Plan on about 2.9× the cruise fare. On our sample 7-night Alaska cruise for two, a $2,200 fare becomes about $6,278 once you add flights, port fees, excursions, gratuities and the rest. Excursions and port fees are the biggest pieces.
An Alaska cruise is one of those trips that's worth every penny. Glaciers calving into the sea, whales surfacing next to the ship, and mountains so big your phone camera gives up. It's also one of the trips where the fare is only part of the story.
Here's what a typical 7-night Alaska cruise for two really costs, and the choices that move the number most.
What sits on top of the fare
Our sample trip starts with a $2,200 fare for two and flights to Seattle or Vancouver. Then this:
| Forgotten cost | For two |
|---|---|
| Shore excursions | $700 |
| Port taxes and fees | $600 |
| Drinks | $420 |
| Hotel before the cruise | $270 |
| Daily gratuities | $252 |
| Onboard Wi-Fi | $210 |
| Rain gear and warm layers | $200 |
| Travel insurance | $186 |
| Checked bag fees | $180 |
| Getting to the port | $100 |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 |
| Total beyond the fare and flights | $3,178 |
Shore excursions: the big one
Alaska's best moments are mostly sold separately. Helicopter rides to a glacier, whale-watching boats, scenic railways and dog-sledding camps typically cost $100 to $600 per person, each. Our calculator budgets $350 per person, enough for two or three mid-priced tours.
- Pick one splurge. If the helicopter to a glacier is the dream, do that one properly and keep the other ports simple.
- Some of the best things are free. Many ports have walkable trails, and plenty of passengers see whales from the ship's deck.
- Book early. Popular tours sell out, and you don't want to be choosing between two tours you didn't want.
Seattle or Vancouver?
Where you sail from changes the cost more than people expect. According to Cruisebound's comparison:
- Flights are usually cheaper into Seattle, often $150 to $400 less per person from cities like Chicago, Dallas or New York.
- Vancouver needs a passport. Round-trip Seattle cruises let US citizens sail with a birth certificate and photo ID, though a passport is still smart to bring.
- Vancouver sailings typically add $50 to $100 per person in Canadian port charges, and hotels near the pier cost a little more.
- Vancouver offers one-way cruises that end in Alaska, with more glacier time. They're spectacular, but you'll need a one-way flight home.
Is a balcony worth it in Alaska?
This is the one cruise where a balcony earns its keep, because the scenery is the show. But it's not cheap. On two 2027 Royal Caribbean Alaska sailings, a balcony cost $839 and $1,805 more per person than an inside cabin. An ocean-view room was only $199 to $545 less than the balcony.
Pack for the weather, not the brochure
Alaska summers can be cold and wet. Our calculator includes about $200 for a rain jacket and warm layers if you don't own them. Buying them at the port gift shop costs a lot more.
How we got these numbers
Every figure comes from our Alaska Cruise calculator: two travelers, 7 nights, an inside or ocean-view cabin on a mainstream line, and typical airfare to Seattle or Vancouver. Cruise fares swing a lot by date and ship, so plug in the real fare you're looking at.
Run your own numbers
Every figure here comes from a free calculator. Change any number to match your trip.