Round-Trip Alaska Cruises From Seattle: Everything You Need to Know

On round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska, you’ll spend seven days visiting ports like Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway and sailing through the stunning Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier and the Inside Passage in Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, before returning to Seattle.

Read: Best Alaska Cruise Itineraries

Ketchikan

Sailing north along the lower Inside Passage, you’ll reach Ketchikan, your first port of call on a round-trip Alaska cruise from Seattle. Here, you’ll be introduced to the culture of the Tlingit, native Alaskans whose expressive totem carvings tell stories of their history and traditions.

Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, and you’ll have multiple opportunities to experience why that’s true. Shore excursions will take you to the best things to do in Ketchikan, ranging from fishing expeditions to hatchery tours and the popular all-you-can-eat salmon bakes.

See blue and sperm whales, humpbacks, and orca on an Alaskan whale-watching cruise.

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier

Cruise through Endicott Arm Fjord, where you’ll be awestruck by the ice-blue and stark-white beauty of the fjord, floating icebergs, waterfalls, and wildlife all around.

Keep your eyes peeled for brown bears on the shore, harbor seals in the water, and bald eagles soaring overhead. When your ship sails close to the 600-foot tall Dawes Glacier, one of the best glaciers in Alaska, you’ll get eye-popping views of active calving (ice chunks shearing away from the glacier) as your ship makes a complete turn for optimum viewing.

Juneau

Arriving in Juneau, Alaska’s capital, the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier dominates the landscape. See it up close on the ground at the superb visitors center, in the air on a helicopter tour, or explore its crevasses from atop the glacier.

See how dogsled pups are trained and ride a dogsled through a wilderness forest. Foodies will enjoy a culinary tour that showcases Alaska’s delicious food and those who catch it, grow it, and sell it, led by one of our onboard chefs.

Skagway

When you stop in Skagway, Alaska’s Klondike Gold Rush history is front and center. Learn all about the gold rush and its cultural and historical significance by riding the restored White Pass & Yukon Railroad that traces the steep, mountainous Chilkoot Trail of the 1896 gold rush.

See the beauty and wonder of the Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest national forest, on wildlife tours, wilderness hikes, and bike tours through the Tongass temperate rainforest.

Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia’s capital and your final port of call, is a charming and lively place to visit with lots to see and do. Explore Butchart Gardens, a jewel box of vivid floral displays and themed gardens.

One of the top things to do in Victoria is to tour the oldest Chinatown in Canada, stopping for dim sum and shopping for herbal remedies. For a historical and cultural perspective of Victoria and Western Canada, tour the Royal British Columbia Museum. While you’re in a British state of mind, stop for afternoon tea at the iconic Fairmont Hotel.

When you book round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska, you’ll sail on Celebrity Solstice, the debut ship of Celebrity’s award-winning Solstice class.

The ship’s accommodations range from spacious veranda staterooms with 24-hour room service to luxuriously appointed suites. During your cruise, get pampered at the onboard spa and indulge in world-class cuisine designed by our Michelin-starred chef.

Spend your days at sea lounging at the adults-only Solarium pool or on the main pool deck. Pull up a chaise, drink in hand, and watch Alaska’s gorgeous seascapes and landscapes glide by.

Play lawn sports like croquet, golf, or lawn bowling by day and listen to jazz concerts by night at the innovative Lawn Club. Play a pick-up basketball game on the outdoor court or take a turn or two around the jogging track. Take a dip in a hot tub to relax those well-used muscles.

Learn culinary tips and tricks on galley tours, during cooking demos, and while enjoying tastings from cheeses to bourbons. Speaking of learning, on Alaska cruises, an onboard naturalist conducts lectures on local wildlife and culture and has answers for any questions about Alaska that you might have.

Evenings on board Celebrity Solstice are equally active and exciting. Meet friends and make friends at the Martini Bar, one of the ship’s most popular spaces for drinks. See Broadway-worthy shows and entertainment in the state-of-the-art theatre.

Try your luck at Fortunes Casino’s table games or slot machines, or dance the night away to live or DJ-spun music under the stars at the Solarium or with flashing strobe lights at Quasar.

Celebrity offers round-trip cruises to Alaska from Seattle May through September. June through August are peak cruise times, and if you’re tied to a school schedule, this may be the best time to visit Alaska on a cruise. Cruising to Alaska during May or September offers fewer crowds and cooler weather.

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