Alaskan cruise ships are quite small compared to the giant vessels sailing the Caribbean, making them better suited to navigating narrow coves and small town ports — the best feel like floating bed-and-breakfasts. Cruises open up the vast 49th state, providing travelers with intimate experiences. From the comfort of the observation deck, you can see a glacier calve an enormous island of ice into Glacier Bay, a brown bear stand at full height, or a humpback whale's glistening tail surface from the deep. Travel + Leisure's writers and editors have sought out the best Alaskan cruises, evaluating routes, accommodations, cuisine, activities, and value.