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Best Luxury Alaska Cruises: Which Ships Get Into Glacier Bay, and How They Compare

The best luxury Alaska cruises compared: Seabourn, Silversea, Regent, Lindblad and UnCruise, with ship size, Glacier Bay access, ports, routes and Lindblad's published fare.

By Wijet Editors

At a glance

Luxury Alaska cruises: the numbers

Glacier Bay quota
Two cruise ships a day, year-round
36 CFR 13.1160; seasonal quotas of up to 184 (June to August) and 122 (May, September) in the rule, 153 and 92 set for 2017 by NPS
Small-ship Glacier Bay day
Lindblad, 8 days, 100 guests
Full day in Glacier Bay on Day 6; from $5,950 per person, per Lindblad, November 2026
Silversea 2027
Silver Moon, 596 guests, 7 nights
Vancouver to Seward, June 10 to 17, 2027; Hubbard Glacier, no Glacier Bay, per Silversea
Season
May to September
Per Seabourn and Lindblad

The best luxury Alaska cruises depend on one question: do you want a glacier day inside Glacier Bay, or a larger ship with a longer port list? Lindblad’s Alaska’s Inside Passage sails 8 days on ships of 100 guests and includes a full day in Glacier Bay National Park, from $5,950 per person, per Lindblad in November 2026. That is about $850 a night by our arithmetic, flights not included.

Seabourn lists Glacier Bay among its Alaska ports. Silversea’s June 2027 Vancouver to Seward sailing on Silver Moon passes Hubbard Glacier instead and does not list Glacier Bay, per its sailing page. Silversea and Regent fares vary by sailing date, so ask for yours.

How to Choose a Luxury Alaska Cruise

Big Ship vs Small Ship

Silver Moon carries 596 guests and 411 crew, per Silversea. Lindblad’s ships carry 100 guests across 50 cabins, per Lindblad, and UnCruise lists vessels from 22 to 88 guests, per UnCruise. The small ships change routes for wildlife and weather, UnCruise says, and the larger ships keep a fixed port list.

Glacier Bay Permits

Federal rules allow two cruise ships a day in Glacier Bay year-round, with a seasonal ceiling of up to 184 entries from June 1 to August 31 and up to 122 for May and September, per 36 CFR 13.1160. The park superintendent sets the actual quota inside that ceiling: for 2017 the National Park Service kept it at 153 entries for the summer season and 92 for the May and September shoulder season. Because the quota is small, access is by concession contract, not by open booking.

When the NPS issued its current cruise ship contracts in March 2019, seven companies received ten-year concessions: Princess, Holland America, NCL, Cunard, Seabourn, Viking and Royal Caribbean. Of the luxury lines in this article, only Seabourn is on that list. Lindblad is authorized separately as a concessioner for tour vessel services in the park, per its own page. Check each sailing’s itinerary for Glacier Bay by name before you book.

Inside Passage vs Gulf of Alaska

The Inside Passage is the sheltered route from Vancouver or Juneau through Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. The Gulf route ends in Seward or Whittier, so you pass Hubbard Glacier. Regent’s 2027 sailings run between Vancouver and Whittier, per Cruise Industry News in July 2025, and Silversea’s run Vancouver to Seward.

Season: May to September

Seabourn and Lindblad both list May through September. The Glacier Bay quota is split the same way, with a larger summer allowance from June to August and a smaller one for May and September.

The Best Luxury Alaska Cruises Compared

LineShipGuestsGlacier BayPorts and routeNightsFrom per nightSource
Lindblad-National GeographicVenture or Quest100Yes, a full dayJuneau, Petersburg, Sitka7About $850 ($5,950 per person, our arithmetic)Lindblad, Nov 2026
SeabournEncore or Quest300 suites on Encore; 458 guests on QuestListed as a portSitka, Wrangell, Klawock, Alert Bay, Prince RupertOn requestOn requestSeabourn, Nov 2026
SilverseaSilver Moon596Not listedKetchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier7On requestSilversea, Nov 2026
RegentSeven Seas ExplorerOn requestNot listedSkagway, Juneau, Sitka, Klawock, Ketchikan, Hubbard Glacier7On requestCruise Industry News, July 2025
UnCruiseSeven Alaska ships22 to 88Not statedVaries by ship7 to 13On requestUnCruise, Nov 2026

Verdict: only Lindblad publishes both a Glacier Bay day and a fare, so it is the one we can price. For the others, ask for the fare on your exact sailing before comparing.

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The Lines

Lindblad-National Geographic

Lindblad’s Alaska’s Inside Passage sails Juneau to Sitka or the reverse, with a stop at Petersburg. Lindblad’s trip page showed $5,950 per person, reduced from $7,000, in November 2026, with departures from May to September; the offer carries no end date and the page lists no 2027 sailings yet.

Seabourn

Seabourn lists Seabourn Encore, with 300 all-veranda suites, and Seabourn Quest, which carries 458 guests. Ports include Sitka, Wrangell, Klawock, Glacier Bay, Alert Bay and Prince Rupert, and sailings leave from Vancouver or Juneau. The page says a Denali Experience returns in 2027, with a pre-cruise rail journey from Anchorage to Juneau. Ask Seabourn for 2027 ports, nights and fares.

Silversea

Silversea’s June 10 to 17, 2027 sailing runs Vancouver to Seward on Silver Moon, with calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka and a pass by Hubbard Glacier. Every fare, the page says, includes a butler in every suite, unlimited champagne and spirits, and onboard gratuities. Ask Silversea for the cruise fare on your date.

Regent Seven Seas

Regent has 16 seven-night Alaska sailings in summer 2027 on Seven Seas Explorer, running between Whittier and Vancouver, per Cruise Industry News in July 2025. Ports include Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, Klawock and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising in the Inside Passage and Hubbard Glacier. The report does not list Glacier Bay. Ask Regent for the fare on the date you want.

UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise’s page lists seven Alaska ships, from Wilderness Legacy at 88 guests to Safari Quest at 22. Its fare includes excursions, farm-to-table dining, craft cocktails and outdoor gear, per the page. Ask UnCruise for fares and ports by sailing.

Best All-Inclusive and Best for Adults

Silversea says every voyage includes a butler, unlimited champagne, spirits and wine from its cellar, and onboard gratuities. UnCruise includes excursions and outdoor gear, per its page. Children’s rules differ by line: see our guide to the best luxury cruise lines and the small ship cruise lines comparison.

Best for Families

Seabourn requires guests on its expeditions to be at least 6 years old, per its FAQ, and Silversea requires 5 years on its Expedition cruises, per its ticket contract. For which luxury lines run kids’ clubs, see our guide to the best luxury cruise lines for families.

Getting to the Ship

Seabourn’s page describes a rail journey from Anchorage to Juneau as a pre-cruise option, and Silversea’s sailing ends at Seward, which it labels Anchorage. For Vancouver, Juneau or Seward arrivals by private aircraft, see private jet charter. For the land alternative, see luxury train journeys. The full list is in the cruises and yachts hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best luxury cruise line for Alaska?
It depends on what you value. Lindblad is the only line here whose page confirms a full Glacier Bay day with a published fare, from $5,950 per person. Seabourn lists Glacier Bay as a port. Silversea's June 2027 sailing passes Hubbard Glacier.
Do all Alaska cruises go to Glacier Bay?
No. Federal rules limit cruise ships to two a day in Glacier Bay, per 36 CFR 13.1160, and Silversea's June 2027 Vancouver to Seward itinerary does not list it. Check the itinerary for the port by name.
When is the best time for a luxury Alaska cruise?
The season runs May through September, per Seabourn and Lindblad. Ask the line what your sailing date typically brings, and note that Glacier Bay entries are limited in every month.
Are there all-inclusive luxury Alaska cruises?
Yes. Silversea says every voyage includes a butler, unlimited champagne, spirits and wine, and onboard gratuities. UnCruise includes excursions, dining, cocktails and outdoor gear. Read each line's inclusions page before you compare fares.
Which Alaska cruise is best for adults?
No ranking by age exists in the sources behind this guide, so we name no winner. Small ships of 100 guests or fewer, such as Lindblad's, suit travelers who want a quieter route.

Sources

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