There are destinations that impress you. And then there are destinations that genuinely change you. For me, Alaska falls firmly into the second category — and I say that as someone who has cruised there multiple times, on different ships, in different seasons.
I'm Michelle Bandura from Travellers Lounge, and Alaska is one of my most personally treasured destinations. Every time I return, I discover something new. A different inlet. A quieter bay. A wildlife encounter that stops me in my tracks. And yes — I've been lucky enough to watch whales surface so close to the ship that the moment felt almost unreal.
If you're an Australian traveller wondering whether Alaska is worth the long journey from home — I want to tell you, with complete certainty: absolutely yes. And in this guide, I'll show you exactly why, and how to do it properly.
Why Alaska Should Be on Every Australian's Bucket List
Think about this: in a single trip, you could watch grizzly bears fish for salmon in remote inlets, cruise past ancient glaciers that have existed for thousands of years, sail through the inside passage with dramatic coastal scenery around every bend, and witness humpback whales breaching so close to the ship the deck falls silent.
Very few destinations offer that kind of extraordinary wildlife and scenery — and yet all of it is accessible on one beautifully planned cruise itinerary. For Australian travellers making the long-haul effort, Alaska rewards every hour of the journey.
Cruising Alaska: Why I Keep Coming Back
I have cruised Alaska more than three times, each time on a different ship — and every journey has been its own distinct experience. The destination is so vast and so varied that no two voyages feel the same.
What makes Alaska cruising so special:
• Glacier Bay National Park — sailing into Glacier Bay is one of the most humbling experiences I've had anywhere in the world. The silence, the scale, and the sight of blue ice calving into the sea is something I still think about.
• Wildlife encounters — some of the most extraordinary moments of my life have happened in Alaska's wilderness. I've sat quietly in a small tender boat, barely breathing, watching grizzly bears fish for salmon just metres away. I've seen humpback whales surface so close to the ship that the deck fell completely silent.
• Shore excursions in port towns like Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan — each town has its own character and history, with excursions ranging from helicopter glacier walks to salmon bakes in the wilderness.
• The inside passage — the calm, sheltered waterway that many Alaska itineraries travel through, offering some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world.
Most Alaska cruises depart from Seattle or Vancouver, which pairs beautifully with a Canada itinerary. You can ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff, spend time in the Rockies, then embark on your Alaska cruise — or do it the other way around.
The Bears Inlet Experience: Why This Is Alaska's Best-Kept Secret
If there is one experience in Alaska that separates a truly memorable trip from an ordinary one, it's a private tender excursion into a remote bear-watching inlet. This is not something you find in the glossy brochures — and it's exactly the kind of experience I love helping my clients access.
I've had the privilege of being taken by tender into a secluded inlet — completely away from the crowds — where grizzly bears come to fish for salmon. You sit in almost total silence. The bears are close enough that you can hear them moving through the water. There's no barrier. No performance. Just raw, unhurried wilderness, and the kind of presence that reminds you how small we truly are in this world.
This is one of those moments that's impossible to fully describe — you simply have to experience it. And it's a perfect example of why I always encourage my clients to go beyond the standard itinerary. The most transformative experiences in travel are almost never the ones printed on the front cover of a brochure.
Access to this kind of intimate, off-the-beaten-path wildlife encounter is also one of the reasons I advocate so strongly for small ship and ultra-luxury cruising in Alaska. Larger ships with 3,000+ passengers simply cannot offer this. The tenders are full, the inlets are crowded, and the wildlife disperses. With a smaller, luxury vessel, the entire experience changes — and nowhere is that more apparent than in a quiet Alaskan inlet at sunrise, watching bears in the wild.
Why Luxury Cruising in Alaska Is Better Value Than You Think
This is a conversation I have with clients regularly, and it's one I genuinely love having — because the numbers often surprise people. When you compare a luxury all-inclusive cruise with a standard cruise, the gap is frequently much smaller than it first appears.
Lines like Regent Seven Seas and Crystal Cruises operate on a truly all-inclusive model. That means all shore excursions, all specialty dining, all drinks including premium wines and spirits, gratuities, and in many cases even your return business class flights from Australia are included in the fare. When you start adding up what those extras cost on a standard cruise line, the price difference narrows considerably.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent is widely regarded as one of the finest ultra-luxury cruise lines in the world, and their Alaska itineraries are exceptional. Every guest travels in a suite — there are no standard cabins — and every suite has either a private balcony or veranda. The ship size is intimate enough to access smaller ports and remote inlets that larger vessels simply
What's included with Regent Seven Seas:
• All shore excursions in every port — no extra cost, no choosing between experiences based on price
• Unlimited premium beverages, fine wines, and spirits throughout your voyage
• All dining, including specialty restaurants — no surcharges, no reservations required
• Pre-paid gratuities throughout
• Return business class airfare from Australia included on many fares — this alone can represent thousands of dollars of value
Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises has long been a benchmark for refinement at sea. With an emphasis on enrichment, spaciousness, and exceptional service, Crystal attracts travellers who appreciate genuine attention to detail — the kind that goes well beyond thread count and menu selection.
What sets Crystal apart in Alaska is their commitment to immersive destination experiences. Their enrichment programme brings naturalists, historians, and local experts on board — so when you sail past a glacier or anchor near a remote inlet, you understand the story behind it. For curious travellers who want more than beautiful scenery, this adds a profound layer of depth.
Crystal also operates with a high space-to-guest ratio, meaning the ship never feels crowded — a crucial consideration when you're thousands of kilometres from home and paying to feel genuinely at ease.
A Note for Solo Travellers: Crystal's Solo Cabins Are a Game-Changer
One of the questions I hear most often from solo travellers is: "Won't I be paying a single supplement that doubles my costs?" It's a completely fair concern — and for many cruise lines, the answer has historically been yes. But Crystal has changed that conversation entirely.
Crystal offers dedicated solo staterooms — beautifully designed, fully appointed cabins created specifically for single travellers. These are not smaller, compromised versions of double rooms. They are thoughtfully designed spaces where you feel genuinely comfortable and at home at sea, without the financial penalty of paying for a second person who isn't there.
For solo travellers, Alaska is an especially rewarding destination to experience independently. There's something deeply personal about standing on deck at dawn, watching mist rise off a glacial inlet, entirely in your own thoughts. The social environment on a luxury ship also means you're never truly isolated — mealtimes, shore excursions, and enrichment events are natural opportunities to connect with like-minded travellers, on your own terms.
Crystal's solo cabins do sell quickly, so early planning is essential — which leads perfectly to the most important piece of advice I give every Alaska client.
The Real Value Comparison: Luxury vs Standard Cruising
On a standard cruise line, a couple might pay for their base fare, then add shore excursions across multiple ports (easily $200–$600 per person, per port in Alaska), drinks packages, specialty dining, gratuities, and economy or premium economy flights from Australia. By the time you disembark, the "affordable" cruise has often cost more than the luxury alternative — and the experience has been considerably less curated.
With Regent or Crystal, you board knowing that everything is taken care of. There are no awkward decisions at dinner about whether to pay the supplement. No calculating excursion costs at each port. No end-of-voyage bill that dampens the afterglow. You simply enjoy — fully, freely, and without compromise.
I'm happy to do a side-by-side cost comparison for any client considering their options — it's one of my favourite conversations to have, because the results almost always change how people think about the decision.
Why You Should Book Your Alaska Cruise Early — And Why the Right Cabin Matters More Than You Think
This is something I feel strongly about — and it's advice I give every single client who books an Alaska cruise. Book early. Not just to secure your spot, but to secure the right spot.
Picture this: you're sailing through Glacier Bay at six in the morning. The light is soft, the water is still, and the glaciers are turning pale gold as the sun begins to rise. Now imagine experiencing that from your private balcony, still in your robe, coffee in hand — versus pressing your face against a shared observation deck window surrounded by other guests. That difference is entirely about which cabin you book — and when you book it.
Glacier-Facing Cabins: The Most Sought-After Rooms at Sea
On Alaska itineraries, cabins on the glacier-facing side of the ship are among the first to go. Experienced Alaska travellers know exactly which side to book, and they reserve their preferred staterooms months — sometimes well over a year — in advance. By the time many people start thinking about their trip, the best cabins are already taken.
Waking up each morning to a private balcony view of ancient glaciers, watching blue ice drift past as you sip your morning coffee — this is not a minor upgrade. For many of my clients, it becomes the defining memory of the entire trip. And at night, as the ship sits quietly at anchor in a sheltered bay, the view from a glacier-side cabin is something photographs simply cannot capture.
This is one of the most valuable things an experienced travel specialist can do for you — knowing not just which ship to book, but which deck, which side, and which cabin category gives you the view you came all this way to see.
When Should You Book an Alaska Cruise from Australia?
As a general guide:
• For peak season sailings (June to August), aim to book 12 to 18 months in advance for the best cabin selection on luxury lines
• Crystal's solo cabins book out particularly fast — if you're travelling alone, early booking isn't optional, it's essential
• Early booking promotions on Regent and Crystal often include significant savings, complimentary upgrades, or additional extras — so booking early doesn't just get you the best cabin, it frequently gets you the best price too
• The Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf carriages also sell out many months ahead — if you want the domed glass ceiling carriage, don't wait
The single most common regret I hear from clients after an Alaska trip? "I wish we'd booked earlier so we could have had that cabin." I never want that to be your story. When you work with Travellers Lounge, one of the very first things I do is secure the right cabin for you — because in Alaska, your view is part of the experience.
Ready to Start Planning Your Alaska Adventure?
If Alaska has been on your list — or if this article has just put it there — I'd love to help you start planning. Whether you're dreaming of a glacier cruise, a bears inlet encounter, or the perfect glacier-view cabin on Regent or Crystal, Travellers Lounge can craft an itinerary that goes beyond what any brochure can offer.
Book a free consultation with me today — we work 7 days a week, around your schedule, and the conversation won't cost you a thing. Let's build something extraordinary.
Author: Michelle
Travel designer, storyteller, and lifelong explorer.
Michelle believes the best journeys are those that breathe — where adventure meets stillness, and moments of pause turn into lifelong memories.
