Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage - All you need to know

Inside Passage Alaska cruises glide through a dreamscape—from white-capped peaks to calving glaciers and deep fjords to forest-blanketed land as far as the eye could see. Here is everything you need to know about Alaska cruises to the famed Inside Passage, from where the passage is to how to pack for a cruise.

This web of waterways known as the “Inside Passage” goes from Seattle to the southeastern Alaska panhandle. It is a common network for ships, as it offers protected, smooth-as-glass sailing. It is one of the few routes in the world with water deep enough for cruise ships to sidle up to cliffs.

The Inside Passage encompasses islands, coves, bays, national parks, and fjords, and gives the opportunity to explore remote towns only accessible by boat or plane. It’s truly magical.

Convinced? Explore our Alaska cruises with convenient departures from Seattle and Vancouver.

In Haines, a seaside hamlet on the Alaska Inside Passage, there are more eagles than people. That says a lot about the abundance of wildlife in these waters.

When cruising fjords, look for chubby otters and seals laying out on ice floes. You may see humpback whales, those baleen behemoths known for their frequent and photogenic breaching. Stay alert for crafty orcas who feed on salmon in the Alaska Inside Passage.

The first sign of a whale is often a plume of steam that springs up from the water. Keep your binoculars ready!

Scan the forest and wind-swept beaches for land animals. Alaskan brown bears lumber the coastline, searching for snacks (grizzlies live farther inland). You may also see an elusive mountain goat perched on a cliff.

If you’re a birder, an Alaska cruise to the Inside Passage is for you. Everyone loves a soaring raptor, but there are plenty of puffins, cormorants, and terns to watch too.

You’ll be amazed at how untouched the wilderness looks, but the glaciers you’ll visit on your Inside Passage Alaska Cruise tell a different story. Most Alaska glaciers—except for Hubbard and a few others—are shrinking rapidly, an alarming indication of climate change.

While viewing these artic-blue beauties, you may see icebergs plunge into the sea, a process called, "calving."

Glaciers are nature’s sculptors and transform the earth in many ways. Depending on the Inside Passage Alaska cruise you choose you may the Hubbard Glacier in Disenchantment Bay on our 14 Day Rockies Highlights and Alaska Inside Passage Cruise; the smartly named glaciers in College Fjord, on our 24 Day Grand Canada & Alaska and Voyage of the Glaciers Tour, and a good spot for ice calving in Glacier Bay National Park, which our west coast cruise tours visit. Of course which glacier you will see depends on your itinerary and even departure dates. Mother nature decides many of these things!

Discover remote outposts and isolated towns as you cruise this wonderland.

Ketchikan is often the first "landfall" before cruising the Inside Passage fjords. You can see intricately carved totem poles and other cultural sites of Native Alaskan nations such as the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.

Juneau, the misty, laid-back capital is known for its scenery and isolation.

Sitka, on the west side of Baranof Island is the largest city-borough in the U.S. and there’s a lot of history to explore here. It was the site of the Alaska purchase transfer ceremony and has both Tlingit and Russian influence.

Once a rowdy frontier hub and the gateway to the gold fields, Skagway is now a collection of curio shops, taverns, galleries and museums nestled in natural beauty.

Tell your friends you're about to embark on an Alaska cruise Inside Passage and they’ll respond, "but what about the weather?"

As a common Scandinavian saying goes, "there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." The better you prepare and the more meticulous you pack, the more comfortable you’ll be. That doesn’t mean overloading your suitcase, it means including enough of the right gear for the right weather.

Pack waterproof jackets and strive for layers—you need to be ready for a sunny day and a chilly one, as the summertime high is usually only between 50- and 60-degrees Fahrenheit. Occasionally, it reaches 70s and 80s.

Pack lots of sweaters, scarves, long-sleeve shirts, long underwear, a water-repellent jacket, and rainboots along with sunglasses, a swimsuit and a few nights of formal wear for formal nights. This Alaska cruise packing list offers more tips and advice.

May to September is considered the best time for an Inside Passage Alaska cruise. We can’t wait to show you this incredible place. 

Plan your Canada & Alaska cruise tour with Evergreen Tours, including an Inside Passage Holland America cruise. Choose from a range of itineraries, from the popular 18-Day Rockies Grandeur an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise  , or the 24 Day Grand Canada & Alaska and Voyage of the Glaciers Tour.

This is just a small taste of the many incredible experiences waiting for you. Read more about Evergreen’s Canada and Alaska collection.

Blog republished with kind permission from Holland America Line