Alaska cruises in 2027

Why Alaska is one of the great cruise destinations

Alaska cruises sit in a category of their own. The scale of the landscape — glaciers calving into fjord-like inlets, forested coastlines stretching further than the eye can follow — is simply not reachable any other way. Sailings run from spring through to late autumn in 2027, so there is a good spread of dates whether you are planning well ahead or looking for a departure that suits your schedule.

Most of these sailings are ocean voyages ranging from short four-night tasters up to longer 79-night passages, with a median around 9 nights — long enough to take in multiple ports and feel genuinely unhurried. Roughly half are round trips that return you to your starting port; the rest are one-way itineraries that finish in a different city, which opens up some interesting routing options for Australian travellers who want to see two destinations in one trip.

Where do Alaska cruises go in 2027?

The overwhelming majority of sailings focus on Alaska and West Canada, making it the clear heart of what is on offer. A meaningful share are transpacific itineraries — longer voyages that cross the Pacific and connect Alaska with ports in Asia, which suits travellers from Australia who want to make the most of the journey rather than simply fly in and fly back.

Where do sailings start and finish?

Vancouver is by far the most common embarkation port, used by the majority of sailings. Seattle is the next busiest departure point, a compact, walkable city that is easy to spend a day or two in before you board. Seward, Alaska, is a popular northern terminus for one-way runs — if your sailing ends there, a domestic connection will link you back to a major hub. Tokyo features as a starting point for transpacific itineraries sailing eastward toward Alaska, which works well as a fly-in option from Australia. Whittier and San Francisco round out the main ports.

For most Australian travellers, getting to the embarkation port means a flight — and that is exactly where CruiseAway earns its place. We can book your international flights, the hotel the night before you board, transfers between airport and pier, and any tours you want to add, all on the same booking. If your sailing is one-way — finishing in a different city to where it started — we handle the domestic or international connection at the far end too, so you are never left to work out the return leg on your own.

Which cruise lines sail Alaska in 2027?

Princess Cruises leads the Alaska programme with the widest choice of sailings, followed by Holland America Line — a line with a long history in the region — and Viking Ocean Cruises. Explora Journeys brings a boutique luxury angle, while Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean add familiar large-ship options. Oceania Cruises and Azamara round out the selection with smaller, more immersive ships. The Alaska 2027 sailings from Vancouver page narrows this down if Vancouver is your preferred starting point.

If you are weighing up lines, our cruise experts are the fastest way to cut through the options — they know which ships are best suited to Alaska’s narrower waterways and which fare tiers represent genuine value for the experience they include.

Ships to know for Alaska 2027

Several ships stand out for what they specifically offer on an Alaska sailing.

Coral Princess (Princess Cruises)

Coral Princess has a narrower beam than most ships her size, which means she can slip into smaller ports and narrower passages that larger vessels simply cannot access — a real advantage on an Alaska itinerary built around discovery. On board, a single venue with 3 revolving stages hosts cooking demonstrations, cabaret and fashion shows, keeping evenings lively. When you want to step away from it all, The Sanctuary on the top deck is an adults-only retreat with loungers and attentive service. For cabin options, the Coral Princess cabins and deck plans lay out the full range.

Viking Orion (Viking Ocean Cruises)

Viking Orion is an all-suite, all-balcony ship — every stateroom has an outdoor space, which matters enormously when you are passing glaciers and forested coastlines. The Wintergarden, a light-filled space around the main pool, is a quiet place to read or watch the scenery. A full spa with sauna rounds out the wellness offer. See the Viking Orion cabins and deck plans for suite sizes and layouts.

Seabourn Encore (Seabourn)

Seabourn Encore brings classical luxury to Alaska — understated, elegant, and with complimentary fine dining included in your fare as standard. The design feels closer to a five-star hotel than a cruise ship. The Grand Wintergarden Suite (GR) is the ship’s flagship accommodation: at approximately 115–120 m², with its own private hot tub and space for up to 4 guests, it is substantially larger than the Owner’s Suites at 67 m² or the Penthouse Spa Suite at 83 m². Review all suite configurations on the Seabourn Encore cabins and deck plans page.

Riviera (Oceania Cruises)

Riviera carries just 1,250 guests, which keeps the experience personal and unhurried. All 6 restaurants aboard are included in your fare, with menus drawing on the culinary philosophy of Jacques Pépin. The ship also carries an on-board cooking school — one of the few at sea — where you can learn from the destination’s ingredients in a hands-on setting. The Riviera cabins and deck plans cover the full stateroom range.

What do Alaska cruise fares include?

What is covered depends on the line and the fare tier you choose, and getting this right is one of the best reasons to book through a specialist rather than directly.

Princess Cruises fare tiers

Princess offers 2 main fare structures on its Alaska 2027 sailings. The Princess Standard fare covers the cruise itself; drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities are added on separately. The Princess Plus tier bundles in 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each (with a daily limit of 15 drinks), MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs plus 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating — a meaningful package for most travellers. Fare types such as last-minute offers and tactical promotions appear periodically and can change the value equation significantly.

Norwegian Cruise Line fare tiers

Norwegian offers a base Just Cruise fare for those who prefer to pick and choose extras, and 2 higher tiers — Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus — that bundle in specialty dining, a premium beverage package, Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits. The Plus tier extends the dining package to all guests on the booking. See the Norwegian Alaska cruises page for the full sailing list.

How much does an Alaska cruise cost in 2027?

Alaska sailings in 2027 start from A$740 pp* for the shorter itineraries, with fares rising in line with the ship, the cabin grade and the length of the voyage. Discounts on individual sailings can reach up to 46% off that cabin’s previously listed price — though that is the maximum on a single departure, and most reduced sailings sit closer to around 11% off. It is worth checking regularly, as availability and pricing shift as sailings fill.

Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same sailing cheaper elsewhere after booking with CruiseAway, we will match it. It is the simplest reassurance we can give.

Which cabin suits an Alaska cruise?

The right cabin depends on how much time you plan to spend in it — and on an Alaska sailing, the answer for many guests is: less than usual, because the scenery keeps pulling you outside. That said, here is a practical guide to the main grades:

• Interior cabins — the most affordable option and perfectly comfortable for travellers who treat the cabin as a place to sleep and refresh. The saving can fund shore excursions instead.
• Ocean-view cabins — a fixed window brings natural light in without the cost of a balcony. A reasonable mid-ground on a scenic itinerary.
• Balcony cabins — on an Alaska sailing, a private balcony is particularly worth considering: glaciers, forested coastlines and wildlife sightings are best seen from your own outdoor space at any hour of the day. On Viking Orion, every cabin is a balcony cabin as standard.
• Suites — the widest range of sizes and inclusions. On Seabourn Encore, the Grand Wintergarden Suite (GR) offers approximately 115–120 m² with a private hot tub. On Luminara, The Residential Suite (Resi) spans 87 m² with terrace access from both the living area and the bedroom. On EXPLORA III, the Owner’s Residence (OR1) provides 183 m² of living space plus a 132 m² outdoor terrace — the largest unit aboard.

When is the best time to cruise Alaska?

Alaska’s cruise season runs from spring through to autumn. Earlier departures suit travellers who prefer quieter ports and want to beat the peak-season crowds; mid-season sailings — particularly those in the summer months — are consistently popular and tend to book earliest. September departures are well represented and are a favourite for travellers who want the full season’s scenery with slightly shorter days.

If you are weighing up April versus August or September, our cruise experts can walk you through what each period typically offers and which ships are scheduled then — it is the kind of detail that makes a real difference to which sailing you choose.

Do I need a visa for an Alaska cruise?

Requirements vary by nationality and by itinerary. Australian passport holders travelling to the United States — including those boarding in Vancouver on a one-way sailing that calls at US ports — will need to check their entry requirements before travel. Transpacific sailings that begin or end in Japan or Singapore each carry their own entry conditions. CruiseAway recommends checking with the relevant consulate or embassy well in advance of your departure date, and our team can point you toward the right starting point when you book.

How long should I book?

Sailings range from 4 nights to 79 nights, with a median around 9 nights. A 7-to-10-night sailing is the most common choice and gives enough time to visit multiple glacier inlets and ports without feeling rushed. Longer voyages — including the transpacific crossings that begin or end in Asia — suit travellers who want a single, extended trip that justifies the long-haul journey from Australia. Shorter sailings make sense as an add-on to a broader North America itinerary.

Make it a complete holiday

For most Australians, an Alaska cruise in 2027 is the centrepiece of a longer trip rather than a standalone voyage. CruiseAway can build the whole journey around it: international flights, the hotel the night before you board, transfers from airport to pier, shore tours along the way, and travel insurance, all on a single booking through our DreamAway Packages. If your sailing is one-way — finishing in a different port to where it starts — we sort the onward connection too, so you are not left to piece together the return leg yourself.

Already cruising in 2027 and thinking about what else is available? The broader 2027 cruises page covers every region and line, and the cruises around Australia in 2027 page is worth a look if you want something closer to home as well.

Also sailing in 2027

If you are exploring the full range of what 2027 has to offer, Princess Cruises’ 2026–2027 Australia season has a strong programme worth reviewing — Princess is the most popular line on this Alaska page too, so it is a natural companion. The Princess Cruises 2027–2028 season launch covers the full two-year forward schedule. For Pacific itineraries departing from Australian ports in 2027, see cruises from Sydney to Hawaii and cruises from Sydney to New Zealand. If you are based in Queensland, Princess Cruises from Brisbane in 2027 has options worth comparing. Royal Caribbean travellers can also explore Royal Caribbean from Sydney in 2027, Royal Caribbean from Brisbane in 2027, and the Royal Caribbean Christmas cruise 2026 Australia programme.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.