Alaska Cruises from Seattle

An Alaska cruise from Seattle is one of the most convenient, breathtaking, and bucket-list worthy holidays available from the Pacific Northwest. Booking an Alaska cruise from Seattle means enjoying the ease of round-trip departures and access to some of the best Alaska cruise itineraries available — with voyages that typically explore awe-inspiring destinations such as Glacier Bay, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, while many itineraries also cruise through the Inside Passage — a spectacular waterway teeming with wildlife and surrounded by rugged, forested coastlines.

Seattle's position as Alaska's gateway port is rooted in history. Seattle and Alaska have shared a unique connection since gold was discovered in Alaska and the Yukon Territory in 1897  with its relative proximity and established shipping infrastructure, Seattle became the gateway through which thousands of prospectors flowed north. Today it is cruise passengers who flow north looking for a different sort of enrichment. That same spirit of adventure defines every Alaska cruise from Seattle departure today.

For West Coast residents and travellers who can fly directly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, an Alaska cruise from Seattle is the most accessible route into the Last Frontier — no Canada border crossings, no connecting flights, and a vibrant world-class city to explore before and after your sailing. GetMyCruise compares all available Alaska cruise from Seattle sailings across every cruise line and ship in real time so you can find and book the perfect itinerary at the best available price.

Cruise Lines Offering Alaska Cruises from Seattle

Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean all offer roundtrip Alaska cruises that sail from Seattle — each with their own onboard experience and destination pairings.

Princess Cruises & Holland America - The Alaska Experts Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are considered Alaska experts, offering exclusive access to Glacier Bay and more sailing options than any other cruise line. Both lines have operated Alaska sailings for decades and carry National Park Service rangers onboard Glacier Bay sailings to narrate and interpret the glacier and wildlife experience. Princess's North to Alaska programme brings local Alaskan personalities, chefs, and storytellers onboard to create an immersive cultural experience. Holland America's mid-sized ships are perfectly proportioned to navigate Alaska's narrowest fjords and reach more destinations than the larger mega-ships.

Royal Caribbean — Adventure and Big-Ship Thrills Royal Caribbean sails 7-night Alaska adventures from Seattle on Voyager of the Seas, offering port calls at Juneau, Sitka, and Skagway alongside scenic cruising through Alaska's wilderness. R Cruise Criticoyal Caribbean's Alaska from Seattle sailings appeal to travellers who want the full onboard adventure-ship experience — rock climbing walls, FlowRider surf simulators, and Broadway shows — combined with Alaska's extraordinary natural scenery.

Celebrity Cruises — Premium Alaska Experience On round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska, Celebrity spends seven days visiting ports like Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway and sailing through the stunning Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier and the Inside Passage, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Seattle. C Wikipediaelebrity's Edge-class ships offer the Magic Carpet — a cantilevered deck suspended over the ocean that serves as a bar, restaurant, and glacier-viewing platform, delivering one of the most spectacular Alaska cruise experiences at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line — Freestyle Alaska Norwegian Cruise Lines sails out of the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 in Seattle — with Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Space Needle all within a 10 to 15-minute walk. N The Points Guyorwegian's Alaska from Seattle sailings offer a range of 7-night itineraries visiting Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Hubbard Glacier, all delivered with Norwegian's signature Freestyle Cruising — no set dining times, flexible dress codes, and broad restaurant choice.

Seattle's Cruise Terminals

Located on the north end of Seattle's waterfront, the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 serves Celebrity, Princess, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean. Norwegian Cruise Lines sails out of the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, where Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Space Needle are all within a 10 to 15-minute walk. T The Points Guyhe Port of Seattle also offers a complimentary Port Valet luggage programme — at the end of your voyage, enrolled passengers' luggage is taken to the airport and checked to their final ticketed destination on participating airlines.

Inside Passage — The Heart of an Alaska Cruise from Seattle

Set sail from Seattle into the Inside Passage, where forested islands and glacier-carved fjords introduce Alaska in exquisite detail. Scenic cruising offers a relaxed pace to savour crystal-clear waters, stunning mountain views, and unforgettable wildlife sightings.

Cruise TimetablesRoundtrip Seattle cruises sail north out of Puget Sound, through the Salish Sea near Victoria, British Columbia, and into the Pacific Ocean. The first full day is typically spent at sea, either cruising the open ocean or winding through the protected waters of the Inside Passage. T The Points Guyhe Inside Passage is a 25,000-mile coastal archipelago of extraordinary natural beauty — sheltered waters between the mainland and Vancouver Island where humpback whales breach alongside the ship, bald eagles soar overhead, and every horizon delivers a new fjord, glacier, or forested peak.

Ports of Call on an Alaska Cruise from Seattle

Ketchikan — Totem Poles & Salmon Capital Sailing north along the lower Inside Passage, you'll reach Ketchikan — your first port of call on a round-trip Alaska cruise from Seattle. Here, you'll be introduced to the culture of the Tlingit, native Alaskans whose expressive totem carvings tell stories of their history and traditions. K Wikipediaetchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World and offers extraordinary fishing excursions, seaplane flightseeing over Misty Fjords National Monument (one of the most dramatic wilderness areas in North America), and the world's largest collection of standing totem poles.

Juneau — Glaciers, Whales & Alaska's Capital Juneau is the largest US state capital — and one of the hardest to get to. Flanked by mountains, tundra, and rainforests, it's basically inaccessible except by air or sea. T Carnival Cruise Linehe magnificent Mendenhall Glacier dominates Juneau's landscape. See it up close on the ground at the superb visitor centre, in the air on a helicopter tour, or explore its crevasses from atop the glacier. See how dogsled pups are trained and ride a dogsled through a wilderness forest. W Wikipediahale watching tours from Juneau are consistently rated among the best in Alaska — humpback whales feed in the nutrient-rich waters of Stephens Passage throughout the Alaska cruise season.

Skagway — Gold Rush Gateway Skagway retains the spirit of the Klondike Gold Rush era, with its colourful storefronts and historic buildings — part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. T Expediahe White Pass and Yukon Route Railway — a narrow gauge railway climbing through mountain passes, over rushing rivers, past glaciers and waterfalls — is one of the most spectacular rail journeys in North America and the most-booked shore excursion on any Alaska cruise from Seattle.

Sitka — Russian Alaska & Wildlife Sitka truly offers the best of Alaska — where you can kayak with sea otters in the harbour and explore the town's extraordinary Russian heritage. S The Cruise Webitka was once the capital of Russian Alaska and retains its Russian Orthodox cathedral, Tlingit cultural sites, and the Alaska Raptor Centre — where bald eagles and other birds of prey receive rehabilitation before returning to the wild. Sitka's Fortress of the Bear rescue facility for brown bears is one of the most unique wildlife experiences on any Alaska cruise from Seattle itinerary.

Glacier Bay National Park No other cruise line shows you Glacier Bay National Park quite like Princess or Holland America. Alaska Park Rangers board the ship with displays and narration as the vessel glides past at least one tidewater glacier for the best chance to witness calving — the thunderous cracking and splashing as glacial ice shears away and plunges into the ocean below. G The Cruise Weblacier Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and arguably the single most magnificent natural experience available on any Alaska cruise from Seattle sailing.

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier Cruise through Endicott Arm Fjord, where you'll be awestruck by the ice-blue and stark-white beauty of floating icebergs, with waterfalls and wildlife all around. Keep your eyes peeled for brown bears on the shore, harbour seals in the water, and bald eagles soaring overhead. When your ship sails close to the 600-foot Dawes Glacier, you'll get eye-popping views of active calving as the ship makes a complete turn for optimum viewing.

WikipediaH3: Victoria, British Columbia — Grand Finale These cruises wrap up with a final port call in the British Columbian capital of Victoria before returning to Seattle. V CruiseMapperictoria's picture-perfect inner harbour, world-famous Butchart Gardens (a 55-acre floral masterpiece), afternoon tea traditions, and charming downtown make it the ideal farewell port — a last taste of Pacific Northwest beauty before the ship returns home to Puget Sound.

Types of Alaska Cruise from Seattle Itineraries

7-Night Round-Trip — The Classic Alaska Cruise Most Alaska cruise from Seattle itineraries are 7-day round-trip, pairing scenic cruising with notable ports and glacier viewing. The standard 7-night itinerary visits three Alaskan ports (typically Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway or Sitka), includes one full glacier viewing day, and wraps with a Victoria, BC stop before returning to Seattle.

One-Way Northbound Sailings For travellers looking for a more immersive experience, northbound Alaska cruises provide a one-way journey deeper into Alaska's wilderness. Disembarking in Seward or Anchorage, these itineraries allow for additional land tours including trips to the famous Denali National Park — perfect for those who want to extend their exploration beyond the coastline.

Alaska Cruisetours — Cruise & Land Combined Cruisetours offer the best of both worlds — a scenic voyage through Alaska's stunning coastlines paired with in-depth land exploration. Enjoy a scenic journey into Alaska's interior via a luxurious glass-domed rail car or motor coach to places like Denali, Fairbanks, and Talkeetna.

What to Do Before Your Alaska Cruise

Seattle is a big city with a wild, great-outdoors soul — surrounded by ancient forests, sprawling public parks, and the misty Puget Sound, where you can watch slow-moving tugboats, sleek kayaks, and the occasional pod of whales. Pre-cruise highlights include Pike Place Market (open since 1907, home to the original Starbucks and the famous fish-throwing fishmongers), the Space Needle observation deck with 360-degree views of Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains and Mount Rainier, the Museum of Pop Culture, and Chihuly Garden and Glass. The Seattle Center was home of the 1962 World's Fair and has remained a 74-acre cultural hub ever since.

Best Time for an Alaska Cruise from Seattle

June through August brings the warmest weather and longest days, ideal for spotting more wildlife and staying dry, though attractions can be busier. For fewer visitors and often better value, consider May or September — cooler and sometimes rainier, but wonderfully serene with striking scenery. The Alaska cruise season from Seattle runs from May through September, with peak departures in July and August.

Alaska Cruise from Seattle Prices

Alaska cruises from Seattle on 7-night itineraries start from approximately $899–$1,299 per person for interior cabins on mainstream lines (Norwegian, Royal Caribbean). Holland America and Princess 7-night Seattle Alaska sailings start from approximately $1,099–$1,799 per person for interior cabins, with balcony staterooms from $1,699+ per person. Celebrity and luxury lines command higher premiums. GetMyCruise displays live Alaska cruise from Seattle pricing across all cruise lines and sailing dates with real-time availability.