Alaska cruises are selling further ahead than ever, and Royal Caribbean is the latest line to lock in plans: four ships — Anthem, Ovation, Serenade and Voyager of the Seas — will sail the region from April 2028, all on seven-night itineraries. Bookings opened first to Crown & Anchor loyalty members, with general sales from 1 October.
Three homeports give travellers flexibility on both sides of the border. Anthem of the Seas operates out of Seward and Vancouver from May to September, pairing coastal calls with inland Cruisetours of two to six nights that reach Denali National Park. Its itinerary leans on big-name scenery: Hubbard Glacier, Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier, Ketchikan, Skagway and Icy Strait Point.
Ovation of the Seas, freshly upgraded, sails seven-nighters from Seattle between May and September, with stops in Sitka, Skagway and Juneau plus a scenic stretch through Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier. Serenade of the Seas also runs May to September, but from Vancouver, building in Prince Rupert in British Columbia and Icy Strait Point — home to the longest and highest zipline in the region.
Voyager of the Seas gets the longest season, April through September from Seattle, calling at Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, BC. The ship only made its Alaska debut this summer, and the line clearly liked what it saw. Wildlife spotting is part of the pitch: grizzly bears, harbour seals and bald eagles along the route.
If 2028 feels distant, note that the 2027 Alaska season follows a similar template, with Anthem, Quantum, Voyager and Serenade all committed — so these ships are becoming the line's reliable Alaska workhorses.
Why it matters: a four-ship deployment means wider choice of departure ports and more cabin inventory, which historically keeps entry-level prices in check compared with smaller-ship lines. Seattle departures suit travellers from the US West Coast, while Vancouver and Seward work well for one-way itineraries that can be combined with a land extension. If Denali is on your list, the Anthem Cruisetour option is the standout — most first-time Alaska cruisers do the sea leg only and miss the interior.
Booking nearly two years out sounds extreme, but for Alaska it is increasingly normal: balmy weather months sell out first, and balcony cabins on glacier routes go early. Loyalty members get first pick now, so if you are flexible and not in a rush, waiting until after 1 October often reveals the fuller price picture.
