Alaska

Get ready to be awed by a Brown Bear

This immense state has one of the highest populations of Brown Bear in North America, estimated at around 30,000. As luck would have it, there are plenty of places to seek out this famous species of brown bear, especially as they love Alaska’s coastal areas.

Icy Strait Point on Chichagof Island, for example, is a popular place for Brown Bear sightings, as is the beautiful Tracy Arm fjord. The good news is that with so many of these mighty and magnificent creatures living around the state, your chances of seeing one during an Alaskan holiday are surprisingly high.

Cultural carving: exploring Alaska Native totems

As you journey through the coastal areas of Alaska, you’ll likely notice the presence of towering totem poles. These colourful monuments, carved out of western red cedar logs, were created by the Indigenous Haida, Tsimshian and Tlingit tribes to commemorate the stories of the Alaska Native peoples.

The Mosquito Legend Pole in Sitka, for example, tells the Tlingit legend of Gooteekhl, which explains the origin of mosquitoes. Ketchikan’s Totem Bight State Park is a great place to see them in all their regal glory during your Alaska cruise. Certainly give yourself enough time to stop off at the Totem Heritage Center for an in-depth exploration of their significance and, not least, to see the incredible crafts of the Indigenous peoples of this land.

Whale watching, gold mines and glaciers: exploring Juneau

As Alaska’s capital city, there are myriad things to do in and around Juneau. Explore its historic streets on foot, learn about its storied past at the Alaska State Museum, or enjoy a hearty meal with a view at one of the many waterfront restaurants. Make sure to visit locally famous Red Dog Saloon during one of our Alaska cruises and take in this storied venue’s Gold Rush history and eclectic memorabilia that lines its walls.

The best thing about Juneau, though, has to be its unrivalled natural beauty and wildlife. Spot humpback whales in its nutrient-rich channels, go hiking up Mount Roberts or Mount Juneau, or explore some of the many glaciers at the sprawling 3,000-year-old Juneau Icefield – the most popular of which is, without doubt, Mendenhall Glacier. You can even combine history and nature by heading into the lush rainforest on a Gold Rush tour.

An Alaska cruise is the best way to explore the wilderness of this northernmost US state. Our ships travel the Inside Passage – a 500-mile network of waterways formed by glaciers millions of years ago – affording views of picturesque fjords, the vast Tongass National Forest and over 1,000 islands.

On an Alaska cruise from Seattle, you can glimpse these natural wonders from the ship or on planned excursions.

On a cruise to Alaska with Regal Cruises, you’ll sail past Tracy Arm fjord and bask in dramatic scenery: verdant cliffs, snow-covered mountains and floating icebergs.

Book an excursion to Mendenhall Glacier from state capital Juneau to see waterfalls, ice caves and salmon-filled creeks, or go whale watching to see majestic humpbacks. Wherever you visit on one of our Alaska cruises in 2026, you’re bound to see wildlife – Alaska is known for its Big 5: moose, bears, dall sheep, caribou and wolves.