Shot of Ketchikan, Alaska, taken from aboard a Holland America cruise ship.

Alaska Ports of Call

The many places to explore on a glacier route cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Humpback whales out of Juneau bubble net feed.

Alaska Ports of Call

The many places to explore on a glacier route cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

White Pass Railroad in route to Skagway Alaska.

Alaska Ports of Call

The many places to explore on a glacier route cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Native Alaskan totem pole in Skagway, Alaska.

Alaska Ports of Call

The many places to explore on a glacier route cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Mt. Roberts Tramway overlooking Juneau.

Alaska Ports of Call

The many places to explore on a glacier route cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Alaska Ports of Call

The thrill of exploration greets passengers every time their cruise comes to port. There's new history to explore, new sites to see, and new excursions to take. It's particularly true in Alaska, where an array of ports of call welcome Inside Passage cruises throughout the summer season.

Seward, Whittier, and Vancouver are the beginning and ending ports for most Glacier Route Alaska cruises. The town of Seward sits on the southern side of the Kenai Peninsula near beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park. It's nestled between bay waters and mountainsides, an environment that's rich in wildlife and best enjoyed by day cruise or kayak.

Whittier is the other main embarkation and disembarkation port in Alaska. It is even smaller than Seward, a little enclave within the big, marine landscape of Prince William Sound. Most seven-day cruises that list Anchorage on their itinerary actually call on Whittier, which is about an hour away by motorcoach or 2.5 hours by train. See our cruise transfers page for more details.

On the other end of an Inside Passage cruise is Vancouver. The vibrant British Columbian city adds a touch of the cosmopolitan to a lineup of quainter ports of call.

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The fishing town of Ketchikan is often the first port of call on a northbound Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seward. It's a colorful little town known for its historic waterfront and beautifully crafted Tlingit totem poles. About 250 miles north is Juneau, the largest town in the Inside Passage and Alaska's state capital. Nearby Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau's most popular attractions.

The historic gold rush village of Skagway hosts several ships daily. Much of the town is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. The town is also famous for its White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.

Less often visited by cruise lines, Sitka and Haines are two of Alaska's most unique ports of call. Sitka showcases Alaska's past as a Russian colony, while Haines is a quiet community full of art galleries, abundant outdoor adventures, and the world's largest seasonal concentration of bald eagles.

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Alaska Ports of Call