During the past few years, interest in sailing to Alaska has soared. It’s not hard to see why.
Alaska is known at the last frontier, and like any frontier, it can be difficult to traverse. With a limited amount of roads and other transportation, the easiest way to get around the picturesque coastline is via boat or plane. Luckily, that’s also the best way to view the natural scenery.
And as word spreads about the beauty of taking an Alaskan cruise more and more people are considering taking a trip.
The good news is that with increased interest in cruises to the region, cruise lines are sailing more ships to Alaska. Today, there is a staggering amount of Alaskan cruises to choose from across every budget, cruise line, and itinerary.
If you’re looking for cheap Alaskan cruises, however, then you need to be prepared to shop around. Trips to this area are seasonal — sailing from April through October. Since there is only a limited window of time to cruise, prices are considerably higher than similar Caribbean cruises you might be familiar with. As well, prices change frequently.
Below, we highlight some of the cheapest 2023 Alaskan cruises. The prices for these trips start at just $379 per person. But before we get too far, here are some tips on how to find the most affordable trips to this region…
How to Find the Cheapest Alaskan Cruise Deals (Best Deals Below)
Sail Early in the Season
The Alaskan cruising season is short — usually only five months long, although some trips are extending that season. Running from April through October, your opportunities to sail are limited, although there are a number of ships sailing at any given time.
If you want to save the most, look for cruises that sail April/May. These trips early in the season are before the busier summer travel season. That means the pool of available passengers is smaller. In order to fill the ships, cruise lines slash prices. A cruise departing in May can be hundreds of dollars less than the same trip leaving in July.
Sail Late in the Season
Didn’t we just say to sail early in the season to save? Well, the same logic applies to sailing late. If you can wait until September/October, cruise fares to Alaska are much cheaper. With school back in session, the summer season largely over, and the bulk of the sailing season already past, you can find deals that are hundreds of dollars less than sailing just a few weeks earlier.
Sail One-Way or from Different Ports
Most cruises sail round-trip, departing ports like Vancouver or Seattle. But if you look around, you can find one-way trips or that that depart from one port and let passengers off in another (such as departing Vancouver and returning to Seattle or sailing from Seattle for seven days and ending in Alaska before another seven-day cruise home). Since these cruises are less convenient for most passengers, they tend to be cheaper.
Search an Aggregator Website
It only makes sense that if you go to a specific cruise line’s website to search for cruises, they will only show you their sailings. But every major cruise line sails Alaska. That’s why we suggest going to a site that searches across all cruise lines to search for deals.
Sites like AvoyaTravel.com or Orbitz allow you to search by cruise lines, destination, dates, and more to find the trip that matches your schedule and budget.
With all of these tips in mind, here are some of the cheapest Alaskan cruises for 2023. Note that prices may change depending on when you book.
Cheap 2023 Alaskan Cruises (One-Way/Alternate Ports)
As we mentioned above, cruises that are one-way journeys mean you will need to find transportation back from the endpoint of the cruise (usually with a return cruise). Still, you can save a ton. Below, we’ve listed some of the cheapest one-way Alaskan cruises we’ve found. Prices are based on the per-person cruise fare for an interior cabin.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver aboard Celebrity Millennium (One-Way)
Date: September 1, 2023
Price: $435 per person
A one-way trip from Vancouver to Seward, Alaska, this trip costs $435 and leaves in early September. The cruise is aboard Celebrity Millennium, making it ideal for those wanting a more luxurious experience. It’s among the cheapest trips to Alaska you’ll find, and stops in Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, and more. The return trip starts at $478 per person as well. Combined, that’s about $900 in cruise fare for a two-week Alaskan trip. That’s not bad at all.
8-Night Alaskan Cruise from San Diego aboard Norwegian Jewel (One-Way)
Date: April 23, 2023
Price: $449 per person
Sometimes you can find deals when a ship is repositioning. This is where a cruise line relocates it from one homeport to another. In this case, Norwegian Jewel is heading from San Diego to Vancouver for the Alaskan sailing season. On the way there, it will sail this 8-day cruise from San Diego with stops in Santa Barbara, Astoria, Seattle, Ketchikan (Alaska), and then Vancouver. So you get an entire West Coast cruise for under $500 per person.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Seattle aboard Celebrity Solstice (One-Way)
Date: September 15, 2023
Price: $503 per person
Celebrity is known for its higher-end experience, which commonly means more expensive cruises. So while we wouldn’t call this $503 cruise “cheap,” it is a pretty good deal. Still, you will depart Seattle and then return to Vancouver, so you’ll need to adjust your travel plans for the change.
You’ll sail from Seattle to Ketchikan, Endicott Arm, Juneau, and Skagway before heading back to Vancouver and then returning home. Considering that Alaska is commonly a “bucket list” trip for many people, crossing it off your list on a higher-end line like Celebrity would likely add to the experience.
Cheap 2023 Alaskan Cruises (Round Trip)
While one-way cruises often offer the cheaper fares, for 2023 we’re finding more deals in round trip cruises, which are much more convenient for travelers. The following cruises are all round trip from a single port.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver aboard Volendam
Date: May 24, 2023
Price: $379 per person
For years, Holland America has been a big player in Alaskan cruises. The cruise line has several ships that sail each year, with routes offered from both Seattle and Vancouver.
This trip aboard the Volendam is just $379 for a late May departure. Depart Vancouver and you’ll take the Inside Passage up to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan before returning. It’s a classic Alaskan cruise on a luxury line for those that are looking for something more high-end in their vacation.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver aboard Brilliance of the Seas
Date: May 14, 2023
Price: $481 per person
For round trips aboard Royal Caribbean, this was the cheapest offer we found. And at less than $500 for a cruise to Alaska, it’s a great deal. Just know that taxes, port fees, and gratuities will add considerably to your total.
This cruise is aboard Brilliance of the Seas, departing early in the season. You’ll sail from Vancouver through the Inside Passage, to Sitka, Juneau, and more before returning back to home. It’s a complete Alaskan cruise experience for hundreds less than you’ll pay during peak season.
5-Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver aboard Koningsdam
Date: May 1, 2023
Price: $399 per person
Technically Holland America calls this a “Pacific Northwest” cruise. But it leaves Vancouver, sails through the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Alaska, and then stops in Prince Rupert before making its way back to Vancouver. So you can get to visit Alaska on a low budget and for a trip that’s shorter than the traditional week-long itinerary.
The trip departs early in the season as well, giving another reason why it’s among the cheapest deals your find to sail to the region.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Seattle aboard Westerdam
Date: September 24, 2023
Price: $449 per person
As you can see from our list, many of the cheapest cruises to Alaska in 2023 depart from Vancouver. However, for many people it’s less expensive to fly into Seattle than Vancouver. That means even if you pay a little more for the cruise, you might come out less expensive overall if cruising from Seattle.
This trip for less than $450 per person from Holland America was the least expensive we found. You’ll get to visit Juneau, see Hubbard Glacier, and then visit Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria (Canada) before returning home.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Seattle aboard Quantum of the Seas
Date: May 15, 2023
Price: $481 per person
When it comes to the best ship for an Alaskan cruise, a spot with plenty to do indoors (but with lots of outdoor views) is ideal due to weather. Quantum of the Seas fits the bill. Between the indoor pool, the Solarium, and the enclosed SeaPlex, there’s plenty to do indoors, while still being able to take in the scenery.
We found this cruise aboard the ship in mid-May for $481 per person on Orbitz, though it shows as more expensive on Royal Caribbean’s website. The cruise departs Seattle for a visit to Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria, Canada before returning home.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Seattle aboard Norwegian Bliss
Date: April 29, 2023
Price: $499 per person
Typically, Norwegian Cruise Line is a bit more expensive than most other lines. But there are still deals to be found. This cruise is a good example, coming in under $500 per person for an interior cabin.
Departing in late April from Seattle, you’ll sail aboard Norwegian Bliss for one of the first cruises of the Alaskan season. The route heads up to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, with a stop in Victoria before returning home.
Finding an Alaskan cruise under $500 is a pretty good deal. Finding one for under $500 on NCL is rare.
7-Night Alaskan Cruise from Seattle aboard Discovery Princess
Date: May 7, 2023
Price: $548 per person
Discovery Princess is Princess’ newest ship, but that doesn’t’ mean there aren’t still deals to be had as you sail to Alaska. In this case we found an early May cruise — before the height of the season when you can find better deals — for just $548 per person for an interior cabin. (Keep in mind taxes/fees will add more.)
On this cruise you get stops at all the major Alaskan mores, including Ketchikan, seeing the Endicott Arm, stopping in Juneau and Skagway, along with Victoria in Canada before returning back to Seattle.
If sailing a new ship is important to you, then this may be your deal.
Been on 6 Cruises on board the USS Nimitz and almost a Dozen Cruises with the Family.
Good Info in this Article about Alaskan Cruises.
Are there any repositional ships from Alaska to Miami?
We’re not sure of every ship, but if you search you will find some. For example, Norwegian Joy sails from Seattle on October 6, debarks in Los Angeles on October 11, and then sails on a 16-day trip from LA to Miami. For more, look at the ships sailing from Alaska and see what their schedules are in September and October (when the Alaskan season ends and the ships move on).