Moment 01
Glacier Bay
A full day among tidewater glaciers calving into the sea, a national-park highlight.
Alaska.
The Last Frontier · Glaciers & wildlife
Alaska is famous for its massive glaciers and breathtaking wildlife, and a cruise is the finest way to take it in. Sailing the Inside Passage, you'll watch glaciers calve into the sea, spot breaching whales and bald eagles, and call at frontier towns rich with Gold Rush and Native heritage.
Itineraries sail round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver, or one-way through the Gulf of Alaska with the option to extend by land into Denali. Highlights like Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier are unforgettable from the deck of a ship, and even more so by small boat or floatplane on a shore excursion.
We'll guide you on timing (May through September), cabin choice (a balcony is worth it here), and the cruise-and-land combinations that make the most of a once-in-a-lifetime trip north.
- The region
- The Inside Passage
- Classic sailing
- 7 nights
- What you come for
- Glaciers & wildlife
- Gateway
- Seattle / Vancouver
What you'll remember
Moments along the way.
Moment 02
Wildlife everywhere
Humpback whales, sea otters, bald eagles, and bears from the rail and on shore.
Moment 03
Add Denali by land
Extend your voyage inland to North America's tallest peak and the vast interior.
Moment 04
The Inside Passage
A thousand miles of forested fjords, narrow channels and tumbling waterfalls.
Moment 05
Gold Rush history
Skagway and the cliff-hugging White Pass railway, frozen in the days of the stampede.
Moment 06
Native heritage
Tlingit and Haida totems and traditions, alive in the towns of the southeast.
The route
A sample sailing.
6 stops · Vancouver to Seward
Tap a stop to jump to that day · drag to explore
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1 Day 1Vancouver, BC
Embark in one of the world's loveliest port cities, ringed by sea and mountains.
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2 Day 2Ketchikan
Tlingit totems, a rich salmon culture, and the granite walls of Misty Fjords nearby.
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3 Day 3Juneau
The Mendenhall Glacier on the edge of town, and some of Alaska's finest whale watching.
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4 Day 4Skagway
A Gold Rush town frozen in time, and the cliff-hugging White Pass railway into the mountains.
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5 Day 5Glacier Bay National Park
A full day among tidewater glaciers calving into the sea, with rangers aboard.
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6 Days 6-7Toward Seward
Across the Gulf past Hubbard Glacier to Seward, the gateway to the Kenai Fjords and Denali beyond.
Every sailing we book is tailored: this is a starting point, not a package.
When to go
The best time to sail.
Alaska sails on a short, fixed calendar — May into September, and not a day outside it. Within that window the choice is real: peak summer for long days and active wildlife, or the shoulders for value and quiet. From October the ships head south and the coast closes.
June–July
The warmest, greenest, longest days, with wildlife at its most active.
May & early June
Drier weather, thinner crowds and lower fares, with snow still on the peaks.
Late August–September
Bears fishing the salmon runs, early fall color, and a first chance of the aurora.
October–April
Season closed: the ships have sailed south and there are no Alaska cruises until May. The move now is to lock in next summer's prime cabins.
From the Guest Book
Travelers on this river.
“Michelle at Chima Travel was extremely helpful in planning an Alaskan cruise for my wife and our 56th wedding anniversary.”
Real Google reviews, words unchanged.
Good to know
Alaska cruise questions.
How long is an Alaska cruise?+
Most are 7 nights: round trip from Seattle or Vancouver, or one-way through the Gulf of Alaska, which pairs beautifully with a land extension to Denali.
When is the best time to cruise Alaska?+
The season runs May through September. June and July are warmest and greenest; late summer brings salmon-fishing bears and the first fall color.
Is a balcony worth it in Alaska?+
Yes. The scenery slides past all day and the glacier-viewing days, like Glacier Bay, are best enjoyed from your own private rail.
Can I combine the cruise with a land tour?+
Absolutely. A cruisetour adds a rail journey inland to Denali and the interior. We arrange the full combination and the logistics.
From the journal
Reading on Alaska.
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