An Alaska cruise and land tour provides the ideal blend of relaxation at sea and exploration on land. It’s perfect for travelers eager to experience both glaciers and the great outdoors.
But with so many options, how do you pick an Alaska itinerary? We travel to Alaska several times a year, so we share the differences between the cruise tours.
Most cruises last seven days, with additional days on land. However, a few outliers offer more time on land with a three-night cruise. For a unique adventure, a few itineraries combine a cruise with a land tour of the Canadian Rockies.
Cruise tours travel to Denali National Park, a bucket list destination. Some make the journey by bus and others by train. In Denali, I had the opportunity to see four of the Big Five.
Whether you opt for a three-night land extension or a comprehensive cruise and rail trip, each option showcases Alaska’s beauty in a unique way.
Who Offers Alaska Cruise And Land Tours?
Several cruise lines provide memorable Alaska cruise and land tour experiences. Each offers unique itineraries and features that cater to a variety of interests. Let’s explore the leading providers:
Holland America
Holland America offers cruises to Alaska, some combined with land tours. They have been cruising to the Last Frontier the longest, with over 75 years of experience behind their belt.
They have the lion’s share of permits to Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Denali National Park is the highlight of their cruise tours.
Expertly guided tours enhance onshore experiences, including “Direct-to-the-Wilderness” rail service through stunning landscapes. We enjoyed our train journey on the McKinley Explorer despite the rain.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is well-known for its comprehensive Alaska cruise tours. Having cruised there for over 50 years, their package typically combines a 7-day cruise with 3 or more nights on land.
Holland America and Princess use the Whittier cruise port, and both provide direct access to Denali by train.
Princess Cruises also offers extended options, such as the Connoisseur package, which includes longer stays and in-depth exploration of national parks like Kenai and Wrangell-St. Elias.
Other Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian offer cruise tours that dock in Seward, Alaska. Celebrity and Royal Caribbean itineraries start or end in Vancouver, British Columbia.
NCL has some 9- to 11-day routes, including land tours in Seattle, not interior Alaska. Since these are Seattle roundtrip itineraries, they may appeal to those living in and near Washington state.
Length Of Cruise And Land Tour
Duration is a significant factor to consider when planning an Alaska cruise and land itinerary. While we prefer more time on land, others may opt for a shorter journey due to cost. Don’t book on price alone because more pricier packages may include more and be more cost effective.
9- Or 10-Day Cruise And Land Tour
A typical 9- or 10-day package offers a balanced mix of cruise and land experiences. This duration usually includes a 7-day cruise through the Inside Passage, alongside 2 to 3 days on land.
Nine-day cruise tours generally use a coach to reach Denali since they arrive at their destination faster than the train. Since reaching the national park takes about five hours, you won’t have much time to explore before making the five-hour journey back, especially on a 9-day package.
Ten-day cruise tours often use a bus one-way and the train the other. Some stop in Talketna, then travel from Talkeetna to Denali National Park the next day.
Book a cruise tour for more than nine days if you want to take the Tundra Wilderness Excursion in Denali.
If a longer cruise tour is out of budget, Holland America offers a 9-day option with six days on land and three nights at sea. This unique route travels to Denali, Whitehorse and Dawson City in the Yukon.
14-Day Package
We liked the 14-day package because it provides an expanded experience. Typically, this includes a 7-day cruise combined with a 7-day land tour. Shorter land tours stay one night in each hotel, whereas longer trips often stay two.
Stay options may include Kenai, Talkeetna, Anchorage, Alyeska, Fairbanks, and, of course, Denali. Compare the destinations to decide what’s important to you.
My package included two nights in Alyeska because it was on my bucket list to do the 26 Glacier cruise in Whittier.
Alternatively, Princess offers 17-day cruises and land tours that include two nights in a lodge at Copper River. When comparing packages, some include tours, and others are DIY.
18-Day Ultimate Cruise Tour
If you’re looking for the ultimate Alaska experience, the 18-day package is the way to go. This extensive option generally features a 7-day cruise and 11 days of land exploration.
Part of the land tour explores interior Alaska, with a few days spent learning about the Gold Rush in Dawson City and Whitehorse. Holland America offers these 18-day options.
Land Tour Itineraries
Land tours can vary greatly, and depending on the destinations visited, they may emphasize unique experiences.
How Many Days In Denali?
Visiting Denali National Park is often a highlight of a land tour itinerary. We recommend at least two nights, which provides adequate time to explore the park. The park offers complimentary tours, wildlife, and numerous hiking trails.
Some itineraries include a natural history tour, which provides insights into the park’s ecosystem. Other optional adventures include whitewater rafting on the Nenana River, flightseeing, ATV tours, and zip-lining.
Rail Tours
Rail tours are a fantastic way to appreciate Alaska’s pristine landscapes. Since Carnival Corporation owns both Holland America and Princess, their rail cars travel together.
Princess Rail and McKinley Explorer (Holland America’s train) have domed rail cars offering stunning views. Each car has a dining area, bathrooms downstairs, and guest seating upstairs.
An outer platform on the lower level provides photo opportunities without window glare.
These rail journeys are wheelchair accessible and include a tour guide who will narrate the ride.
Anchorage Vs. Fairbanks: Start Or Ending City
It is difficult to choose between Anchorage and Fairbanks as a starting or ending city. Anchorage is a major hub with more urban amenities and access to stunning coastal scenery. Its international airport is served by many airlines.
Fairbanks, on the other hand, offers a more intimate look at Alaskan culture. However, only Alaska Airlines, United, and Delta fly to Fairbanks. They may not provide a direct route to or from home.
We talked to guests who flew United, and since they use small aircraft, they limit their luggage to one suitcase per person.
Cruise Or Land Tour First?
Each option has benefits, and the choice can depend on what we want to experience first.
Cruise First:
- Ideal for those visiting before mid-June.
- Coastal glaciers and marine wildlife are stunning early in the season.
- After the cruise, guests can enjoy warmer weather on land.
Land Tour First:
- A great option to avoid crowds initially.
- Land tours are hectic, so after a busy itinerary, the cruise provides relaxation at the end.
Combining both options into a “cruise tour” is fantastic. We get to:
- Experience the best of Alaska by both land and sea.
- Seamlessly connect travel plans, often beginning or ending in port towns like Seward or Whittier.
Excursions And Activities
Exploring Alaska by land and sea offers contrasting tours. Some excursions may be included in the land portion, but all side trips are optional on the cruise ship.
Excursions can be booked on the cruise line’s website before the trip. However, when taking the cruise first, tours on land can’t be purchased onboard the cruise ship.
Wildlife Watching Tours
Alaska offers some of the finest wildlife-watching experiences. Guided tours take us to optimal spots where we may encounter majestic animals such as bears, moose, and eagles.
On one boat tour, I saw countless numbers of sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, whales, and even a few porpoises. We saw moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and a grizzly bear in Denali National Park a few days later.
One highly recommended excursion is a whale-watching tour in Seward, Icy Strait Point, or Juneau. In addition to whales, sea lions, bald eagles, and seals are sighted.
Adventure Activities
For those seeking excitement, the 49th state is a playground full of adventure activities. Coastal ports offer zip-lining through the trees, scenic glacier floatplane tours, and dog sledding on nearby ice fields.
Some helicopter tours include glacier landings and a chance to walk on an icy slope. For the adventurous, kayaking in glacial waters offers unique challenges.
Sometimes, we prefer solitude, so Alaska’s hiking trails provide that. There are trails in every port, from easy to challenging options.
Cultural And Historical Tours
Alaska has a rich history that can be explored through cultural and historical tours. I saw where the purchase of Alaska and signing of the agreement took place at Castle Hill in Sitka.
The Chena Riverboat tour is a must in Fairbanks. The highlight for me was the stop at the Chena Native Living Museum. At the Athabascan village, I watched demonstrations on fish smoking, saw how food and pelts were kept, and visited their caribou herd.
In Ketchikan, the Totem Bight State Historical Park and Saxman Native Village feature totems carved by Tlingit and Haidaartists.
Packing For A Cruise Tour
Packing for a cruise and land tour is somewhat different from packing for a cruise alone. Personal items needed for the ocean-going journey must be separated from what’s required on land.
Cruise lines suggest packing one medium to large luggage, having one small luggage, and a day bag. This didn’t work for me and my sister when we were doing a seven-day land tour.
We each took one suitcase. After the cruise, we packed all we didn’t need in one suitcase, which was sent to Fairbanks to meet us one week later. We shared the other bag with things we needed for the next week.
We carried one bag or backpack each that came with us when we traveled. It contained our electronics (camera, smartphone, and laptop), snacks, bottled water, and extra clothing if we needed it.
Cruise lines limit what “follows” guests on a land tour due to limited luggage space on the train. What followed us was picked up from our hotel room in the morning and delivered to the next hotel room at the next destination. It was effortless and flawless.
Luggage Tag Instructions
Every time the luggage moves, it needs a different tag, marking where it’s traveling next. Proper labeling ensures it arrives where it should. One label must be removed when the next is attached.
One word of caution: Luggage is often picked up at 6 am the day of the move. It means, days on land require rising early.
What’s Included In The Land Tour
The cruise portion of the package includes food, entertainment, and some beverages. Once on land, hotels and transportation are included. Some packages may have a tour or two added as well. However, food is an additional expense on land.
Hotel Welcome Packages
Upon arrival at our hotel, we received a warm welcome through thoughtfully curated packages. These packages often include essential information about the area, along with maps and brochures highlighting local attractions and places to eat.
Our envelope included our hotel room keys and luggage tags for the next part of the journey. We also received instructions on luggage pick-up time, and meeting time for any included excursions.
Land Tour Meal Packages
Enjoying local cuisine can be expensive when exploring Alaska on a land tour. So, cruise lines offer a meal plan for breakfast or all meals. Since some of my optional day tours included lunch, I chose not to purchase a meal plan.
It turned out to be a good decision for me. Holland America wanted USD 265 for the breakfast plan and USD 524.25 for the meal plan. In the end, I spent USD 239.64 for all my meals.
Meal plans may work for big eaters, as dinners include an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
I didn’t necessarily want to eat all my meals in the hotel, so we researched places to eat in Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks. Only in Alyeska did we dine in the resort’s restaurants due to its remote location.
