Alaska Cruises Are Getting Longer

05.09.2023 - 18:05 / travelpulse.com / Cruises / Holland America Line

Traditionally, Alaska cruises have been seven days in length—either a weeklong loop of the Inside Passage roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver, or a similar transit across the Gulf of Alaska sailing one way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier.

Lately, though, Alaska cruises have been getting longer. And it’s not just expedition companies, which typically operate longer and more wide-ranging itineraries, offering these lengthier voyages. Many of Alaska’s biggest mainstream, premium and luxury cruise lines have jumped on the trend, and at least one well-known big-ship line will be sailing as far as the Alaskan Arctic next year for the very first time.

Here are some of the more noteworthy examples of non-expedition, cruise-only itineraries for 2024 and 2025 of at least 10 days or more:

Holland America Line sends the 1,964-passenger Westerdam on one of the longest Alaska cruises in 2024: a new 28-day “Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice” itinerary that stops in 12 Alaska ports including Anchorage, Dutch Harbor, Haines, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Nome, Seward, Sitka, Valdez, and Wrangell. A single departure is scheduled for June 9, sailing roundtrip from Seattle, with a 2025 departure scheduled for June 8. HAL also offers 14-day “Great Alaskan Explorer” itineraries on the 2,106-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam and 1,972-passenger Noordam roundtrip from Vancouver in 2024 and 2025.

Princess Cruises offers several lengthy new Alaska itineraries in 2025. The 22-day “Ultimate Alaska Solstice with Glacier Bay National Park” cruise departs aboard the 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess roundtrip from San Francisco on June 6. The 17-day “Ultimate Alaska with Glacier Bay National Park” cruise departs aboard the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess roundtrip from Seattle on May 6. A 16-day “Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park” cruise departs aboard the Grand Princess roundtrip from Los Angeles on August 30.

Norwegian Cruise Line has three 15-, 16- or 18-day Alaska/Japan or Alaska/Hawaii transpacific repositioning cruises in 2024 to begin or end the season. The 16-day eastbound “Honolulu to Vancouver: Kaui, Maui, Juneau & Ketchikan” aboard the Norwegian Spirit departs Honolulu on April 22 and arrives in Vancouver on May 8. The 18-day westbound “Alaska & Japan: Hubbard Glacier, Skagway and Juneau” aboard the 2,018-passenger Norwegian Spirit departs Vancouver on May 8 and arrives in Tokyo on May 26. The 15-day westbound “Alaska & Hawaii: Skagway, Juneau and Maui” aboard the 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun departs Vancouver on October 8 and arrives in Honolulu on October 23. In 2025, the 3,804-passenger Norwegian Joy and 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss will offer 10-day loops from Seattle for a more immersive Alaska experience.

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