When it comes to aspirational destinations, Alaska tops the list for many travelers. Because points of interest within the 49th state can be difficult to reach, Alaska cruises offer one of the best ways to see several places in one trip. Still, it can be confusing to choose the right itinerary, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with the region or haven’t cruised before.
The first thing you’ll notice when comparing Alaska cruise itineraries is that some are one-way and others round-trip. You can choose a sailing that begins or ends in Alaska itself or one that departs and returns to another location, such as Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia.
Here, I’ll lay out some of the draws and drawbacks of each type of itinerary, so you can be better prepared to book your Alaska cruise vacation.
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One-way Alaska cruises
The main perk of one-way Alaska cruises is that they allow you to spend time on land in Alaska before or after you sail.
That could mean exploring on your own or signing up for a cruisetour — a cruise plus pre- or post-cruise travel on land, organized by your cruise line for a fee. Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are known for their cruisetours, which generally involve stays in cruise line-owned hotels or resorts and visits to places like Denali National Park and Fairbanks in Alaska, as well as Dawson City and Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon territory.
One-way voyages to the Last Frontier also usually have more than just one day of scenic cruising, allowing you to explore the local scenery — including calving glaciers — in more detail.
As for ports, the locations your vessel visits will depend on its size, with smaller ports like Petersburg and Wrangell unable to accommodate most megaships. That’s why so many large vessels tend to visit popular ports like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, which are equipped to handle large ships and lots of passengers.
Additionally, if you’re hoping to visit Victoria, British Columbia, a popular port of call on Alaska cruises that’s definitely worth a visit, you typically won’t find it on a one-way itinerary. Because one-way sailings often start or end in Vancouver, they aren’t required to include Victoria to satisfy the Passenger Vessel Services Act.
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The biggest downside of one-way sailings — and this applies to cruises in any destination — is that they’re more expensive because you won’t be booking round-trip flights. In this case, you’ll need a one-way flight to or home from Alaska, which has more limited service than Seattle or Vancouver. Routing often isn’t the best, making nonstop options scarce.
Round-trip Alaska cruises
Round-trip Alaska cruises tend to be more affordable than one-way sailings on a total trip cost basis. The voyages leave from and return to the same port, making it easier for passengers to drive to the ship or to save money with round-trip flights.
Most round-trip itineraries leave from and return to either Vancouver or Seattle, with a few scattered sailings departing from California ports. You rarely find round-trip Alaska cruises departing from ports in Alaska (with the exception of small-ship expedition cruises.)
Alaska cruises that sail round-trip from Seattle are required to call on at least one foreign port somewhere along the itinerary, which almost always means a stop in Victoria — a lovely city that offers plenty of rich history, as well as seafood restaurants and a harbor promenade that’s great for an afternoon or evening walk.
Many round-trip voyages visit the popular ports of Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau. They also feature a day of scenic cruising in places like Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm, but typically can’t offer a second day of glacier viewing or visit the more northern ice fields.
However, because round-trip sailings don’t leave room for additional land-based Alaska exploration pre- or post-cruise, they can’t offer as many options to dive deeper into Alaska’s wilderness, wildlife and native culture.
Bottom line
Book a one-way sailing if you have a large vacation budget and don’t mind taking at least one potentially cumbersome flight so you can explore more of Alaska by land.
If you are limited on funds or time but want to experience some of Alaska’s nature-based and cultural highlights, a round-trip cruise is for you.
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