Wondering how much an Alaska cruise costs?
Unfortunately, there's no cookie-cutter answer. Some can cost as little as $500 per person for a seven-night cruise in an inside cabin on a mainstream line, or upwards of $10,000 per person for a week in a suite on a luxury cruise ship. The price varies greatly depending on the cruise line, ship, departure date, and itinerary.
Plus, you will need to factor in airfare, hotel stays, shore excursions, and other costs to determine the total price of an Alaska sailing.
Below, we answer how much an Alaska cruise costs by breaking down the expenses you are likely to incur on your vacation up north.
How much are Alaskan cruise prices?
Alaska cruise prices constantly change, even for the same ship and itinerary. As a specific cruise sells out, fares increase. If one itinerary is not selling well, prices might drop. A shoulder-season sailing is typically cheaper than a midsummer voyage, and an inside cabin is nearly always more affordable than a balcony cabin. Suites range from a mini-suite (i.e. a roomy balcony cabin) to a lavish multi-room, multi-deck enclave, and cruise fares vary accordingly.
To give you an idea of prices, we priced out a family of four among the most popular cruise lines. Our sample trip departs Seattle and is a 7-night cruise in July 2025. We selected a balcony cabin for each cruise with 2 adults and 2 kids in the same room.
- Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas: $6,891.68
- Carnival Cruise Line Spirit: $5,114.00
- Celebrity Cruises Edge: $7,075.00
- Norwegian Cruise Line Encore: $8,837.08
- Disney Cruise Line Wonder*: $15,084.00
*The Disney Cruise departs from Vancouver since it does not offer a Seattle departure.
For a family-friendly, big-ship cruise line, Disney is always priced higher than lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival. Their inside cabins start from $225 per person, per day, and the smallest suite starts at $1,000 per person, per day.
Moreover, upscale lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises are usually more expensive than other mainstream lines.
It's also important to consider what is included with each line. Norwegian, for example, often bundles a drink package or Wi-Fi with their fares, while Royal Caribbean and Disney do not.
Read more: What is the best cruise line for Alaskan sailings
What makes an Alaska cruise cost more or less than another sailing?
There are many reasons why one cruise is cheaper than another, and it all depends on the choices you make in selecting a sailing.
Premium lines, such as Princess or Holland America, usually cost more because they include more in their fare. Mainstream lines (i.e. Royal Caribbean, Carnival) advertise a lower base fare with less included to give the customer the choice to spend more on extras. Disney just prices their cruises higher than the rest because of the brand name.
The date you select can have a large impact on your cruise fare. The Alaska cruise season is short, and that means limited time to go with pros and cons to different times of the year.
Read more: I tried a Holland America cruise to Alaska. Here's what it's like to sail on this cruise line
Early season cruises (April, May, and June) are cheaper than July and August because school is still in session, and that limits families' abilities to take a vacation. Moreover, the early Alaska season is colder and there is less demand.
July and August see the warmest temperatures and families can easily travel, so prices tend to be highest in this month.
September and October are when families cannot travel due to work, and the weather also starts to cool. Moreover, the fall is when it rains more in Alaska, which diminishes demand.
There isn't a bad month to take an Alaska cruise, so you weigh the pros and cons of the off-peak or peak Alaska cruise season. For many people, it's a question of price versus weather.
Remember, there is no perfect time or guarantee of weather, so don't assume paying more for a July Alaska cruise automatically guarantees sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
How much does it cost to fly to my Alaska cruise homeport?
If you live within driving distance from the Seattle cruise port, you can pay $0 for airfare, and your transportation costs will mainly consist of gas and parking or taxi and Uber fares. If you live in New York and are embarking on a one-way cruise from Seward to Vancouver, you might pay $500 to $1,000 per person for one-way flights into Anchorage and out of Vancouver.
Cruises that sail roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver will typically cost less in airfare than one-way cruises that travel between Alaska and Canada. If you want to save money on your total cruise booking, consider how your itinerary can impact your airfare.
Do not forget that you can use frequent flyer miles or credit card points to book your flights, saving you money on the total cost of your Alaska cruise.
Airfare should also be a consideration if you find a last-minute cruise deal. While the fare might be enticing, the total cost of the plane tickets might negate any (and all) savings. It is best to plan your cruise vacations in advance to get the best value.
Read more: How Far in Advance Can You Book a Cruise?
How much should I budget for shore excursions?
Give yourself a large budget for shore excursions on your Alaska cruise. Because Alaska is part of the U.S. and also a remote destination where many products must be shipped long distances from elsewhere, goods and services in Alaska tend to be more expensive than you will find at home. As such, excursions are price than The Bahamas.
While you will discover a few fun attractions and lots of shopping within walking distance from each Alaska cruise pier, the real draw lies beyond the city limits. You will want to take tours in nearly every port to make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime visit to the 49th state.
Looking at Juneau, Alaska shore excursion prices on Carnival Cruise Line, the most affordable tour is all-day access to the Goldbelt Tramway for $49.99. Excursions between $50 and $100 per adult include the Gold Creek Salmon Bake, Underground Mine Exploration and Gold Panning, Mendenhall Glacier Explorer, and Mendenhall Glacier & Goldbelt Aerial Tram.
It's easier than you think to rack up a large bill on just excursions. Some in Juneau on Carnival cost upwards of $650 per person, such as the Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier via Helicopter tour.
Depending on what bucket list experiences you plan to have, you might want to budget $1,000 per person for shore excursions on your Alaska cruise.
Read more: What are the best Alaska cruise ports?
What other expenses will I incur on an Alaska cruise?
The one expense everyone incurs is cruise ship gratuities. Every cruise line tacks on daily tips for the dining and housekeeping staff onboard. As you will not necessarily come into contact with everyone who makes your Alaska cruise amazing, we strongly encourage you to pay the suggested amount or more.
Cruise ship gratuities run $14 to $25 per person, per day, and vary based on cruise line and cabin category. If you are in a suite, you can expect to pay more than those in standard staterooms.
Hotel stays are another major cost if you are flying into your cruise departure destination earlier or lingering in Alaska after your cruise ends.
Hotel rates will vary depending if you pick a Motel 6 or the Ritz. I'm looking at hotels for my upcoming Alaska cruise on Carnival Luminosa. Since the 7-night cruise departs on May 8, I'm flying into Seattle on the 7th. Because it's earlier in the season, the hotels are pretty affordable, especially in advance.
The Crowne Plaza in Downtown Seattle costs about $225/night, while the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson near the Seattle airport is $175/night. Of course, the actual prices vary based on your specific dates, so take these examples with a grain of salt.
Hotels are an important consideration if you want to plan an extended pre- or post-cruise stay, as the hotel could add another thousand dollars to your total vacation expense.
You might like to get a drink or meal off the ship in the Alaskan ports of call. At Juneau’s famous Red Dog Saloon, popular with cruisers, a locally brewed draught beer will set you back $5.50 to $8; a salmon burger costs $21, and an Alaskan reindeer sausage sandwich is $17.
Depending on your shopping tastes, your budget for souvenirs might be $25 per person or hundreds to thousands if you plan on buying gold or diamonds in the many jewelry shops in port. You may also want to include shopping onboard.
As with any cruise, you will want to consider what you'll spend on the ship, too. Alaskan cruises tend to be port-heavy, so you might not feel the need to purchase a drink package or specialty dining meal. If these are experiences you like, however, you'll want to factor those into your overall costs.
Read more: 14 lessons learned after I tried my first Alaska cruise
What is the cost of an Alaska cruise tour?
Cruise tours cost more per night than cruises alone, likely because the cost of lodging and transportation in Alaska is high and some activities are included. Most cruise tours run 9- to 14-nights, featuring a seven-night cruise and a bus- and train-based tour through Southcentral and Interior Alaska.
When we checked Alaska cruise tour prices on Royal Caribbean, the cheapest cruise tour in 2025 costs around $1,825 per person for an inside cabin and $2,985 for a balcony on a seven-night voyage in May or September with a two-night tour to Denali and Anchorage.
Cruisetours are meant for those who want to make the most of their time in Alaska and see more than cruise ports will allow. Plus, you will not have to worry about planning the logistics. You get to enjoy the convenience that comes with a cruise vacation while venturing inland.
Erica Silverstein
Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Her articles have appeared on Cruise Critic, Porthole, TravelAge West, and USA Today. A staunch advocate of cruising as an ideal family vacation, she has, on occasion, banned her own children from cruising with her.
