The Best Time to Book a Cruise to Alaska
A short season, high demand and why early usually wins.
Get My Best Cruise PriceNo prices here, on purpose. Cruise fares change daily, so we explain when to book rather than quote numbers that would be out of date by tomorrow. For live offers, see WaveSeason.com and Cruising for Less, or ask our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise.
The Best Time to Book a Cruise to Alaska
Alaska’s cruise season is short — roughly May to September — and demand is high, so the best time to book a cruise to Alaska is usually early: often the year before you sail, and especially if you want a balcony, a suite, a family cabin or a land tour.
| If you want... | Book... |
|---|---|
| A balcony or suite on a popular ship in June, July or August | As soon as your dates are set, often the year before |
| A cruisetour with Denali or other land stays | Earliest of all; lodges and rail space are limited |
| A one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise | Early, so you can line up the one-way flights |
| May or September dates with flexibility | Early, or in a sale period such as Black Friday or Wave Season |
Why Alaska Rewards Early Booking
- Balconies matter: scenic cruising days through fjords and past glaciers make them popular.
- Flights to Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage or Fairbanks rise in summer.
- Shore excursions such as floatplanes, helicopter glacier landings and whale-watching boats have limited seats.
- Pre- and post-cruise hotels in gateway cities fill in peak months.
Port-by-port excursions are on Alaska Port Excursions.
Shoulder Months: May and September
The first and last weeks of the season can be the best value for flexible travellers, and some people prefer them: fewer crowds ashore, spring snow on the peaks in May, autumn colour in September. They also come with trade-offs — cooler, often wetter weather, and some seasonal attractions keep shorter hours. Shoulder sailings are where sale periods tend to help most, because they have more availability to promote.
Whenever you book, think about flights at the same time. Alaska itineraries can be round trip from Seattle or Vancouver, or one way between Vancouver and a southcentral Alaska port, and the airfare can change the total more than the cruise fare. Cruise Airfare covers getting to the ship.
Round Trip or One Way: It Changes When to Book
Round-trip Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver are the simplest to plan: one return flight, and often a choice of many ships and weeks. One-way Gulf of Alaska cruises between Vancouver and a southcentral Alaska port see more of the coast, including glaciers further north, and are the usual way to add a land tour — but they need open-jaw flights, which are worth pricing at the same time as the cruise. If you are weighing the two, decide early, because the cruisetour dates and the flights tend to be the first things to tighten.
Booking Alaska: FAQ
When is the Alaska cruise season?
Roughly May to September. May and September are the shoulder months; June, July and August are the busiest.
How far ahead should I book an Alaska cruisetour?
Earlier than a cruise alone. Land tours to places such as Denali have limited lodging and rail capacity, so popular dates fill first.
Planning Alaska?
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will tell you which Alaska dates and cabins to book first.
Plan My Alaska Cruise