Cruise Ships Transport Travelers to National Parks

This article originally appeared in the April issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

When advisors plan a national parks vacation for their clients, they probably think first of a motorcoach tour. But cruise ships offer another way to see these parks, especially those located on the coasts. Here’s a look at some of the most popular US national parks visited by cruise ships in 2025, either directly or via shore excursions.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Cruise travelers have been coming to Glacier Bay since the late 19th century, when John Muir explored the area and wrote about its spectacular beauty. Today’s national park encompasses 3.3 million acres of protected biosphere including a migratory population of humpback whales. With its 11 tidewater glaciers that spill into the sea, Glacier Bay is one of the crown jewels of Alaska and has been part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Only a limited number of ships are allowed to enter the bay during the summer, with only two big ships permitted on any given day. Small-ship visitors may land on a beach for an impromptu hike through the wilderness or, in rare cases, spend a night in the park, allowing for two days of exploration.

Who goes there: Alaskan Dream Cruises, American Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, UnCruise Adventures and Viking Ocean Cruises.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Alaska

More than a hundred years ago, Skagway was the jumping off point for stampeders looking to make their fortune in the goldfields of Canada’s Yukon Territory. Today, cruise travelers can walk those same streets, which in some ways haven’t changed much from the days of the stampeders. Six blocks of the downtown area are an authentic historic district preserving the atmosphere of the 1890s, where clients can explore colorful false-front buildings, bars, museums and stores. More than 20 of the buildings are part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, including the historic depot of the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway, which now serves as the park’s visitor center.

Who goes there: American Cruise Lines, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises.

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

At the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula just beyond Seward lies Kenai Fjords National Park, a refuge of bird rookeries, tidewater glaciers, marine life and stunning scenery. Kenai Fjords is a unique land-and-sea national park. The land section is accessible by road, including Exit Glacier – one of Alaska’s “drive-up” glaciers – located just off the Seward Highway and a popular spot for hiking. Day trips through the park’s maritime region depart from the town’s small-boat harbor aboard sightseeing vessels, traveling through Resurrection Bay to reach the Gulf of Alaska. These may be included for passengers on cruise-tour itineraries and may also be available as an optional excursion.

Who goes there: Celebrity Cruises, HX Expeditions, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises, UnCruise Adventures and Viking Ocean Cruises.

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Hawaii’s Mount Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, is a sight to behold. For decades now, it has been erupting on and off, sending flaming streams of molten rock into the steaming sea. Cruise passengers can witness this impressive natural phenomenon from the deck of their cruise ship or private balcony, as many lines sail by the lava flows, often at night for an even more dramatic show. (Advisors can check the park’s website for current lava flow conditions). Another way to get close to the action is by taking a shore excursion inland to Volcanoes National Park. Ground tours depart from the cruise ship piers in Hilo or Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Helicopter tours take off from Hilo International Airport or Kona airport, depending on where the ship is docked.

Who goes there: Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, UnCruise Adventures and Viking Ocean Cruises

Acadia National Park, Maine

In the early 1600s, Acadia was the name given to France’s Colonial holdings in northeastern North America, taken from a Native word that meant “the place.” Today, that name lives on in an expansive and unspoiled wilderness area in coastal Maine known as Acadia National Park – one of the 10 most-visited national parks in the U.S. Among its attractions for cruise passengers are 33 miles of scenic roads perfect for motorcoach tours. Excursions into the park depart from the tender port of Bar Harbor and usually include stops at two of its most famous sights: the top of Cadillac Mountain, highest point on the eastern seaboard at 1,530 feet, and aptly named Thunder Hole, renowned for its rugged coastline and crashing waves.
Who goes there: American Cruise Lines, Azamara Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Pearl Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Viking Ocean Cruises.

Inland Parks

Although most national parks visited by cruise ships lie on the coast, several inland parks are accessible as well. Denali National Park in Interior Alaska is a stopover on virtually every cruise-tour itinerary between Anchorage and Fairbanks. In the Lower 48, Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton national parks are found on the land portion of American Cruise Lines’ 16-day “National Park & Legendary Rivers” cruisetour. Great Smoky is included in the line’s 12-day “Great Smoky Mountains National Park” cruise.

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