Alaska cruise rush: Here's where this trendy cruise line will visit in the Last Frontier

29.10.2024 - 16:05 / thepointsguy.com / Royal Caribbean

Add one more cruise line to the growing list of brands that will offer Alaska sailings in 2026. Following brief stints sailing from New York and Los Angeles, new 2,770-passenger ship Brilliant Lady — the fourth in Virgin Voyages' fleet, set to debut in late 2025 — will offer cruises to the Last Frontier as part of its spring and summer 2026 schedule.

The vessel, which has been delayed since 2023, will operate seven- to 12-night itineraries from Seattle and Vancouver. The ship's first voyage, sailing round-trip from Seattle May 21–28, 2026, is set to call on ports that include Ketchikan, Sitka and Prince Rupert. It will also feature scenic sailing through Tracy Arm Fjord.

The ship's 12-night cruises include the same ports as the seven-night ones but with Skagway, Icy Strait Point and Haines added, as well as additional scenic sailing by Hubbard Glacier.

Excursions — known as "Shore Things" in Virgin lingo — include whale-watching, salmon fishing, glacier trekking, lumberjack shows and dogsledding, among other options.

Although passengers will pay extra for shore tours, they won't shell out additional money for much else. Unlike most mainstream cruise lines, Virgin Voyages includes basic Wi-Fi, gratuities and nearly all specialty dining in its cruise fares. (Passengers will pay extra for alcohol and some specialty food items.)

Virgin Voyages will join MSC Cruises in sailing to Alaska for the first time in 2026. Other lines have also recently announced news related to the 49th State. That includes Royal Caribbean, which will assign mega-ship Ovation of the Seas to do one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward (the port for Anchorage) beginning in 2026, complete with pre- and post-cruise land tour options. (Virgin is offering cruises only; there are currently no cruisetour land extensions available through the line.)

As for Brilliant Lady's other itineraries, travelers can expect to see the ship running Bermuda and Canada/New England voyages from New York's Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Caribbean cruises from Miami, and Mexico and California coastal sailings from Los Angeles in 2025 before repositioning to the Pacific Northwest.

Want to learn more about Virgin Voyages? We've got you covered.