Alaska Cruise Guide

Alaska Cruise 2027: What’s New This Season (Ships, Ports and Rules)

Three cruise ships at Juneau seen from Mount Roberts, including Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, which is not scheduled for the Alaska cruise 2027 season
Queen Elizabeth, Celebrity Solstice and Crown Princess in Juneau in August 2024. Cunard’s ship won’t be back in 2027; plenty of others will.

The Alaska cruise 2027 season looks like 2026, only bigger. Princess is sending a record eight ships, Holland America marks its 80th year in Alaska with six, Explora Journeys arrives for the first time, and Cunard is leaving. Seward’s new $137 million cruise terminal gets its first full season, the Denali Park Road is expected to reopen all the way for buses, and Juneau keeps its voluntary limits of five large ships and 16,000 lower berths a day. The big question mark is Tracy Arm, the fjord hit by a landslide and tsunami in August 2025.

This briefing is for anyone booking or already booked on a 2027 Alaska cruise who wants to know what’s different. The caveat that matters: almost everything here is announced rather than experienced, and itineraries, fees and tour products can change before you sail. We date every item and flag the ones that aren’t confirmed. Last updated October 29, 2026. Every price, fee and schedule below is dated, and the sources are listed at the end.

If you’re new to all this, start with our complete Alaska cruise guide, then come back here for what’s new.

Alaska Cruise 2027 at a Glance

What’s changing2027 statusHow sure
PrincessEight ships, its largest Alaska deployment ever, led by the new Star PrincessAnnounced by the line
Holland AmericaSix ships in its 80th year in Alaska, with a new 8-day Vancouver round tripAnnounced by the line
Explora JourneysFirst Alaska season, on EXPLORA IIIAnnounced by the line
CunardNo Alaska season scheduledReported by trade press
Seward cruise terminalFirst full season for the $137 million terminal, which opened May 28, 2026Confirmed
Denali Park RoadBuses expected to run all the way to Eielson, Wonder Lake and Kantishna againExpected by the Park Service
Juneau limitsFive large ships and 16,000 lower berths a day (12,000 on Saturdays), voluntaryIn place; not law
Tracy ArmListed on some 2027 itineraries after a 2025 landslide; lines used Endicott Arm in 2026Unconfirmed
Glacier BayNo more than two cruise ships a day; only concession lines may enterConfirmed
Mendenhall Glacier feeA rise from $5 to $15 proposed in May 2026Proposed, not final

Ships and Lines: Who’s New, Who’s Bigger, Who’s Leaving

The 2027 seasons went on sale unusually early. Norwegian announced on July 23, 2025, Carnival on July 24, Holland America on August 7, Princess in August and Royal Caribbean on October 22, 2025, which put most of the year’s sailings on sale 18 to 21 months ahead. Here’s what each line announced, line by line. Our page on Alaska cruise ships 2027 goes ship by ship.

Line2027 in AlaskaWhat’s new
PrincessStar, Coral, Crown, Discovery, Emerald, Island, Royal and Ruby Princess; 187 departures on 17 itineraries from five homeportsIts biggest Alaska season ever; Star Princess is the first Sphere Class ship in Alaska, with weekly Seattle round trips
Holland AmericaEurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam, April to September80th year in Alaska; a new 8-day Vancouver round trip; a 28-day Arctic Circle voyage from June 6, 2027
NorwegianEncore, Bliss and Joy from Seattle; Jade between Vancouver and Whittier, May 10 to September 20Three Seattle departures every weekend
Royal CaribbeanAnthem, Quantum, Serenade and Voyager of the SeasAnthem one way between Vancouver and Seward, with Hubbard Glacier
CarnivalCarnival Legend and Spirit from Seattle; Carnival Luminosa from San Francisco from May 3Legend’s season starts April 20, 2027
CelebrityCelebrity Edge, Solstice and Summit from Vancouver, Seattle and SewardThe line promotes a renewed Celebrity Solstice with new outdoor spaces
DisneyDisney Wonder and Disney Magic from VancouverBoth ships back, with 6- and 8-night Disney Magic options (reported)
MSCMSC Poesia from Seattle on Mondays, April 26 through September (reported)A renovation adding an MSC Yacht Club is reported before the season
Virgin VoyagesBrilliant Lady, mostly from SeattleReturns for a second season, with voyages of up to 12 nights
Viking11-day “Alaska and the Inside Passage” between Vancouver and SewardListed from $6,499 per person in September 2026
Explora JourneysEXPLORA III from VancouverFirst Alaska season
CunardNone scheduledQueen Elizabeth’s 2026 season was billed as Cunard’s last scheduled Alaska season

New in 2027: Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys, the luxury brand of MSC’s parent group, announced its first Alaska voyages on May 12, 2025. The ship is EXPLORA III, and the line’s own release lists sailings such as an 11-night Vancouver round trip from May 10 to 21, 2027, with Sitka, Prince Rupert and Endicott Arm, and a 14-night Vancouver round trip from July 2 to 16, 2027, featuring Hubbard Glacier, Kodiak and Alert Bay. Trade reports put the full program at 14 cruises of 7 to 12 nights between May and September, round trip from Vancouver or one way to Seward. It follows the newcomers of 2026: MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection all entered the Alaska market that year.

Leaving in 2027: Cunard

Cruise Industry News reported in June 2026 that Queen Elizabeth had begun Cunard’s last scheduled Alaska season, and that the ship heads back to Europe in early 2027, with no Alaska program in 2027 or 2028. Cunard’s Glacier Bay concession runs through the contract period, but without a ship in Alaska it won’t be used. If you loved the Cunard experience, Holland America and Princess offer the closest traditional-cruising alternatives, both with Glacier Bay.

Bigger in 2027: Princess and Holland America

Princess’s eight-ship deployment is the headline. The line lists 187 departures on 17 itineraries from Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage (Whittier), San Francisco and Los Angeles, 85 calls at Glacier Bay National Park, 28 cruisetour itineraries and five wilderness lodges, including two near Denali. Holland America, which has sailed Alaska for 80 years by 2027, sends six ships on more than 100 cruises of 7 to 28 days. Its new 8-day “Alaska Inside Passage” is a Vancouver round trip with Skagway, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Juneau, Glacier Bay and a late-night departure from Juneau.

What’s New by Homeport

Alaska cruises from Seattle in 2027

Seattle stays the busiest starting point. Princess’s new Star Princess sails weekly seven-day round trips every Sunday, and Royal Princess sails seven-day round trips with Glacier Bay. Norwegian’s Encore, Bliss and Joy leave Pier 66 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from late April. Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum and Voyager of the Seas, Holland America’s Eurodam and Noordam, MSC Poesia and Virgin’s Brilliant Lady fill out the week, and Celebrity sails from Seattle too. Seattle round trips must stop in Canada, usually at Victoria.

Alaska cruises from Vancouver in 2027

Vancouver has the most variety: round trips from Holland America (including the new 8-day itinerary), Princess, Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, Disney and Explora, plus one-way cruises to Seward or Whittier from Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, Norwegian Jade, Celebrity and Viking. Everyone sailing from Vancouver needs a passport or another document accepted for the trip, and U.S. pre-inspection happens before you sail.

Anchorage and California

Ships use Seward or Whittier, the ports for Anchorage, for one-way cruises. A September 2026 search found no 2027 big-ship round trips from either port. From California, Princess sails from San Francisco and Los Angeles, including a 10-day Ruby Princess itinerary from San Francisco and two 16-day round trips from Los Angeles on Emerald Princess, and Carnival Luminosa starts 10-day cruises from San Francisco on May 3, 2027.

Notable New Itineraries for 2027

  • Holland America’s “Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice.” A 28-day voyage from Seattle on June 6, 2027, aboard Noordam, with 11 Alaska ports, Prince Rupert and Vancouver, an overnight in Anchorage and a run into the Bering Sea.
  • Holland America’s 8-day “Alaska Inside Passage.” New for 2027, a Vancouver round trip with Glacier Bay and a late night in Juneau.
  • Holland America’s 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer.” A Seattle round trip on Noordam with Kodiak, Valdez, Prince Rupert and Hubbard Glacier.
  • Explora’s 14-night Vancouver round trip. July 2 to 16, 2027, with Hubbard Glacier, Kodiak and Alert Bay.
  • Virgin Voyages’ longest Alaska trip. A 12-night Inside Passage and Hubbard Glacier voyage on Brilliant Lady.
  • Carnival Spirit’s nine-day cruise. A one-off longer sailing that adds Sitka to the usual Seattle round trip.
  • Norwegian Joy’s longer cruises. Nine- and ten-day sailings from mid-May to mid-June and from late August into September.

Luxury and Small Ships in 2027

The top end of the market keeps growing. Alongside Explora’s debut, Viking lists its 11-day Vancouver-to-Seward cruise from $6,499 per person, and Silversea has positioned two ships in Alaska in both 2026 and 2027, according to trade reports. Expedition lines sail smaller ships that reach narrower fjords: a travel-agency listing showed a July 4, 2027 Lindblad-National Geographic Venture “Alaska’s Inside Passage” departure from $10,200 per person, and UnCruise Adventures sails ships of 22 to 86 guests on voyages that start or end in Juneau, Sitka or Ketchikan. American Cruise Lines, a U.S.-flagged line, advertises seven Alaska itineraries of 9 to 19 days with 2027 and 2028 sailings on sale.

These ships trade big-ship facilities for access and intimacy: fewer people ashore at once, more time in wild places, and often expert guides and included excursions. They also book up early, because each sailing carries so few guests.

Daylight in 2027

The long days are one thing that never changes, and they’re worth planning around. U.S. Naval Observatory figures for 2027 show:

PlaceJune 21, 2027
JuneauSunrise 3:51 a.m., sunset 10:08 p.m., 18 hours 17 minutes of daylight, with civil twilight until 11:27 p.m.
SkagwaySunrise 3:43 a.m., sunset 10:23 p.m., 18 hours 40 minutes
AnchorageSunrise 4:20 a.m., sunset 11:43 p.m., 19 hours 23 minutes, with civil twilight all night

That means late evening deck time on scenic nights in June and July, and a need for good curtains if you sleep early. By mid-September, the days are much closer to what you’re used to at home.

What Hasn’t Changed

  • The weather. Rain rises through late summer at every Southeast Alaska port, and September totals are roughly two to three times June’s in Juneau, Ketchikan and Seward.
  • The paperwork. U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises from Seattle can still use a birth certificate and government photo ID; everyone else, and anyone flying home from Canada, needs a passport.
  • The core ports. Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway remain on almost every itinerary, with Sitka, Icy Strait Point and Victoria in rotation.
  • The shape of the season. May and September are the value months; June through August are the peak.

Ports and Docks: What’s Changed

Seward’s new cruise terminal

A white cruise ship in Resurrection Bay below steep green mountains on the approach to Seward
A cruise ship in Resurrection Bay on the approach to Seward. 2027 is the new terminal’s first full season.

The biggest port change is in Seward. The Alaska Railroad’s new $137 million terminal, with a 748-foot double-berth pier and a terminal building designed for year-round use, had its first official day of operation on May 28, 2026. It missed its planned May 14 opening because underwater piles had to be removed, so several May and June calls were moved to Whittier. Royal Caribbean signed a 30-year agreement guaranteeing at least 140,000 passengers a year, which helped finance the project, and the docks connect directly to the railroad for transfers to Anchorage. 2027 is the first season the terminal should operate from the start.

Juneau: the limits stay voluntary

A yellow and white floatplane taking off from the water in Juneau in front of a large Princess cruise ship
A floatplane and a Princess ship in Juneau in August 2025. The capital remains Alaska’s busiest cruise port day to day.

Juneau’s limits carry over into 2027. Under agreements between the City and Borough of Juneau and the cruise industry, no more than five large ships call on a given day, a rule in effect since the 2024 schedule, and since 2026 lower-berth capacity has been capped at 16,000 a day, or 12,000 on Saturdays. These limits are voluntary, not law: in late summer 2026 the Juneau Assembly voted 5-4 to postpone writing the five-ship limit into an ordinance, and the city plans a large tourism data-collection effort in summer 2027.

Juneau’s docks are also in flux. Huna Totem’s Áak’w Landing dock got its tidelands lease in April 2026, but construction isn’t due to start until summer 2027, so it won’t be open for the 2027 season, and Huna Totem said in May 2026 that it could be downsized because of rising costs. Downtown, Marine Park was closed for a roughly $10 million reconstruction during 2026. For the berths themselves, see our guide to the Juneau cruise port.

Skagway, Ketchikan and the homeports

  • Skagway: the Railroad Dock, the town’s busiest, sits below an active rockslide and has been closed to pedestrians since summer 2022, with passengers moved by shuttle or small boat. KHNS reported that the Assembly chose a plan to stabilize the slope, with construction between seasons if a federal grant of about $20 million comes through. Expect the shuttle arrangement to continue.
  • Ketchikan: expected a record of more than 1.6 million cruise passengers from 58 ships in 2026, and its Ward Cove terminal north of town added a visitor hub with a second Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show venue.
  • Seattle: forecast its busiest season ever in 2026, with 330 calls and 2.1 million revenue passengers, and more shore-power connections are due to launch at Pier 91 in 2027.
  • Vancouver: expected a record of about 1.4 million cruise passengers at Canada Place in 2026. Alaska-bound ships there use U.S. pre-inspection, which covers admissibility only.
  • Wrangell: American Cruise Lines has a lease to build a floating dock for its small ships, targeted for the 2027 season (reported).

Glaciers: Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm and Hubbard in 2027

Aerial view of a huge fresh landslide scar on a mountainside above a glacier and a silt-filled fjord
The Tracy Arm landslide scar above South Sawyer Glacier, three days after the August 10, 2025 slide, in a USGS photo.

Tracy Arm is the big unknown. On August 10, 2025, a landslide above South Sawyer Glacier fell into Tracy Arm and set off a tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the slide at up to about 100 million cubic meters of rock, with a maximum runup of 470 to 500 meters on the opposite wall. Nobody was hurt, but USGS expects continued rockfall from the exposed scar. For 2026, Carnival, Holland America and Royal Caribbean replaced Tracy Arm with nearby Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, and trade reports said MSC, Virgin and Windstar did the same. Some 2027 itineraries, including Carnival’s, MSC’s, Virgin’s and at least one Explora sailing, still list Tracy Arm, but Carnival’s were announced in July 2025, before the slide. Treat Tracy Arm on any 2027 itinerary as provisional, and expect Endicott Arm instead.

Glacier Bay is unchanged, and still limited. The park admits no more than two cruise ships a day and allocates 153 prime-season use days (June to August) and 92 in May and September. Only concession holders may enter; the park’s list names Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Seabourn, Cunard and Viking. With Cunard gone and Princess scheduling 85 Glacier Bay calls in 2027, Princess and Holland America remain the easiest ways in.

Hubbard Glacier, on the Gulf of Alaska, appears on one-way and longer cruises from Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Norwegian, Celebrity, Viking, Virgin and Explora. Unlike most Alaska glaciers, it has advanced over the past century.

A large cruise ship dwarfed by snow-streaked mountains in a wide glacial inlet
A cruise ship in Glacier Bay National Park. Two ships a day is the limit, and only concession lines can come in.

Land Trips: Denali’s Road Reopens

Two workers in hard hats and safety vests beside a drill rig on a mountainside road above a wide braided river valley
Engineers drilling at the Pretty Rocks landslide on the Denali Park Road in July 2018. The bridge over the slide was finished in 2026.

For anyone adding a cruisetour, this is the best news of the year. The Pretty Rocks landslide cut the Denali Park Road at about mile 45 in 2021, and for the whole 2026 season buses went no farther than East Fork, at mile 43. On September 3, 2026, the National Park Service announced that the bridge over the slide was complete, and it expects full bus service to Eielson Visitor Center, Wonder Lake and Kantishna to resume for the 2027 season. Private vehicles can still drive only to Savage River, at mile 15.

Two cautions. The 2027 bus products and prices hadn’t been published by late September 2026; 2026 prices won’t be a reliable guide once buses return to the far end of the road, so confirm them in spring 2027. And cruisetour packages sold before the announcement may describe shorter bus trips; ask your line what’s included.

Closer to the ships, the White Pass and Yukon Route railway in Skagway said its 2027 reservations open in early November 2026, and the Alaska Railroad publishes its summer schedules and fares each year.

Taxes, Fees and Prices for 2027

  • Alaska’s state head tax is $34.50 per passenger, and $5 of it goes to each of the first seven Alaska ports of call. It applies to overnight voyages of more than 72 hours on ships with more than 250 berths.
  • Local fees vary by port: Juneau’s local fee is reported at $8 per passenger and Ketchikan’s wharfage fee at $13 since April 2025, and cruise-industry groups sued Skagway in 2025 over expanded sales-tax collection. These are built into your taxes and fees.
  • Gratuities rose in 2026 on several lines: Princess charges $18 per person per day in standard cabins, Carnival $17 and Celebrity $19.50. Expect the 2026 rates, or higher, in 2027.
  • Mendenhall Glacier: the Forest Service proposed raising the daily fee from $5 to $15 in May 2026. No final decision had been announced by late September 2026.

For fares themselves, the pattern holds: May and September sailings cost less than July and August, and new ships such as Star Princess tend to price above older ones on the same routes.

When to Book a 2027 Alaska Cruise

With most 2027 sailings on sale since mid to late 2025, the most popular inventory is likely to be well booked by now, especially cabins that sleep four or more, suites and peak July dates. Some final payment deadlines are closer than you’d think: Viking’s 2027 pages ask for payment in full by November 19, 2026, or 120 days before departure, whichever comes first.

Our advice for anyone still deciding:

  1. Book soon if you need a specific cabin type, a Glacier Bay itinerary in July or a cruisetour with Denali lodge nights.
  2. Be flexible on dates if you want value; May and September remain the cheapest months.
  3. Watch the fare after booking and use your line’s price-drop policy before final payment.
  4. Buy insurance once you’ve paid a non-refundable deposit.

Already Booked for 2027? Six Things to Do Now

  1. Check your glacier day. If your itinerary lists Tracy Arm, assume it may switch to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, and don’t book a Tracy Arm small-boat tour until your line confirms the route.
  2. Ask about your Denali bus. If you’re on a cruisetour, find out whether your package includes one of the longer bus trips expected to return in 2027, and watch for new products in spring.
  3. Book the White Pass train early. The railway’s 2027 reservations open in early November 2026, and the popular Summit Excursion times on busy ship days sell first.
  4. Watch your fare. Most big lines will reprice a booking if the fare drops before final payment, so check it every week or two until then.
  5. Plan your Anchorage transfer. If you’re sailing to or from Seward, the new terminal connects directly with the Alaska Railroad; from Whittier, the tunnel schedule shapes your day.
  6. Check your documents. Vancouver sailings and one-way cruises need passports; closed-loop Seattle round trips accept a birth certificate and photo ID for U.S. citizens.

Planning Your 2027 Cruise

If it’s your first time, our first time Alaska cruise guide and the page on how to plan an Alaska cruise take you step by step, and what to expect on an Alaska cruise covers life on board. Still deciding whether to go at all? Read is an Alaska cruise worth it, then weigh an Alaska cruise vs land tour, and check how long is an Alaska cruise for the lengths on offer. Comparing destinations? See Alaska vs Caribbean cruise and Alaska vs Norway cruise. Couples planning an Alaska cruise honeymoon and anyone booking a solo Alaska cruise have their own guides, and once you’ve booked, the list of things to do on an Alaska cruise and the most common Alaska cruise mistakes will help you make the most of it. For the full picture of cruising the Great Land, go back to our complete guide to cruising Alaska.

Alaska Cruise 2027 FAQ

When does the Alaska cruise 2027 season start?

Late April. Carnival Legend’s 2027 Alaska season starts April 20, MSC Poesia is reported from April 26, Norwegian from late April and Holland America runs April to September. Travel Alaska describes the main season as May through September, with some April and October sailings.

Which cruise lines are new to Alaska in 2027?

Explora Journeys, the luxury brand of MSC’s parent group, brings EXPLORA III to Alaska for the first time in summer 2027, sailing from Vancouver. MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection were the newcomers in 2026, and MSC and Virgin both return in 2027.

Is Cunard sailing to Alaska in 2027?

No Cunard Alaska season is scheduled. Cruise Industry News reported in June 2026 that Queen Elizabeth had begun Cunard’s last scheduled Alaska season and would return to Europe in early 2027. Holland America and Princess are the closest traditional alternatives, and both include Glacier Bay.

Is Tracy Arm open for 2027 cruises?

It’s uncertain. After the August 10, 2025 landslide and tsunami, Carnival, Holland America and Royal Caribbean used Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead in 2026, and USGS expects continued rockfall. Some 2027 itineraries still list Tracy Arm, but treat it as provisional and expect Endicott Arm.

Is the Denali Park Road open in 2027?

The National Park Service expects full bus service to Eielson Visitor Center, Wonder Lake and Kantishna to resume in 2027, after announcing on September 3, 2026 that the Pretty Rocks bridge was complete. In 2026 buses stopped at East Fork, mile 43. Confirm 2027 bus products and prices in spring.

Are there limits on cruise ships in Juneau in 2027?

Yes, by agreement rather than law. The City and Borough of Juneau and the cruise industry limit arrivals to five large ships a day, and since 2026 to 16,000 lower berths a day, or 12,000 on Saturdays. The Assembly postponed writing the ship limit into an ordinance in late summer 2026.

How much is the Alaska cruise head tax?

Alaska’s commercial passenger vessel tax is $34.50 per passenger, unchanged since 2011, with $5 going to each of the first seven Alaska ports of call. Ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan add their own fees. All of these are included in the taxes and fees on your cruise invoice.

When should I book a 2027 Alaska cruise?

As soon as you know your dates, if you need a particular cabin, a Glacier Bay itinerary in peak summer or a cruisetour. Most 2027 sailings have been on sale since 2025. Flexible travelers can still find value in May and September, and should watch fares until final payment.

Sources and How We Checked

We checked the prices, rules, schedules and ship deployments in this guide against the sources below on September 26, 2026, and we log each one in our research database with the date it was checked. Cruise lines change ships, fares and fees every season, so confirm anything that affects your booking with the line or the agency concerned. Alaska Cruise Guide (AlaskaCruise.org) is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with any cruise line, port, tour operator or tourism office, and no one paid to be included.

Photo Credits