Alaska cruise programs expand focus on glaciers and wilderness
Cruise ships accounted for roughly two-thirds of Alaska’s estimated 2.7 million out-of-state visitors during the 2024 summer season.
A state report estimated that about 2.7 million out-of-state travelers visited Alaska from May through September 2024, with approximately two-thirds arriving aboard cruise ships. Research cited by the U.S. National Park Service found that overall tourism in Alaska had risen by more than 60% over the previous decade, while cruise travel increased at a faster rate.
Cruise companies have emphasized glacier viewing and nature-based activities in their Alaska programs. Holland America Line says it has more permits to sail in Glacier Bay National Park than any competing cruise line and offers nearly 180 shore excursions centered on wildlife and wilderness. Seabourn says every Alaska itinerary includes glacier viewing in Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, supported by onboard naturalists and expedition teams.
Oceania Cruises scheduled Riviera for Alaska routes in summer 2025, including Hubbard Glacier and the Inside Passage, with calls at Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Icy Strait Point. Across some luxury and upper-premium programs for 2025 and 2026, itineraries range from 11 to 16 days and may include longer visits to Glacier Bay, scenic fjord cruising or cruise-and-land packages extending to Denali National Park.