Think this is the year you will take the family to the Last Frontier and go on an Alaska cruise? Sounds like a great plan, but you might be wondering which is the best ship to go on an Alaska cruise.
There are a lot of great ships that will traverse the Inside Passage from May through September, each with their own assortment of amenities, activities and fun things to do. In fact, you will find a great range of value with options that run the gamut of ship size and offerings.
Here are our picks for the best ships cruising to Alaska this summer.
Golden Princess
Perhaps no other cruise line is as synonymous with Alaska as Princess Cruises. The 2020 Princess Cruises Alaska season is packed with options across eight ships, but the Golden Princess offerings caught our eye.
Golden Princess debuts a full season of 14-day Inside Passage voyages, sailing round-trip from Los Angeles with a visit to Hubbard Glacier.
The 2,600 passenger vessel will visit 6 ports with alternating sailings to visit either Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier. The ship has 700 balcony staterooms, and features a range of enrichment programs, including the Encounters with Discovery at SEA speaker series from experts who offer insights into the places you’ll visit.
Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Line's top ship these days is the Norwegian Bliss, and she will be offering 7-night cruises to Alaska once again for the 2020 season.
The 4,004 passenger ship was designed with Alaska in mind, and features a massive Observation Lounge on Deck 15 forward. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the views going by as you gaze out from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Bliss also offers plenty for families to enjoy, including the two-level NCL Racetrack, water slides and laser tag.
The Norwegian Bliss departs from Seattle.
Celebrity Solstice
One of Celebrity Cruises' best known ships, the Celebrity Solstice, offers seven-night Alaska Tracy Arm Fjord Cruises this summer.
Sailing to Alaska on Celebrity Solstice will offer a sophisticated vibe, and the recent ship-wide upgrades in 2016 have reinvigorated the public spaces onboard. Top picks include the Lawn Club and Solarium adults-only pool.
The ship features 11 restaurants (six of them complimentary), the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, and 85 percent of the staterooms have verandas, making scenic cruising from the privacy of your cabin more accessible.
Ovation of the Seas
For the second year in a row, Ovation of the Seas will offer summer cruises to Alaska on 7-night itineraries from Seattle, Wash.
Royal Caribbean thinks guests will love seeing Alaska from the North Star, the ship’s signature glass observation capsule with panoramic views from 300 feet above sea level.
Ovation will deliver untamed adventure with visits to destinations that will give vacationers the chance to catch the Northern Lights in Juneau, relive the Klondike Gold Rush in Skagway, sail through the Endicott Arm fjord, and stroll the streets of one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest in Victoria, British Columbia. After experiencing the wild side on land, guests can continue their adrenaline-seeking ways by taking on the ship’s unparalleled lineup of onboard activities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, RipCord by iFly indoor skydiving experience, and the SeaPlex, the largest and most revolutionary indoor active space at sea featuring a trapeze school, full-size basketball court, roller-skating rink and bumper cars. All those thrills are rounded out by a collection of indoor and outdoor pools that allow everyone to kick back and dive into their surroundings no matter the temperature.
Carnival Miracle
Most cruises to Alaska begin in either Seattle or Vancouver, but how about a cruise that begins in San Francisco and brings you to Alaska?
The 10-day cruises to Alaska are part of the cruise line's expanded West Coast offerings, and will offer stops in Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point.
The Carnival Miracle is a Spirit Class ship and has a capacity of 2,124 passengers. The ship has some fun spots onboard as well, including the Phantom Lounge, Odyssey Bar or Dr. Frankenstein's Lab.
At Alchemy Bar, Carnival makes drinks into art, while the laid-back RedFrog Pub has ‘Caribbean cool’ down to a science.
Disney Wonder
Sailing from beautiful Vancouver, the Disney Wonder offers Alaska cruises that will take you along the Inside Passage and through the magnificent fjord of Endicott Arm, home to the majestic Dawes Glacier.
The Wonder will also visit Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan along the way, providing plenty of time to explore these scenic towns.
Disney Cruise line is well-known for its character-infused offerings, and this 2,713-passenger ship offers Frozen, A Musical Spectacular; the Marvel Super Hero Academy in Disney Oceaneer Club; Pirate Night, the latest Disney movies; and character meet and greets.
Oceania Regatta
One of the most intimate cruises to Alaska is aboard the 684-passenger Oceania Regatta.
The Regatta offers a variety of sailings to Alaska from Vancouver. The ship has almost a yacht-like feel, but it will not break your vacation budget if you book it.
Oceania recently refurbished the Regatta with a neo-classical theme. Guests can look forward to afternoon tea, martini bar, coffee bar and six restaurants onboard.
Koningsdam
Holland America debuted the Koningsdam in 2016, and is a great choice for cruisers who want one of the best Alaska cruise experiences, without compromising on the onboard experience.
The Koningsdam sails from Vancouver, and offers seven-night Inside Passage sailings that can be combined with a land tour as well. In fact, it offers cruises to Glacier Bay as well, a true Alaska highlight.
The Pinnacle Class ship offers guests s 21st-century elegance and nautical tradition. The ship features a innovative and intriguing dining and entertainment venues, including the two-story World Stage to Music Walk™, with Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Billboard Onboard.
Matt Hochberg
Matt loves to cruise, and started Cruise.Blog as a place to share different cruise experiences, advice, and what to know before going on a cruise.
He lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters, where he can be found on any given day trying to convince his wife they "need" to book another cruise.
