Holland America vs. Princess Alaska Cruisetours: A Real Comparison
If you are trying to decide between a Holland America and a Princess Alaska cruisetour, or trying to figure out what month to sail, you are asking the two questions I hear most as an Alaska Travel Advisor. I was born and raised in Alaska, and I have spent more than 30 years exploring the state, on top of years spent booking these exact cruisetours for clients. Here is the honest breakdown.
Start With What You Actually Want to See
Before picking a cruise line or a month, get clear on what is pulling you to Alaska. Most of my clients are chasing one of these:
Wildlife, especially bears, whales, eagles, and moose Glaciers, particularly tidewater glaciers calving into the sea Culture and history, from Native Alaskan heritage to the Klondike Gold Rush Fishing, since the salmon runs shift by month The northern lights, which is the one item on this list that needs a caveat
Here is that caveat: Alaska's cruise season runs May through September, and for most of that window many parts of the state see close to 19 to 20 hours of daylight or more. The aurora needs true darkness, so it is not visible in June or July at all. Your best chance on a cruise-season trip is very early May or late September, when the nights start to lengthen again. I want clients to know this up front so nobody books a July cruise expecting to see the lights.
Alaska Cruise Season, Month by Month
May brings lower fares and thinner crowds. Snow is still visible on the peaks, and wildlife is emerging after winter, including bears coming out of their dens. It is a good month for value, but pack layers.
June is the month of light, with daylight stretching close to 19 to 20 hours. Wildflowers like fireweed and lupine start to bloom, glacier calving picks up with snowmelt, and whales return to Alaska's waters. Prices begin climbing as the season heads toward peak.
July is peak season in every sense. It is the warmest month, whale watching tends to be at its best, king salmon fishing peaks, and the wildflowers are in full color. It is also the busiest and most expensive month, so early booking matters.
August is my personal favorite for wildlife. Coho salmon are running strong, which brings out some of the best bear viewing of the season. Berries ripen, temperatures start to cool, and crowds thin compared to July.
September is the second shoulder season. Fall color moves through the tundra, fares drop, and the ports are noticeably quieter. Later September sailings start to see dark enough skies for a real, though still not guaranteed, chance at the northern lights.
Holland America's Alaska Cruisetour
Holland America has sailed Alaska for nearly 80 years, and its cruisetour reflects that history. Every itinerary includes a stay at the privately owned Holland America Denali Lodge, a riverfront property on the edge of Denali National Park, for one to three nights. Guests travel aboard the glass-domed McKinley Explorer railcars, and select itineraries add the historic White Pass and Yukon Route railroad departing Skagway. Some itineraries offer same-day Direct-to-Denali service from ship to lodge. Holland America is also the line that brings guests into Dawson City, Yukon, for Klondike Gold Rush history, which makes it a strong pick if that story matters to your trip.
Princess's Alaska Cruisetour
Princess is the cruise line most travelers choose for Alaska, largely because it owns and operates the biggest wilderness lodge network of any line, with properties in Fairbanks, on the Kenai Peninsula, at Copper River, and two locations in the Denali area. Its Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service moves guests in glass-domed railcars straight from the ship to a Denali-area lodge the same day, without an overnight stop in between. Cruisetour lengths range from the shorter Denali Explorer to longer itineraries that add Kenai or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and Princess also runs one of the strongest Glacier Bay National Park programs at sea.
So Which One Should You Book?
There is no universally right answer here, and I say that as someone who books both lines regularly. A few rules of thumb:
If Yukon and Klondike Gold Rush history are part of the story you want to tell, Holland America has the edge with its Dawson City access. If you want the broadest wilderness lodge footprint, more flexible cruisetour lengths, and a heavy Glacier Bay focus, Princess has the edge. If your travel party spans generations, from grandkids to grandparents, Princess's kids' programming and livelier onboard vibe tend to be the easier fit. If it's a mature couple or a group of retirees without kids along, Holland America's quieter ship and more traditional pace usually suits better. If bears and salmon are your priority, plan for August regardless of which line you choose. If you want warmth, long daylight, and peak wildflowers, June or July is your window, understanding that prices and crowds peak alongside the weather.
"I have quoted both of these cruisetours for real families & groups this year, and neither one is the wrong answer. The right one comes down to what story you want your Alaska trip to tell, whether that is gold rush history in the Yukon or wilderness lodges strung across the interior," I tell every client working through this decision.
Quick Answers
Best month for value: May or September Best month for warmth and daylight: June or July Best month for bears and salmon: August Best (limited) chance at the northern lights: Very early May or late September Best cruisetour for Yukon history: Holland America Best cruisetour for lodge variety and Glacier Bay: Princess
Let's Plan Your Alaska Trip
I am Dawn Knoblock, an Alaska Travel Advisor with Cruisin Couple Travel Agency. I was born and raised in Alaska, and I still get excited planning every single Alaska cruisetour I book. If you want help matching the right month and the right cruise line to what you actually want out of your trip, reach out to me at Dawn@ccta.co or 907-727-1163, or visit cruisincouple.com/dawn-knoblock.
