National Alaska Cruise Week

Millions of Americans dream of seeing Alaska’s glaciers, rugged coastlines, and wildlife, but the dream often stalls at the planning stage. Dozens of cruise ships, a maze of itineraries, and a long menu of excursions can turn a bucket-list vacation into an overwhelming chore. National Alaska Cruise Week was created to bridge that knowledge gap, giving travel lovers, writers, and educators a dedicated moment each year to learn, ask questions, and take the first real step toward the Last Frontier.

The week was founded by Meredith and DeWayne Tudor, the husband-and-wife team behind Alaska Cruise Planning, a specialty travel agency under Simple Traveler Vacations in Ringgold, Georgia. They submitted the observance to the National Day Calendar in 2026, and the Registrar approved it for the third week of August each year, with the inaugural celebration starting August 16, 2026. It is a founder story with a practical mission: help ordinary travelers plan an extraordinary trip.

The timing could not be better, because Alaska cruising is booming. Cruise travel to Alaska has surged by 78 percent over the past decade, and cruise passengers now account for roughly two-thirds of all summer visitors to the 49th state. The week lands right in peak Alaska travel season, when the ships are sailing, the whales are breaching, and the midnight sun is doing its golden-hour magic for hours on end.

As founder Meredith Tudor puts it, traveling to Alaska feels less like a typical vacation and more like a true expedition. With so many ships, sailing routes, and land tours available, people often do not know where to start. The week exists to give them that starting line: a friendly, no-pressure invitation to learn how Alaska cruising actually works before committing a dollar or a vacation day.

One of the week’s centerpieces is education. The observance encourages travelers to join free live online Q and A sessions with Alaska cruise experts, where they can learn the real differences between mega-ships and small expedition vessels, understand the nuances of sailing routes, and get honest answers about everything from cabin placement to motion sickness. It is like a travel fair that comes to your living room.

A big decision every Alaska cruiser faces is the itinerary shape. The classic choice is a round-trip Inside Passage cruise, sailing out and back through the sheltered waterway between the mainland and the coastal islands. The bolder option is a one-way Gulf of Alaska itinerary, which trades the round trip for the chance to add a land-based tour to Denali National Park. The week is the perfect time to compare the two and figure out which one matches your travel style.

The founders also recommend consulting a specialist, and they note that dedicated Alaska cruise planners typically offer their services complimentary. A good specialist can decode the best cabin placements, flag hidden-gem excursions, and steer you away from rookie mistakes, all at no extra cost. During the week, reaching out for that expert guidance is practically the official sport.

Then comes the fun part: building the bucket list. The week’s official suggestions read like an adventure novel’s table of contents, from helicopter flightseeing onto a glacier to dog sledding across the snow, from memorable whale watching tours to a historic train ride in Skagway, capped off with a traditional salmon bake. Researching these excursions during the week turns daydreaming into an itinerary.

Finally, the week invites everyone who has already sailed north to pay it forward. Travelers are encouraged to post their favorite photos of calving glaciers, breaching whales, and dramatic mountain vistas on social media with the hashtag #AlaskaCruiseWeek, inspiring the next wave of dreamers. From August 15 through August 21, 2027, whether you are booking, dreaming, or reminiscing, the week is your permission slip to think big, plan well, and set your sights on Alaska.

Understanding the ship choice is half the battle, and the week is built to help with exactly that. Mega-ships bring grand amenities, endless dining rooms, and entertainment around the clock, while small expedition vessels trade scale for intimacy, reaching narrower waterways and offering a closer connection to the landscape. Neither is the wrong answer. The week’s workshops help travelers match the vessel to their own idea of adventure, so the ship they board feels like it was chosen, not settled for.

For many travelers, the land portion is what turns a great cruise into an unforgettable journey. A one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing pairs naturally with a land-based tour to Denali National Park, adding tundra, wildlife, and North America’s tallest peak to a voyage already rich in glaciers and fjords. The week encourages dreamers to think beyond the gangway and consider the full arc of the trip, from embarkation day to the flight home.

Above all, the week is about momentum. Planning an Alaska cruise can feel like standing at the foot of a mountain, and the founders built this observance to be the first foothold. Attend one workshop. Ask one question. Sketch one rough itinerary. The vital first step does not have to be a booking; it just has to be a step. From August 15 through August 21, 2027, thousands of future cruisers will take theirs, and the glaciers will be waiting when they arrive.

The week’s real product is confidence. Choosing an Alaska cruise means weighing dozens of ships against scores of itineraries and a long list of excursions, and without guidance the options blur together. The observance was designed to turn that confusion into confidence, one answered question at a time. By the end of the week, a traveler who started out overwhelmed can know which sailing route fits, which ship size suits them, and which excursions are worth the splurge. That clarity is the whole point: a dream vacation should begin with excitement, not anxiety.

THE STORY BEHIND NATIONAL ALASKA CRUISE WEEK

📆 The 2026 Inaugural
Alaska Cruise Planning submitted the observance in 2026, and the first National Alaska Cruise Week was celebrated starting August 16, 2026.

👥 The Founders
Meredith and DeWayne Tudor of Alaska Cruise Planning, a brand under Simple Traveler Vacations in Ringgold, Georgia, created the week.

🌟 The 78 Percent Surge
Cruise travel to Alaska has surged 78 percent over the past decade, with cruise passengers making up roughly two-thirds of summer visitors.

⛳ The Itinerary Choice
Travelers choose between a classic round-trip Inside Passage cruise and a one-way Gulf of Alaska sailing with a Denali land tour.

📷 The Hashtag
Voyagers share glacier and whale photos with #AlaskaCruiseWeek to inspire the next wave of Alaska dreamers.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE

📱 Join a free workshop
Sign up for a free live online Q and A with Alaska cruise experts and learn the difference between mega-ships and small expedition vessels.

👥 Plan with friends
Gather your travel crew to compare Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska itineraries and build a shared bucket list of shore excursions.

📷 Share your voyage photos
Post your favorite glacier and whale photos with #AlaskaCruiseWeek to inspire the next wave of travelers dreaming of the 49th state.

Celebrate National Alaska Cruise Week

From August 15 through August 21, 2027, take that vital first step and start planning. Join a workshop, compare itineraries, talk to a specialist, and build the bucket list. Alaska is not just a trip. It is an expedition, and expeditions begin with a single week of wonderful planning.