Luxury Alaska Cruises 2027 Compared: Viking, Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Ritz-Carlton and Explora

Viking runs Alaska on two sister ships, Viking Orion and Viking Venus, between Seward and Vancouver; the 2027 departures run from 24 May to 11 September. At ten nights it is longer than the seven-night routes most of the others sail, and it calls at Valdez and sails past Hubbard Glacier before Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan.

The ships carry 930 guests, adults only, with no casino and a veranda in every stateroom. The fare includes an excursion in every port, all meals including the alternative restaurants, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, and Wi-Fi. Gratuities and the Silver Spirits package, USD 27 per night, are extra.

On the late-August departures we read the same day, the lowest suite was USD 9,999 per person against USD 7,099 for the lowest open stateroom. We book Viking at Viking's own fares.

Regent's Alaska season is short, on Seven Seas Explorer, with Hubbard Glacier as the set piece; the sailing we list runs from Vancouver to Whittier in late May. The ship carries 746 guests in all-balcony suites.

What makes Regent the Alaska choice for some clients is the fare. Unlimited shore excursions from Regent's included programme come with the fare, along with every restaurant, unlimited drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and valet laundry; the premium, smaller-group Regent Choice experiences carry a supplement. In a region where the floatplanes, the wildlife boats and the glacier walks are the reason to go, that changes the arithmetic.

One caution. When we read Regent's fares, the entry category on this sailing was already on wait-list, so the real question is which suite is open on your dates. Regent starts the one-night pre-cruise hotel package at Concierge level, and opens its Air Concierge flights 270 days before sailing for those suites rather than 240.

Silversea sails Alaska weekly with two ships through the summer of 2027: Silver Moon (596 guests) and the smaller Silver Whisper (392), mostly between Vancouver and Seward, the port for Anchorage, with some fourteen-night Vancouver roundtrips on Whisper.

Every suite on every Silversea ship has a butler, and the fare covers dining, wines and spirits, gratuities and Wi-Fi. On the 8 July Silver Moon sailing, from Vancouver through the Inside Passage to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Hubbard Glacier, the Vista Suite started at USD 5,500 per person and the Classic Veranda Suite, 387 sq ft, at USD 6,000.

Those are Silversea's lowest fares, with a non-refundable deposit. The Plus fare adds a refundable deposit and a shore-excursion credit, for USD 300 per person more on that suite.

Seabourn Encore makes eighteen Alaska departures between May and September 2027, mostly seven nights between Vancouver and Juneau, with some fourteen-night Vancouver roundtrips. She carries 600 guests, every suite faces the sea, and the fare covers premium spirits and fine wines, caviar, every restaurant and Starlink Wi-Fi. Seabourn's own wording is that tipping is neither required nor expected. An expedition team of naturalists sails with her in Alaska, and Ventures by Seabourn runs optional Zodiac and kayak outings from the ship's own boats, charged separately.

On the 9 July sailing the lowest open suite was a Veranda Suite at USD 7,773 per person, taxes and fees included, and the Penthouse Suites were already sold out. For a July Penthouse, I would secure it as soon as the dates open.

Note the end port. A Juneau departure means a flight out of Juneau rather than Vancouver or Anchorage.

Luminara carries the Ritz-Carlton's Alaska season, on Vancouver and Whittier turnarounds from late May to September 2027, with 226 suites, every one with its own terrace. She is the newest of the three yachts and has the expanded marina.

The fare covers dining, a selection of wines and spirits chosen by the line, gratuities, Starlink Wi-Fi and port fees. Shore excursions, Seta su Luminara and spa treatments are extra.

On the 20 July Vancouver roundtrip, past the Tracy Arm Glacier, the Terrace Suite started at USD 11,900 per person and the Grand Suite at USD 21,900, with 29 Grand Suites still open. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on the cruise fare.

Explora III sails Alaska for the first time in summer 2027, from Vancouver roundtrip and between Vancouver and Seward. She is the newest ship in this comparison, with 461 ocean-front suites, every one with a terrace.

The fare includes nine dining experiences, unlimited drinks, Wi-Fi and onboard gratuities. The shore programme, which Explora calls Destination Experiences, is sold separately.

On the 9 July Seward to Vancouver sailing, through the Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier and the Tracy Arm Fjord, the Ocean Terrace Suite was USD 6,825 per person and the Ocean Grand Terrace Suite USD 7,160, both on Explora's current promotion for new bookings made by 28 October 2026. Read again on 11 October 2026, the sailing was still open at those fares.