Must-SeeNatureCruisesGlaciers

Inside Passage

Alaska

Alaska's great cruise route, past glaciers, whales and fjords and through old gold rush towns, from Vancouver or Seattle.

Photo: Heqs · CC SA 1.0

Ships sail between islands past Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm bring you face to face with calving ice. The state ferry offers a cheaper, more local way.

Best Time
May to September
Time Needed
7 days
Cost Level
$$$$
Open
Year-round
Getting There
Cruises leave Seattle, Vancouver and Seward.

What to See

2 of 4 are free
A day

Glacier Bay National Park

Most cruises sail in; rangers board to narrate.

FreeA day

Skagway

The Klondike gold rush town and its White Pass Railway.

FreeHalf a day

Ketchikan

Totem poles and Creek Street's boardwalk.

2 hours

Mendenhall Glacier

A blue glacier, close to Juneau.

Know Before You Go

  • Book a balcony cabin early for the best views.
  • Alaska Marine Highway ferries need early reservations too.

Where to Stay

Cruise, or stay in Juneau.

Where to Eat

Our picks are on the way.

Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.

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Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Alaska list.