Alaska has long been a popular destination for cruising, and each passing summer season typically brings new cruise lines, itineraries, and ships to the state. But the summer of 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best ever, with three companies going to the state for the first time and others returning after yearslong absences.
The growing number of choices means consumers now have an even wider array of options to suit their tastes.
Whether you’re interested in a crowd-pleasing big ship bursting with amenities, a small ship that can navigate less-traveled waterways, an adults-only ship with sophisticated onboard entertainment, or a luxurious yacht that promises highly personalized service, cruise lines are promising the best summer yet in Alaska.
Read on for a closer look at what’s coming in the summer season ahead.
New Entrants for 2026
Several companies are headed to Alaska for the first time in 2026. Among them is the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which is sending its newest superyacht, Luminara, on a series of voyages ranging from seven to 11 nights between Vancouver and Whittier. These trips will call in smaller, less-visited ports including Klawock Island, Wrangell, Petersburg, Haines, and Valdez, in addition to familiar favorites like Sitka and Ketchikan. Onboard, guests in the 226 suites—each with a terrace—can dine in restaurants from Michelin-caliber chefs Michael Mina and Fabio Trabocchi after days spent hiking the coast of Klawock Island or rafting in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines.
The adults-only line Virgin Voyages is sending its newest ship, Brilliant Lady, to Alaska, with sailings from Seattle or Vancouver. These sailings, which range from seven to 12 nights, will offer the entertainment that has become a hallmark for the brand, including drag shows and the immersive Scarlet Night, during which guests are encouraged to wear red. As on all Virgin ships, dining is inclusive, whether at Gunbae, a Korean BBQ joint, or Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, a Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant.
Also new in Alaska is MSC Cruises, which will offer seven-night roundtrip Seattle sailings onboard MSC Poesia, which has been newly refitted with the line’s luxury ship-within-a-ship product, MSC Yacht Club. After a day of whale and wildlife watching at Icy Strait Point, guests can take in a new production of Dirty Dancing: In Concert or sample fresh seafood at Kaito Sushi Bar.
New Ships in 2026
Princess Cruises is one of the largest operators in Alaska, and it is sending the brand-new Star Princess to the state this summer, offering seven-day roundtrip sailings from Seattle. Star Princess is made for scenic cruising, with glass “spheres” on top of and in the central atrium of the ship. It also has many of the latest, greatest Princess features including Cabana Mini Suites, the Spellbound by Magic Castle speakeasy, and the Sanctuary Collection, a stateroom category with exclusive access to a sun deck.
Windstar, which last sailed in Alaska in 2023, will return this year with Star Seeker, the line’s newest ship. The 112-suite vessel can navigate smaller fjords and will offer scenic cruising to Sawyer Glacier and expedition-style excursions on Zodiacs and kayaks directly from the ship. Onboard, guests will enjoy the new specialty restaurant Basil + Bamboo or cooking from the rotating cadre of James Beard Foundation chefs in the main dining room, on trips that range from seven to 11 days, out of Juneau, Seward, or Vancouver.
Seabourn Encore is headed for Alaska for the first time this summer with seven- and eight-night sailings from Vancouver or Juneau, which can be combined into a single roundtrip journey from Vancouver. Seabourn specializes in luxury touches like unlimited caviar and complimentary all-weather jackets for every passenger. Northbound trips from Vancouver call at newer cruise locations like Klawock Island and the Inian Islands, where guests can go for Zodiac and kayak excursions from the marina deck; southbound trips focus on scenic cruising the straits and canals of the Inside Passage in Alaska and Canada.
Other Noteworthy Options in the year ahead
Alaskan Dream Cruises is the country’s only Indigenous-owned cruise line, and it has reimagined its “Ice of the Inside Passage” itinerary from Sitka to Ketchikan. Offered in 2026 aboard the 49-passenger Baranof Dream, the trip gets up close to numerous glaciers in Southeast Alaska, in addition to making the only scheduled cruise call to the tiny Haida village of Kasaan. There, it’s possible to see totems, the Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House (the only remaining Haida longhouse in the United States), and chat with a canoe carver. Meanwhile, on board, naturalists will give lectures on local flora and fauna, while the culinary team serves meals of fresh Alaskan seafood.
This year is also a last-chance moment for fans of Cunard, which will operate a farewell season in Alaska before sending ships elsewhere in summers to come. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will offer seven- to 12-night roundtrip sailings from Seattle. While sailing the Inside Passage, guests will enjoy all of Cunard’s signatures, including pub lunches in the Golden Lion, certifiably British afternoon teas complete with scones and clotted cream, and excellent dining, particularly for guests in suites, who have access to the Princess Grill and Queens Grill.
These new sailings round out an already extensive array of cruise options for Alaska-bound travelers. Other cruise lines sailing Alaskan waters this summer include Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Disney Cruise Line, HX Expeditions, Holland America Line, Lindblad Expeditions, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, UnCruise Adventures, and Viking.
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