Virgin Voyages Alaska 2028: Every Brilliant Lady Sailing, and How to Plan It from the UK

We sailed Brilliant Lady’s very first Alaska season in May 2026, and Alaska has fast become one of the trips our UK Sailors ask about most. This guide walks you through every 2028 sailing, helps you pick the right one and plans the long-haul bit around it.

Virgin Voyages Alaska 2028 at a glance

• Ship: Brilliant Lady, Virgin’s newest Lady.
• Season: 1 May to 14 September 2028.
• Sailings: 18 departures across five itineraries.
• Home port: Seattle, with Vancouver only at the very start (1 May) and very end (7 September) of the season.
• On sale: general booking opens 12 November 2026. Get in touch and we’ll add you to our list to book as soon as it goes on sale.
• Book with us: our bonus Sailor Loot on top of Virgin’s own offers, and Gold Tier First Mates who have sailed Brilliant Lady in Alaska.
• Prices: UK fares in pounds aren’t out yet. They’re released when booking opens, and we’ll quote you the moment they are.
• Every sailing travels through the Inside Passage and calls at Victoria, British Columbia, on the way home.

Why Virgin is our top pick for Alaska

Most lines sailing Alaska are traditional, and that’s fine. But if you want a fun, younger-feeling way to do Alaska that takes the faff out of it, Virgin is now our number one recommendation.

We’ve also done Alaska with Holland America. We had a lovely time, but found ourselves a bit bored: the ship wasn’t really our vibe and suits a more mature cruiser. Virgin attracts a wide mix of ages, and on Brilliant Lady we felt far more ourselves. We dressed how we wanted and relaxed how we wanted.

Virgin has done an incredible job with the Alaska programme too:

• Shore Things made with local businesses, including exclusive experiences and extras you won’t find elsewhere.
• No padding. Shore Things aren’t stuffed with pointless shopping stops, so you go straight to the activity you booked. More time exploring, better value.
• Extra onboard events for Alaska, with more Happenings and guests than a typical sailing.

Watch: Alaska on Virgin Voyages

Before you choose a sailing, here’s our video from Brilliant Lady’s first Alaska season: what it’s really like on board, the ports, the glacier days and what we’d tell anyone before booking.

Find your 2028 Alaska sailing

All 18 departures in one place. Filter by month, length or glacier, then tap the itinerary to see it day by day.

What stands out for 2028

• Hubbard Glacier is rare. Only three of the 18 sailings go there. They will be the first to sell, especially the 12-night on 13 July.
• Juneau and Skagway are only on two sailings (1 May and 13 July). The 7-night round trips skip them, so if the White Pass railway or Juneau’s whales are a must, choose one of those two.
• Haines on the longer sailings. It features on the 9 and 12-night sailings, a quieter, more local-feeling stop than the bigger ports.
• Victoria every time. A proper stop in a walkable harbour city to finish each voyage.

The five 2028 Alaska itineraries, day by day

1 May: Vancouver to Seattle, 10 nights

Virgin’s name: Alaska: Hubbard, Inside Passage & Juneau · Code: 10NJSSH · Departs: Monday 1 May 2028 · Returns: Thursday 11 May 2028

Day	Port
1	Vancouver, British Columbia (embark)
2	At sea
3	Juneau, Alaska
4	Skagway, Alaska
5	Sitka, Alaska
6	Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising)
7	Icy Strait Point, Alaska
8	Ketchikan, Alaska
9	At sea
10	Victoria, British Columbia
11	Seattle, Washington (disembark)

Why it stands out: the only 2028 sailing that starts in Vancouver, and the only May date with Hubbard Glacier. You get every big-name port in one go: Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan. Early May brings snow on the peaks, waterfalls in full flow and quieter ports.

Who it suits: first-timers who want the lot, and anyone who’d like a proper two-centre holiday with a few days in Vancouver first.

Our tip: fly into Vancouver two nights early (you’ll need a Canada eTA) and home from Seattle. This is the sailing we’d book ourselves. As Destination Vancouver specialists, we can plan the city stay too.

7-night Seattle round trips: Inside Passage and Glacial Fjords

Virgin’s name: Alaska: Inside Passage & Glacial Fjords · Code: 7NKSEV · Departs: 11, 18, 25 May · 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 June · 6 July · 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 August 2028

Day	Port
1	Seattle, Washington (embark)
2	At sea
3	Ketchikan, Alaska
4	Sitka, Alaska
5	Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (scenic cruising)
6	At sea
7	Victoria, British Columbia
8	Seattle, Washington (disembark)

Why it stands out: 14 dates to choose from, the simplest flights (in and out of Seattle) and a dramatic fjord day at Endicott Arm, with waterfalls and floating ice right up to the Dawes Glacier face.

Who it suits: a first taste of Alaska, a shorter break, or fitting a trip around school holidays (the August dates).

Our tip: these sailings skip Juneau and Skagway, so make Ketchikan and Sitka count. Book a wildlife or totem Shore Thing early, and add a couple of nights in Seattle or Vancouver to make the long-haul worth it.

13 July: Seattle round trip, 12 nights

Virgin’s name: Alaska: Hubbard, Inside Passage & Juneau · Code: 12NKSIH · Departs: Thursday 13 July 2028 · Returns: Tuesday 25 July 2028

Day	Port
1	Seattle, Washington (embark)
2	At sea
3	Ketchikan, Alaska
4	Sitka, Alaska
5	Icy Strait Point, Alaska
6	Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising)
7	Haines, Alaska
8	Juneau, Alaska
9	Skagway, Alaska
10	At sea
11	At sea
12	Victoria, British Columbia
13	Seattle, Washington (disembark)

Why it stands out: the longest and most complete Alaska sailing of 2028. Seven Alaska stops, including Juneau, Skagway and Haines, plus Hubbard Glacier, in the warmest weeks of summer. Two sea days on the way home to enjoy the ship.

Who it suits: the once-in-a-lifetime Alaska trip, and anyone flying from the UK who wants the long-haul to feel truly worth it.

Our tip: this is likely to be the first 2028 sailing to sell out. Get in touch and we’ll add you to our list, so we can book it the moment it’s live.

25 July: Seattle round trip, 9 nights

Virgin’s name: Alaska: Hubbard Glacier & Inside Passage · Code: 9NSHHI · Departs: Tuesday 25 July 2028 · Returns: Thursday 3 August 2028

Day	Port
1	Seattle, Washington (embark)
2	At sea
3	Sitka, Alaska
4	Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising)
5	Haines, Alaska
6	Icy Strait Point, Alaska
7	Ketchikan, Alaska
8	At sea
9	Victoria, British Columbia
10	Seattle, Washington (disembark)

Why it stands out: Hubbard Glacier, Haines and Icy Strait Point in nine nights, right in the heart of summer.

Who it suits: anyone who wants the big glacier without committing to 12 nights.

Our tip: Icy Strait Point is home to the ZipRider, one of the longest ziplines in the world. We did it in 2026 and it’s no joke (watch our ride on YouTube).

7 September: Seattle to Vancouver, 7 nights

Virgin’s name: Alaska: Seattle to Vancouver · Code: 7NKSEV2 · Departs: Thursday 7 September 2028 · Returns: Thursday 14 September 2028

Day	Port
1	Seattle, Washington (embark)
2	At sea
3	Ketchikan, Alaska
4	Sitka, Alaska
5	Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (scenic cruising)
6	At sea
7	Victoria, British Columbia
8	Vancouver, British Columbia (disembark)

Why it stands out: the season finale, ending in Vancouver. Early autumn brings golden colour, quieter ports and a relaxed end-of-season feel on board.

Who it suits: anyone who wants to finish with time in Canada, perhaps adding the Rockies or Whistler afterwards.

Our tip: arriving in Canada by ship means you don’t need an eTA for that part of the trip. Stay on in Vancouver for a few nights, and fly home from there.

New to Alaska cruising? Our first-time guide to cruising Alaska and our Virgin Voyages Alaska review from the very first sailing go deeper into what to expect.

How to choose your Alaska route

1. Decide on your glacier day

This is the biggest single difference between 2028 sailings, so start here.

• Hubbard Glacier: the showstopper. A huge tidewater glacier at the head of Disenchantment Bay. In 2028 it is only on the 1 May, 13 July and 25 July sailings.
• Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier: a narrow, steep-sided fjord with waterfalls and floating ice, on all the 7-night sailings. Virgin has used it in place of Tracy Arm since its first Alaska season in 2026, because of landslide risk at Tracy Arm.

Glacier days depend on ice and weather, and the captain can change the plan on the day. Pack layers, find your spot early, and enjoy the quiet.

2. Pick your ports

Every 2028 sailing calls at Ketchikan, Sitka and Victoria. The longer sailings add Icy Strait Point and Haines, and the 1 May and 13 July sailings add Juneau and Skagway.

Juneau can be a tender port, and it was when we called there in May 2026. Book a tender slot where you can, and plan Shore Things with that in mind. On that sailing we booked a Sitka Shore Thing and a Juneau whale-watching and Mendenhall Glacier Shore Thing through the Sailor App before we sailed, and we’d do the same again for the most popular trips. Virgin’s Alaska Shore Things skip the shopping stops and take you straight to the activity, so you get more time at the good bit. Our Ketchikan and Sitka port guides go deeper, alongside our Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point guides.

3. One-way or round trip?

Round trip from Seattle is simplest. One flight in, one flight out, same airport. On disembarkation day we usually carry our own bags off so we can leave the ship as late as possible, then head straight to the airport.

One-way to or from Vancouver is only possible on 1 May (Vancouver to Seattle) or 7 September (Seattle to Vancouver) in 2028. Both are great for adding a few days in Canada. The 1 May sailing is the pick of the season if you can travel then: 10 nights, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau and Skagway, and a Vancouver stay before you sail. As Destination Vancouver specialists, this is the one we’d book.

4. How long can you go for?

A 7-night sailing is a great taster, and there are 14 dates to choose from. If you are flying nine or ten hours each way, though, the 9, 10 or 12-night sailings make the long-haul more worthwhile, and they are the ones with Hubbard Glacier.

When is the best time to sail Alaska in 2028?

• May (1, 11, 18, 25): snow still on the peaks, waterfalls in full flow, fewer people in port and often the best value. Pack proper layers. The 1 May sailing is the only May date with Hubbard Glacier.
• June: long, light evenings (it barely gets dark in the north), wildlife busy and the weather settling. Five 7-night dates to choose from.
• July: the warmest month and peak season, with both long Hubbard Glacier sailings (13 and 25 July). Book these early.
• August: still warm and green, salmon running and bears feeding, five more 7-night dates. Good for UK school holidays.
• September (7): the season closer to Vancouver, with autumn colour and quieter ports.

Weather in Alaska changes by the hour in any month, so whatever you pick, bring a waterproof and a warm layer.

Getting there from the UK

Flights to Seattle

Virgin’s Alaska home port is Seattle, so for almost every 2028 sailing you’ll fly into Seattle-Tacoma (SEA). Non-stop flights run from London Heathrow with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta and Alaska Airlines, and take around ten hours. Airlines haven’t released their summer 2028 schedules yet, so we’ll confirm the best options when we quote.

From Manchester, Edinburgh or other regional airports, you’ll usually connect via Heathrow, Amsterdam, Dublin or a US hub. Seattle is eight hours behind the UK in summer, so you land the same afternoon or evening you leave.

Only the 1 May and 7 September sailings use Vancouver, and it has its own non-stops from Heathrow with British Airways and Air Canada. On any other sailing, you won’t need to go near Vancouver at all.

Arrive at least a day early

Always fly in at least one day before you sail, and two if you can. Long-haul delays happen, and the ship will not wait. An extra night also gives you a chance to beat the jet lag before embarkation day.

A pre-cruise stay in Vancouver

On a Seattle round trip you can still add Vancouver if you fancy it. Fly in, spend a couple of nights, then take the Amtrak Cascades train down to Seattle (about four hours, usually twice a day) or a coach. You’ll need a Canada eTA for that flight. Stanley Park, Granville Island and the seawall are all easy wins after a long-haul. Our Vancouver pre-cruise guide has the 48-hour plan we followed.

What embarkation day was like for us

When we sailed from Canada Place in May 2026, check-in was quick, but customs was slower because Disney and Virgin guests were processed together. Once through, we were on board in about half an hour, and the sail-away bubbles (30 minutes of free bubbles at sail-away on every ship) made a perfect start. You can read the full story in our Virgin Voyages Alaska review.

Passports and travel documents

On a UK passport you’ll need an approved ESTA for the US, plus a Canada eTA if you fly into Vancouver. Entry rules can change, so check the latest GOV.UK travel advice before you go.

Food, drink and money on board

Alaska days are long and chilly on deck, so the food matters. We have shared what we ate on our sailing in our Virgin Voyages Alaska menus guide, and you can browse all six included restaurants in our restaurants guide.

Everything on board is charged in US dollars, and gratuities are no longer included in the fare for new bookings. Our guide to pounds, dollars and paying on board explains how to keep costs clear.

Fly-cruise packages and ATOL protection

When we put your flights, hotel and cruise together as one package, the whole holiday is ATOL protected. That means if something goes wrong with a supplier, you are not left stranded or out of pocket. It also means one point of contact if a flight changes. We can add the Vancouver hotel, transfers and even a train to Seattle so the whole trip runs on time.

If you only want the cruise, we can still help, and your booking is covered by our PTS protection.

Want company? Our 2027 hosted group

If you would rather not wait for 2028, we are hosting a Brilliant Lady group from Vancouver to Los Angeles in 2027, the Pacific Coast sailing that follows the Alaska season. We sailed this route ourselves in September 2026, a food and drink focused Festival of Senses voyage, so we know exactly what’s in store. See the details on our Pacific Coastal group cruise 2027 page.

FAQs

When does Virgin Voyages Alaska 2028 go on sale? General booking opens on 12 November 2026. Get in touch and we’ll add you to our list to book as soon as it goes on sale, which matters most for the three Hubbard Glacier sailings.

What’s the best 2028 Alaska sailing for a first-timer from the UK? If you can go in early May, the 10-night Vancouver to Seattle on 1 May. It has Hubbard Glacier, Juneau and Skagway and a Vancouver stay before you sail. In peak summer, the 12-night on 13 July is the most complete trip.

How much does a Virgin Voyages Alaska 2028 cruise cost? UK prices in pounds are released when booking opens on 12 November 2026. Expect the 7-night sailings to be the most affordable and the Hubbard Glacier sailings to sell fastest. Get in touch and we’ll add you to our list, then send you a price in pounds as soon as it goes on sale, with flights if you want them.

Can I book Virgin Voyages Alaska 2028 with flights from the UK? Yes. We can package Brilliant Lady with flights to Seattle or Vancouver, hotels and transfers, and the whole holiday is ATOL protected.

Which Virgin ship sails Alaska? Brilliant Lady. In 2028 she sails 18 voyages, mostly from Seattle, with one-way sailings from Vancouver on 1 May and to Vancouver on 7 September.

Which 2028 Alaska sailings visit Hubbard Glacier? Three: the 10-night Vancouver to Seattle on 1 May, the 12-night round trip on 13 July and the 9-night round trip on 25 July. All the 7-night sailings visit Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead.

Do I need an ESTA and an eTA for a Virgin Alaska cruise? Yes, on a UK passport you need an ESTA for the US, plus a Canada eTA if you fly into Vancouver. Check GOV.UK for the latest entry rules before you travel.

How many days early should I fly to Seattle or Vancouver? At least one night before, and ideally two. It protects you against flight delays and helps with the eight-hour time difference.

Is a fly-cruise to Alaska ATOL protected? Yes, when we book your flights and cruise together as a package, the whole holiday is ATOL protected.

Is Alaska on Virgin Voyages adults-only? Yes. All Virgin Voyages sailings are for Sailors aged 18 and over.

Plan it with us

We are Virgin Voyages Gold Tier First Mates with 100+ nights on board across all four ships, including Brilliant Lady’s first Alaska season. Tell us when you would like to go and we will match you to the right route, sort the flights and hotel, and keep it all protected. Call 07307 602030, email hello@magical-traveller.com, or get in touch here.