Southbound Alaska Cruises are one way voyages that begin near Anchorage in Seward or Whitter and travel south through the Gulf of Alaska and end in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Southbound Alaska Glacier Cruises
While there are similarities between a a roundtrip Inside Passage Cruise and a one-way Glacier cruise, there are a number of differences as well. These provide unique benefits which give you a chance to enjoy more of Alaska.
Visitors arrrive in Anchorage either the day of the cruise or after completing an land tour into Alaska's Interior. At least one overnight hotel stay in Anchorage before your cruise is recommended to ensure the most rest and early arrival times to the ship. Guests then transfer by motorcoach or train to Seward or Whittier. The 120 mile ride goes by quickly as visitors enjoy one of the most scenic drives into any departure port. Since Southbound Alaska Glacier cruises are one way trips, your cruise will not repeat its route by doing a U-turn back to the orginal departure port. Each day can provide a new opportunity to see glaciers, mountains, wildlife and scenery without repeating a segment of your journey.
A Southbound Alaska Cruise will head down the Alaska Coast, visit glacier areas, into the small waterfront communities and then sail through the Inside Passage to Vancouver, where passengers disembark the ship. Depending on the cruise line and ship, Alaska Glacier Cruise passengers not only visit the same ports and attractions they would've seen on the Inside Passage Cruise, but they may also visit College Fjord for breathtaking glacier views, or Valdez for yet another day in port.
Compared to a roundtrip Alaska Inside passage cruise, Southbound Alaska cruises have fewer days at sea. This allows the guest to spend more days in Alaska ports or National Glacier Parks. If you only have a week and want maximum glacier viewing and time on land, a Southbound or Northbound cruise is your best choice for an Alaska Cruise Vacation.
Depending on your cruise line and ship, these cruises typically visit four or more of these ports and sights:
- Juneau
- Ketchikan
- Skagway
- Haines
- Sitka
- Vancouver
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Hubbard Glacier
- College Fjord
- Valdez
- Seward / Whittier / Anchorage
Once the ship arrives in Vancouver, passengers may transfer to the airport for their flights home, or extend their stay with tours of Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, or even a train ride into the Canadian Rockies.
Pre-Cruise Options in Anchorage
Most visitors to Alaska elect to take an Alaska Cruisetour which combines a cruise with a land tour into the Interior of Alaska. Most cruise lines operating Southbound Glacier Cruises offer these cruisetours from Anchorage, Denali National Park, or Fairbanks that include motorcoach and domed rail cars. Read more about these Alaska Cruisetours on our website.
Post-Cruise Options
Another benefit of a Southbound Alaska cruise is the flexibility to fly home from either Seattle or Vancouver. Seattle is three and a half hours from Vancouver and there are a variety of transportation options including motorcoach and train to get you there. Both cities are so different, first time visitors could enjoy touring Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver after their cruise. Others may even consider a Victoria or Canadian Rockies rail package after their trip.
When to take an Alaska Glacier Cruise
The Alaska Cruise season begins in late April and continues through September. Whether you cruise when the Inside Passage is blanketed with spring wildflowers or ablaze with fall foliage you'll be awed at Alaska's natural wonders. Spring whale migrations, fall bald eagle gatherings, winter trumpeter swans - exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities and substantial savings can be found during spring and fall.
| Month | Number of Cruises | From Price |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | 7 cruises | $583 |
| May 2025 | 18 cruises | $743 |
| Jun 2025 | 26 cruises | $902 |
| Jul 2025 | 28 cruises | $933 |
| Aug 2025 | 27 cruises | $837 |
| Sep 2025 | 13 cruises | $782 |
| Apr 2026 | 4 cruises | $8,504 |
| May 2026 | 18 cruises | $819 |
| Jun 2026 | 28 cruises | $938 |
| Jul 2026 | 28 cruises | $977 |
| Aug 2026 | 31 cruises | $908 |
| Sep 2026 | 11 cruises | $812 |
| May 2027 | 1 cruises | $16,499 |
| 7 Night Glacier Discovery Southbound Cruise from Whittier | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
Nieuw Amsterdam 18 Sail Dates: 5/25/25; 6/8/25; 6/22/25; 7/6/25; 7/20/25; 8/3/25; 8/17/25; 8/31/25; 9/14/25; 5/24/26; See More Starting Port: Whittier, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Whittier, Cruising Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan... |
7 Nights |
$874per person
(double occupancy) |
| 7 Night Alaska Southbound Glacier Cruise from Seward | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
Celebrity Summit 18 Sail Dates: 5/16/25; 5/30/25; 6/13/25; 6/27/25; 7/11/25; 7/25/25; 8/8/25; 8/22/25; 9/5/25; 5/15/26; See More Starting Port: Seward, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Seward, Cruising Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan... |
7 Nights |
$819per person
(double occupancy) |
| 14 Night Off the Beaten Path Tour PB7 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/14/25; 5/28/25; 6/11/25; 6/25/25; 7/9/25; 7/23/25; 8/6/25; 8/20/25; 9/3/25; 5/20/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Gold Dredge No 8, Fairbanks, Train Travel, Denali National Park, Mount McKinley... |
14 Nights |
$2,926per person
(double occupancy) |
| 13 Night Connoisseur Escorted Tour TB6 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/15/25; 5/29/25; 6/12/25; 6/26/25; 7/10/25; 7/24/25; 8/7/25; 8/21/25; 9/4/25; 5/21/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Princess Rail Train Travel, Talkeetna, Mount McKinley, Whittier... |
13 Nights |
$2,788per person
(double occupancy) |
| 13 Night Denali Explorer Tour KB6 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/15/25; 5/29/25; 6/12/25; 6/26/25; 7/10/25; 7/24/25; 8/7/25; 8/21/25; 9/4/25; 5/21/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Mount McKinley, Talkeetna, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel... |
13 Nights |
$2,534per person
(double occupancy) |
| 12 Night Denali Explorer Tour HB5 Cruise and Land Tour from Anchorage | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/16/25; 5/30/25; 6/13/25; 6/27/25; 7/11/25; 7/25/25; 8/8/25; 8/22/25; 9/5/25; 5/22/26; See More Starting Port: Anchorage, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Anchorage, Mount McKinley, Denali National Park, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel, Whittier... |
12 Nights |
$2,455per person
(double occupancy) |
| 12 Night Denali Explorer Tour JB5 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/16/25; 5/30/25; 6/13/25; 6/27/25; 7/11/25; 7/25/25; 8/8/25; 8/22/25; 9/5/25; 5/22/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Train Travel, Talkeetna, Mount McKinley, Anchorage... |
12 Nights |
$2,101per person
(double occupancy) |
| 12 Night Connoisseur Escorted Tour RB5 Cruise and Land Tour from Anchorage | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/16/25; 5/30/25; 6/13/25; 6/27/25; 7/11/25; 7/25/25; 8/8/25; 8/22/25; 9/5/25; 5/22/26; See More Starting Port: Anchorage, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Anchorage, Mount McKinley, Denali National Park, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel, Whittier... |
12 Nights |
$3,185per person
(double occupancy) |
| 12 Night Denali Explorer Tour IB5 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/16/25; 5/30/25; 6/13/25; 6/27/25; 7/11/25; 7/25/25; 8/8/25; 8/22/25; 9/5/25; 5/22/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Mount McKinley, Talkeetna, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel... |
12 Nights |
$2,364per person
(double occupancy) |
| 11 Night Denali by Rail Explorer Southbound Cruisetour Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
Norwegian Jade 17 Sail Dates: 5/22/25; 6/5/25; 6/19/25; 7/3/25; 7/17/25; 7/31/25; 8/14/25; 8/28/25; 5/21/26; 6/4/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Gold Dredge No 8, Fairbanks, Alaska Railroad Train Travel , Denali National Park... |
11 Nights |
$2,521per person
(double occupancy) |
| 11 Night Denali Explorer Tour FB4 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/17/25; 5/31/25; 6/14/25; 6/28/25; 7/12/25; 7/26/25; 8/9/25; 8/23/25; 9/6/25; 5/23/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Mount McKinley, Talkeetna, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel... |
11 Nights |
$2,689per person
(double occupancy) |
| 11 Night Denali Explorer Tour GB4 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/17/25; 5/31/25; 6/14/25; 6/28/25; 7/12/25; 7/26/25; 8/9/25; 8/23/25; 9/6/25; 5/23/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel, Whittier... |
11 Nights |
$2,135per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night On Your Own Tour ABX Cruise and Land Tour from Anchorage | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/18/25; 6/1/25; 6/15/25; 6/29/25; 7/13/25; 7/27/25; 8/10/25; 8/24/25; 9/7/25; 5/24/26; See More Starting Port: Anchorage, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Anchorage, Train Travel, Talkeetna, Mount McKinley, Denali National Park, Whittier... |
10 Nights |
$2,473per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night Denali Explorer Tour BB3 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/18/25; 6/1/25; 6/15/25; 6/29/25; 7/13/25; 7/27/25; 8/10/25; 8/24/25; 9/7/25; 5/24/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Mount McKinley, Talkeetna, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel... |
10 Nights |
$2,143per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night Denali Explorer Tour CB3 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/18/25; 6/1/25; 6/15/25; 6/29/25; 7/13/25; 7/27/25; 8/10/25; 8/24/25; 9/7/25; 5/24/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel, Whittier... |
10 Nights |
$2,105per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night On Your Own Tour BBX Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/18/25; 6/1/25; 6/15/25; 6/29/25; 7/13/25; 7/27/25; 8/10/25; 8/24/25; 9/7/25; 5/24/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Train Travel, Talkeetna, Mount McKinley, Whittier... |
10 Nights |
$2,078per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night Denali Explorer Tour AB3 Cruise and Land Tour from Anchorage | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/18/25; 6/1/25; 6/15/25; 6/29/25; 7/13/25; 7/27/25; 8/10/25; 8/24/25; 9/7/25; 5/24/26; See More Starting Port: Anchorage, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Anchorage, Mount McKinley, Denali National Park, Direct-to-the-Wilderness Train Travel, Whittier... |
10 Nights |
$2,349per person
(double occupancy) |
| 7 Night Voyage of the Glaciers with Glacier Bay (Southbound) Cruise from Whittier | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Coral Princess 17 Sail Dates: 5/21/25; 6/4/25; 6/18/25; 7/2/25; 7/16/25; 7/30/25; 8/13/25; 8/27/25; 9/10/25; 5/27/26; See More Starting Port: Whittier, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Whittier, Cruising Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver |
7 Nights |
$1,058per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night Fairbanks Denali Express Southbound Cruisetour Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Norwegian Jade 14 Sail Dates: 6/6/25; 6/20/25; 7/4/25; 8/1/25; 8/29/25; 5/22/26; 6/5/26; 6/19/26; 7/3/26; 7/17/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Alaska Railroad Train Travel , Denali National Park, Anchorage... |
10 Nights |
$2,121per person
(double occupancy) |
| 12 Night Denali Talkeetna Explorer Southbound Cruisetour Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Norwegian Jade 13 Sail Dates: 6/18/25; 7/2/25; 7/30/25; 8/13/25; 5/20/26; 6/3/26; 6/17/26; 7/1/26; 7/15/26; 7/29/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Alaska Railroad Train Travel , Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage... |
12 Nights |
$3,031per person
(double occupancy) |
| 10 Night Anchorage Denali Express Southbound Cruisetour Cruise and Land Tour from Anchorage | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Norwegian Jade 13 Sail Dates: 5/23/25; 6/20/25; 7/4/25; 8/29/25; 5/22/26; 6/5/26; 6/19/26; 7/3/26; 7/17/26; 7/31/26; See More Starting Port: Anchorage, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Anchorage, Alaska Railroad Train Travel , Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Anchorage... |
10 Nights |
$2,031per person
(double occupancy) |
| 7 Night Alaska Hubbard Glacier Skagway and Juneau Cruise from Whittier | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Norwegian Jade 12 Sail Dates: 4/28/25; 5/12/25; 5/26/25; 6/9/25; 6/23/25; 7/7/25; 7/21/25; 8/4/25; 8/18/25; 9/1/25; See More Starting Port: Whittier, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Whittier, Cruising Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway... |
7 Nights |
$583per person
(double occupancy) |
| 18 Night Denali and Yukon Tour Y1L Cruise and Land Tour from Vancouver | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
Noordam 9 Sail Dates: 5/7/25; 5/21/25; 6/4/25; 6/18/25; 7/2/25; 7/16/25; 7/30/25; 8/13/25; 8/27/25; See More Starting Port: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Ports of Call: Vancouver, Whitehorse, Land Travel, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Land Travel... |
18 Nights |
$5,099per person
(double occupancy) |
| 18 Night Denali and Yukon Tour Y1L Cruise and Land Tour from Vancouver | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
|
Nieuw Amsterdam 9 Sail Dates: 5/14/25; 5/28/25; 6/11/25; 6/25/25; 7/9/25; 7/23/25; 8/6/25; 8/20/25; 9/3/25; See More Starting Port: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Ports of Call: Vancouver, Whitehorse, Land Travel, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Land Travel... |
18 Nights |
$5,079per person
(double occupancy) |
| 17 Night Connoisseur Escorted Tour VB1 Cruise and Land Tour from Fairbanks | Duration | Priced from |
|---|---|---|
Grand Princess 9 Sail Dates: 5/13/26; 5/27/26; 6/10/26; 6/24/26; 7/8/26; 7/22/26; 8/5/26; 8/19/26; 9/2/26; See More Starting Port: Fairbanks, Alaska, United States Ports of Call: Fairbanks, Gold Dredge No 8, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Train Travel, Talkeetna... |
17 Nights |
$6,044per person
(double occupancy) |
