Discover the best way to see Alaska

Alaska doesn't do small. Glaciers calve like thunder, mountains rise straight out of the sea and the wildlife shows up uninvited and unbothered. With a landscape this vast and this wild, how you experience it changes everything. For most travelers, the best way to see Alaska is from the deck of a ship, gliding past scenery that simply can't be reached any other way.

When you cruise through this stunning state with Princess, you’ll see the best of Alaska without any of the hassle. Read on to learn more about the best way to see Alaska.

Alaska cruise vs. land: Which is right for you?

What an Alaska cruise makes possible

Step out on deck at sunrise and Alaska hands you a front-row seat to scenery that feels almost unfair: glaciers glowing blue-white, fjords carved by ancient ice, rainforests tumbling down mountainsides and wildlife that has absolutely no interest in your itinerary. 

You’ll still see land when you step ashore at port. When you’re at port, you can spend your day kayaking through silent coves, hiking past waterfalls, flightseeing over ice fields or simply watching for the telltale spout of a whale offshore.

Step out on deck at sunrise and Alaska hands you a front-row seat to scenery that feels almost unfair: glaciers glowing blue-white, fjords carved by ancient ice, rainforests tumbling down mountainsides and wildlife that has absolutely no interest in your itinerary. 

You’ll still see land when you step ashore at port. When you’re at port, you can spend your day kayaking through silent coves, hiking past waterfalls, flightseeing over ice fields or simply watching for the telltale spout of a whale offshore.

Sailing the Inside Passage

This is one of the most scenic waterways on Earth, a protected corridor threading through islands, fjords, coastal communities and national parks. Follow the Alaska cruise route and you'll find yourself gazing up at Glacier Bay National Park, easing through Endicott Arm Fjord, weaving past Misty Fjords and standing in awe of Hubbard Glacier — places reachable only by water unforgettable in-person.

Glacier access up close

Ships nose in close enough that you can hear the ice groan before it calves, a thunderclap crack followed by a wall of blue tumbling into the sea. For travelers who want to get even nearer, helicopter landings, kayak paddles and small-boat excursions push the experience further still. Get really up close and personal with Alaska glacier tours.

Wildlife encounters

Keep your camera ready and your eyes on the water. Humpback whales breach without warning, orcas cut sleek black lines through the waves, brown bears fish the shallows, sea lions haul out on rocky ledges and bald eagles perch overhead like they own the place. Because, in a sense, they do. From ship-deck sightings to naturalist-led excursions into protected habitats, the animals in Alaska are as much a part of the itinerary as any port.

Alaska cruise ports worth exploring

Every stop tells a different story. In Juneau, glaciers loom just beyond town and the Goldbelt Tramway climbs 1,800 feet for a view worth the altitude — a city, fittingly, accessible only by air or sea. Ketchikan trades ice for culture, with towering totem poles, the boardwalk charm of Creek Street and rainforest trails dripping in green. Skagway leans into its Gold Rush past, best explored aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway as it climbs into the mountains. These Alaska cruise ports are proof that the adventure doesn't stop when the ship docks.

Extending the journey with an Alaska cruise and land tour

For travelers who want it all, a Princess Cruisetour — like the Voyage of the Glaciers — stitches an Inside Passage cruise together with an overland journey deep into Alaska's interior. Luxury motorcoaches and glass-dome rail cars handle every transfer, so there's no independent coordination, no logistics to untangle, just mile after mile of window-filling scenery. 

The route unfolds through Denali National Park, the small-town charm of Talkeetna, and the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks. Running 10 to 17 nights, Alaska cruisetour options are built for travelers chasing the widest possible range of landscapes — glacier to tundra, coastline to summit — in one seamlessly planned trip. It's the kind of itinerary built for first-timers who don't want to choose between the coast and the interior, because with a Cruisetour, you don't have to.

Planning your Alaska cruise

Best time to go

The season runs May through September, with peak summer months (June through August) delivering the best wildlife activity and the longest daylight hours — think sunsets that stretch on well past dinner. Shoulder season sailings in May and September trade a bit of crowd density for equally stunning scenery and a quieter feel. Whenever you go, pack in layers: Southeast Alaska's maritime climate can shift from sunny to socked-in within the hour. For a deeper dive into seasonal timing, this guide to the best time to cruise Alaska breaks it down month by month.

How long to plan for

A standard cruise runs 7 nights and covers the core highlights of the Inside Passage. Add a Cruisetour, and you're looking at 10 to 17 nights for a complete, edge-to-edge Alaska experience. Either way, pack for variable weather and layered conditions. This handy Alaska cruise packing list makes sure you're ready for whatever Alaska throws your way.

Book an Alaska cruise with Princess

Princess has sailed Alaska for decades, with itineraries built to showcase the most awe-inspiring moments — glaciers calving, whales breaching and mountains that make you feel refreshingly small. 

From the Inside Passage to a full Alaska Cruisetour, every detail is handled, so all that's left to do is show up on deck. The best way to see Alaska starts here: book an Alaska cruise with Princess.