Virgin Voyages Alaska from Seattle
Brilliant Lady sails Alaska's Inside Passage from Seattle each summer. Here's embarkation day at Pier 91, plus what Alaska sailors wish they'd known.
The short answer
- Virgin sails from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, Pier 91, 2001 West Garfield St, Seattle.
- Sea-Tac airport is about 25 to 40 minutes away. Light rail does not reach Pier 91.
- On Alaska sailings, everyone must be 21+ to buy or drink alcohol.
- Pack layers and a packable rain jacket, and keep the glacier day free.
Getting to Pier 91
Virgin uses Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 in Interbay, just north of downtown. From Sea-Tac, a taxi or rideshare takes about 25 to 40 minutes. The Link light rail runs from the airport to downtown but not to Pier 91, so finish with a short ride. There is paid parking at the terminal.
How check-in works
- Finish "Ready to Sail" in the Virgin Voyages app for everyone in your cabin. You can only do it for sailors in your own cabin.
- Pick a Terminal Arrival Time in the app. Boarding generally starts around 2:15 pm, and arriving early does not get you on earlier.
- Arrive at your time with your passport and the credit card for your onboard account. Drop your tagged bags with the porters.
- Get your Band (the wristband that opens your cabin and pays for things) and walk on.
RockStar and Mega RockStar sailors get priority check-in. Sailors with Deep Blue Extras can arrive as early as 1:45 pm for priority boarding.
Getting your bags to the airport
On the last morning, Virgin’s port information lists a Port Valet service in Seattle that takes your checked bags from the ship to your flight at Sea-Tac, so you can spend the day without them (Virgin port information). Check eligibility for your airline when you book it.
What to pack for Alaska
- Layers. Decks and ports can be chilly even when it’s warm inside.
- A packable rain jacket you carry to every port. Not a bulky winter coat: it can be 68°F one day and wet the next.
- Binoculars for whales and glaciers.
- A small night-light for the bathroom.
- Comfortable waterproof shoes.
The glacier day: how not to miss it
The glacier day is the highlight of most Alaska sailings, and the timing can shift with weather and ice. Plan around it so you’re on deck when the ship is in position.
- Keep the scenic-cruising day free. Do not book a spa treatment or class that morning.
- Ask Sailor Services when you will reach the glacier (Endicott Arm, Tracy Arm or Hubbard, depending on your sailing).
- Check the app every day for timing updates. Ship-tracking sites help too.
Book these the day you board
Popular events can fill up, so open the app as soon as you are onboard and book.
- Up with a Twist, a five-course, five-drink dinner show in The Manor.
- Murder in the Manor and the popular trivia sessions.
I set my clients up with a day-one booking plan before they sail, so they are not refreshing the app on the pier.
Alaska rules to know
- Drinking and gaming age is 21 for everyone on Alaska itineraries, even in international waters.
- Passports: every Seattle round trip stops in Victoria, British Columbia. U.S. citizens on a round trip can use a state-issued birth certificate plus photo ID, but a passport card is not accepted (Virgin only takes it on Miami Caribbean sailings). I recommend a passport book. The one-way Seattle to Vancouver sailing needs a passport book. See my passport guide.
Every Virgin Alaska sailing
| Voyage | Ports | Dates | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska: Vancouver to Seattle 9 nights · Brilliant Lady | Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan Scenic: Inside Passage (Cruising), Hubbard Glacier (Cruising) | May 11, 2027 | $1,252 per person | See May 11, 2027 |
| Alaska: Inside Passage, Fjords & Juneau 7 nights · Brilliant Lady | Ketchikan, Juneau, Victoria Scenic: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier (Cruising) | May 20, 2027 | $1,079 per person | See May 20, 2027 |
| Alaska: Inside Passage & Glacial Fjords 7 nights · Brilliant Lady | Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria Scenic: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier (Cruising) | May 27, 2027, Jun 3, 2027, Jun 10, 2027 +8 more | $1,043 per person | See May 27, 2027 |
| Alaska: Inside Passage & Hubbard Glacier 12 nights · Brilliant Lady | Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Haines, Victoria Scenic: Hubbard Glacier (Cruising) | Aug 12, 2027 | $2,872 per person | See Aug 12, 2027 |
| Alaska: Inside Passage & Hubbard Glacier 9 nights · Brilliant Lady | Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Victoria Scenic: Hubbard Glacier (Cruising) | Aug 24, 2027 | $1,387 per person | See Aug 24, 2027 |
| Alaska: Seattle to Vancouver 8 nights · Brilliant Lady | Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Victoria Scenic: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier (Cruising) | Sep 2, 2027 | $1,272 per person | See Sep 2, 2027 |
| Pacific Coastal: Vancouver to LA 8 nights · Brilliant Lady | San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Catalina Island | Sep 10, 2027 | $1,043 per person | See Sep 10, 2027 |
Starting cabin fare per person, based on two sharing, before taxes, fees and gratuities, as of October 20, 2026. Fares change daily. The book buttons use my First Mate link, so I am attached to your reservation.
Alaska 2028: bookings open November 12
Virgin announced its 2028 Alaska season on October 27, 2026: 18 sailings on Brilliant Lady from Seattle and Vancouver, May 1 to September 14, 2028, across five itineraries (four of them new). Bookings open November 12, 2026, for all 18 sailings. Fares aren’t out yet, and I’ll add book buttons here the day they open.
| Voyage | Ports | Sails |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska: Hubbard, Inside Passage & Juneau 10 nights · Vancouver to Seattle | Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan Scenic: Hubbard Glacier | May 1, 2028 |
| Alaska: Inside Passage & Glacial Fjords 7 nights · Seattle round trip | Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria Scenic: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier | 14 sailings across the season |
| Alaska: Hubbard, Inside Passage & Juneau 12 nights · Seattle round trip | Ketchikan, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Haines, Juneau, Skagway Scenic: Hubbard Glacier | July 13, 2028 |
| Alaska: Hubbard Glacier & Inside Passage 9 nights · Seattle round trip | Includes Sitka and Haines, plus extra sea days Scenic: Hubbard Glacier | July 25, 2028 |
| Alaska: Inside Passage & Glacial Fjords 7 nights · Seattle to Vancouver | Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria Scenic: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier | September 7, 2028 |
The May 1 and September 7 sailings are one-way between Seattle and Vancouver, so plan on a passport book. Details from Virgin’s 2028 Alaska announcement.
Seattle before you sail
Nothing strike your fancy? Explore other partners
- Originals by GetYourGuide SEATTLE Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour on GetYourGuide, rated 4.9 by 1,119 travelers, 2 hours, from $75
- Seattle Highlights City Tour on Shore Excursions Group, 4 Hours, from $150.99
- Half Day Seattle Tour With Private Transportation on Tours by Locals, rated 5.0 by 64 travelers, 3 hours, from $549 / group
- Mount Rainier National Park Guided Tour on GetYourGuide, rated 4.9 by 519 travelers, 11 hours, from $184
- 2 Hour Walking Seattle Tour with Private Guide on Tours by Locals, rated 5.0 by 2 travelers, 2 hours, from $344 / group
With an independent tour, getting back before all-aboard is on you, so leave a big buffer.
What I do for Alaska clients
What I do for my clients
- I check which glacier your sailing visits and remind you to keep that day free.
- I book the popular Alaska Shore Things, like whale watching and floatplanes, the day they open.
- For groups with anyone under 21, I explain the Alaska drinking and gaming rule before you book.
- I arrange the hotel the night before and, if it suits your flight, the bag transfer home. Already working with me? Browse and book Seattle hotels in my Fora portal.
Quick answers
Where does Virgin Voyages depart in Seattle?
From Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, 2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98119.
What is the drinking age on Virgin Voyages Alaska cruises?
21. On Alaska itineraries, all sailors must be 21 or older to buy or drink alcohol onboard.
Which Virgin ship sails to Alaska?
Brilliant Lady sails Alaska from Seattle, with some one-way sailings to or from Vancouver.
How do I make sure I see the glacier on Virgin Voyages?
Keep the scenic-cruising day free, ask Sailor Services for the expected arrival time and watch the app for updates. Virgin makes fewer announcements than some lines.
What should I pack for a Virgin Voyages Alaska cruise?
Layers, a packable rain jacket, binoculars and waterproof shoes. The ship is warm inside, but decks and ports can be cold and wet.
Sources I checked
Policies change. I checked these on October 20, 2026, and you should confirm anything time-sensitive with me before you rely on it.
- Virgin Voyages FAQ: Port information (terminals, arrival times)
- Virgin Voyages: 2028 Alaska cruises on Brilliant Lady
- Virgin Voyages FAQ: Pre-voyage policies (drinking age, Alaska 21+)
- Virgin Voyages FAQ: Travel requirements (passports and ID)
- Virgin Voyages FAQ: Port information
- Virgin Voyages FAQ: Travel requirements
Want Alaska planned start to finish?
I'll pick the right sailing, book the Seattle hotel, and send you a day-one plan for the events that sell out. I take the stress. You take the photos.
Derek Gebelhardt, At Ease Travel Co. · derek@ateasetravel.co · 202-802-0990. Sailor Loot through Virtuoso is $50 per cabin on 4–5 night voyages, $100 on 6–8 nights and $200 on 9+ nights, for eligible bookings made at least 121 days before sailing; promotions and eligibility can change, so I confirm yours in writing before you pay.