Alaska Cruise 2024: Complete Breakdown   Recently updated !

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Alaska has a way of calling you back. This was my third time heading up to the Last Frontier, and this trip was a little different — my wife had one big item on her bucket list: the Northern Lights. So in September 2024, we packed our bags, caught a Delta flight out of Salt Lake City, and made our way to Seattle to board Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas for a 7-day cruise through some of the most stunning scenery on the planet.

After a slower travel year in 2024, this cruise was a welcome adventure. We hit ports in Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau, explored national parks, climbed to a summit in the rain, found a great brewery tip from TikTok, and sailed on the biggest ship I had been on up to that point. Oh — and we did eventually look up at the sky one night and see something pretty special.

Read on for the full breakdown of the trip.

Overview & Planning

Before we even left home, there was some planning to do. Alaska in September is a different beast than Alaska in June — colder, wetter, and with a real shot at seeing the Northern Lights if you’re lucky.

Getting There — Seattle

We flew Delta out of Salt Lake City to Seattle, then made our way to Pier 91 to board the ship. Here’s how we got there and what the port experience was like.

The Ship — Quantum of the Seas

The Quantum of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean Quantum-class ship and, at the time, the biggest ship I had ever sailed on. Here’s everything you need to know about life on board.

Ship Decks

I walked every public deck on the Quantum and documented what you’ll find on each one. If you’re trying to figure out where something is before you sail, start here.

Food & Dining

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the Quantum of the Seas has plenty of options — from the free buffet to specialty restaurants that’ll cost you extra. Plus, we ate off the ship in Skagway at a spot my wife found on TikTok.

Port Stop — Sitka

Russia once owned Sitka, and you can still feel that history when you walk through the town. We booked a shore excursion to Sitka National Park and got a feel for what this small city in Southeast Alaska is all about.

Port Stop — Skagway

Skagway is a tiny town of about 1,200 people that gets absolutely flooded with cruise passengers every summer. We did a tour called “To the Summit” in the rain, then found a great lunch spot that didn’t disappoint.

Port Stop — Juneau

Juneau is Alaska’s capital city and one of the most unique capitals in the country — you can’t drive there. We explored the town on foot and hit the end-of-season sales.

Heading Home

All good things come to an end. Here’s how we wrapped up the cruise and got back to Salt Lake City.

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