Royal Caribbean has opened bookings for its summer 2028 Alaska programme, and it's a big one: four ships, seven-night itineraries running from April through September, and departures from three ports — Seattle, Vancouver and Seward. Crown & Anchor loyalty members get early access, with general sales following at the start of October 2026.
The four ships each bring a different flavour. Anthem of the Seas sails between Seward and Vancouver from May to September, pairing Hubbard Glacier and Ketchikan with optional two- to six-night Cruisetours that can add Denali National Park before or after the sailing. Ovation of the Seas — freshly amplified — runs seven-nighters from Seattle to Sitka, Skagway and Juneau, plus the waterfalls and glacier views of Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.
Serenade of the Seas departs Vancouver on seven-night trips featuring Icy Strait Point, home to the longest and highest zipline in the region, plus hiking in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Its exterior is wrapped in more than three acres of glass, which arguably matters more in Alaska than anywhere else. Voyager of the Seas, sailing from Seattle from April, adds Victoria, BC to the Alaska stops and keeps families busy with ice skating, laser tag and mini golf onboard.
Onboard, the headline acts are Anthem and Ovation's North Star — an all-glass pod that swings more than 300 feet above the ocean, ideal for glacier spotting — and RipCord by iFly, a skydiving simulator that lets you pretend you jumped out of the ship. Dining spans Jamie's Italian, Johnny Rockets, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Chops Grille and Izumi Teppanyaki, depending on your ship.
One genuinely useful bit of infrastructure news: Royal Caribbean Group and the Alaska Railroad have built a new terminal in Seward, with mountain views, a smoother embarkation process and direct access to the rail station next door. It also doubles as a year-round community space for local youth programmes and events, part of the line's SEA the Future responsibility initiative.
For travellers weighing up Alaska cruises, this lineup is a solid pick if you want big-ship entertainment alongside the scenery — most Alaska sailings are on smaller, quieter vessels. Watching Hubbard Glacier from a glass pod above the deck is a different proposition from a conventional balcony view. The Cruisetour option is the standout for anyone who wants Denali in the same trip without juggling separate bookings, and the Seward rail link makes combining a ship with an inland train journey far less painful. Expect wildlife sightings to vary: grizzlies, bald eagles and harbour seals are the regulars, not guarantees. Book early for May and June sailings if drier weather and long daylight are priorities.
Story via Laotian Times.
