Keep it cool with the best Alaska Glaciers holiday.
As you explore the best Alaska glaciers, brace yourself for stunning views and shivers of excitement. From zip-lining through the Tongass National Forest to playing with sled dog puppies in Denali National Park to witnessing the majesty of the rugged mountains surrounding Endicott Arm, adventures abound in Alaska. You can view the cascading ice levels of Mendenhall and Hubbard Glacier from a boat, kayak or flightseeing aircraft, while watching whales mingle among brilliant icebergs drifting away from a calved wall of ice. No matter what you do during your holiday, the best Alaska glaciers cruises will show you magical contrasts: a newborn seal's fur against ancient blue ice, wildflowers growing next to soaring cliffs and dogsleds pulling mushers underneath low-flying helicopters. It's all part of the rugged beauty of the last frontier.
Save Big with these Alaska Cruise Deals
Explore more while spending less with Alaska glaciers deals onboard our best cruise ships
Get Royal Deals, Sign Up Today
VIEWS OF GLACIAL PROPORTIONS
With its winding fjords and gigantic glaciers, the best Alaska glaciers cruises offer unforgettable views. Spot silly seals playing on bobbing icebergs, or simply take in the vibrancy of the turquoise waters. These memories are sure to last a lifetime.
LIVE THE WILD LIFE
Endicott Arm Fjord Glacier is less frequently visited than its sister Tracy Arm, but its secluded nature only adds to its appeal. Catch a glimpse of imposing Dawes Glacier: it's actually formed by two glaciers meeting, one of which features an impressive icefall, a crevasse that looks like a frozen waterfall, into the fjord below. You're sure to see roaming wildlife here: watch the waters for seals and sea otters, or look to the skies for a glimpse of soaring bald eagles.
FJORD THE TURQUOISE WATERS
As glaciers move, they grind the earth to flour that turns the waters that wind through the fjords a gorgeous opaque turquoise colour. Take an excursion or tour through the water-filled valleys of Mendenhall Glacier to bathe in the light that reflects off of the compressed ice. You can kayak through Mendenhall Lake, which is actually created by the melting waters of the 3,000-year-old glacier.
ICE, ICE, BABY!
Age-old glaciers like Dawes or Mendenhall give way to meandering fjords all throughout Alaska. Kayak through the icy waters and catch a glimpse of the grazing caribou and the leaping mountain goats who frequent the massive mountains of ice.
ICY EXPEDITIONS
Sometimes, you want to relax and take in the views. Other times, you might prefer to take advantage of the thrilling adventures an area has to offer. With an Alaska glaciers holiday, you can do both at the same time.
TAKE A PAWS
A thrilling helicopter ride tour can transport you to the Norris Glacier on the Juneau Icefield. Meet with professional mushers and their spirited dogs for an unforgettable dog-sledding adventure of ancient proportions: archaeological evidence suggests that the Inuit have been getting around via dog sled since around 1,000 AD.
GLACIER SIGHT-SOARING
Generally, Alaska glaciers are viewed from one angle, so you can see that they are massive, but flightseeing – taking a small, low-flying plane over the landscape for a true bird's-eye view – allows you to see just how vast these rivers of ice can be. Take up an excursion out of Misty Fjord in Ketchikan, or soar above the massive Denali mountain with a Talkeetna adventure tour group. You may even get the chance to climb one of these icy giants.
THE CAVERNS ARE CALLING
There's nothing quite like experiencing a glacier from the inside. Venture into Mendenhall Ice Caves or Matanuska Glacier Cave to see stunning views of intensely compressed ice – it's an otherworldly experience of actually standing underneath the glacial ice, which forms surreal landscapes like you've never seen before.
Best Alaska Glacier Cruises
Tick off Alaska’s must-see destinations from your adventure bucket list. From towering glaciers to thrilling wildlife encounters, the untamed beauty of the Last Frontier awaits with exciting weeklong itineraries onboard the best Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
ADVENTURE IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
Quantum of the Seas® joins sister ship Ovation of the Seas® in Seattle for our biggest, boldest Alaska season ever. The two largest ships in the region brim with ways to maximise your time under the Midnight Sun. Fill each sea day with activities designed for any weather. And bring awe-inspiring wilderness views into every room – even Interior staterooms – with Virtual Balconies. All while you sail to iconic northern destinations like postcard-pretty Juneau, majestic Endicott Arm and Alaska’s dazzling Inside Passage.
EXPLORE THE WILD FRONTIER
Nothing compares to glacier cruises on Radiance of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas . Sail between stunning Seward, Alaska and vibrant Vancouver, British Columbia, taking in wow-worthy sights along the way through acres of windows that line the ship – like brilliant Hubbard Glacier, the lush forests that border Alaska’s Inside Passage, and the towering, snow-capped peaks that frame charming Skagway. Want to level up your Alaska adventure? Go all out on CruiseTours that take you deeper into the Last Frontier, with excursions into the wilds of Denali National Park, train rides with sweeping views of Alaska’s rugged interior and more.
1
On northbound cruises, you'll get the best views of the glaciers on the starboard side of the ship; when you're sailing southward, the port side is the way to go.
2
Many of our Alaska glacier cruises depart from Vancouver or Seattle, so you can get in your dose of urban exploration before you explore the icy wilderness.
3
Alaska might not seem like a sun-soaked state, but make no mistake, sunglasses are essential for glacier-viewing, as the glare off the ice can be intense.
RELATED PORTS
Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to the best Alaska glaciers or a shopping spree in the city centre, all the towns provide a variety of adventurous activities. Ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are each small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks.
