7 reasons to go on a cruise to Alaska

Alaska is a fascinating landscape of contrasts full of glaciers, fjords, wild animals and beautiful nature. From next year onwards, it will also welcome Riviera Tour clients who will travel here with us to explore its unknown beauty on cruises with MSC Poesia.

Join us for a look at the 7 reasons why we have chosen this place as the next place to explore.

1. Tracy Arm - a fjord full of glaciers and waterfalls

One of Alaska's most impressive coastal gems. Tracy Arm is a narrow fjord south of Juneau, surrounded by steep rock walls and dotted with impressive waterfalls. It is part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Preservation Area, which was institutionally designated to preserve the natural state of the landscape. Pieces of ice often float in the lake and fjord and some are accompanied by the phenomenon of calving - that is, pieces of ice falling off the glacier into the water.

The fjord can only be reached by boat or seaplane, ensuring that the journey itself is part of the experience. The route often takes you through the Stephens Passage, across Holkham Bay, to the tributaries of the Tracy and Endicott Arms.

At the end of the fjord are the North and South Sawyer Glaciers, where you can watch huge chunks of ice break off and fall into the sea. If all goes well, we'll get close enough to themon our cruise with the MSC Poesia to see the turquoise-blue ice, the sinking blocks and the austere atmosphere of nature. From the deck of the ship, you'll also often get a glimpse of seals resting on the crabs and mountain goats on the surrounding cliffs.

2. Juneau - the capital city surrounded by wilderness

Juneau is one of the few world capitals you can't get to by road - only by boat or plane. It lies in the heart of the dense Tongass National Forest, making it one of the few cities that is also part of a coastal temperate rainforest, one of only a handful of such forests in the world.

Just a few kilometres from the city centre is the Mendenhall Glacier, which can be reached by a short bus or car ride. You can watch the glacier slowly recede at the lakeside overlook and walk along the trails to Nugget Falls.

Juneau has its roots in the Gold Rush of the 19th century. In 1880, gold was discovered here, which brought the first settlers and led to the rapid development of the town. The Historic Centre still retains the atmosphere of that era - you'll find old wooden houses, bars and museums.

3. The largest ice field in North America

Alaska is home to hundreds of glaciers, including the impressive Columbia Glacier or Hubbard Glacier. These giant ice masses offer unforgettable scenery and the chance to see what a "living" glacier looks like with your own eyes.

Columbia Glacier is the largest tidewater (coastal) glacier in North America. It is approximately 50 km long and up to 5 km wide. The glacier is known to have been dramatically shrinking since the 1980s. Experts estimate that it has already retreated by more than 20 km, making it one of the fastest retreating glaciers in the world.

Hubbard Glacier is about 122 km long, making it the longest tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. It is up to 10 km wide and the ice wall rises 60-90 metres above sea level.

Unlike many other Alaskan glaciers, Hubbard is not receding - instead, it is known for growing and advancing. At times it even blocks Russell Fjord when its face is pushed across the strait. This creates dramatic natural events - huge lakes that can then suddenly burst.

4. Rich wildlife

Alaska is an animal lover's paradise and offers a unique opportunity to see wildlife in its authentic form. In the mountains and on the coast, you can watch grizzly bears and black bears fishing for salmon in the rivers in summer, while stad caribou and moose graze on the tundra.

On the rocky slopes there are fat-tailed sheep and mountain goats, which climb bravely in terrain where one would hardly dare. The coastal waters then beckon for sightings of humpback whales, killer whales or seal colonies resting on ice floes. Circling above it all are the white-headed eagles, which are widespread in Alaska and one of its symbols.

This diversity and the availability of wildlife up close is one of the most powerful experiences that makes a visit to Alaska so special.

5. Denali National Park and the highest mountain in North America

Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, rises to a height of 6,190 metres and is a majestic symbol of the Alaskan wilderness. The national park offers extensive tundra, mountain ranges, rivers and lakes as well as hundreds of miles of hiking trails.

The original inhabitants of the area around Mount Denali were Koyukon, who called the mountain "Tenada", meaning "Great" or "High". In 1896, however, gold prospector William Dickey renamed it "Mount McKinley" in honour of then-presidential candidate William McKinley. This name was officially recognized by the U.S. government until 2015, when President Barack Obama returned the original name to "Denali", in accordance with the wishes of the original inhabitants. However, in 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the name to revert back to "Mount McKinley", which sparked controversy and opposition from the indigenous people and some politicians.

The climb up the mountain is considered one of the most challenging in the world due to extreme conditions such as low temperatures, strong winds and high altitude. In 1967, one of the most tragic mountaineering accidents in the U.S. occurred on the mountain when seven climbers died during a heavy blizzard.

6. Aurora Borealis

Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This phenomenon occurs when particles of the solar wind hit the Earth's magnetosphere and interact with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper atmosphere. The result is brilliant bands of light that change colours from green to purple to red and dance across the sky in constant motion.

The best time to watch is from September to April, when the nights are longest and the sky is darkest. Areas of Fairbanks, Anchorage and remote parts of northern Alaska offer a high probability of seeing auroras because they are far enough away from the light smog of cities.

Aurora viewing is not just a visual experience - many visitors describe the atmosphere as almost magical: the calm frozen plains, the silence and the thousands of lights dancing in the sky create an unforgettable impression. Warm clothing, a hot drink and patience are recommended for the ultimate experience, as the intensity of the phenomenon can vary throughout the night.

7. Long summer days and midnight sun

In northern Alaska, especially above the Arctic Circle, you can experience the fascinating phenomenon of the midnight sun in summer, when the sun doesn't set at all for weeks or months at a time. This phenomenon is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis - during the summer solstice, the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, giving areas above the Arctic Circle 24 hours of daylight.

The long light allows for all day activities: hiking, fishing, sailing, wildlife watching or just walking in the incredibly lit landscape. During these days, the landscape changes with the gentle sunlight, creating long shadows and highlighting the contours of mountains, fjords and glaciers.

The midnight sun is more than just a visual experience - it affects the biological rhythms of animals and humans as well. Visitors often describe the feeling of an endless day when the world and time seem suspended, giving Alaska an almost magical atmosphere.

Cruises to Alaska with transportation and a Riviera Tour delegate

Alaska is one of the parts of the world that has attracted more and more travellers in recent years. Join us for an unforgettable cruise among glaciers, narrow fjords and polar bears today.

This year and next year, you can join us on the following cruises to Alaska:

703 - Cruise to Alaska II.

Date: 11 - 21 July 2026

Price: 103 990 Kč

702 - Cruise to Alaska I.

Date: 8 - 18 August 2026

Price: 109 990 Kč