Alaska Cruises & Cruisetours: Viking and Princess Alaska Vacations
Planning an Alaska Vacation? Start Here.
Alaska is unlike any other cruise destination.
The scenery is bigger. The distances are greater. And the decisions you make before booking can have a significant impact on what you actually experience once you’re there.
Should you choose a cruise only or a cruise plus a land tour? Is Glacier Bay worth prioritizing? Would you enjoy the refined atmosphere of Viking, or would a Princess Cruisetour be a better fit for seeing both Alaska’s coastline and Denali National Park?
These are the questions we help travelers answer every day.
At Curlew Travel, we work with guests who want more than an online booking engine. We help match travelers with the right itinerary, cruise line, stateroom, and land program so their Alaska vacation reflects how they like to travel.
Whether you’re considering a luxury Viking voyage through the Inside Passage or a Princess Cruisetour that combines glaciers, rail travel, and Denali, we’ll help you compare the options and make an informed decision.
Why Alaska Is Different From Every Other Cruise
Many cruise destinations are primarily about the ports.
Alaska is about the journey itself.
A typical Alaska itinerary may include:
- Scenic cruising through the Inside Passage
- Massive tidewater glaciers
- Whale watching opportunities
- Bald eagles and coastal wildlife
- Historic Gold Rush towns
- Indigenous cultural experiences
- Mountain landscapes visible from the ship
For many travelers, the most memorable moments aren’t in port at all. They’re standing on deck watching a glacier calve into the sea, spotting humpback whales off the bow, or sailing through narrow channels surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
That’s why choosing the right itinerary often matters more than choosing the ship.
Cruise Only or Cruisetour?
One of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to focus on Alaska’s coastline or combine your cruise with Alaska’s interior.
Alaska Cruise
An Alaska cruise typically includes destinations such as:
- Juneau
- Ketchikan
- Skagway
- Sitka
- Icy Strait Point
- Glacier viewing regions such as Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier
Cruise-only vacations are ideal for travelers who want to unpack once, enjoy the comfort of their ship, and experience Alaska’s coastal scenery.
Alaska Cruisetour
A cruisetour combines a cruise with a land journey through Alaska’s interior.
Depending on the itinerary, your vacation may include:
- Denali National Park
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Scenic rail travel
- Wilderness lodges
- Additional wildlife viewing opportunities
For many first-time visitors, a cruisetour provides the most complete Alaska experience because it combines both the coast and the interior.
Viking Alaska Cruises
A Luxury, Adult-Focused Way to Experience Alaska
Viking has become one of the most popular choices for travelers seeking a more refined Alaska experience.
Unlike larger mainstream cruise ships, Viking focuses on destination immersion, cultural enrichment, and an atmosphere designed specifically for adults.
You won’t find:
- Casinos
- Water slides
- Crowded pool decks
- Constant onboard announcements
Instead, Viking emphasizes:
- Elegant Scandinavian design
- Destination-focused programming
- Included shore excursions
- Enrichment lectures
- Relaxed public spaces
- Exceptional service
For many Curlew Travel clients, Viking feels less like a traditional cruise and more like a luxury hotel that happens to sail through Alaska.
Who Typically Loves Viking?
Viking is often the best fit for travelers who:
- Prefer a quieter onboard atmosphere
- Enjoy history and cultural enrichment
- Want fewer passengers than mega-ships
- Value included amenities
- Prefer an adults-only environment
Is Viking Right for Your Alaska Vacation?
The answer depends on your travel style.
Travelers looking for Broadway-style entertainment and extensive family activities may find Viking too quiet.
Travelers looking for thoughtful enrichment, beautiful public spaces, and a destination-focused experience often find Viking to be exactly what they’re looking for.
Princess Alaska Cruises
One of Alaska’s Most Experienced Cruise Lines
Few cruise lines have deeper roots in Alaska than Princess.
For decades, Princess has been helping travelers explore Alaska’s coast, glaciers, and wilderness through a wide range of itineraries and departure options.
Princess offers:
- Inside Passage sailings
- Voyage of the Glaciers itineraries
- Glacier Bay itineraries on select departures
- One-way and roundtrip cruises
- Extensive shore excursion choices
- Multiple ship options
Because of its long history in Alaska, Princess remains one of the most popular choices for both first-time visitors and returning guests.
Why Many Travelers Choose Princess
Princess strikes a balance between comfort, destination immersion, and flexibility.
Travelers appreciate:
- A wide variety of itineraries
- Strong Alaska expertise
- Excellent glacier viewing opportunities
- Multiple price points
- Cruise-only and cruise-and-land options
For many guests, Princess delivers exactly the right mix of Alaska exploration and traditional cruising.
Princess Alaska Cruisetours
The Most Popular Way to See Denali
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“If we’re already going all the way to Alaska, should we visit Denali?”
For many travelers, the answer is yes.
A Princess Cruisetour combines a Gulf of Alaska cruise with a guided land journey into Alaska’s interior.
These itineraries often include:
- Denali National Park
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Scenic rail travel
- Princess Wilderness Lodges
The result is a vacation that showcases two very different sides of Alaska.
Along the coast you’ll experience glaciers, fjords, and marine wildlife.
In the interior you’ll experience mountains, forests, tundra landscapes, and opportunities to see wildlife in a completely different environment.
Why We Often Recommend a Cruisetour
Many travelers spend months researching Alaska cruises but don’t realize that Denali is hundreds of miles from the coast.
A standard cruise won’t take you there.
If Denali is on your bucket list, planning a cruisetour from the beginning is often the smartest approach.
When Is the Best Time to Cruise Alaska?
May
Best for:
- Fewer crowds
- Snow-covered mountain scenery
- Early season pricing
June
Best for:
- Long daylight hours
- Active wildlife viewing
- Mild temperatures
July
Best for:
- Warmest weather
- Peak season sailings
- Maximum excursion availability
August
Best for:
- Excellent wildlife viewing
- Late-summer travel
- Combination of land and sea experiences
September
Best for:
- Fall colors
- Reduced crowds
- End-of-season savings
The best month depends on what matters most to you. We help clients match their travel goals with the ideal sailing season.
Viking vs. Princess: Which Alaska Vacation Is Right for You?
Choose Viking if you want:
- A luxury, adults-focused experience
- Smaller ships
- A quieter atmosphere
- Enrichment-focused travel
- Included experiences
Choose Princess if you want:
- More itinerary choices
- Traditional cruise amenities
- Access to Denali cruisetours
- Multiple departure options
- Greater flexibility in vacation style
Neither option is universally better.
The right choice depends on your expectations, travel style, and priorities.
That’s where expert guidance can make a meaningful difference.
Why Book Your Alaska Cruise Through Curlew Travel?
The biggest mistake Alaska travelers make is assuming all itineraries are essentially the same.
They aren’t.
A traveler who dreams about Glacier Bay may accidentally book an itinerary that doesn’t visit it.
A guest who wants to experience Denali may not realize their cruise never goes near the park.
A couple seeking a quiet, luxury-focused experience may book a ship that feels much larger and busier than they expected.
These aren’t problems after you’ve booked.
They’re planning decisions.
That’s why our clients work with Curlew Travel.
We help you:
- Compare Viking and Princess objectively
- Understand itinerary differences
- Evaluate cruise versus cruisetour options
- Select the right stateroom
- Coordinate flights and transfers
- Navigate travel protection options
- Plan shore excursions
- Build a seamless Alaska vacation from start to finish
Most importantly, we serve as your advocate before, during, and after your trip.
When questions arise, you’re not calling a general reservation center. You’re working with an advisor who knows your vacation and understands your goals.
Start Planning Your Alaska Adventure
Whether you’re considering a luxury Viking voyage through Alaska’s coastal wilderness or a Princess Cruisetour that combines glaciers, rail travel, and Denali National Park, Curlew Travel can help you find the itinerary that’s right for you.
Let’s talk about what you want to experience in Alaska—and build a vacation designed around that vision.
Curlew Travel
Serving travelers since 1988
3060 Alt 19 North
Palm Harbor, Florida 34683
(727) 789-1771