With Alaska’s summer 2025 cruise season on the horizon, many luxury travelers are eager for a cruise vacation to “The Great Land.” They simply can’t wait to watch whales breach in coastal waters, delve into Indigenous traditions, taste local Alaska cuisine and brews, learn about Gold Rush-era history, and perhaps even spot a bear in the wild.
This spring, Regent Seven Seas Cruises will set sail from its new Whittier cruise terminal, developed in cooperation with the Huna Totem Corporation. In addition, the line will call at the newly opened port of Klawock on Prince of Wales Island. There, luxury travelers can head out on eco-adventure activities; visit the Klawock Totem Park with Alaska’s largest collection of authentic totem poles; and learn about Tlingit culture.
Between May and September in 2025 and 2026, the 746-passenger Seven Seas Explorer will offer an extensive schedule of Alaska sailings. Most are seven- or 14-night voyages round-trip from Vancouver, BC, or point-to-point sailings between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage). During September 2026, guests can also opt for a nine-night Vancouver-to-Seattle, WA, voyage or a 12-night round-trip Seattle sailing.
In just one example, Seven Seas Explorer will offer a seven-night voyage from Vancouver to Whittier (Anchorage) on July 9, 2025. Calls will include Klawock, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait (Hoonah), plus sail along the Inside Passage and Hubbard Glacier. At Klawock, luxury travelers might choose Regent Seven Seas’ personalized and immersive “Ocean to Table Fishing and Dining Experience” excursion.
A maximum of six guests will board a comfortable, heated boat and sail to local fishing grounds. With tackle fully provided, anglers will tap their skills or luck to haul in Pacific salmon, halibut, rockfish or even lingcod, a prized game fish up to five feet in length. Or guests can instead admire the eco-beauty and look for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters and bald eagles. Upon arrival at a waterfront lodge, a chef will prepare and cook the fresh catch—the ultimate ocean-to-table dining experience.
This year, Regent Seven Seas will introduce many new shows onboard its ships. “The Wild Cards” will debut on Seven Seas Explorer’s Alaska sailings, starting in August 2025. Guests will feel as though they’ve arrived at a 1940s underground dance club with high-energy performances, big-band arrangements, and vintage-meets-modern fashion.
Between May and September 2025, Seabourn’s 458-passenger, ultra-luxury Seabourn Quest will set sail on its maiden Alaska season. Eighteen seven-day voyages will operate between Vancouver and Juneau. New for Juneau-embarking guests is the line’s “Seattle Connector” package, designed to smooth the journey and give guests more time to explore Seattle.
Arriving in Seattle the day before embarkation, they’ll receive these package inclusions: a private car transfer from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the hotel; one-night stay at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel with breakfast; shared transfers from the hotel to Seattle airport and from Juneau’s airport to the ship; and flights from Seattle to Juneau.
On all Seabourn Quest Alaska sailings this year, guests will enjoy at least one day of scenic glacier cruising at either Tracy or Endicott Arm or Glacier Bay National Park. Itinerary-wise, for those seeking the most “Alaska exposure,” check out Seabourn’s 14-day “Alaska Glaciers, Fjords & Inside Passage” itinerary round-trip from Vancouver. What’s nice is that it combines northbound and southbound voyages with few repeating ports.
On all Alaska sailings, the popular Ventures by Seabourn program will also return. An expedition team of naturalists, scientists, wildlife and historical experts will present enrichment talks and lead optional guided hiking, kayaking and Zodiac outings.
Ultra-luxury Silversea will also return to Alaska this summer with two of its youngest ships, the 596-passenger Silver Moon, built in 2020, and the 728-passenger Silver Nova, launched in 2023. Seven- and 14-day itineraries will offer calls at such destinations as Skagway, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, plus the lesser-visited destinations of Valdez, Icy Bay, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell and Haines. Itineraries will also include scenic cruising such as along the Inside Passage and Hubbard Bay.
Given its unique, horizontal layout, Silver Nova sports 43,000 square feet of exterior glass (found even within elevators and the theater). That’s a plus when seeking superb destination views of “The Great Land” almost anywhere on the ship. A plus? New aft suites also deliver 270-degree exterior views.
Looking ahead, Silversea will return to Alaska in 2026 with Silver Moon and the 392-passenger Silver Whisper. They’ll explore 13 Alaska destinations including some smaller ports including Valdez. Guests on both ships can select immersive S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) excursions ashore, providing a “deep dive” into local Alaska foods and beverages. Aboard Silver Moon, they’ll also find Alaska-inspired S.A.L.T. culinary and beverage programming.
Haines is among the destinations visited on Silver Whisper’s seven-night sailing from Seward (Anchorage) to Vancouver on June 4, 2026. One enticing optional excursion designed for super-fit travelers is Silversea’s “Rock Climbing Adventure” excursion in the wilds of the Chilkat Valley. Assisted by a professional Alaskan guide, both first-time and experienced climbers can participate, given diverse climbing routes.
Crystal’s 740-passenger Crystal Serenity will sail into Alaska waters during a mid-summer segment of its 2027 World Cruise. Prior to that, in summer 2026, Crystal’s 606-passenger Crystal Symphony will return to North America for the first time since 2019—offering a series of Alaska itineraries round-trip from Vancouver.
Crystal Symphony’s 11-night cruise on June 30, 2026, will sail along the Hubbard Glacier with Alaska port calls at Ketchikan, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell and Klawock. In British Columbia, the itinerary will touch Prince Rupert, the Seymour Narrows and Victoria, before ending at Vancouver.
Can’t wait to see a bear in the wild? During Crystal Symphony’s Wrangell port call, we’d suggest wildlife lovers choose Crystal’s half-day “Wild Bears of Anan” shore excursion. After a boat trip and half-mile trail walk to the Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory, they’ll have good opportunities to spot and photograph wild bears, eagles, harbor seals or other wildlife.
For those interested in Alaska native culture, Crystal’s “Island Heritage Discovery” at Wrangell is one good option. An Alaska indigenous guide will impart the history of Fort Wrangell, guests will visit the Chief Shakes Tribal House and Wrangell Museum, and a stop for viewing ancient petroglyphs is made at Petroglyph Beach.
In summer 2026, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will sail in Alaska for the first time. Between May and September, the 452-guest Luminara will operate 13 ultra-luxury yacht voyages that touch 11 ports across Alaska and Canada. Top suite? Owner’s Suites will offer 741 square feet to 1,047 square feet of interior space and a private terrace of 596 square feet to 1,048 square feet.
Luminara’s seven- to 11-night itineraries will embark guests at either Whittier or Vancouver. Calls will include Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Klawock, Icy Strait Point, Valdez, Petersburg, Haines, Prince Rupert and Wrangell. Plus, the yacht will sail along the Hubbard Glacier and Sawyer Glacier. Also, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vacations in Alaska will include extended stays in select ports and curated, pre-designed private or small group outings.
Between April and September 2025, Cunard Line’s 2,081-passenger Queen Elizabeth will sail nearly two dozen round-trip voyages from Seattle, WA, ranging from seven to 12 nights. The luxurious ship will return in 2026 too, fresh from a significant refit in a Singapore shipyard. Guests can expect a revitalized Commodore Club, Queens Room, Garden Lounge and The Pavilion.
Most notably, Queen Elizabeth’s high-end, exclusive Grills suites—providing the most luxurious onboard experience—will receive sumptuous new furnishings, sophisticated detailing, and updated design. In addition, the Grills exclusive dining experience will offer a special, new menu crafted exclusively by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux.
For an in-depth voyage that pairs nine days in Alaska with other global regions, we’d suggest Viking’s 93-day “Grand Pacific Explorer” voyages offered from 2025-2027. For example, on February 22, 2027, the 930-passenger Viking Orion will sail between Auckland, New Zealand, and Vancouver, and on February 28, 2027, sister vessel Viking Venus will do the same.
Guests will receive 45 guided tours included within their cruise fare. That will come in handy for exploring extensively in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan. Plus, the ship will spend three days in Hong Kong and two weeks in Japanese destinations. Once in Alaska, Viking will call at Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Icy Point Strait, Sitka and Ketchikan, and cruise along Yakutat Bay, the Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage.
Luxury Expeditions
For a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, Ponant offers an enticing “Transarctic, the Quest for Two North Poles” itinerary. The 245-passenger Le Commandant Charcot, a modern, luxurious icebreaker, will depart September 5, 2025, from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Norway, to Nome, AK. What’s special is that guests will be among the first people on Earth to undertake a transarctic crossing. Weather permitting, they’ll reach both the geographic North Pole and the magnetic North Pole, plus view the Northern Lights near the Bering Strait
Through Ponant’s alliance with The Explorers Club, guests will also listen to enrichment talks by Glaciologist Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Pena; Laurence de La Ferriere, a renowned French adventurer; and Cindy Miller Hopkins, American photo ambassador. They’ll also learn about research work via an onboard international scientific mission and roundtables.
While exploring Svalbard, they’ll gaze at fjords, alpine reliefs, icy shores, ice floes, mountains patterned with multi-colored strata, glaciers, icebergs, ice floes, sheer cliffs, polar ice caps and wild tundra. They could possibly spot polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, whales and sea birds. Guests can also go kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing, plus take a polar plunge into Arctic waters.
Another incredible adventure is a Northwest Passage expedition atop Canada and Alaska. During 2026, Seabourn’s 264-passenger Seabourn Venture will set sail on two 24-day “Journey Across the Northwest Passage” expeditions between Reykjavik, Iceland, and Anchorage, departing August 5 and August 29. Guests will go ashore in remote Arctic locales and engage in expeditionary eco-activities.
For an even lengthier, more in-depth Northwest Passage experience, guests might choose Seabourn’s “35-day Glaciers, Fjords & Northwest Passage” voyage from Reykjavik to Anchorage or its “38-day Northwest Passage & Wild Labrador Coast” itinerary from Anchorage to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
In July 2025, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ 230-passenger Hanseatic Inspiration will operate two 13-day “Alaska Inside Passage” sailings between Seward and Vancouver or in reverse. Guests will head out to explore Homer, Kodiak, Petersburg (overnight) and Kodiak. The ship will also anchor at Chichagof Island near the tiny settlement of Elfin Cove (population: 30 or so), a spot where people live in harmony with nature.
Good to know? English and German are the official languages spoken aboard this ship which attracts an international clientele. Hanseatic Inspiration also has significant exterior deck space for outdoor scenic viewing, plus it carries a fleet of 17 Zodiacs. Inside, the Ocean Spa offers a Finnish sauna with ocean view, steam sauna, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, and spa and salon services.
Cruise guests heading north through British Columbia’s Inside Passage to Alaska often hear tales about the “Spirit Bear.” That’s an elusive Kermode bear, a white/cream variant subspecies of the American black bear. Offering entry into the Spirit Bear’s world is National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ nine-day “Voyage to the Great Bear Rainforest” itinerary.
Departing on three dates in both September 2025 and 2026, the 100-passenger National Geographic Venture will explore British Columbia’s northern coast and sail into Great Bear Rainforest, a Spirit Bear stronghold. Specifically, the expedition ship will sail along Princess Royal Island’s eastern coast in search of that bear.
Guided by a veteran expedition team, guests will also go ashore and explore several remote locations where few people venture. They’ll take Zodiacs and kayaks to navigate tidal narrows that lead to the backs of bays, while looking for the bears along the rocky shoreline and meadows such as Gilttoyees Inlet, B.C. While no bear sightings are guaranteed, of course, it’s definitely a journey to eco-adventure.
Notable “Returns”
After a seven-year hiatus, Azamara Cruises will return to Alaska in May 2026. The 702-passenger Azamara Pursuit will offer new 10- to 13-day itineraries with calls at remote Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and Icy Strait Point, AK, as well as Juneau, Wrangell, Skagway and Ketchikan, plus Nanaimo and Victoria, BC. One perk is that Azamara offers many extended (10-plus hours) port days and late-night departures, a plus for those seeking maximum time ashore.
On every cruise, the upscale line also curates one complimentary AzAmazing Evening event for all guests. Look for that to unfold in Ketchikan on Alaska voyages. Starting with a cocktail hour offering Alaska’s finest brews, this exclusive, private event will then treat guests to local axe-throwing demonstrations, traditional Tlingit dance performances and culinary delicacies. Guests will also enjoy a private performance at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show with top lumberjacks performing via chopping, sawing and log rolling.
Alaska’s 2026 cruise season will also signal the “return” of Oceania Cruises’ 1,250-passenger Riviera to the state. Fourteen itineraries of seven- to 12 days will introduce luxury guests to local, Indigenous culture, soaring glaciers and pristine wilderness areas. Departing from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier, the voyages will sail into such ports as Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Klawock, Wrangell and Haines.
With a strong “foodie” focus, Oceania brings one chef aboard for every 10 guests. Alaska’s culinary traditions will be spotlighted aboard Riviera with new hands-on cooking classes using fresh, local ingredients at The Culinary Center and “Chef’s Market Dinners” in the Terrace Café. Separately, a big perk for families cruising in Alaska is Oceania’s Alaska Explorer Youth Program. Supervised by experienced youth counselors, children (ages five to 12) will play games, participate in activities and enjoy Alaska-inspired special events.
In summer 2026, Windstar Cruises will return to Alaska for the first time since 2023 with the new 224-passenger Star Seeker, debuting later this year. Between May and August 2026, that luxurious new ship will sail seven- and eight-day “Scenic Alaska” or 10-, 11- and 12-day “Alaskan Splendors” voyages between Vancouver, BC, and Juneau, or in reverse. Look for a mix of marquee ports plus less-visited destinations such as Haines and Wrangell.
Windstar also plans to bring back its popular Signature Expedition program to provide Alaska guests with up-close views of scenic fjords and tidewater glaciers. Travelers will look for wildlife; explore via a kayak or small RIB boat directly from the ship’s Watersports Platform; and listen to enrichment talks by expedition guides. Star Seeker’s Alaska voyages also are combinable with a five-day inland tour through Denali National Park.
As a “fresh take” on the line’s Star Class, the new ship will offer new dining options, upgraded amenities, and 112 spacious suites. We’d suggest reserving the top suite—the 548-square-foot Horizon Owner’s Suite with expanses of glass and a wrap-around, 248-square-foot balcony. With a separate entryway, this suite includes dining and living areas, a guest powder room, bedroom with king bed (convertible to two XL twins) and master bath with a double walk-in mosaic glass shower with rainforest showerhead and body jets.
Upscale Small Ships
The Boat Company, a nonprofit, conservation-focused, luxury eco-cruise operator, recently announced a new 11-day Alaska cruise from Sitka to Ketchikan, starting this spring. Within the Tongass National Forest, guests will enjoy included guided exploring of remote inlets, cultural heritage experiences, and a focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Doubling its summer Alaska capacity this year, American Cruise Lines will send a second modern, upscale riverboat, the 170-passenger American Constitution, to join sister American Constellation for the summer season. Among five different 2025 itineraries are two new “Alaska National Parks” cruises with seven days on land in Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks; a 12- or nine-day cruise between Fairbanks and Juneau; and small-ship access in Glacier Bay National Park.
We’d suggest the new “Grand Alaska National Parks” itinerary from Fairbanks to Juneau for seven days of guided exploration in Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks; a 12-day Alaska cruise including a pre-cruise stay; and sailing through Glacier Bay National Park, the Inside Passage, Frederick Sound, the Wrangell Narrows and along Tracy Arm. Calls will include Anchorage, Seward, Haines, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell.
Citing unprecedented demand and many sold-out 2025 sailings for its “Glacier Bay Adventure with 2 Days in Glacier Bay” itinerary, UnCruise Adventures just announced the return of the newly revitalized, 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer with a refreshed interior and elevated onboard experience. Alaskan Dream Cruises will offer two new summer 2026 Alaska itineraries including the eight-day “Alaska’s Ultimate Adventure” itinerary between Sitka and Juneau. Activities will include hikes within Tongass National Forest, lengthy kayaking tours, and wildlife outings to spot bears, whales, sea lions, otters and bald eagles.
Multigenerational Cruises
For multigenerational family trips, luxury travelers often choose a bigger ship with something for everyone. Check out the new Alaska options for premium Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line. Celebrating 75 years of Alaska cruising, the longest of any line, Holland America just announced a $70 million multi-year expansion and update for its Denali lodge property.
Families also look to Alaska cruisetours as an easy way to combine land-and-sea travel components. Royal Caribbean International will launch several new Alaska cruisetours this year including the 13-night “Homer Adventure and Interior Wildlife CruiseTour.” Overall, the cruise industry players in Alaska have certainly rolled out the red carpet for luxury travelers with enticing, new summer cruise options in “The Great Land.”
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