Alaska’s incredible scenery, epic glaciers, and wildlife make it a popular choice for many cruisers. With cruise lines offering such a wide selection of itineraries, it can be tough to figure out which is the best choice for your Alaska cruise vacation.
One-way and round-trip cruises are two major categories of Alaska cruises that offer different benefits. One-way cruises sail to the splendors of Alaska's far north, while round-trip cruises sail to the calmer waters of the Inside Passage.
Which is best? The answer is somewhat subjective and depends on what's important for your cruise vacation. These two alternatives visit different ports, offer varied experiences, and can range significantly in price.
With so many great options out there, here’s what to look for and how to decide whether a round-trip or one-way cruise is the best option for your cruise vacation.
One-way cruises
One-way cruises sail either northbound from ports like Seattle or southbound across the Gulf of Alaska from ports such as Anchorage in Alaska. In addition to visiting the ports of the Inside Passage, they explore the more remote areas of Alaska, wonders such as the Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord, and its incredibly picturesque landscape.
These cruises (also called open-jaw) can be an excellent alternative for those who want to explore Alaska in more depth. Many passengers like to add a pre or post-cruise land tour to visit places such as Denali National Preserve and Park or maybe spend time in Fairbanks to catch a glimpse at the Northern Lights. Some cruise lines, like Princess Cruises, have an extensive array of one-way itineraries, with options to include land-based excursions. Once guests are done with the cruise, they enjoy scenic rail travel from the ship to the lodge, where they spend three or more nights in exclusive Wilderness Lodges located riverside near legendary national parks, a truly unforgettable experience.
One-way cruise itineraries can end up being more costly than Inside Passage cruises, as you need to fly in or out of Alaska for the cruise. Another point to consider for some is that the waters can be rougher in the Gulf Of Alaska, although weather is never a certainty in any cruise. But for those who want to spend more time in the Last Frontier, a one-way cruise can be a fantastic vacation.
Round-trip cruises
Round-trip cruises to Alaska often sail the waters of Inside Passage, with hundreds of itineraries among the major cruise lines. Sailing along the coastal passage of the Pacific Northwest, round-trip itineraries are among the most popular Alaska cruises, and many are 7 days in length and leave from Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia. These cruises head north, sailing around the thousands of islands that this region is famous for. A major benefit to cruising in the southern part of Alaska is that there tends to be calmer waters, thanks to protection from the islands.
With so much demand for round-trip Alaska cruises, there are many choices, with all major cruise lines offering cruises from May through September. In addition to week-long cruises, there are also Alaska “sampler” cruises that can be 4 or 5 days, giving cruisers a taste of what Alaska has to offer. These shorter cruises are also more affordable while still providing an authentic northern cruise experience. It is a good option for cruises who want to try the Land of the Midnight Sun but are not quite sure if it is for them.
Popular ports of call on this route include stops in places such as Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. These ports are good options as they provide a wide range of activities, such as visiting glaciers, kayaking, exploring historic gold rush towns, and the chance to see plenty to see in terms of wildlife. These types of cruises offer scenic viewing of Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier National Park, with spectacular views.
One-way versus roundtrip cruises
While both options provide excellent opportunities to see Alaska, there are some unique pros and cons to each alternative.
One-way cruises pros/cons
- Cost is a major factor when considering a one-way cruise. These itineraries can end up being more costly than round-trip cruises, as you need to fly in or out of Alaska for the cruise. Flight prices in Alaska, are signifcnatly higher than southern embarkation ports like Seattle.
- Although they can be more expensive, one-way cruises provide the opportunity to explore Alaska in more depth, visiting some hard-to-reach locations accessible only by water. They even provide an opportunity to see the Northern Lights during certain parts of the cruise season.
- One-way cruises offer guests the option to add land tours to their cruise vacations, providing a more in-depth Alaska cruise experience. For those who want to spend more time in the Last Frontier, a Gulf of Alaska cruise can be a fantastic vacation.
- The waters of the Gulf of Alaska can be rougher than round-trip cruises that sail further south. This can be off putting to some, especially those that suffer from seasickness.
- Most require a passport.
Round-trip cruises pros/cons
- Roundtrip cruises, especially those leaving from Seattle, can be a great, affordable cruise to Alaska. Seattle in particular, is a major embarkation point for round-trip cruises, meaning there is a lot of choice in terms of budget and itinerary. This can be the best alternative for those looking for the cheapest cruise to Alaska.
- There are many options available for round-trip cruisers, and most don’t require a passport unless they are needed or an excursion. However, a passport will be required for cruisers starting in Vancouver, Canada.
- Another major benefit of a round-trip cruise is that the Inside Passage tends to have calmer waters, which can be a major bonus, especially for those who suffer from seasickness.
- The main drawback of round-trip cruises is that you tend to visit the busiest places and do not get to explore some of the more remote and spectacular locations, including national parks.
- These itineraries also lack the ability to do a land tour, which can be some of the most memorable parts of a cruise to Alaska.