Plan the perfect getaway to Alaska with a cruise! There's no better way to see the natural wonders of this awesome region than sailing along the Alaska coast on a cruise ship. Leaving from Vancouver and Seattle, Alaska cruise vacations provide opportunities for travelers to enjoy seeing glaciers, explore the wilderness, experience historical port cities, and see a wide range of wildlife, including whale sightings. Adventurous travelers can enjoy shore excursions by train to the Yukon and Denali National Park and stay in exclusive wilderness lodges. The top three Alaska cruises are offered by Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Holland American Cruise Line. Read on to find out more about planning the perfect cruise to Alaska.

Offered by Princess Cruises, the Denali Explore Alaska Cruise Tour is a popular and versatile trip for a once in a lifetime experience. The Denali National Park is six million acres of wildness, with glaciers, forests, caribou, bear and many other forms of wildlife. This total trip can take from 10 to 13, days and includes a range of days dedicated to shore excursions. While each package includes a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise, travelers can decide how many days to spend at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, and in the cities of Fairbanks and Anchorage. Highlights include Glacier Bay National Park, portions of Inside Passage, Historic Ketchikan, Denali National Park and Preserve, Sled Dog Experience, and more. While there's a range of prices depending on travel time and options, the price for a 12-day tour including a suite is around $4,000.

The Alaska Southbound Glacier Cruise is a great deal for those who want an introduction to all there is to see and do in this region. Offered by Celebrity Cruises, the itinerary for this 7-night cruise leaves Seward and visits Hubbard Glacier, the Icy Strait, and the Inside Passage before docking in Vancouver. In addition to days of glacier viewing and fun on-board activities, travelers can choose from a wide range of shore excursions at the various ports of call, including fishing, dog sledding, shopping, and more. This cruise is priced around $799 per person for an inside cabin, and includes meals, daily entertainment, drinks, most daily activities, and incredible scenery.

Don't have a lot of time to explore? The seven-night Alaska with Inside Passage by Holland American Cruise Lines packs a lot of Alaska into a fairly short period of time. Sailing along the Inside Passage coastline, this cruise offers travelers constant viewing of the majestic coastal landscape, including time in the Glacier Bay National Park. Stops include the picturesque towns of Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan that visitors can explore on their own or on one of several shore excursions. There are plenty of experiences to be had, from sea kayaking to dog sledding to exploring Gold Rush history. This Alaska cruise is priced at only $749 per person and includes accommodations, meals, some drinks, activities and entertainment, and more.