We Asked 7 Travel Experts for the Best Cruise in the World—and They All Pointed to This Stunning U.S. Destination

There's a lot to love about cruising, but perhaps best of all is its variety. You can go just about anywhere on Earth, from the far reaches of French Polynesia to the edges of Antarctica , up to the craggy coast of Iceland, and out and around the bottom of Africa. You can also hop aboard all manner of vessels, from mega ships to boutique yachts, river ships, and tall ships; really, it's a buffet of choice. But when we asked the travel community for the best cruise one can take, one sailing kept coming up again and again: a cruise through Alaska.

"Alaska. Best cruise on earth and it isn't close," said Kelly Bonatsakis, a travel advisor and the founder of Vacations by Kelly , of where she'd go and where she'd send clients on a cruise.

Bonatsakis sailed a weeklong round trip from Seattle aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas in August, with stops in Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau, calling it one of the top sailings on Earth. "Best day of my week was a whale watch out of Juneau. I've been booking that excursion for clients for years. Doing it myself was something else, and my family still talks about the humpbacks." Of course, she caveated this by noting that "Nobody can promise you a whale, though. Any advisor who does is selling you something."

Still, even without the guaranteed promise of a whale, travel expert after expert agreed that Alaska wins out thanks to its awe-inspiring scenery.

Monika Mozgala, a luxury brands strategist and hospitality researcher, sailed Holland America Line's Koningsdam in June 2024, and shared that she's "never been to a more beautiful place in the world." Mozgala added, "The cruise made it even more special because you can really see the glaciers and nature from the ship."

Brian Rooney, a travel advisor and the founder of GetCruiseInfo.com , recently sailed a weeklong round trip from Seattle on Norwegian Encore that included Glacier Bay National Park, a stop that certainly left an impression. "Glacier Bay was particularly memorable because it's one of those places where the scenery itself is the attraction," he said. "You don't have to get off the ship or book another excursion to experience it."

And on this particular sailing, Rooney did get those sought-after whale sightings, too, only with a twist. "At one point, I was standing aboard Norwegian Encore watching whales while waiting for my turn to ride the ship's go-karts," Rooney said.

For Makini Bridgewater, founder and multigenerational travel advisor at Travel with Makini and a Certified Autism Travel Professional, an Alaskan cruise is also an ideal sailing for multigenerational travel, as it offers bits and bobs for everyone. "Grandparents, parents, teenagers, and toddlers can all be on deck together when a glacier calves, when a humpback breaches off the bow, when a bald eagle lifts off a stand of spruce along the shoreline," she said. "Nobody has to choose between the 'adult' excursion and the 'kid-friendly' one."

As a bonus, Bridgewater counts it among the most accessible itineraries she plans. "The scenery does the work from the ship itself, so guests with different mobility or energy levels aren't left out of the experience," Bridgewater said. "Some family members can go kayaking or take a helicopter tour to a glacier's edge; others can watch the same landscape unfold from a window seat with a mug of hot chocolate."

Travel journalist Amelia Edelman , who sailed Alaska with Princess , agreed with all of the above, adding that it's also accessible in terms of price point. "I have been on many cruises, and I have never loved one before or after this one," she said. "It's truly the best way to see Alaska, unless you are a Very Fancy Person who can charter your own boat."

Rene Schneeberger, senior vice president of leisure at Direct Travel , added that Alaska is one of two "universal standouts," alongside the Greek Isles, for cruising, though Alaska offers just a touch more in terms of scenery with "its majestic mountains, glaciers, and plenty of wildlife by land and sea." Schneeberger added, "The sheer size of its coastline paired with Indigenous ancestry make this destination a true playground for exploration."

Ready to book? Before you do, there are a few key things to consider, according to these pros.

First, spring for the balcony. "In the Caribbean I talk people out of balconies all day because you're never in the room," Bonatsakis said. "Alaska is the exception, and it's not close. Around the solstice, Juneau gets more than eighteen hours of daylight, so there's no sleeping through the view."

Next, choose your cruise line carefully, because not every ship can enter Glacier Bay. The National Park Service caps visits at two cruise ships a day during the summer season, under contracts that run through 2029. "I never saw Glacier Bay. Royal Caribbean doesn't hold a permit for it," Bonatsakis said. "So pick your cruise line before you pick your ship."

Lastly, keep your expectations for luxury in check. "There are certainly more luxurious cruises and more exotic destinations around the world, so 'best' is always subjective," Rooney said.

Still, Bonatsakis offered the best reason of all to book a cruise to Alaska over essentially anywhere else: "People come home from the Caribbean tan," she said. "They come home from Alaska quiet."

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