In May of 2026, I booked an iconic, once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Alaska! Alaska is an incredible, rustic, outdoorsy, and beautiful state to explore. The natural landscapes, wild animals, and unique excursions make any vacation to Alaska a trip to remember.

My Cruise Route

Personally, I booked a cruise through Norwegian Cruise Line to explore the beauty of Alaska. While a cruise limits your time at each city, it enables you to sail all around and hop between several ports. You save on travel costs and get meals, accommodations, and entertainment included, so a cruise is an extraordinary budget-friendly option.

Although I did not go to all of the cruise ports in Alaska, I will be highlighting the Alaskan ports I visited during my 7-day cruise. From Seattle, Washington, the cruise went to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, and Ketchikan in Alaska. The cruise also stopped briefly in Victoria which is located in British Columbia in Canada before returning to Seattle.

For your reference, I will include our port times below so you have an understanding of how many hours you may have at individual ports.

• Juneau 2:30 PM – 10:00 PM
• Skagway 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Glacier Bay National Park did not have specific port times as it was a day of cruising through the incredible landscapes
• Ketchikan 7:00 AM – 1:15 PM

Juneau, Alaska

So let’s get started talking about the beautiful Alaskan port stops! Juneau was my first port stop in Alaska. Juneau is the capital of Alaska and offers a cute downtown shopping area, opportunities to learn about the city’s gold rush history, and plenty of excursions for thrilling adventure. Whether you are looking to get out in the wilderness for a hike or search for animals such as humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and bald eagles in their natural habitat, this should be an exciting stop for you!

Personally, a whale watching tour was on my bucket list for years, so Juneau was the special place for me to embark on this adventure! I booked a cruise excursion titled Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest. Our whale watching excursion departed at 3:00 PM and included 4 hours on the boat with knowledgeable captains who brought us to see the whales and sea lions. The boat tour included hot chocolate which was also a plus. The excursion was $260 per person. During the tour, we saw about 5 or 6 humpback whales and a group of sea lions chilling on a buoy. The humpback whales didn’t fully breach during our tour, but they kept popping out of the water and a couple of them showed us their full tails. The whales had a grip on all of us tourists as we waited in eager silence and wonder, held our phones out to capture their presence, and smiled from ear-to-ear.

I certainly recommend a whale watching tour in Juneau! But if this option doesn’t interest you, consider spending cute quality time with sled dog puppies, joining a salmon bake, or seeing Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter. I think Juneau is a great cruise port for an excursion so that you can really get immersed in the nature and wonder of the area.

Skagway, Alaska

Skagway is a rustic cruise port with a couple famous excursions to partake in. The town has a small shopping district that you can walk through with stores and restaurants. My friend and I didn’t think it looked too enticing though, so we didn’t choose to walk the downtown area. Instead, we booked a scenic train ride up the mountains, through gorges, and into a dreamy snow-filled landscape.

This famous train ride is called the White Pass Scenic Railway. Norwegian gives insight into the excursion when saying, “Hop aboard the vintage White Pass & Yukon Route Railway for an immensely picturesque train ride high into the mountains, following a path blasted out of the rocks in 1898, during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. As soon as the narrow-gauge train begins its ascent, you will understand why the beloved WP&YR is known as “The Scenic Railway of the World.” The train will climb almost 3,000 feet in just 20 miles and present one breathtaking view after another, from thundering Bridal Veil Falls to the rugged peaks at Inspiration Point. You will also pass over the soaring bridge that spans precipitous Dead Horse Gulch, named for pack animals loaded with prospecting gear that fell to the bottom of the gorge.”

If a train ride doesn’t interest you, consider booking a different excursion. Popular excursions in Skagway include gold panning, ziplining, or a Glacier Point wilderness safari.

Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park was easily my favorite day on the Alaskan cruise. The views were jaw dropping. I really felt like I was partaking in a National Geographic expedition. I mean look at these pictures! A balcony room is definitely warranted on the cruise ship for this day alone, but you can see the views from all decks and areas around the ship. I recommend bringing binoculars on the trip. I saw several adorable otters swimming on their backs here. A humpback whale swam past my balcony while I was casually getting ready in the morning too. What a magical start to the most iconic day!

Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan is such a cute and colorful town to explore. You don’t even need to book an excursion here. Creek Street is the spot to go see all the colorful houses along the water and snap some great pictures. Nearby is Married Man’s Trail which is a short hike that crosses Ketchikan Creek and travels upstream. Dolly’s House is a tourist attraction in this area as well. Creek Street was formerly the red-light district of Ketchikan with Dolly Arthur being a well-known figure in the red-light district. Dolly’s House is now a museum providing insight into the city’s history.

Ketchikan is a great spot for buying your Alaskan souvenirs. Meander through countless souvenir shops in the downtown area and along the water. When walking around Ketchikan, you will see scattered Native American totem poles that are unique to this destination. Make it a scavenger hunt as you are exploring! Also, while you’re in Ketchikan, you may hear about the famous Duck Fart Shot as well. My friend and I tried the famous Bailey’s and whiskey shot at Arctic Bar in Ketchikan.

Ketchikan is a great walkable port with plenty to do without an excursion. If you plan on booking an excursion still though, there are unique options to choose from. Consider an Alaskan Lumberjack Show, sea crab and fishing tours, or guided tours of the lighthouses and totem poles on display.

Conclusion

Clearly, your trip to Alaska can quickly and easily be filled with many iconic and memorable sightings and excursions! If you are planning a trip to Alaska, you are in for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. If you have already visited Alaska, comment your favorite city, cruise port, or excursion from your trip below!

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to booking iconic excursions and making connections around the world! To read my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website.