Alaska Cruisetours 2027 & 2028: How to Plan and Book the Perfect Alaska Cruise and Land Tour with Princess Cruises.
Alaska cruisetour combines glaciers by sea, Denali by rail and wilderness lodges in between. Here's how to plan the perfect Alaska cruise and land tour, and why the time to book is now, with both the 2027 and 2028 Alaska seasons already open.
Most Alaska cruise vacations stay on the water. You sail the Inside Passage, see a glacier or two, explore a few port towns, and sail back. It's a great trip, but it's only half of Alaska.
The other half is inland: Denali National Park, North America's tallest peak, six million acres of protected wilderness, and the moose, caribou and grizzly bears that live there. You can't see it from a ship. That's what an Alaska cruisetour is built for, and it's one of the trips we love planning most at Castle Coaches Travel.
The other half is inland: Denali National Park, North America's tallest peak, six million acres of protected wilderness, and the moose, caribou and grizzly bears that live there. You can't see it from a ship. That's what an Alaska cruisetour is built for, and it's one of the trips we love planning most at Castle Coaches Travel.
What Is a Princess Alaska Cruisetour? (Cruise + Land Tour Explained)
A Princess Alaska cruisetour combines a 7-day Alaska cruise with a land tour into Alaska's interior, booked as one seamless vacation. Princess Cruises has sailed Alaska for more than five decades, and its cruisetours are the standard we measure others against.
The cruise: Voyage of the Glaciers
This one-way sailing runs between Vancouver and Anchorage (Whittier). Because it doesn't need to turn around and head back south, it travels about 500 miles deeper into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound than a typical roundtrip cruise. Every sailing includes two glacier-viewing days. Depending on your departure, that could mean Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. Ports of call include favorites like Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point.
The land journey: Denali and beyond Once you step off the ship, the trip keeps going. Princess's Direct-to-the-Wilderness® rail service takes you from the ship straight to your lodge aboard glass-domed railcars, with rivers, forests and mountain ranges passing outside the windows. Every Princess cruisetour includes time in Denali National Park.
The lodges Princess is the only cruise line that owns and operates its own wilderness lodges in Alaska, so the land portion runs as smoothly as the cruise. Depending on the itinerary, you might stay at:
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, just outside the national park entrance
Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, with mountainside views of the peak on clear days
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, on the banks of the Kenai River
Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, in one of the state's most remote regions
Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, your base for Alaska's frontier history and culture
How to Choose the Best Alaska Cruisetour for You
There isn't one right Alaska trip. There's the right one for you. A few common starting points:
First-timers who want the highlights: The Denali Explorer pairs Voyage of the Glaciers with scenic rail and extended time in the Denali area. It's the most popular cruisetour for good reason.
National park lovers: Park-focused itineraries can reach up to five national parks: Glacier Bay, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
Travelers who want more time on land: Longer land segments of three nights or more let you settle in rather than rush.
You'll also choose your ship. Princess sails Alaska with Discovery Princess®, Crown Princess®, Coral Princess®, Grand Princess®, Island Princess® and the all-new Star Princess®. Choosing between them, along with the direction you sail, your departure date and your cabin, is where good planning makes a real difference.
When Should You Book an Alaska Cruise? Why Timing Matters
This is the part most travelers get wrong. Alaska is not a last-minute trip. The season is short. Alaska cruises run roughly May through September, which leaves only about 20 weeks to fit in every traveler who wants to go that year. Cruisetours are tighter still, for three reasons.
The lodges have limited rooms. A ship holds thousands of guests, but a wilderness lodge near Denali holds far fewer. The land portion is the first part of a cruisetour to sell out, and once a lodge is full for your dates, that itinerary is gone, even if the ship still has cabins.
The best dates go first. Mid-June through mid-August brings the longest days and warmest weather, and it lines up with school vacations. Those departures fill early.
The best cabins go first. Balconies matter more in Alaska than almost anywhere else, because you'll spend two full days watching glaciers. Those cabins disappear quickly.
Shore excursions sell out, fast. Nobody books an Alaska cruise just to walk around a port. You're going whale watching in Juneau, flying over glaciers by helicopter or floatplane, riding the White Pass railway out of Skagway, dog sledding and bear viewing. These tours have limited spots, and the most popular ones absolutely sell out months before the ship sails. Book late and you may be choosing from whatever is left, or nothing at all. Book early and you reserve the experiences you actually came for.
Our recommendation: book 12 to 18 months before you travel. If you're looking at summer 2027, that means now. And 2028 Alaska departures are already open, so if next summer is too soon, you can lock in the best choices for 2028 today. Booking this far ahead gets you the widest choice of dates, itineraries, lodges, cabins and shore excursions, and it often lets you take advantage of the best early-booking offers.
If your dates are flexible, the shoulder months of May and September can offer more availability and value. Even then, we still recommend booking well ahead for cruisetours, because lodge space is the limiting factor.
Do You Need a Travel Agent for an Alaska Cruise? Common Myths, Answered
We hear the same questions often, so here are honest answers.
"Won't a travel agent cost me more?"
No. For cruises and cruisetours, the cruise line pays us. You pay the same price you'd see booking directly, and you get a dedicated planner as part of it.
"I can just book online myself."
You can. But a cruisetour isn't a single purchase. It's a cruise, a rail journey, multiple lodges, transfers, a flight in and a flight out of different cities, plus pre- and post-cruise hotel nights. Booking engines show you options. They don't tell you which ones fit together, or which lodge is worth the extra night.
"I'll figure out the excursions myself."
You can try, but there are so many to choose from. Every port offers dozens of options: whale watching, glacier helicopter and floatplane tours, the White Pass railway, wildlife cruises, dog sledding and more. Which whale watching tour is actually worth it? Which ones fit between when the ship docks and when you need to be back on board? What's the backup plan if weather cancels a flight? Sorting that out is hours of research, and if you wait until you're on the ship, the best tours are often already sold out. We've experienced Alaska ourselves, so we can tell you what's worth your time and money, what to skip, and get the right excursions booked before they're gone.
"Agents just push whatever pays them most."
Our business depends on clients who come back and refer their friends. That only happens when the trip is right for you. We'll ask how you like to travel, what pace you want, and what you're hoping to see, and we'll tell you honestly when a different option is a better fit.
"I don't need help once I've booked."
Plans change, prices drop, and questions come up the week before you leave. When they do, you call us, not a call center.
How Castle Coaches Travel Plans Your Alaska Cruise Vacation
While we are based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, we plan trips and Alaska cruises for travelers across the world, all by phone, email and video call. Here's what working with us looks like:
We match you to the right itinerary. Denali Explorer or a five-park route? Northbound or southbound? Which ship? We walk you through the trade-offs in plain language.
We secure the hard-to-get pieces early. Lodge nights, balcony cabins and peak-season dates are where early, expert booking pays off.
We build the whole trip around the cruisetour. Flights into Vancouver and home from Fairbanks or Anchorage, pre-cruise hotel nights, and shore excursions worth your time.
We watch your booking. If an offer or price change benefits you before final payment, we'll look into it on your behalf.
We're with you start to finish. One point of contact from your first question until you're home with a camera full of glaciers.
Alaska Cruisetour FAQs
When is the best time to take an Alaska cruise?
The Alaska cruise season runs from about May through September. June, July and August bring the warmest weather and longest days, so those dates book up first. May and September can offer better availability and value.
How far in advance should I book an Alaska cruisetour?
We recommend booking 12 to 18 months ahead. Lodge rooms near Denali are limited and sell out before ship cabins do, so booking early gives you the best choice of dates, itineraries and cabins.
What's the difference between an Alaska cruise and an Alaska cruisetour?
An Alaska cruise stays at sea and in port towns. An Alaska cruisetour adds a land tour, with scenic rail travel and nights at wilderness lodges near Denali and other national parks.
How long is an Alaska cruisetour?
Most pair the 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with several nights on land, so the full trip typically runs about 10 to 14 nights.
Should I do the cruise or the land tour first?
Voyage of the Glaciers sails both northbound and southbound, so you can do either. Cruising first lets you unwind before the land tour. Starting on land lets you end the trip relaxing at sea. We'll help you choose based on your dates and travel style.
Does it cost more to book an Alaska cruise with a travel agent?
No! The cruise line pays our commission, so you pay the same price as booking direct, with a dedicated planner included.
Start Planning Your 2027 or 2028 Alaska Cruisetour
The 2027 Alaska cruise season is open, and the best lodge dates, cabins and excursions are being claimed now. If an Alaska cruise and land tour is on your list, this is the moment to start planning.
Can't make 2027 work? 2028 Alaska cruises are already open for booking. Princess, the number one cruise line in Alaska, offers 185 departures, 14 itineraries and eight ships for the 2028 Alaska season, including the new Star Princess. Booking 2028 now puts you first in line for the best dates, cabins, lodges and shore excursions, with plenty of time to plan every detail.
Your Alaska Cruise, Planned by Concierge Cruise Specialists
Castle Coaches Travel is a concierge travel agency that specializes in cruise vacations. We're based in Dallas–Fort Worth and serve travelers nationwide. We don't hand you a confirmation number and disappear. We match you with the agent best suited to your trip, someone who knows Alaska, knows Princess, and handles every detail from your first question until you're home.
Here's how it works:
Tell us about your dream Alaska trip. Your dates, travel style, pace, budget and the experiences you can't miss.
We match you with the perfect agent. The right specialist for your trip, not whoever happens to answer the phone.
Your agent takes it from there. Your cruise, lodges, rail, flights and shore excursions, secured early and planned around you, with one dedicated person to call before, during and after your trip.
The best 2027 and 2028 dates, cabins, lodges and excursions won't wait. Let's get yours reserved.
Contact Castle Coaches Travel today!
Phone: 469-777-6371
Email: info@castlecoachestravel.com
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