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Celebrity Cruises in Alaska

By Reviewed by Dana OkaforUpdated 8 min readLast fact checked on .

Celebrity Cruises occupies the upper end of the mainstream Alaska market, with modern ships, the best food of any large ship operator in the region and a distinctly adult, design led atmosphere. It does not enter Glacier Bay National Park, building its glacier days around Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier and the Tracy Arm area instead.

The short answer

Celebrity suits couples and adults who want a stylish, food focused Alaska cruise on a modern ship without paying luxury line prices. Its Edge and Solstice class vessels are the most design forward large ships in Alaska. The main trade off is no Glacier Bay access and a youth programme that is present but not a reason to choose the line.

Key points

  • The strongest food and beverage of any large ship operator sailing Alaska.
  • No Glacier Bay entry. Glacier days use Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier or the Tracy Arm area.
  • Edge class Infinite Veranda cabins convert the whole cabin into an indoor outdoor space, which suits Alaska better than a conventional balcony.
  • Distinctly adult and design led, with far fewer children than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian.
  • Sails from Seattle and Vancouver, mostly 7 night round trips plus some longer routings.

Celebrity Cruises at a glance

Segment
Premium
Price band
$$$$
Alaska home ports
Seattle, Vancouver
Parent company
Royal Caribbean Group
Glacier access
Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm area. No Glacier Bay National Park entry.
Best for
Couples · Food focused travellers · Design conscious cruisers · Adults without children

Ships used in Alaska

ShipGuestsLaunchedNotes
Celebrity Edge2,9182018Edge class. Infinite Veranda cabins and the cantilevered Magic Carpet platform. The most architecturally distinctive ship in Alaska.
Celebrity Solstice2,8522008Solstice class. A long serving Alaska ship with a real lawn on the top deck and excellent glass throughout.
Celebrity Eclipse2,8522010Solstice class sister with the same Lawn Club layout.
Celebrity Millennium2,2182000Millennium class. Smaller and easier in port after an extensive refit.
Celebrity Summit2,2182001Millennium class sister, frequently used on Alaska routes.

Typical Alaska itineraries

Alaska Dawes Glacier round trip

7 nights

Seattle round trip

Ketchikan · Juneau · Skagway · Dawes Glacier · Victoria BC

Alaska Hubbard Glacier round trip

7 nights

Seattle round trip

Sitka · Juneau · Skagway · Hubbard Glacier · Victoria BC

Inside Passage from Vancouver

7 nights

Vancouver round trip

Ketchikan · Juneau · Skagway · Icy Strait Point · Dawes Glacier

Alaska Northern Glaciers

9 to 11 nights

Seattle or Vancouver

Sitka · Icy Strait Point · Hubbard Glacier · Kodiak

Cabins

Celebrity cabins are the best finished in the mainstream Alaska market, and the Edge class Infinite Veranda is a genuinely relevant innovation here rather than a marketing gimmick.

An Infinite Veranda replaces the conventional balcony with a bi fold glass wall at the end of the cabin. The outer section has a window that lowers at the touch of a button, so the front third of the cabin becomes an open air space. In Alaska, where a conventional balcony is often too cold and wet to sit on, being able to open the space for two minutes of fresh air and then close it again is worth more than square footage.

Celebrity cabin categories in Alaska
CategoryTypical sizeAlaska specific note
Inside183 to 200 sq ftWell finished for the category. Complete darkness for northern summer nights.
Ocean view175 to 200 sq ftLimited inventory on Edge class.
Infinite Veranda202 to 243 sq ftEdge class only. The best cabin design in Alaska for the weather.
Veranda194 to 246 sq ftSolstice and Millennium class conventional balcony.
AquaClass199 to 250 sq ftAdds Blu restaurant access and spa privileges. Blu is excellent.
Concierge Class194 to 246 sq ftAdds priority embarkation and tender, useful on Sitka days.
The Retreat suites300 to 1,800 sq ftPrivate restaurant Luminae, Retreat Lounge and Retreat Sun Deck.

Dining

This is where Celebrity earns its premium. Food quality across complimentary venues is materially better than any other large ship line in Alaska, and the specialty restaurants are properly good rather than merely different.

  • Main restaurant service is well executed, with menus that change nightly and a consistent standard.
  • Blu is reserved for AquaClass guests and is the best complimentary restaurant on any mainstream ship in Alaska.
  • Luminae serves The Retreat suite guests and operates at close to luxury line standard.
  • Le Petit Chef is a projection mapped tasting experience that divides opinion but is genuinely well cooked.
  • Eden on Edge class is a striking three deck space and the best room on the ship for watching a fjord pass.
  • Raw on 5 handles sushi and raw seafood, and the Alaska crab is worth the surcharge.

Entertainment and programming

Celebrity entertainment is adult, design led and deliberately restrained. It is not trying to compete with Royal Caribbean on spectacle.

  • Eden on Edge class hosts performance, music and an all day cafe in a space with a three deck glass wall. During scenic cruising it is the most atmospheric room on any Alaska ship.
  • The Magic Carpet on Edge class is a cantilevered platform that moves up the side of the ship and serves as a bar or restaurant. Weather limits its use in Alaska but it is remarkable when conditions allow.
  • Lawn Club on Solstice class is real grass on the top deck, with a glass enclosed alcove that works surprisingly well on a cold day.
  • Live music is strong across small venues, and the resident string and jazz groups are better than the norm.
  • Naturalist programming exists but is thinner than on Princess or Holland America.

Family suitability

Celebrity accepts children and runs a competent youth programme, but the line is not designed around them and the Alaska sailings in particular attract very few families.

Strengths

  • Camp at Sea covers ages 3 to 17 with themed activity rather than pure childcare.
  • Quiet ships mean a well behaved older child has genuine space.
  • Excellent food means less mealtime negotiation with teenagers.
  • Connecting cabins are available on most ships.

Trade offs

  • Very few other children on board, especially in May and September.
  • No water park, no surf simulator, no dedicated big splash zone.
  • Public spaces are adult in tone and pace.
  • Higher fares make a family of four expensive relative to Royal Caribbean.

Suites and luxury features

The Retreat is Celebrity's suite tier and it is closer to a genuine luxury product than most mainstream equivalents.

  • Luminae is a suite only restaurant with a distinct menu, and the standard is close to what a luxury line delivers.
  • Retreat Lounge and Retreat Sun Deck are private spaces. The sun deck is partially covered on Edge class, which matters in Alaska.
  • Personal retreat host service covers reservations, packing and general concierge duties.
  • Included premium drinks, WiFi and gratuities in most Retreat fares, which narrows the apparent gap to luxury pricing.

Strengths and trade offs

Our editorial assessment: 4.3 out of 5 for Alaska specifically, weighing itinerary access, suitability for the travellers this line serves, and value. How we rate is explained in our editorial policy.

Strengths

  • The best food and beverage programme of any large ship line in Alaska.
  • Edge class Infinite Veranda is the most weather appropriate cabin design in the region.
  • Genuinely adult atmosphere, quiet and well designed.
  • AquaClass and The Retreat both deliver real value rather than badge upgrades.
  • Modern ships with a lot of glass, which is what scenic cruising needs.

Trade offs

  • No Glacier Bay National Park access.
  • Thinner destination and naturalist programming than Princess or Holland America.
  • Weak choice for families with young children.
  • Higher fares than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian for a comparable cabin.
  • Edge class Infinite Verandas divide opinion. Some travellers strongly prefer a conventional balcony.

Pricing

Celebrity prices above Royal Caribbean and Norwegian and roughly level with or slightly above Princess. It leans on all inclusive style fare bundles that include drinks, WiFi and gratuities, which are usually good value if you drink alcohol at all.

Typical Celebrity Alaska fare bands, per person, double occupancy, seven nights
CabinShoulder seasonPeak seasonNote
Inside$750 to $1,050$1,200 to $1,700Better finished than competitor interiors
Ocean view$900 to $1,250$1,400 to $1,950Limited inventory
Veranda or Infinite Veranda$1,200 to $1,700$1,900 to $2,900Edge class commands a premium
AquaClass$1,500 to $2,000$2,300 to $3,400Includes Blu. The value pick
The Retreat$3,200 to $4,800$5,000 to $8,500Usually includes drinks, WiFi and gratuities
Excludes airfare, taxes and fees. Gratuities run roughly $18 to $25 per person per day where not included.

Frequently asked questions

Does Celebrity go to Glacier Bay?
No. Celebrity does not hold National Park Service concession entry for Glacier Bay National Park. Its Alaska itineraries feature Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm, or the Tracy Arm area. Hubbard has the widest actively calving face on any Alaska cruise route, so this is a different glacier experience rather than a lesser one.
What is an Infinite Veranda and does it work in Alaska?
It is an Edge class cabin where the balcony is enclosed within the cabin behind a bi fold glass door, with an outer window that lowers electrically. In Alaska it works well: you get fresh air and an open view when you want it and a warm, dry, usable room when the weather turns, which is most of the time. Travellers who want to sit outside for an hour in the wind prefer a conventional balcony.
Which Celebrity ship is best for Alaska?
Celebrity Edge for the most modern design and the Infinite Veranda cabins. Celebrity Solstice or Eclipse for the Lawn Club and a more conventional layout with excellent glass. Millennium and Summit are smaller, which makes port days easier if crowds bother you more than newness.
Is Celebrity worth the extra cost over Royal Caribbean?
If food, wine, design and a quiet ship matter to you, yes, and the gap in the onboard experience is larger than the gap in price. If you are travelling with children or want ship activities, no. The two lines share a parent company but are aimed at genuinely different travellers.
Is Celebrity adults only?
No. Children are welcome and there is a youth programme, but the ships are designed for adults and Alaska sailings in particular carry very few children. Families choosing Celebrity should expect their children to have few peers on board.
What is the dress code on Celebrity in Alaska?
Smart casual most evenings with one or two Evening Chic nights on a seven night sailing, which means a jacket or a dress rather than black tie. Daytime is entirely practical. Celebrity enforces its dress code more visibly than Norwegian but less strictly than Cunard.

Related destinations and planning guides

Hubbard Glacier

A complete Hubbard Glacier cruise guide: the six mile wide calving face, why it is advancing, which lines visit, what to expect from the day and photography advice.

Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier

A complete Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier cruise guide: why ships choose it over Tracy Arm, what the day involves, wildlife, ice conditions and photography advice.

Sitka, Alaska

A complete Sitka cruise port guide: Russian colonial history, Tlingit heritage, Sitka Sound wildlife, raptor centre, excursion costs and tendering advice.

Juneau, Alaska

A complete Juneau cruise port guide: Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching, Mount Roberts Tramway, excursion costs, how to plan a port day and what to do if it rains.

Alaska Cruises for Couples

Planning an Alaska cruise for couples: which lines suit, adults only spaces, the best cabins, quiet excursions, honeymoon and anniversary planning.

Alaska Cruise Drink Packages

Whether an Alaska cruise drink package is worth it: real break even points by line, why Alaska drinking patterns differ, gratuity traps and the alternatives.

Alaska Cruise Shore Excursions

How to choose Alaska shore excursions: what is worth booking, ship versus independent operators, real prices by port, weather cancellations and how many to book.

Call an Alaska cruise specialist