Alaska Cruise vs Private Yacht Charter : Cost, Comfort & Experience Compared

If you're considering an Alaskan Cruise this upcoming summer you might be shocked to learn that a privately charted yacht will run you about the same price on average. Having taken an Alaskan Cruise twice through Royal Caribbean, and a Private Alaskan Yacht charter once, I'll break down the entire experience onboard each so you can make the best decision for your group!

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates.
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To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Cost Comparison & Breakdown

Like I mentioned above, the cost comparison between an Alaska Cruise and a Private Chartered Yacht actually run about the same price per person. According to Google, the average price for an Alaska Cruise runs about $1,000 for an interior room to upwards of $3,000 for a balcony room. This cruise price doesn't include Wifi, or any excursions, and only includes the buffet meals onboard.

Through Elysium Expeditions, the flat rate of 4 people for a 5 day expedition is $12,000 - which sounds like a lot but actually comes down to an even $3,000 per person. If you have a 5th or 6th person, they'll each have to pay an extra $600 per person per day, keeping the price at $3,000 per person.

This price includes onboard Wifi via Starlink, specially curated menus and meals all based on your preferences via a survey before you board, any soft drinks, and essentially the entire yacht to yourself (they only book one group on each expedition). Not to mention it also includes using their onboard kayaks, paddle boards, fishing poles and even crabbing pots (just make sure to have all the licenses you need!) all while having whale watching and glacier experiences built in almost daily.

Book Elysium Expeditions here!

My Favorite Tours near Juneau :
- Whale Watching
- Mendenhall Glacier Adventure
- Helicopter Ride & Icefield Landing

Onboard Experience & Comfort Compared

Cost itself is a huge factor, but comfort is just as important. I'll be honest, I've only ever stayed in the interior or window view rooms onboard Royal Caribbean's ships - so my opinion on comfort might be a little skewed. Onboard giant cruise ships, I've felt that rooms are very standard, and remind you a bit of an old motel room - old carpet, cracking tile, and lots of plastic. Onboard The Elysium, my husband and I's room felt elegant. We had ample storage and the wood accents made us feel so cozy - a complete 180 from our cruise room experience.

Although the rooms themselves on both the cruise and the yacht are different enough, another key difference was the onboard meals. I'll be honest, on cruises my husband and I only eat at the included restaurants - meaning lots of stops at the buffet and delicious 3 course dinners. Onboard our yacht we had a specially curated menu based on interests we had marked on the survey we were sent beforehand. Each meal focused on fresh ingredients, and everything was homemade - from the shrimp bisque to the sourdough pizza crust to the hummus on our snack boards.

Book your own Private Alaskan Yacht!

A key difference that my husband and I noted was the difference in views and wildlife viewing. On the cruises, we were lucky if we saw any wildlife, and because the cruise ships are so big the wildlife was difficult to spot from the open air decks. On the yacht, we were eye level with any wildlife and were able to get so much closer. We had whales appear within 50 feet from the yacht we were on, and were able to get so much closer to the fjords and cliffs we were passing by. Overall, each experience onboard our yacht went completely above and beyond - and since price points are fairly similar, I can only recommend choosing the more intimate and personalized experience onboard a privately chartered yacht in Alaska.

Watch my Yacht Adventures here!

Coming Soon!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Best Things to Do in Sitka
-> Best Things to Do in Juneau
-> 5 Day Alaska Yacht Itinerary

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