Alaska Cruise Tips, Travel Articles & Videos

Alaska cruise excursions deliver the type of "wow moments" that linger in memories forever. It could be the sudden sighting of a humpback’s fluke or calving ice plunging into the ocean. It could be when the cloud curtain parts to reveal the majestic Denali. These Alaska cruise travel articles, videos and Cruisetour highlights get you closer to your Alaska dream experience, whatever that means to you.

Tips for Alaska Cruisetours

Whether you're planning what to pack for Alaska or want to know more about overland travel on your land and sea Cruisetour, these helpful tips will ensure you have the finest vacation experience possible.

Alaska Travel Articles: Planning For Your Cruise

Time to start planning! Read expert Alaska cruise tips on weather and packing. Find out the best time to visit Alaska and learn about the variety of cruise itineraries offered. All the advice you need to prepare for the trip of a lifetime.

Woman dresses in jacket for a chill breeze on an Alaska cruise shore excursion

Alaska's Weather: What To Expect

Advice on Alaska weather changes by season and average temps.

How To Choose The Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary

How To Choose The Best Alaska Cruise Itinerary

Find the best Alaska cruise itinerary for your needs.

What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise

What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise

Pack smart with this complete Alaska cruise packing list.

Alaska wilderness seen on a Holland America Line Land and Sea cruisetour

Alaska Cruise: How To Pick The Best Time

Timing tips on weather, wildlife, and the Northern Lights.

A woman and child explore near an Alaskan glacier on a Holland America Line Alaska shore excursion

Planning An Alaska Cruise With Kids

Cruising with kids? Your questions, answered.

whale watchers spot a whale on an Alaska cruise shore excursion

The Best Alaska Excursions

Popular Alaska shore excursions by location.

Salmon steaks

Best Alaska Food

Taste your way across the Great Land with these must-try dishes and drinks. Includes everything from Alaska seafood to fireweed ice cream.

Two hikers on a bridge looking at a port in Alaska.

Best Hikes Near Alaska Cruise Ports

Hit the trail right from the ship these popular Alaska hiking trails, ranging in level of difficulty from easy to strenuous.

Alaska Travel Articles: Places To See

Let your imagination run wild. Discover things to do in Alaska in each breathtaking place. There are so many activities, from Alaska fishing trips to bear viewing and glacier tours. Get inspired for every epic adventure.

Bald eagle taking flight in Alaska's forest

Top Things To Do In Alaska

Find the top things to do in Alaska.

Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Most popular Alaska places to visit.

picturesque Sitka, Alaska

Top Things To Do In Sitka

Historic attractions, jaw-dropping views and all.

harbor in Seward, Alaska

Top Things To Do In Seward, Alaska

Hike to Exit Glacier. Tour Kenai Fjords National Park.

Ketchikan waterfront in Alaska

Top Things To Do In Ketchikan

Go salmon fishing. Wander historic Creek Street.

Mountains and water on a Whittier Alaska cruise

Cruises to Whittier, The Strangest Town in Alaska

Facts about this strange Alaska cruise port.

Holland America cruise ship Eurodam cruises from Seattle to Alaska

Alaska Cruises From Seattle

Must-knows for an Alaska cruise from Seattle.

Glacial ice calving in Glacier Bay, Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park

A guide to one of our favorite places.

harbor in Juneau, Alaska

Top Things To Do in Juneau

Make your visit to Juneau action-packed.

Stalls at Pikes Place Market

Top Things To Do in Seattle

Explore the Emerald City with this fantastic list of iconic attractions, plus gain a good overview of Seattle’s quirky neighborhoods.

Waterfront view of Granville Public Market

Top 5 Things To Do in Vancouver, BC

From Granville Island to Chinatown and Gastown, Vancouver bustles with things to do. Here are our top five picks.

View of flowers with glacier in background.

7 Most Thrilling Alaskan Adventures

Alaska is the place for adventure. Discover unique Alaskan thrills, from close wildlife encounters to backcountry expeditions and dry suit snorkeling.

Alaska Travel Articles: Land and Sea Cruisetours

Explore the vast interior and the rugged coast on one amazing trip. Alaska Cruisetours combine the iconic Alaska cruise with a voyage into Denali National Park and the Yukon Territory. Read more about Alaska land and sea cruises.

Mountain view from Denali National Park, the highlight of an Alaska cruisetour

Denali National Park

The wilderness experience of a lifetime.

Denali Triple Lake Trail is one of many things to do on an Alaska cruise tour or shore excursion

Denali's Triple Lakes Trail

One traveler’s account of hiking an Alaska trail.

Whitepass Yukon Railroad on an Alaska cruise tour

White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Learn the history of the Railway Built of Gold.

Person pans for gold at Klondike Gold Rush attractions seen on an Alaska cruise tour

Klondike Gold Rush Attractions

Top Gold Rush sites and locations.

Dawson City as seen on an Alaska cruise tour

Exploring the Yukon & Dawson City

Travel tips on this vast region and folksy frontier town.

Guide to Alaska Dog Sledding

Cross dog sledding off your bucket list with this first-timer’s guide to the sport. Get ready to say Hike! Gee! Haw!

Alaska Travel Articles: Alaska's Wildlife

When it comes time to decide what to do in Alaska, consider a wildlife excursion. Some of the world’s most fascinating creatures call Alaska home, from massive brown bears to bighorn sheep, caribou, rare seabirds, and several species of whale. Learn the best time to visit Alaska to see your favorite animals and where they like to hangout.

Moose, one of the Big 5 animals seen on an Alaska cruise tour

Big 5 Animals of Alaska

How to see the Big 5 on Alaska wildlife tours.

A breaching humpback whale in Alaska

Whale Watching In Alaska

How to view various whale species in Alaska.

Steller Sea Lion's rest on an ice flow, seen on an Alaska cruise

Alaska's Top 5 Marine Animals

Get schooled on top marine animals in Alaska.

Bering Sea crab fisherman tour on an Alaska cruise

Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour

Witness all that goes into this dangerous job.

Things to Do: Alaska Cruise Videos

Meet the people who make our Alaska cruise excursions exceptional. They share a single passion—showing you Alaska’s many wonders, whether by land or sea. Thanks to these guides, your Alaska cruise or Cruisetour will be the one of your dreams.

Explore More of Denali

Tracy Smith, General Manager of McKinley Chalet Resort shows this exclusive Holland America Line property just outside of Denali National Park. Two- and three-night stays include a guided Tundra Wilderness Tour into the park to view wildlife.

White Pass & Yukon Route

Take a journey rich in history aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad out of Skagway, Alaska. Operating since 1898, after the discovery of gold in the Klondike, enjoy the majesty of the Yukon as you traverse some of the North’s most rugged terrain.

Gold Dredge 8

John Binkley introduces the history of Fairbanks, Alaska, and how to pan for gold at Gold Dredge 8.

Riverboat Discovery

On this Alaska cruise excursion, Captain Ryan Binkley takes guests on a tour along Alaska's interior rivers aboard the riverboat Discovery III.

Sharing the Local Flavor

Served exclusively at Holland America Line locations throughout Alaska, the brewmasters at Talkeetna-based Denali Brewing share their passion for fermentation to create a quality Alaska experience.

Meet Your Journey Hosts

Every Yukon+Denali Cruisetour is led by a professional Alaska Journey Host. A knowledgeable guide will accompany you during the land portion of your trip, sharing insider secrets and Alaska travel tips, from gold-panning tips to where to watch for elk.

Rachell Hall, Journey Host

Rachell Hall welcomes you to Denali National Park and McKinley Lodge.

Billie Hyde, Journey Host

Skagway's Billie Hyde creates a unique and immersive experience as she matches her guests with just the right things to do in Alaska.

Sam Redford, Journey Host

Journey Host Sam Redford shares her love for guiding guests on Alaska cruise excursions.