Alaska on Points: Cruises, Lodges, and the Last Frontier
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There's a moment on an Alaska cruise — usually somewhere between Juneau and Glacier Bay — when the ship rounds a headland and suddenly there it is. A wall of ice the color of blue Gatorade, calving into water so still it looks like mercury. A humpback whale surfaces fifty yards from the bow. Nobody says anything. Everybody just... watches.
Alaska does that to people. It's the one destination where even the most seasoned travelers become first-timers again — jaw dropped, phone forgotten, completely present. After decades of European capitals and Caribbean beaches, Alaska reminds you why you started traveling in the first place.
Here's the other thing Alaska does: it costs a fortune. A 7-day cruise for two with a balcony cabin averages $4,000–$8,000. Add flights to Seattle or Anchorage, a pre- or post-cruise land tour to Denali, and you're looking at $10,000–$18,000 for a couple before you buy a single moose ornament.
Unless you know the points game. And now, you do.
Let's plan your Alaska trip — the smart way.
When to Go: Alaska's Sweet Spot
Alaska's cruise and travel season runs from mid-May through mid-September, but the window is narrower than most people realize. Here's the breakdown:
| Timeframe | Weather | Wildlife | Crowds | Points Availability | WanderWise Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-May to early June | Cool (45–60°F), longer days, some rain | Bears emerging, whales arriving, eagles nesting | Low to moderate | Best | Our #1 pick — fewer crowds, great wildlife, and the best award availability |
| Late June to mid-July | Warmest (55–70°F), long daylight (18+ hrs) | Peak salmon runs = peak bear viewing | High — peak season | Limited | Magnificent, but book 10–11 months early |
| Late July to August | Warm, increasing rain | Whales abundant, bears fishing | High | Moderate | Great wildlife; book early |
| September | Cooler (40–55°F), shorter days, fall colors | Whales departing, bears fattening up | Low | Good | Beautiful shoulder season; northern lights possible |
The WanderWise move: Late May and early June offer the best combination of wildlife viewing, manageable weather, lower prices, and — critically — better award availability for flights and cruise bookings. If you're using points, this shoulder season is your sweet spot. September is also excellent if you don't mind cooler temps and a jacket.
Getting There: Flights to Alaska on Points
Most Alaska cruises depart from Seattle (SEA), though some sail round-trip from Vancouver (YVR) or one-way from Anchorage/Whittier. If you're adding a land tour to Denali, you'll want to fly into (or out of) Anchorage (ANC).
Domestic Flights to Seattle or Anchorage
| Route | Program | Points (Round Trip) | Cash Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major US City → Seattle | United MileagePlus (via Chase UR) | 25,000–35,000 | $300–$600 | Alaska Airlines or United metal |
| Major US City → Seattle | Alaska Mileage Plan | 25,000–30,000 | $300–$600 | Nonstop from most hubs |
| Major US City → Anchorage | Alaska Mileage Plan | 30,000–40,000 | $400–$800 | Nonstop from Seattle, connections elsewhere |
| Major US City → Anchorage | Delta SkyMiles (via Amex MR) | 30,000–50,000 | $400–$800 | Nonstop from SEA, MSP, and SLC seasonally |
| Any US City → Seattle/Anchorage | Capital One Miles | Varies | Varies | Portal booking at 1¢/mile |
The WanderWise move: Alaska Airlines dominates routes to both Seattle and Anchorage, and their Mileage Plan program offers excellent value for domestic awards. You can't transfer Chase or Amex points directly to Alaska Mileage Plan, but you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska at a 3:1 ratio (60,000 Bonvoy = 20,000 Alaska miles, plus you get a 5,000-mile bonus on transfers of 60,000+, making it 25,000 Alaska miles). Not the most efficient transfer, but useful if you have a surplus of Bonvoy points.
The simpler play: transfer Chase UR to United MileagePlus and book Alaska Airlines flights through the Star Alliance partnership. Or use your Chase Sapphire points through the Chase Travel portal at 1.25–1.5¢ per point — a round-trip to Seattle priced at $450 costs just 30,000 points through the Sapphire Reserve portal.
Open-jaw tip for cruisers: Many Alaska cruises are one-way — Seattle to Anchorage (or vice versa). Book an open-jaw award ticket: fly into Seattle, cruise to Whittier/Seward, then fly home from Anchorage. United and Alaska both allow open-jaw itineraries on award tickets at no extra cost. This is the smart way to do it — no backtracking, no wasted days.
The Alaska Cruise: Points Strategies for Holland America, Princess, and More
Alaska cruising is different from Caribbean cruising in one important way: the experience is the destination. You're not hopping off at a beach. You're witnessing glaciers, fjords, and wildlife from the deck. The ship itself matters enormously — you want big windows, good naturalist programs, and fellow travelers who are there for the scenery, not the waterslide.
That's why Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are the WanderWise picks for Alaska. Both cater to a 55+ demographic, both run Alaska as their signature itinerary, and both can be booked using points.
Strategy 1: Book Through Your Card's Travel Portal
The most straightforward approach — and it works with any cruise line.
| Card/Program | How It Works | Value Per Point | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Book any cruise via Chase Travel portal | 1.5¢/point | $6,000 cruise for two = 400,000 points |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Book via Chase Travel portal | 1.25¢/point | $6,000 cruise for two = 480,000 points |
| Capital One Venture X | Book anywhere, erase the charge | 1¢/mile | $6,000 cruise for two = 600,000 miles |
| Amex Platinum | Book via Amex Travel cruise desk | 1¢/point | $6,000 cruise for two = 600,000 points |
The WanderWise move: If you have a large points balance (400,000+), booking the entire cruise through the Chase portal with a Sapphire Reserve is clean and simple. But most people don't have that many points earmarked for one trip. Which brings us to...
Strategy 2: Use Points for Flights, Pay Cash for the Cruise (Our Recommendation)
This is the same hybrid strategy we love for river cruises — and it's even more powerful for Alaska because cruise lines frequently offer promotions, onboard credits, and early-booking discounts when you book directly.
The math:
| Component | Points Cost (Two People) | Cash Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flights (open-jaw: SEA → ANC) | 50,000–70,000 Chase UR via United | $600–$1,200 |
| Pre-cruise hotel in Seattle (1 night) | 12,000–25,000 Hyatt points | $200–$400 |
| Post-cruise hotel in Anchorage (1 night) | 8,000–15,000 Hyatt points | $150–$300 |
| Total points spent | 70,000–110,000 | $950–$1,900 saved |
Then book the cruise directly with Holland America or Princess, where you'll get the best cabin selection, onboard credit promotions, and flexibility to choose your stateroom category. A 7-day inside passage cruise on Holland America (balcony cabin) runs $1,800–$3,500 per person depending on season and timing.
Strategy 3: The Holland America & Princess Credit Card Play
Both cruise lines offer co-branded credit cards:
- Holland America Line Rewards Visa (Barclays): Earn rewards redeemable for Holland America cruise credits. 2 points per dollar on HAL purchases, 1 point elsewhere.
- Princess Cruises Rewards Visa (Barclays): Similar structure for Princess sailings.
The WanderWise take: These are fine as secondary cards if you're loyal to one cruise line, but we don't recommend them as your primary travel card. The earning rates are modest, and the rewards are locked to one cruise line. You'll earn travel value faster with a flexible card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold, then use those points toward flights, hotels, and even cruise portal bookings.
Top Alaska Cruise Itineraries
The Inside Passage (7 Days) — Holland America Koningsdam or Nieuw Amsterdam:
- Seattle → Juneau → Skagway → Glacier Bay → Ketchikan → Seattle
- Highlights: Glacier Bay (a full day of glacier viewing), whale watching in Icy Strait, gold rush history in Skagway
- Balcony cabin: $2,000–$3,500/person | Inside: $1,200–$2,000/person
- Best for: First-time Alaska cruisers who want the classic experience
Glacier Discovery (7 Days) — Princess Royal Princess or Grand Princess:
- Seattle or Vancouver → Juneau → Skagway → Glacier Bay → Ketchikan → Seattle/Vancouver
- Some sailings add Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord (one-way to Whittier)
- Balcony cabin: $1,800–$3,200/person | Inside: $1,100–$1,800/person
- Best for: Those who want glacier variety and Princess's excellent naturalist programming
Beyond the Cruise: Denali and Lodge Country
Here's what most first-time Alaska visitors miss: the cruise is only half the story. The other half — and many would say the better half — happens on land, in the interior, where Denali National Park holds court over six million acres of raw wilderness.
Getting to Denali
From Anchorage, Denali is a 4.5-hour drive north on the Parks Highway — one of the most scenic drives in North America. You can also take the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Denali (a spectacular 8-hour journey in glass-domed cars that is itself a bucket-list experience; ~$250–$400/person one-way for GoldStar service).
Points play: Rent your car using Chase UR through the portal, or use your Sapphire Reserve's primary car rental insurance for peace of mind on Alaska's roads.
Lodge Stays on Points
Denali-area lodges range from rustic cabins to full-service resorts. Points options are more limited than in major cities, but a few solid choices exist:
| Lodge / Hotel | Program | Points/Night | Cash Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge (Pursuit Collection) | Book via Chase/Amex portal | ~20,000–30,000 UR (at 1.5¢) | $300–$450 | Stunning Denali views; classic Alaska lodge |
| McKinley Chalet Resort (Pursuit Collection) | Book via Chase/Amex portal | ~16,000–25,000 UR (at 1.5¢) | $250–$375 | Right at Denali park entrance |
| SpringHill Suites Fairbanks | Marriott Bonvoy | 20,000–30,000 | $180–$280 | Good Fairbanks base; modern rooms |
| Hyatt Place Fairbanks (if available seasonally) | Hyatt | 8,000–12,000 | $150–$250 | Budget-friendly on points |
The WanderWise move: Alaska's best lodges (Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Denali Backcountry Lodge) aren't in traditional loyalty programs — they're operated by tour companies like Pursuit or Princess. The play: book them via the Chase Travel portal at 1.5¢/point (Sapphire Reserve) or use Capital One miles as a statement credit. Two nights at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge: ~$700 cash or ~47,000 Chase UR points. That lodge has one of the most spectacular views of Denali on the planet — on a clear day, the mountain fills your entire window.
What to Do at Denali (3-Day Highlight Reel)
- Day 1: The Tundra Wilderness Tour — A 6–8 hour narrated bus tour deep into the park on the single road (private vehicles can only go the first 15 miles). You'll see grizzlies, moose, Dall sheep, caribou — and, if skies cooperate, the full massif of Denali at 20,310 feet. Book early; this sells out months ahead.
- Day 2: Flightseeing — A small-plane or helicopter flight around Denali is genuinely one of the most awe-inspiring experiences available to travelers anywhere. 60–90 minute flights run $300–$500/person. Some include a glacier landing. Worth every penny (or point — book via portal).
- Day 3: River rafting or hiking — The Nenana River offers Class III–IV rapids for the adventurous, or mellow scenic floats for those who prefer to keep their coffee dry. Alternatively, hike the Savage River Loop (an easy, gorgeous 2-mile trail) or the Horseshoe Lake Trail for quiet wildlife viewing.
The WanderWise Alaska Itinerary: 7-Day Cruise + 3-Day Denali
Here's how we'd build the ultimate Alaska trip for a couple — combining the classic Inside Passage cruise with a Denali land extension.
Day-by-Day
| Day | Location | Activity | Where to Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | Arrive, explore Pike Place Market, seafood dinner at Elliott's | Hyatt Regency Seattle (12,000–20,000 pts) |
| 2 | At Sea (embark) | Board Holland America Koningsdam, settle into balcony cabin | Cruise |
| 3 | Juneau | Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching excursion | Cruise |
| 4 | Skagway | White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, gold rush history | Cruise |
| 5 | Glacier Bay | Full day of glacier viewing from the ship (naturalist narration) | Cruise |
| 6 | At Sea | Spa day, Alaska documentary screenings, wildlife spotting from deck | Cruise |
| 7 | Ketchikan | Totem poles, Creek Street, salmon hatchery | Cruise |
| 8 | Disembark in Whittier/Seward → Anchorage | Alaska Railroad scenic train to Anchorage | Hotel in Anchorage (Marriott, 25,000–35,000 Bonvoy pts) |
| 9 | Anchorage → Denali | Drive Parks Highway to Denali (or Alaska Railroad GoldStar) | Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge (via portal, ~$350/night) |
| 10 | Denali | Tundra Wilderness Tour + flightseeing | Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge |
| 11 | Denali → Anchorage → Home | Morning hike, drive to Anchorage, evening flight home | — |
Total Budget Breakdown (Two People)
| Category | Points | Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (open-jaw: home → SEA, ANC → home) | 60,000 Chase UR (via United) | $11.20 taxes |
| Pre-cruise hotel (Seattle, 1 night) | 15,000 Hyatt points | $0 |
| 7-day Holland America cruise (balcony cabin) | — | $5,000–$7,000 |
| Alaska Railroad (Whittier → Anchorage) | — | $250–$400 |
| Post-cruise hotel (Anchorage, 1 night) | 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy | $0 |
| Denali lodge (2 nights via portal) | 47,000 Chase UR | $0 |
| Denali excursions (bus tour + flightseeing) | — | $800–$1,200 |
| Car rental (3 days, Anchorage–Denali) | — | $250–$400 |
| Totals | ~152,000 points | $6,300–$9,000 cash |
What this trip would cost without points: $9,500–$13,500 for two people (adding $1,200–$1,800 for flights, $400+ for hotels in Seattle/Anchorage, and full-price lodge rates).
Your savings: $2,500–$4,500 in real money, plus the satisfaction of knowing you traveled smarter than 95% of the passengers on that ship.
Wildlife Viewing Tips (Because That's Really Why You're Going)
- Whales: Peak season is June through August. Juneau and Icy Strait Point are the best ports for humpback sightings. Book a whale watching excursion independently (not through the cruise line — it's half the price).
- Bears: Grizzlies are most active during salmon runs (July–September). For serious bear viewing, consider adding a day trip to Katmai National Park or Pack Creek on Admiralty Island (near Juneau).
- Eagles: They're everywhere. No, really — Alaska has more bald eagles than the rest of the US combined. Juneau and Ketchikan are especially thick with them.
- Moose and caribou: Denali is your best bet. The Tundra Wilderness Tour nearly guarantees sightings.
- Binoculars are mandatory. Bring good ones, not your phone. A $100 pair of compact binoculars will transform your wildlife experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alaska too cold for a summer cruise?
Not at all. Summer temperatures in Southeast Alaska (the Inside Passage) average 55–65°F — similar to San Francisco. Pack layers: a waterproof jacket, a fleece, and a warm hat for glacier viewing. You won't need a parka.
Should I book a balcony cabin?
Yes. This is one cruise where a balcony genuinely matters. Glacier calving, whale spouting, and mountain vistas happen at random — having a private outdoor space to watch from is worth the upgrade. If points are tight, a porthole window (oceanview) is the minimum.
Can I do Denali without a car?
Yes, but it's less flexible. The Alaska Railroad connects Anchorage to Denali (no car needed), and shuttle buses operate within the park. If you prefer not to drive, the railroad is a gorgeous alternative — just book GoldStar dome service for the full experience.
How far in advance should I book?
For the cruise: 8–12 months out for the best cabin selection and early-booking promotions. For Denali bus tours and flightseeing: 3–6 months out. For award flights: 10–11 months out for peak summer availability.
Your Alaska Action Plan
- Check your points balances across Chase, Amex, Marriott, and Hyatt. You need roughly 150,000 flexible points for the flight-and-hotel components of this trip.
- Pick your dates. Late May/early June for the best award availability and smaller crowds. Late July/August for peak wildlife and warmest weather.
- Book flights first — open-jaw award tickets into Seattle, out of Anchorage.
- Book the cruise directly with Holland America or Princess for the best promotions and cabin selection.
- Book Denali excursions 3–6 months ahead. The Tundra Wilderness Tour sells out.
- Read our Best Credit Cards for 55+ if you need to build your points balance — one sign-up bonus can cover most of the flights and hotels for this trip.
- Join our Facebook Group — our Alaska planning threads are full of members sharing cabin tips, excursion reviews, and real-time availability alerts.
Alaska doesn't wait for anyone. The glaciers are receding. The salmon runs are shifting. The wilderness is still wild, but the clock is ticking. Go now, go smart, and go on points.
The last frontier is calling. Answer it.
Have questions about planning your Alaska trip on points? Drop them in our Facebook Group — our community of smart travelers over 55 is ready to help. Or take our Travel Score Quiz to see how your points stack up for the trip of a lifetime.