier or glacier route itinerary will take you northward towards the wilderness of Alaska, westward through the Gulf of Alaska, to the Gulf of Alaska or Seward, a port serving Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. These itineraries are usually one-way, from Seattle or Vancouver to Whittle or Seward, or from Whittier or Seward to Seattle or Vancouver south.
While there will be some overlap in ports since these one-way itineeraries also cruise a portion of Alaska’s Inside Passage, there will likely be more time dedicated to glacier viewing — typically two days — in scenario bays known for photogenic bright blue glaciers like Hubbard Glacier (the largest tidewater glacier in North America), Harvard Glacier in College Fjord, and Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park. During the seven-night voyage, there is only time in the internal access ports (such as Juno, Skyway and Ketchikan).
Stroke length: The voyage of the glacier/glacial route is usually seven nights, but it covers more ground due to one-way rather than round trips. Some cruise routes also offer a limited number of glacier/glacier route itineraries, which sail from Vancouver or Seattle.
Reason for selection: The main reason for booking a northbound or southbound trip for a glacier/glacial route itinerary is that it will allow you to add a land journey – add a “cruising” through a cruise route or independently (on Southbound Air) or after (on Southbound Air) (on Southbound Air). These usually include one or two nights during anchoring and multi-day trips to experience famous wilderness areas such as Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park where you will live in the atmosphere.
Glacier itinerary also tends to sail a little less than the “tourism” of internal aisle cruises, as many of them spend more time sailing through the scenic bays of Alaska, and less time in popular internal aisle ports, which can be very crowded during peak cruising season.
Usually access ports: The seven-night voyage of the Glacier/Glacier Route itinerary (whether north or south) will begin or end with Whittier or Seward (for anchoring), usually calls Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, while also providing scenic voyages to watch William William Sound Prince in William Sound and Glacier Bay and Glacier Bay and Glacier Bay. Cruises on or off the boat in Seattle or San Francisco will also be called in Victoria, British Columbia.
Top Attractions and Coast Tours:
Anchorage: This 286,000 city is the gateway to Alaska’s land adventures, available in Alaska Local Heritage Center and local animals Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centerand many outdoor activities.
Victoria, British Columbia: See above.
Skyway: See above.
Ketchikan: See above.
Juno: See above.
Hubbard Glacier: Voyages of Glacier/Glacier Route Itinerary are often visited by the Hubbard Glacier within a six-mile range about 200 miles from Wrangell-St Juneau. Erias National Park and Preservation. Other cruises offer scenic voyages of the University Fjord in Prince William’s Royal North and multiple glacier locations named in universities such as Harvard, Yale and Vasa. Visiting Glacier Bays may also be part of the glacier route navigation, as the Cruise line and the itinerary vary.
Bottom line
While these two itineraries will keep you surrounded by the majesty of the Alaska wilderness, if you are more interested in port time, have access to shopping, dining and various activities, and enjoy a newer, larger cruise ship, a circular tour in the “Path” includes watching some great glacier ice.
On the other hand, if you enjoy more laid-back and scenic cruises and want to see multiple Alaska glaciers while also being able to travel overland to one or both of Alaska National Parks, a one-way voyage on the glacier/glacial route may be for you.
For more information on planning an Alaska cruise, including cruise and ship finder, visit us Alaska Cruise Page.