What an Alaska cruise actually costs (and why it is one of my favorites!)
My Alaska cruise last summer was one of my favorite vacations, and here is why.
There’s something different about seeing a glacier calve in real time versus seeing it in a photo. There is no good way to describe it: the scale of it, the sound of it, the way the whole boat goes quiet for a second. It’s the kind of trip that changes what you expect from a vacation.
If Alaska has been on your list but you’re not sure where to start, here’s an idea of what it may cost and what to know before you book.
A real Alaska cruise, priced out
I priced out a real sailing this week: Crown Princess, mid July, balcony cabin, two people.
Cost: $4,948
Crown Princess is older and smaller than a lot of what’s sailing Alaska right now, which sounds like a downside until you’re actually up there. Fewer people on board means more time to actually see the glaciers instead of fighting a crowd for rail space when the ship pulls up to one.
A couple of things this doesn’t include: flights, and any pre or post cruise hotel stay. Budget for those separately.
What I always tell clients before they book
Fly in a day early if you can. It gives you a buffer in case of flight delays (airlines have been unreliable lately), and a bonus, you get to explore another port city before your cruise even starts.
Get the balcony. Pricing varies by ship, sailing date, and cabin type, but I’ll save you the back and forth on this one: Alaska is the one destination where an inside or oceanview cabin genuinely shortchanges the trip. You want that door open in the morning, with your own private space to watch the glaciers go by. This isn’t a Caribbean trip where you’re barely in your cabin, in Alaska, the view from your room is part of the experience.
Want to go bigger? Add the land tour
If a cruise alone doesn’t feel like enough Alaska, there’s a version of this trip that adds a few days post cruise up toward Mt. McKinley and Denali, turning a cruise into a full ocean-and-land Alaska experience.
Cost: $7,882 for two, and this includes Princess Plus, which covers wifi, the drink package, casual dining, and gratuities. That’s one of the reasons I love booking Princess in the first place, their packages have real value built in.
When to book
The best Alaska sailings and cabins book up early, especially the cruise tour packages. If it’s been on your mind, now’s the time to start looking at dates, particularly if you’re eyeing a specific summer.
Deposits start as low as $200, and final payment isn’t due until around 90 days before sailing, so locking in a date doesn’t mean locking in your full budget today.
If Alaska’s on your list
Reply and tell me what draws you to it, the glaciers, the wildlife, the scenery, all of it.
Grab 30 minutes with me and we’ll map out real options together.
Or send me the name of someone who’s been dreaming about this trip. I’ll take great care of them.