Can you name the best Alaska cruise line in these five categories?

Luxury - Small luxury ship  $$$$
Luxury - Mid-sized ship  $$$$
Upmarket  $$$
Mid-priced  $$
Expedition  $$$$

I list and briefly describe them below. Click a cruise line's boldface name to visit its website for booking or for itineraries, prices and other information.

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Luxury - Small-sized ship

Under 500 passengers

Silversea Cruises uses its 382-passenger, all-balcony Silver Shadow ship for Alaska cruises. Not only is the Silver Shadow the best small-sized luxury ship sailing Alaska, it is the best overall in Alaska, edging out the Mariner.

I created a special 10-page section describing in words and photos my recent experience on the Silver Shadow on an Alaska cruise. Click this link to read it:

Why the Silver Shadow is special

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Luxury - Mid-sized ship

500 to 1000 passengers

Regent Seven Seas Cruises deploys two of its ships to Alaska for the summer, the Mariner and the Navigator. Both vessels have admirable service, foods, cabins, and public areas. The 700-passenger Mariner is the slightly better of the two and all its cabins have balconies.

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Upmarket

Celebrity Cruises is noticeably superior to the mid-priced lines in food, service, entertainment, and cabin space. The Infinity and Millennium are its top two ships sailing the Alaska cruise. Both accommodate about 2,000 passengers.

Upmarket runner-up: Holland America cruise line.

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Mid-priced

Royal Caribbean International has the best Alaska cruise ships in the mid-priced category. Many vacationers prefer it because its passengers makeup is balanced in terms of age, education and cultural interests - and people party, but not excessively. And children are more than welcomed. Its Alaska cruise ships include the Radiance of the Seas and the Rhapsody of the Seas.

Mid-priced runners-up: Princess and Carnival and Norwegian. Though not quite up to Royal Caribbean's performance, they are nonetheless fine cruise lines. Most vacationers have a great time on them in Alaska.

Like Royal Caribbean International, these cruise lines have large ships.

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Expedition

American Safari Cruises operates small vessels carrying 12 to 26 passengers.  American Safari Cruises appeals to the adventure traveler. The focus is on wildlife, wilderness, and conservation. The small size of their ships allows them to go places that bigger ships cannot go.  Rates are high, service is outstanding, and cabin space is small.

Expedition runner-up: Cruise West

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