Ready to go to Alaska on a cruise ship in 2024?
For adventurous travelers and nature enthusiasts, an Alaskan cruise is a captivating experience on their bucket list.
Royal Caribbean offers a collection of ships specifically designed to give you an unforgettable experience in Alaska.
This year’s fleet of vessels and their itineraries have been released, and we’ve developed a comparative guide to each one.
Read more: Royal Caribbean Alaskan cruise guide
The Alaska cruise season runs from late April through September 2024, catching the warm weather of the summer months.
The sailings offered range from 6 all the way to 12 nights, with both round-trip and one-way itineraries.
This 2024 season, Royal Caribbean will be sending Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas to Alaska.
Quantum of the Seas
Homeport: Seattle, Washington
Ports: Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria
This summer, Quantum of the Seas will sail to Alaska as the biggest ship in the region.
She will begin with a 7-night Alaska Adventure on April 29th, 2024, sailing from Vancouver, British Columbia to Ketchikan, Sitka, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Juneau, Victoria, to Seattle, Washington.
After that, Quantum will make Seattle, Washington her home, continuing 7-night roundtrip Alaska adventures that leave and return on Mondays.
Exact itineraries vary by sailing, but each roundtrip sailing includes a stop at Juneau, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, and Victoria, British Columbia.
Quantum’s last Alaska sailing for the 2024 season is scheduled for September 23rd, 2024.
Standout features:
- North Star observation capsule
- FlowRider surf simulator
- RipCord iFly skydiving simulator
- Broadway-caliber performances
- Bionic bar
- Two70 theater
- SeaPlex indoor sports center
- Indoor pool for all ages
- Adults-only indoor Solarium
- Aventure Ocean children’s area
- Rock-climbing wall
- Laser tag
- Royal escape room
Why choose Quantum of the Seas?
Quantum of the Seas debuted Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class in 2014.
This ship pushes the boundaries of cruise innovations and adventures.
With a capacity of 4,095 guests and 1,500 crew members, she is a large ship with plenty of room for an immersive Alaska experience.
One major highlight of Quantum of the Seas is the North Star observation capsule, which offers stunning views from 300 feet above sea level. In addition to the potential for stargazing, this is a marvelous opportunity to witness Alaska’s landscapes.
When it comes to onboard activities, Quantum offers something for all ages, from simulated skydiving to bumper cars.
She also includes two outdoor pools, two indoor pools, and four hot tubs, ensuring that everyone has somewhere to swim, even during inclement weather.
Seattle is also a convenient homeport for Americans (particularly those living on the West Coast) who prefer not to travel to Vancouver.
Ovation of the Seas
Homeport: Seattle, Washington
Ports: Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria, and select stops in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The exact ports vary by sailing, but every Ovation cruise includes stops at Juneau and Skagway, Alaska.
Ovation’s first cruise on May 8th, 2024, will be an 8-night trip starting in Vancouver, British Columbia, and disembarking in Seattle, Washington.
In 2024, she will be returning to Alaska with round-trip 7-night Alaska glacier cruises based out of Seattle.
These Alaska glacier cruises depart and return on Fridays, with two Alaska cruise ports, one scenic and sightseeing day at Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, and one port day at Victoria, British Columbia.
Some itineraries visit a third port in Alaska (like Sitka or Skagway) instead of Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier.
Ovation’s last Alaska cruise for the 2024 season will be on September 6th.
Standout features:
- North Star observation capsule
- FlowRider surf simulator
- RipCord iFly skydiving simulator
- Broadway-caliber performances
- Bionic bar
- Two70 theater
- SeaPlex indoor sports center
- Indoor pool for all ages
- Adults-only indoor Solarium
- Aventure Ocean children’s area
- Rock-climbing wall
Why choose Ovation of the Seas?
Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-Class ship launched in 2016.
With a capacity for 4,095 guests over 2,091 staterooms, she promises a dynamic cruise experience.
You can expect standout activities and innovative features from Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships.
Royal Caribbean designed their Quantum Class ships with cutting-edge innovations prepared to sail in both warm and cold weather.
With two indoor pools, an indoor sports center, and a variety of hot tubs onboard, Ovation is the perfect ship for a luxurious Alaska vacation.
For the foodies, Ovation of the Seas boasts access to six specialty restaurants: Chef’s Table, Jamie’s Italian, Izumi Sushi, Chops Grille, and Wonderland.
Adrenaline-pumping activities and live, Broadway-caliber performances ensure that you’ll never have a dull moment onboard.
Brilliance of the Seas
Homeport: Vancouver, British Columbia
Ports: Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Tracy Arm Fjord (Sawyer Glacier), Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier
Brilliance of the Seas will offer 7-night round-trip Alaska Inside Passage sailings in 2024.
The Alaska Inside Passage is a series of coastal waterways that weave through the Southeastern panhandle of Alaska.
The exact ports vary by sailing, but this inside passage cruise promises an up-close look at the glacial giants of Alaska, from the large Hubbard Glacier to the calving Dawes.
The Hubbard Glacier is an impressive 400 feet tall. Because of its remote location, being able to see it on a roundtrip cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Standout features:
- Three acres of windows and glass elevators for outside views
- Solarium indoor pools for adults
- Indoor movie theater and outdoor movie screen
- Rock climbing wall
- Mini golf
- Children’s pool area and waterslide
- Sports court and jogging track
- Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi Sushi, Samba Grill, Rita’s Cantina
- Video arcade
- Adventure Ocean children’s area
Why choose Brilliance of the Seas?
Brilliance of the Seas provides an intimate, port-focused cruising experience.
On an Alaskan cruise, Brilliance of the Seas has the benefit of many indoor amenities and large windows and glass elevators for viewing.
You can see the wonders of the landscape around you without ever going out onto a cold, windy deck.
Alaska’s breathtaking scenery is best explored from the comfort of your cruise ship.
Sailing on Brilliance of the Seas also provides you the opportunity to see Hubbard Glacier, one of the most famous glaciers in Alaska.
Overall, Brilliance of the Seas offers a combination of comfort, convenience, and adventure, making it an excellent choice for experiencing the beauty and wonders of Alaska via cruise ship.
Read more: I spent 10 days in a 170 square foot windowless cabin for $202 per night: take a look inside my Brilliance of the Seas stateroom
Radiance of the Seas
Homeports: Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska
Ports: Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Haines
Since her launch in 2001, Radiance of the Seas has sailed to Alaska nearly every summer.
Radiance’s smaller size allows her to fit into more ports than other cruise ships are able to. Her Alaska cruises are the most port-intensive itineraries Royal Caribbean has to offer.
Not only that, but Radiance’s cruises are one-way, not roundtrip.
Some of her itineraries start in Vancouver and disembark in Seward (or vice versa).
These one-way sailings allow the ship to visit even more ports.
Also, guests who sail on one-way cruises can spend more time on land, exploring that location before or after the cruise.
Radiance of the Seas will offer one-way Alaska sailings this summer, with 7-night Northbound and Southbound cruises. Usually, these cruises will depart on Fridays, visiting four Alaska ports with a scenic viewing day at Hubbard Glacier.
Standout features:
- Three acres of windows and glass elevators for outside views
- Solarium indoor pools for adults
- Indoor movie theater and outdoor movie screen
- Rock climbing wall
- Mini golf
- Children’s pool area and waterslide
- Sports court and jogging track
- Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi Sushi, Samba Grill, Rita’s Cantina
- Video arcade
- Adventure Ocean children’s area
Why choose Radiance of the Seas?
Radiance’s charm lies in her smaller size.
An intimate Radiance-Class ship, she offers capacity for 2,500 passengers and just 894 crew members.
This smaller setting offers a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, with the potential to develop a close-knit ship culture between guests and crew members.
Despite her smaller size, Radiance still packs plenty of activities and amenities. Guests can enjoy soaring glass elevators, the adults-only indoor Solarium pool, and movies at the indoor cinema.
With these indoor shelters and the possibility of visiting diverse, beautiful ports, Radiance makes for the perfect timeless ship to visit Alaska on.
One-way cruises also ensure that you have plenty of time to explore the wonders of Canada and Alaska before or after your cruise.
