Best Alaska Cruises From Seattle

Ready for crisp mountain air, crystal streams, and glacier calving? When the wilderness calls, answer it. Fly to or drive into Seattle. Spend a day or two exploring Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the Chihuly Glass Museum, and then leave the city slickness behind for Alaska’s rugged landscapes. If you’re thinking about taking a trip from Seattle to Alaska, here are some planning tips for Alaska cruises from Seattle. Or if you’re ready, skip the info and look for Alaska cruises now.

Travel experts and cruise critics rate Holland America Line as the best cruise line for Alaska. If you’re looking for the best Alaska cruises from Seattle, Holland America Line has won Best Alaska Itineraries, Best in Alaska, Best Alaska Cruise, and many more awards. Passengers get a more enriching experience as the cruise line has been taking guests to Alaska for nearly 75 years, and knows the area.

Holland America Line is one of the privileged few to cruise the pristine waters of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, a 23-million-acre ever-changing biosphere with glaciers, inlets, rivers, and wildlife galore. Experts are brought onboard to uncover the stories and science behind every sight.

The cost of an Alaska cruise from Seattle depends on several factors: the length of the cruise, the room you select, and the number of days you want to cruise. July is high season and prices tend to reflect that. When budgeting the cost of a cruise from Seattle to Alaska, or any travel for that matter, think about the value of the experience.

It depends! Some want warmer temperatures, and some want less crowds. That said, the cruise season for Alaska is relatively short—May to September—so, your options are narrow. Create a list of what’s most important to you. Mid-May tends to be cheaper, but on the chilly side. To bathe in the rays of the midnight sun and maybe spot a baby moose, June is your month to cruise from Seattle to Alaska.

July is the warmest month in Alaska (and one of the best for bear-spotting), but also the busiest. August is the end of the peak season, so, you may enjoy less crowds, but it tends to be rainier. September is quiet and serene, but cooler and rainier.

Alaska is a land of towering peaks, glacial calving, ice plunging into the sea, and otters and chubby seals lounging on ice floes.

If you want to witness these spectacles with a bit more elbow room and enjoy a wide selection of venues, entertainment, and amenities on ship, a mid-size ship is the best cruise ship to take from Seattle to Alaska. Mid-size ships offer the best of both worlds — the attentive service of a small ship combined with large ship amenities.

As you plan your Alaska cruise from Seattle, you’ll see lots of towns and scenic cruising areas. Shore excursions are a good place to start if you’re wondering what you to do in port. Juneau is a pleasant, nature-surrounded city in proximity to hiking trails, wildlife, and the impressive Mendenhall Glacier. Glacier Bay offers some of the most dramatic scenery on the globe. Icy Strait Point is a historical town that’s filled with culture and only opens when a cruise ship is in port. Sitka is within view of a dormant volcano, has a bear and raptor center, and onion-domed buildings leftover from its Russian influence. Ketchikan is one of the best spots along the Inside Passage to explore the rich culture of Native Alaskans, including Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian with carved totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center.

An Alaska cruise from Seattle is convenient with weekend departures available and 7-day roundtrip cruises. Take a day or two to see the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, or make your own glass experience at the Chihuly Glass Museum before taking a journey to the Great Land. Book the best Alaska cruises from Seattle now.

VIEW ALL ALASKA CRUISE TIPS, TRAVEL ARTICLE & VIDEOS