The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024

Table Of Content

• Best cruise line for kids
• Lindblad Expeditions' 7-night Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History Cruise
• Scenic cruising
• Alaska cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
• How travelers can use the list
• What is the most popular cruise line in America?
• Best cruise line for luxury travelers

They offer time before or after the cruise to enjoy the city's food, music and iconic architecture — plus the ease of a round-trip flight booking. Viking's seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic architecture, Cajun culture and Civil War landmarks. Holland America Cruise Line is another historic cruise company that began its operations back in 1873. It makes great efforts to acquaint its passengers with its achievements in shaping the cruise industry over the last 150 years. However, in the modern era, it has gained a lot of praise for its voyages into the waters of Alaska for which it has been honored with several accolades over the years.

Best cruise line for kids

However, to offset this drawback, drink prices are reasonable ($5-6 for a beer and $9 for basic cocktails), including the tip. If you’re ready to hop aboard, here are Money’s picks for the five best cruise lines of 2023. Also included in every SeaDream experience is complimentary access to wave runners, Hobie cats, kayaks, snorkeling gear and other water sports equipment. To help narrow it down, we asked a panel of cruise industry experts to nominate their top picks for cruise lines and ships across 12 categories. The cruise line equivalent of glamping, National Geographic Expeditions gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature without skimping on comfort.

Lindblad Expeditions' 7-night Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History Cruise

Connecting staterooms and Family Suites make it easy to keep an eye on the kids while enjoying some privacy. Your Personal Suite Steward will take care of everything from laundry to snacks to little surprises you hadn’t even considered. While there are a few things you can no longer do on cruises, this cruise line will make you forget all about them. This line hosts LGBTQ+ welcome parties, social hours and other events on almost every cruise, from the Bahamas to the Mediterranean to Australia.

Scenic cruising

Despite this, it has amassed a massive customer base in the US, some of whom even travel across the Atlantic to sail aboard its ships. The foremost reason behind such a devoted clientele is that MSC allows children to sail free of cost on most of its voyages, making it very affordable for a family vacation. Further, the cruises aren’t just designed to welcome children, but also go a long way in ensuring they have the most amazing and memorable vacation of their lives. Several of the cruises have in-built LEGO play areas, small water parks, and virtual reality movie theaters. Whether it's a river or an ocean you want to cruise, Scenic can take you there in style. On board, you'll find fine dining, expansive spas and fitness facilities, and butler service.

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Disney Cruise Line

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Nearly every major cruise line has a presence in Alaska from May through mid-September, with some offering sailings as early as April or as late as October. Cold temperatures, icy waters and a long snowy season are not conducive to early spring and late fall cruises. Off-ship experiences include sampling local beer and oysters in Astoria, Oregon; visiting Multnomah Falls or hiking Beacon Rock; and having a private vineyard visit and downtown wine walk in Walla Walla, Washington.

Back in the Big Apple on day seven, you'll have time to explore before saying farewell to your ship. If your vacation preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, consider American Cruise Lines' eight-night Columbia & Snake River Cruise. You'll explore the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkstown, Washington (or vice versa).

How travelers can use the list

Everything from shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and laundry to gratuities, top-shelf liquor, and business-class international flights are included with Regent Seven Seas Cruises' fares. While each luxurious suite features ocean views, nothing beats the view from the epic 4,000-square-foot, two-bedroom Regent Suite, which has two wraparound balconies, three walk-in closets, two Picasso lithographs, and a grand piano. These cruise lines, especially on their newer ships, offer something for everyone — as well as a higher caliber of onboard dining than on the cheapest cruises.

What is the most popular cruise line in America?

You’ll want to book now for the fifth annual Pride Party at Sea, which will held next June. Each ship in the fleet will participate in this vibrant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community—and that, in itself, is worth celebrating. Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Departures, TripSavvy, and other publications.

It offers all-inclusive trips at a price point more economical than most of its competitors. If you’re a solo traveler or a libidinous couple interested in a salacious holiday, you might wonder which is the best cruise line to travel with in such circumstances. Being an adult only cruise, it offers a very party-centric experience in the form of raves, musicals, nightclubs, and casinos.

Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruises are extremely popular for U.S. cruises, too. We made our picks with the understanding that no single cruise is the best choice for every type or traveler or every type of trip — each cruise line has strengths and weaknesses, and our aim is to highlight the strengths that differentiate the winners. However, you should purchase your insurance immediately after booking your trip. Second, purchasing early may qualify you for add-on coverage like “cancel for any reason,” which is typically available only within a specific period (about 15 days) after you book your trip. Themed cruises are cruises where a part of the trip is based on a theme or special interest such as Broadway shows, music, media or even crafts like knitting. Some themes are cruise-wide, while others are group itineraries with exclusive activities.

Using a consensus approach, we shortlisted the cruise lines which had been recommended most frequently. There's "cruising" and there's "yachting" – small ships that dock in harbors and ports inaccessible to larger ships. SeaDream offers 7- to 15-day voyages with a maximum of 56 couples and a 95-person crew, so service and attention to detail are highlights. The transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York (a traveler’s must-do at any age) is a great option for older travelers because you never leave the ship. You’ll get to fully enjoy the spa, the lectures, the food and, of course, the formal gala nights, which are arguably the crowning glory of any Cunard cruise. Just make sure to check this cruise packing list so you bring all the right things with you.

This year, the cruise line added five new Alaskan itineraries, including the adults-only Glaciers & Tranquility and Winter Sports Alaska, with a focus on downhill and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, whale watching and spotting the Northern Lights. Whichever itinerary you choose, you can be sure to have a plethora of adventurous excursions at your fingertips, right from the ship. One day could find you paddleboarding in the morning and hiking in the afternoon, or maybe kayaking and taking a skiff out later in the day to try and spot wildlife.

You can cruise the entire length of this mighty river as you visit 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking's two-week sailing. According to Reuters, over 35 million tourists around the world are looking to cruise in 2024. The US contributes more tourists to the cruise industry than any other country in the world. Florida, California, and New York are home to some of the busiest cruise ports in the world. But the furry companion must perform specific tasks for its owner, such as guiding to assist in overcoming sight-impairment. Unfortunately, Virgin Voyages doesn’t offer an alcoholic drinks package like other cruise lines.

The cruise line also has a partnership with BBC Earth, under which it hosts seminars and musical performances themed towards exploring nature and wildlife. Moreover, it also hosts other intellectual seminars to familiarize travelers with the culture and festivities of the region it visits. Azamara’s cruises are highly cherished by couples, courtesy of its small sized ships that allow for a more intimate and personalized experience. The cruises are known to have a diverse combination of on-ship and off-ship excursions, thus appealing to those who want a well-rounded vacation experience.

American-flagged carriers like UnCruise Adventures offer Alaska, Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii cruises. American Cruise Lines counts the coastal Southeast, Alaska, Puget Sound, and New England among its itineraries. NLC America, a Norwegian Cruise Lines division, features the American-flagged Pride of America sailing the Hawaiian islands. Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic cruise line possesses four American-flagged ships that cruise Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Before you buy a cruise, you’ll be well-served by understanding how these vacations work, what is and isn’t included in the fare and what it might cost to insure your trip in case the worst were to happen. In addition, it’s helpful to understand the types of cruises and cabins, and how best to choose among them.