Alaska Honeymoons

Special thanks to Alaska Railroad for providing our Gold Star tickets as well as the Pursuit for providing us accommodations during our trip.

Alaska is a perfect location for a honeymoon in the US.  It may not be the tropical paradise that comes to mind when many think of a honeymoon, but it is a destination full of adventure with plenty of opportunities for romance.

 

When to visit Alaska

For a comfortable temperature, we recommend you visit Alaska sometime between mid-May through mid-September, with the best temperatures ranging in the 60s – 80s found in June and July.

I was able to go to Alaska in mid-September. The leaves were already changing colors, the mosquitoes were mostly gone and the weather was perfect except for one rainy day. The crowds were also very light while we were there. 

However, if you are interested in seeing the Northern Lights, you need to go when the nights are longer, sometime between late September and mid-April. For most of this guide, we will be focusing on planning a honeymoon trip to Alaska between May and September.

What to pack

What you pack for your trip to Alaska can make a strong impact on how much you enjoy your trip. 

1. 1. Pack clothes you can wear in layers as temperatures can vary drastically. It may be wet and cold one hour followed by a few hours of hot and sunny weather. You’ll want to bring t-shirts, sweaters, and a waterproof jacket.  You may consider long underwear for when you are going on hikes or near glaciers.
   2. Bring gloves to keep your hands warm.
   3. Walking shoes are a necessity for hiking around the amazing parks.
   4. Sunscreen and sunglasses will save from the sun when it comes out.
   5. Bring an external charger for your phone, especially if it is your camera. We take this everywhere now.
   6. Camera, if you have one other than on your phone.
   7. A Honeymooon Sweatshirt.  It will make for great photos and maybe some special treatment.

What To Plan For Your Honeymoon in Alaska

Alaska is enormous and so is the list of things you can do and places you can go while you are there. You can make planning simple by booking a cruise or you can fly into Alaska and plan a few different stops of your own. If you have the time and budget you can even do a little bit of both.

Whether you visit by land or sea, make sure you take the opportunity to go fishing, eat plenty of seafood, go dog sledding, hike, see some bears in the wild and go whale watching.

If you have 1 week for a honeymoon in Alaska, I would choose to go to the Inner Passage or go straight to Anchorage and the towns nearby.

If you have 2 weeks for a honeymoon in Alaska, go on a cruise in the Inner Passage followed by time on land in Anchorage and the surrounding areas.

Getting Around Alaska

Getting around the mainland of Alaska is very easy during the tourist season. The hotels and transportation options work together to make things seamless.  Do your research to see what will work for you depending on your schedule.  I ended up renting a car to get me to Denali and back to Anchorage, taking a motorcoach to Seward and then coming back on the Alaska Railroad. 

By Rail

Going to Alaska in and of itself is already unique and adventurous, but it is also a great place to go for a romantic train ride.  You can spend a portion of your trip exploring Alaska by train, not just onboard, but with few stops along the way.

The Denali Star route between Anchorage and Denali spans 350 miles, passing through the Denali Park and Talkeetna. On board, there are dome cars that provide a 360 view of the area.  We recommend leaving Anchorage, stopping at Denali Park for one or two nights and then continuing on to Fairbanks.

The Coastal Classic Route between Anchorage and Seward provides amazing scenes of the coast, Kenai mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls during the 4-hour trip.  This is the route I was able to take during my time in Alaska. Even on a cloudy day, the route is amazingly beautiful. The Alaska Railroad provided us with Gold Star rail tickets which includes a seat in a glass dome railcar, access to an outdoor viewing area and a meal. I highly recommend this as the best way to get in and out of Seward. 

Once you arrive in Seward you can continue on with a day cruise to Kenai Fjords National Park before making your return trip or stay for a couple of nights.

By MotorCoach

Motorcoach gives you a convenient option to get around. The rail from Denali to Seward requires an overnight stop in Anchorage, but a motorcoach allows for you to make the trip in a day with a short stop in Anchorage to stretch your legs. We went from Anchorage to Seward by motorcoach with Alaska Travel and returned on the Alaska railroad and it worked out great. 

By Car

For the least amount of coordination and travel time a rental car is your best option.  I used a rental car for half of my trip only because I did not have the time for the motorcoach or rail journey.

Areas To Visit During Your Alaska Honeymoon

Alaska’s Interior

Alaska’s interior is home to several highlights including Denali National Park and Fairbanks Alaska, both of which are just a few hours drive from Anchorage and ideal places to take a train to.

Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali is home to the nations highest peak and six million acres of wild land with grizzlies, moose, caribou and tons of other species. The park is accessible by only one 92 mile road where you can drive for the first 14 miles until the Savage River. From there you can take a bus even further to see more of the park and the wildlife. From the visitors center, you start your hike on one of the trails.

There are 3 types of buses that will take you into Denali.  Through Denali National Park Services you can day a bus with 3 different tour options depending on how far along the road you want to go. I recommend you do not go on the shortest tour. While the 7-8 hour Tundra Wilderness tour might sound long, the time flies by when you are on the lookout for wildlife all the time. Additionally there are stops along the way. 

The park also provides shuttle busses.  They are not narrated but will stop for wildlife. You take the shuttle busses to get you deep in the park before going for a hike.  When you are ready to come back out of the park you can hop on another bus to take you back. 

Denali Backcountry Lodge

The 3rd (and best) options is to go on a bus into the park to stay at one of the private lodges. We went to Denali Backcountry Lodge for our trip and after our experience we think it is the best.  The experience starts with a 7 hour bus ride basically to the end of the Denali park road. You can then stay in the park for as many nights as you would like (3 nights recommended).

To my surprise, the bus ride was one of the best parts of the trip. As you go down the windy road you are always on the lookout for wildlife which makes the time fly by. Part of the 7 hours included stopping and watching wildlife, learning about the history and geology of the area and taking pit stops which included warm drinks and snacks along the way.

You do have the choice of flying a small plane in or out of the lodge, but If you take the bus both in and out of the Lodge you have twice the opportunity to see wildlife. To give you an idea, on our way in the park we saw 2 mouse, 1 bear far away, plenty of Dall sheep and a Caribou fairly close to us. On the way back we saw 4 bears, all fairly close, 3 mouse, 4 caribou that ran across the road and plenty of Dall sheep. The one thing that a small plane will provide that the bus can not is breathtaking views of the park including glaciers and closer views on the mountains.

The Denali Backcountry Lodge is an all inclusive experience and is one of the only properties that makes it possible to stay overnight in the park without camping. The cabins are nice with full bathrooms and showers. Three meals a day are provided with breakfast and lunch buffets as well as plated dinners.  The standouts for me were the lamb at dinner and the beef stew at lunch. At night you can also enjoy s’mores fireside.

For activities, our tour guides on the way in and out of the park were very passionate about the area and it showed. There are several guided tours you can sign up for at night for the following day. I chose to go to the nearby Wonder Lake to hike around and then ride a bike back to the lodge.

 

Check out our post about a trip to Denali

Fairbanks

A short 3-4 hours trip from Denali, Fairbanks is one of Alaska’s best year-round destinations.  In the winter months, you see the mesmerizing northern lights and have the chance to see the ice sculptures from the World Ice Art Championships that are held there every year. Take advantage of the fun winter activities by going dog sledding or by taking a snowmobile tour. In the summer or winter, you can take a dip in the nearby Chena Hot Springs. The long warm summer days lend themselves well to kayaking the Chena River, golfing, fishing or going for a hike.

Where to stay

Aurora Borealis Lodge

Enjoy your honeymoon in one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights. At Aurora Borealis Lodge, the north-facing windows of each Cedar Lodge room provide excellent aurora viewing opportunities. Guests in Logan’s Chalet have exclusive access to their own 15-foot high aurora viewing platform. Accommodations start at $180 and go up from there depending on your room and duration of your trip.

Chena Hot Springs

Located at the hot springs is a lodge perfect for a honeymoon or even a destination wedding. Ever imagine getting married in an Ice museum to then be taken away in a horse-drawn carriage?  Me either!  The At the Chena Hot Springs Resort you can.

Enjoy your honeymoon with an all-inclusive package at Chena. This specially tailored package cost around $500 and includes an overnight for two in the Moose Lodge including unlimited swim passes during your stay, an Aurora Ice Museum tour, 2 PM geothermal renewable energy tour, delicious dinner and breakfast for two in the resort restaurant, a welcome champagne basket, and an exclusive late 1 PM check-out.

Taste of Alaska Lodge

A Taste of Alaska Lodge sits on 280 acres of land that is drenched in natural beauty and family history spanning three generations. It is a place unique to any other lodging in Fairbanks Alaska, and is a treat for anyone looking for a true Alaskan experience.

This lodge is a one-of-a-kind alternative to Fairbanks hotels, offering views of the Alaska Range, Mt. Denali, and Fairbanks in the distance. Visitors will get a first-hand look at Alaska’s natural beauty, including northern lights in the winter and wildlife year-round, all while enjoying the comforts and conveniences of cozy lodging.

A Taste of Alaska offers several honeymoon packages that can even include an elopement performed by the owner Kory, a certified wedding commissioner.

South Central Alaska

You will find half of the population of Alaska in the South Central area including Anchorage, Homer, and the Kenai Peninsula.   

Seward & Kenai Fjords National Park

Located 130 miles from Anchorage, you can visit Kenai Fjords for a day trip or stay for a few nights. Just getting here on the Seward Highway is a scenic delight in and of itself. Kenai is full of wildlife and opportunities for adventure. The main attraction is Exit Glacier and the 40 some other glaciers flowing from the Harding Icefield.

You can hike, kayak or go for a cruise to see the beautiful sights of the glaciers and wildlife in the area. During our time in Seward we enjoyed a cruise with Kenai Fjord Tours of the area. We went on the Kenai Fjords National Park cruise which provided a simple lunch and a 6 hour tour that included stopping at a glacier, seeing orca, sea lions, a fin whale, bald eagles and beautiful coast lines the entire way. 

Where to stay near Kenai Fjords National Park

Windsong Lodge 

During our trip to Alaska, we spent two nights at the Windsong Lodge.  The lodge includes large comfortable rooms surrounded by forest, providing a quiet setting to enjoy the small town and surrounding wilderness. 

The onsite restaurant, Resurrection Roadhouse is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In my opinion, they shine most in with the breakfast menu with the sourdough hotcakes served with our homemade blueberry maple syrup and just a hint of lemon. 

Windsong Lodge can help you plan your entire trip by pairing it with a cruise.  

Angels Rest

The cabins at Angel’s Rest are perfect for couples on their honeymoons. All three of the cabins sit right on the shores of Resurrection Bay, each with one queen bed that faces the water. At high tide, you may think you are on a houseboat from the view.  Thoroughly modern with a private bathroom and shower and small kitchenette these cabins are unique and custom designed tiny homes away from home and have been favorites among honeymooners for almost 20 years. Enjoy the outdoors with a campfire ring and propane BBQ. 

When planning your trip, contact Angel’s Rest to take advantage of discounts on car rentals in Anchorage and some local tours.  Rooms in peak season are around $200 a night. 

Harbor 360 Hotel

Harbor 360 Hotel has a breathtaking view of the harbor, Resurrection Bay, and the surrounding Kenai Mountains. The recently remodeled Deluxe King Harbor Balcony rooms overlooking the harbor are perfect for honeymooners and can be booked with champagne, chocolates, and flowers for a room. Harbor 360 Hotel provides a complimentary breakfast and is just a  minute walk to several amazing restaurants and shops. They are the only hotel with a heated pool and hot tub in the area. Rooms booked in the summer will cost around $300 a night. 

Remote Lodges in Alaska

If you want a unique experience in a remote locations, you can find a remote fly-in only lodge to stay at.  Royal Wolf Lodge is a fly-fishing lodge with cozy rooms, delicious food and a spa.  When you aren’t fishing you can enjoy hiking the many trails around the lodge, going out on the lake in a canoe, or fly over to Brooks Falls one day to just view bears catching salmon as they try to traverse the falls.  For extra romance you can find fresh flowers in your room, a bottle of iced Champagne in a silver bucket upon arrival, chocolate covered strawberries on the side. . . and of course special 4-5 course dinners every night. 

Anchorage

In Anchorage, you will see wildlife like bears, moose, and salmon along the many trails and still have the amenities and attraction of a city like parks, museums, and restaurants. Within a few hours drive or train ride, you can make it to several other popular cities and parks.

Where to Stay in Anchorage

Embassy Suites

Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage is a modern, all-suite hotel stationed in a prime location that will give you a perfect view of the mountains and whirlpools. Located less than five miles from Anchorage International Airport.

The convenient setting allows honeymooners to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and rich culture Anchorage has to offer; you can watch the ceremonial start of the Iditarod, go hiking or biking in the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, view glaciers in Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest, and enjoy a play at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

Additionally, the Long Weekender Package allows guests to save up to 50% on Sunday nights. Please let me know if you need any additional information. For a room in peak season, you should expect to pay around $300 a night.

The Hotel Captain Hook

The Hotel Captain Hook is a luxurious historic hotel located in downtown Anchorage with rooms starting around $300 in high season. For extra romance, their romantic package includes a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider and breakfast in bed. On property, there is an on-site athletic club with a pool and co-ed hot tub.

Girdwood

Girdwood is a resort town with a different vibe than the rest of Alaska. At the base of Mount Alyeska, it is located about an hours drive or a short train ride from Anchorage.  While most of Alaska may lack luxury and offer rustic accommodations, Girdwood has the accommodation you would expect at a luxury ski resort. Enjoy the city by striking it rich on a gold panning tour, go skiing for the day or take a hike or kayak to get a close view of a glacier.

Where to stay in Girdwood

The Hotel Alyeska

This chateau-style hotel makes the perfect base camp for your Alaskan honeymoon. The Alyeska resort offers skiing for all experience levels and amenities like a saltwater pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, AAA Four Diamond award-winning mountain-top restaurant and a luxury spa at the hotel. 

The Hotel Alyeska is popular for their Romance Package which includes a one night stay, a bottle of chilled Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne, gourmet chocolate, and a late checkout. Room rates start at around $350 during the summer.

Alyeska Hideaway Cabins

Enjoy a cozy cabin during your stay in Alaska. Alyeska Hideaway Cabins have 3 to choose from, but the same homemade blueberry breakfast cakes welcome you regardless of what cabin you stay in. Our pick would be the Glacier cabin due to the warm fireplace, claw-foot bathtub and picture window with views of the forest behind the cabin, ideal soaking after a long hike or ski. Cabins cost about $200 a night and when you book you can also receive assistance planning your trip with discounts available for local attractions.

Ski Inn

Guests that have honeymooned here in the past have really enjoyed it! The Ski Inn is a quaint bed and breakfast, located smack in the middle of town. For your honeymoon, make sure you get one of the rooms with a private bath.

Right outside you can relax amidst stunning mountain views, or enjoy a locally roasted coffee near the flower garden. Restaurants, grocery, coffee shops and local entertainment just steps away with a local shuttle stop is right out front. Rates start around $100 a night and when you book your room give them a call to discuss some extras you can purchase to make your stay extra special like champaign or flowers for your room. 

Homer

Source Flickr 

From Anchorage, take the 4-hour drive to Homer for a small town with huge charm located on the shores of Kachemak Bay near the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula. The Homer Split is a long strip of land that stretches into that beautiful deep blue bay with hotels, shops, and restaurants. In Homer, you can get feet away from a grizzly bear, go fishing for halibut, hike the 80 miles of hiking trails in Kachemak Bay State Park and find interesting sea dwellers by tide pooling on the shore at low tide.

Where to Stay in Homer

Homer Inn & Spa

Having hosted many honeymoons since 2000, Homer Inn & Spa is located right on the edge of spectacular Kachemak Bay.  With all rooms looking onto five glaciers, mile-high snow-capped mountains and constantly changing tidal waters, this boutique oceanfront inn and spa is designed specifically for couples.  If you are looking for a pristine coastal setting in Alaska with a flair for romance, this would be your top choice in this great state.  

All of the rooms cost around $279 and are custom designed with king beds and premium bedding along with a private deck over the ocean.  The day spa is designed with couples in mind as well, with all of our massages and body treatments available in a side-by-side format and treatments that incorporate the feel of the Alaska coastline with many natural elements brought into the space.  

Contact the Homer Inn to discuss a customized honeymoon package with both the accommodations and spa treatments combined. They also offer a Honeymoon Romance Welcome Package to be put in your room prior to your arrival.

Tutka Bay Lodge

Tutka Bay Lodge is located at the entrance to a splendidly rugged seven-mile fjord at the southern end in Kachemak Bay. The lodge has six private guest rooms, a sauna, and hot tub. Dining at the lodge features organic, natural and local Alaska ingredients.  Speak with the Tutka Bay Lodge to plan a customized honeymoon package including meals, transportation, massages and other adventurous activities.

Baycrest Lodge

The 3 units at Baycrest Lodge is an awesome choice for a honeymoon in Alaska. All 3 of the units now have private outdoor hot tubs, which is an incredible feature with such amazing views! Give them a call for them to put together a honeymoon package for you to enjoy. Rooms start around $300 a night in the summer season.

Homer Stay and Play

Homer Stay and Play is a beautifully situated B&B with a large suite on second floor overlooking Kachemak Bay that offers spectacular views of the glaciers, a private dining/sitting room, a separate entrance with cover porch and is the perfect combination of cabin cozy with all the modern conveniences making it perfect for a stop during the honeymoon.  The Glacier View Suite is another great option facing Grewingk Glacier offering a spectacular view of the bay from the room and its own balcony. Suites cost $155 for a multi night stay or $165 for single night.

Most will want to take their breakfast with Homegrown and local products downstairs sitting at the large picture window which looks out to the Glacier and provides an opportunity to see the wildlife.

Get in touch with the Homer Stay and Play so they can help you arrange a number of packages such fishing, bear viewing, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, yoga, on-site massages, and more.

The Inside Passage

The Inside Passage is a must see area with plenty of small towns to visit in between stops at glaciers and other natural wonders. Most people are brought here by the cruises, but you can get around by float planes or ferry going port to port.  

Glacier Bay National Park

One of the most important highlights of any trip to Alaska, Glacier Bay is famous for the amazing view of its 50+ glaciers.  If you are coming on a cruise you will likely spend the day here stopping by several glaciers. Coming from shore you can book your own day cruise to take you in. You can be even more adventurous and rent kayaks and bring your camping gear to be dropped off and picked up by the ferry.

We recommend spending a few nights in the neighboring town of Gustavus enjoying a few hikes, fishing, and whale watching from the shore.

Where to Stay Near Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay Lodge

Staying at Glacier Bay Lodge will help you make the most of your time at Glacier Bay National Park during your honeymoon.  When making your reservation you can arrange your day-cruise and other activities like a guided kayak tour, flightseeing or whale watching.  

Arrive at the lodge you can enjoy a meal of local seafood at the cozy Fairweather Dining Room. Get a room with a view for around $250 a night and take advantage of everything the lodge has to offer. Spend your downtime hiking nearby where you can walk to beaches or through a rainforest.

Glacier Bay Country Inn

If you want to spend time fishing in Alaska, which you should, Glacier Bay Country Inn is a perfect place to go to.  Even as an amateur, the views and wildlife make for an amazing experience.  The Inn runs frequent fishing trips, bringing home halibut and Salmon.  Rates for your lodging start at $250 a person per night which include all meals from an amazing chef.

Bear Track Inn

Stroll into the fabulous Bear Track Inn for an amazing place to start your new married life together. Enjoy the large lobby with huge windows, overstuffed suede seating and a crackling fire to warm up around. 

Rooms offer a gorgeous view to enjoy while relaxing and sipping complimentary champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries when you arrive.  For meals, you will enjoy the delicious local cuisine at their restaurant that can include fresh crab, caribou, salmon, halibut and more. Homemade rolls dressings and mouthwatering desserts to complete your meal.

The Bear Track Inn makes planning easy.  They will organize your tours and transportation and include meals in the cost of lodging.

Ketchikan

Located at the southern tip of Alaska, Ketchikan is a small town known for its salmon fishing and indigenous heritage.  You are guaranteed to see totem poles and other arts from the Haida and Tlingit tribes.  

Near Ketchikan is Misty Fjords. Flying above in a float plane, the water will appear as a mirror on a misty day. You can also head to Neets Bay to see the bears feeding on the salmon, great for photos and close encounters. You’ll find tons of hiking options around the town and into the surrounding rainforest.  

Where to Stay in Ketchikan

Anchor Inn by the Sea

Get an unobstructed view of the ocean from your suite at Anchor Inn By The Sea. Located 4 miles from downtown, the Inn keeps you close to the city and only a few feet away from the ocean shore. From your window view, you will see otters, seals, and porpoises playing near the shore, eagles diving for salmon and even spot whales swimming by.  The Inn is located in an excellent area for shoreline fishing. Keep in mind, there is a five-night minimum stay. Rates are around $165 a night depending on the suite.

Black Bear Inn

Located on the ocean shore, you’ll enjoy relaxing during your honeymoon in the hot tub on the water’s edge or looking on from the deck to see the majestic evening sunset.  Black Bear Inn has Several rooms are available, as well as a separate cabin. With outdoor fish smoking and cleaning areas, fire pit, and a smoker, it’s easy to prepare the fish you catch yourself.  For the secluded cabin, rates are around $245 per night.

Juneau

The state’s capital has a small town feel with no lack of things to do.  Located in the southern part of Alaska, Juneau tends to have a milder climate than other northern parts bringing in more visitors. With no road access, you can either arrive by plane or by boat to start your adventure.  

While in Juneau, feed your sense of adventure by dog sledding over a glacier, trekking through an ice cave or kayaking past whales and other marine life. Take the Mount Roberts Tramway for an amazing view of the harbor below and the Gastineau Channel.  The cable cars rise 1,800 feet through the rainforest before arriving at the mountain house above. Take a hike to cover some of the 250 miles of trails in the area and later enjoy a meal at one of Juneau’s restaurants by award-winning chefs.

Where to stay in Juneau

Pearson’s Pond

Pearson’s Pond is definitely ideal for honeymooners. They ensure guests have an experience they will remember for a lifetime. Known for it’s magical and enchanted master-planned rainforest garden, Pearson’s Pond will help you enjoy a romantic Alaskan wilderness themed honeymoon.

You’ll enjoy their unique set of on-site complimentary amenities allowing you to go on a boat ride in the pond, enjoy outdoor bathtubs and sauna, warm up at the firepit and much more on your romantic getaway. Located three miles from Mendenhall Glacier and within 10 minutes of most excursion meeting points, you’ll find it easy to get around and explore the surrounding area.

Rooms at Pearson’s Pond range from $400-$500 during the summer. All rooms have a sitting area, kitchenette and eco-friendly fireplace.  The premium demi-suites, most frequently chosen by our honeymooners, also feature an ensuite  2-person whirlpool tub with a rainfall shower, a balcony overlooking the pond, a canopy Sleep Number queen bed, a skylight and an eat-in breakfast bar. They also have several packages available for a romantic touch to your honeymoon and offer complete trip planning and scheduling services.  All the couple need do is select their activities and arrive at the inn. They handle everything else.

By the way, if you are looking for a destination wedding, there are venues atop a glacier, in the wilderness, their garden and others.

Alaska Honeymoon Cruises

Probably the easiest way to enjoy the highlights of Alaska is taking a cruise.  Most of your trip is planned for you and food is taken care of, you just have to bring the Alaska cruise essentials.  There are several cruise lines that service Alaska with unique offerings and price points. All prices quoted below are based on the high season before taxes, tips or other fees.  Keep in mind you can work with a travel agent or sign up for email lists to keep updated on deals and specials that seem to always be available on the larger cruise lines. 

You can also get the best of both worlds by flying into Juneau or another city, exploring for a few days, then boarding a cruise.

Mid Size Cruise Ships

Azamara Cruises

Beginning in 2019, Azamara will visit Alaska for the first time with 13 voyages, 11 new ports and 40 land and sea experiences.  Five itineraries will include an Alaska intensive voyage as well as an Alaska adventure voyage with fishing and dog sledding. All voyages feature AzAmazing evenings: one-of-a-kind on-shore experiences offered to all 690 passengers once a voyage.

Azamara cruises focus on spending extra time at each port, allowing cruisers to fully experience the area. Ships are built to be your elegant boutique hotel on the sea you bring with you from port to port. An 8-night cruise will be around $3500 per person for a cabin with a balcony making it one of the least expensive midsize luxury cruises. 10 and 15-night cruises are also available.

For Honeymooning couples, or any couple looking for a special evening, you can book a “Nights in Private Places” package. For $395 per person, you can experience an unforgettable evening of luxurious pampering for two with a personal butler. The night starts with champagne and canapés then a buffet with fresh seafood and meats cooked on a sizzling stone.  Following dinner, have a toast on The Sanctum Terrace in Frette robes.  Once ready for bed, enjoy an outdoor bed (with a closeable roof panel and curtains) to spend an incredible night under the stars.

Silversea Expeditions

Silversea Expeditions provide a luxury cruise option smaller than the huge cruise ships, without sacrificing most of the amenities, making it perfect for an Alaska honeymoon.  The ships carry around 300 people and offer unique gourmet dining options, entertaining shows and productions, a heated swimming pool, hot tubs, a spa, fitness center and more.  All rooms are luxury suites that you can personalize with butler service. Suites on a 7-day Alaskan cruise start around $4000 per person and go up from there based on seasonality and which suite you choose.

Small Ship Cruises

Sikumi Cruises

Sikumi currently offers two different routes lasting 6 nights on a small vessel. With a smaller cruise, you can expect amazing personalized service. Since there are only a few people on the cruise with you, the captain can work with you to modify the schedule to fit your interest or to work with mother nature instead of being tied to a schedule like the larger vessels.  For example, if whales are active in one area, you may just go out of the way to see them and linger longer.

For a honeymoon stay, you are going to want to go on the MV Sikumi, where prices are $6250 per person, all-inclusive, including excursions like whale watching, glacier watching, kayaking, visiting hot springs, fishing, and crabbing off the boat. Ships depart from Juneau and Petersburg, showcasing Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage

Maple Leaf Adventures

In a small unique ship, Maple Leaf Adventures offers 11-day boutique expeditions that give a close and personal look at the area and wildlife. You will quickly discover why they have made National Geographic Traveler’s list of  “50 Tours of a Lifetime”. 

Both ships from Maple Leaf Adventures have been restored and converted to become amazing vessels to provide tours.  The Swell is a converted tugboat that has 6 private cabins and a crew of 5 including a chef to cook 3 meals a day and 2 snacks.  The upper deck includes a lounge and open-air hot tub.  Who wants to go whale watching in a hot tub?Also available are kayaks and zodiac style boats to get you to shore and allow you to explore rivers and wildlife colonies.(Me!) A trip on their ship, The Swell, will run around $10,000 per person.

Large Ship Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

This year, Norwegian Cruise Line is launching a new ship made especially for Alaska cruises. It is also made for couples that are young at heart, like us.  Take advantage of water slides during the sunny days out to sea, try laser tag on deck, and fulfill your need for speed with the largest race track at sea!  I know people imaging honeymoons as a relaxing time, but we would love to be running around the ship playing laser tag and racing each other on the track.  (Move over kids!)

Later in your trip, try relaxing in one of the 6 infinity hot tubs and eating tons of food at one of the many restaurants onboard. The Mandara Spa will make a perfect place to unwind and enjoy a much needed reviving treatment.

A cruise on the Norwegian Bliss will cost around $2500 a person for a room with a balcony leaving Seattle in June. For an Alaskan cruise, I would splurge for the balcony since the view is a necessity when you are trying to take in all the Alaska scenery.  Keep in mind there will be additional costs for excursions, specialty drinks, and dining or for a romance package to make your honeymoon a bit more special on any Norwegian cruise.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises have won the award for Best Cruise Line in Alaska year after year.  On a Princess Cruise, you will see the inside passage, two glaciers and 3-4 ports to explore. Princess is unique in offering so many options to cruisers. You can go on an Alaskan cruise starting as far away as LA or from within Alaska itself.  

If you have the time and money, Princess offers Cruisetours which allow you to disembark for a few days to explore the land by train. This way you get a chance to experience all the highlights Alaska has to offer without worrying about all the planning or about rushing back to the cruise ship.

Princess Cruises vary in price based on duration. For a round-trip cruise out of Seattle, a balcony in peak season will cost around $2300 per person.

So What Will You Do?

There really are so many things to do in Alaska and the state is beautiful.  What did you end up planning for your honeymoon?