Sea to Summit: Your Complete Guide to an Alaska Cruise with a Denali Land Tour

Combining a majestic coastal cruise with a journey into Alaska’s wild interior is the ultimate way to experience the Last Frontier. You’re likely wondering how these trips work and what you can truly expect. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about an Alaska cruise and Denali land tour, from glacier-filled fjords to the heart of North America’s tallest peak.

What Exactly is an Alaska Cruisetour?

An Alaska cruisetour is a vacation package that pairs a traditional 7-day cruise along Alaska’s coastline with a multi-day land-based tour into the state’s vast interior. The cruise portion lets you experience the stunning fjords, glaciers, and coastal towns, while the land tour takes you deep into the wilderness to iconic destinations like Denali National Park.

These packages are seamlessly organized by cruise lines, meaning all your transportation, lodging, and key tours are arranged for you. You might start with the land tour and end with the cruise (southbound), or begin with the cruise and then head inland (northbound). This combination offers the best of both worlds: the comfort of a cruise ship and an authentic adventure on land.

The Cruise Portion: Glaciers, Whales, and Seaside Towns

The cruise segment of your journey is a spectacular adventure in itself. Typically lasting seven nights, it navigates the famous Inside Passage, a network of waterways that winds through islands on the Pacific Northwest coast.

Key Sights from the Ship

Your itinerary will almost certainly include a day dedicated to scenic glacier viewing. This is where you’ll witness the awe-inspiring sights shown in advertisements. You’ll sail into a breathtaking fjord and get up close to a massive wall of ice.

Glacier Bay National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a highlight for many. Park rangers board the ship to provide commentary as you glide past multiple tidewater glaciers, such as the Margerie Glacier, known for its dramatic calving (when huge chunks of ice break off and crash into the sea).
Hubbard Glacier: This is North America’s largest tidewater glacier. It’s so massive that its face is over six miles wide. Its brilliant blue ice is a sight you will never forget.
Tracy Arm Fjord: Located south of Juneau, this narrow fjord is home to the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The journey there is just as stunning, with waterfalls cascading down sheer granite cliffs.

Common Ports of Call

Your cruise will stop at several charming and historic towns, each offering unique excursions.

Juneau: Alaska’s capital is uniquely accessible only by air or sea. Popular activities include visiting the Mendenhall Glacier, taking a whale-watching tour to spot humpback whales, or riding the Goldbelt Tram up Mount Roberts for panoramic views.
Skagway: This town feels like a step back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush. The most popular excursion is a ride on the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, which climbs nearly 3,000 feet over 20 miles of steep grades and cliff-hanging turns.
Ketchikan: Known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan is rich in Native Alaskan culture. Here you can see the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles, watch salmon fishermen at work, or take a floatplane tour to the magnificent Misty Fjords National Monument.

The Land Portion: Into the Wild Heart of Denali

After your cruise, you’ll transition to the land portion of your adventure. This is where you leave the coast behind and travel into the rugged interior of Alaska.

The Journey Inland

One of the best parts of the land tour is the journey itself. Most cruise lines, such as Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, operate their own luxurious glass-domed railcars. Traveling by train from coastal ports like Seward or Whittier towards Denali offers continuous, breathtaking views of the landscape. You’ll pass through dense forests, cross deep river gorges, and see mountains that seem to go on forever, all from the comfort of your seat.

Exploring Denali National Park

The centerpiece of the land tour is Denali National Park and Preserve, a six-million-acre wilderness. The park is home to Denali, the tallest peak in North America, standing at a staggering 20,310 feet.

Your cruisetour package will include a bus tour into the park. Private vehicles are not allowed past Mile 15 of the single 92-mile-long Park Road, so these tours are the only way to access the park’s interior.

The Tundra Wilderness Tour: This is the most common tour included in packages. It’s a narrated 5 to 8-hour bus ride that travels deep into the park (typically to Mile 43 or 62, depending on conditions). The drivers are expert guides who are skilled at spotting wildlife and explaining the park’s unique ecosystem.
Wildlife Viewing: This is your best chance to see Alaska’s “Big 5.” Keep your camera and binoculars ready for grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and, if you’re very lucky, wolves. The image of tourists watching a grizzly bear from a bus is a very realistic depiction of this experience.
Seeing the Mountain: While Denali is massive, it creates its own weather system and is often shrouded in clouds. Locals say only about 30% of visitors get a clear view of the summit, making a sighting a truly special event. Your best chances are often in the early morning or late evening.

What's Typically Included in a Cruisetour?

Understanding what your package covers is key to planning. While specifics vary by cruise line (always check the details), most cruisetours from major lines like Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises will include:

Accommodations: Your stateroom on the cruise ship and hotel rooms for the land portion. Cruise lines often own their own lodges and hotels near Denali, ensuring a consistent quality of service.
Transportation: The cruise itself, luxury motorcoach travel, and the scenic dome train journey.
Key Tours: A narrated bus tour into Denali National Park.
Meals: All meals while on the cruise ship. On the land portion, meals are often on your own, giving you the flexibility to explore local restaurants.

Optional excursions, such as flightseeing around Denali, river rafting, or salmon fishing, are available at an additional cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to take an Alaska cruisetour? The season runs from May to September. June, July, and August offer the warmest weather and longest daylight hours. May and September are considered “shoulder seasons” with fewer crowds and lower prices, but the weather can be more unpredictable.

How long are these trips? Most cruisetours range from 10 to 14 days in total. This typically includes a 7-day cruise and a 3 to 7-day land tour.

Is a cruisetour better than just a cruise? It depends on what you want to see. If your primary goal is to see glaciers and coastal wildlife like whales and sea lions, a 7-day cruise is fantastic. However, if you want to experience the vast interior wilderness, see Denali, and have the best chance of spotting grizzly bears and caribou, a cruisetour is absolutely worth it. It provides a much more comprehensive Alaskan experience.