Alaska is open for travel, with almost no Alaska travel restrictions. However, many tour operators are enforcing their own requirements for crew and passengers alike during Alaska small ship cruises and Alaska land tours. Below find the latest Alaska travel advisory details, from our experts.
IN THIS POST – Alaska Travel Advisory:
Alaska Travel Restrictions FAQ
Alaska Entry Requirements
Alaska Cruise COVID Requirements
Land Tours: Alaska COVID Rules
Why Travel to Alaska During COVID?
More Alaska Travel Resources
This post was updated on 5/10/2023. Alaska travel restrictions are subject to change.
If you are an AdventureSmith booked client, contact your Adventure Specialist.
If you wish to book, contact us. Otherwise, use our FAQs and the comments.
Alaska Travel Restrictions FAQ
Our experts regularly field questions about the current Alaska travel restrictions and how tour operators are responding, so we’ve compiled our answers here. Look for your question in these Alaska COVID travel FAQs, and use the comments at the bottom of this post to ask other questions.
No, Alaska vaccine requirements have all been lifted.
Read More: Alaska Entry Requirements
Alaska cruise COVID rules are dictated by each operator and may require vaccination, testing and/or masking. Find current policies for our operators, below. Read the current Alaska cruise COVID requirements
The COVID policy of your operator will not change. An operator’s Alaska COVID policy is aimed at keeping crew healthy in addition to guests.
While each of the small ship cruise operators we partner with have their own policy, it is common that crew are fully vaccinated. Alaska COVID travel is a popular option for many reasons, putting healthy boat crews in high demand.
Every case is unique. Operators have their own procedures for patient isolation and care. For cruises, some have carried on, while others have turned around. In times of Alaska COVID travel, one must be flexible and be covered through travel insurance. Read more: Alaska COVID Travel Insurance
Ask us to put you in touch with someone who experienced Alaska travel restrictions 2022 (or in 2023) firsthand. You can also read COVID-era trip testimonials and learn about our own experience traveling in Alaska in 2020.
AdventureSmith promotes the State of Alaska and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommendations. Take a PCR test 72 hours before departure. And take pre-trip precautions by masking and/or avoiding places where social distancing is not possible.
No, the current State of Alaska COVID policy does not require travelers to test to enter Alaska. Despite these relaxed Alaska COVID rules, we recommend that travelers still get a COVID test for travel, to ensure their trip starts off right.
Find a COVID Test: GISCorps COVID-19 Testing Sites Locator
No, at this time there are no Alaska COVID travel restrictions.
Read More: Alaska Entry Requirements
No, there are no vaccination requirements for domestic or international travelers traveling to Alaska by air.
Most small ships and wilderness lodges adhere to federal and state mask requirements, which are fluid. The outdoor, small-group nature of our Alaska trips offers ample time to be mask-free, however operators may require masking when social distancing isn’t possible. Our specialists keep booked clients apprised of current Alaska COVID rules for masks.
Because some small Alaskan cruise lines require a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to embarkation, we advise travelers to plan any land-based travel after their cruise.
Yes. Many travel insurance policies can cover trip interruption or cancellation, including quarantine expenses, if you or a traveling companion test positive for COVID-19. A policy can also cover unforeseen events such as injury, flight delays and baggage loss.
Alaska Entry Requirements
For those asking “Do you have to be vaccinated to go to Alaska?” or “Can you travel to Alaska without a vaccine?” the answer is no. However, keep in mind that some operators still have Alaska cruise vaccine requirements in place. Get the specifics on Alaska cruise vaccination requirements for the operators we work with. Alaska travel restrictions 2023 are subject to change. Find the latest Alaska entry requirements and COVID-19 protocols from the State of Alaska and Travel Alaska.
Domestic Travelers
Currently, the State of Alaska has no vaccination mandate or COVID-19 testing requirements for U.S. domestic travelers, but strongly recommends a PCR Test: A qualifying molecular-based test (PCR test) 72 hours before departure, for non-vaccinated travelers entering either by road or air.
International Travelers
Alaska entry requirements for international travelers currently match those of domestic travelers. As of May 11, 2023, there are no U.S. international travel restrictions in place for traveling to Alaska during COVID.
However, we recommend the PCR Test encouraged for domestic travelers. This helps ensure both your safety and that of the local communities you will visit.
Alaska COVID Requirement by Operator
Our Alaska experts keep clients well informed of the required testing, vaccination, masking and health questionnaires associated with their particular adventure. With the constantly changing nature of COVID requirements there are likely to be additional changes to vaccination and testing requirements. Here are Alaska COVID policy details for our most popular operators:
Alaska Cruise COVID Requirements
- Sea Wolf Adventures requires all travelers to be vaccinated.
Land Tours: Alaska COVID Rules
- Alaska Wildland Adventures highly recommends qualifying travelers who are eligible for a COVID vaccine to be fully vaccinated and boosted by the time they arrive in Alaska.
- Camp Denali requires all travelers to be fully vaccinated. An “up to date” booster is highly encouraged for all those who are eligible. As defined by the CDC: “You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you, when eligible.”
- Within the Wild requires all travelers 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated in advance of their stay at Winterlake and Tutka Bay lodges.
Why Alaska is a Good Choice for travelers concerned about COVID
Domestic—Close to Home
For U.S. citizens, Alaska is close to home and does not require testing. As part of the United States, Alaska is subject to stringent and trusted mitigation protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among travelers and residents.
Naturally Social Distanced
Alaska is huge. With over 600,000 square miles and less than 750,000 residents, there is plenty of room to spread out. In fact, most of Alaska’s residents are concentrated into major towns, leaving the rest as uninhabited wilderness. Our trips focus on this wilderness where your time is spent in unspoiled nature. National forests and parks strictly regulate travel so groups rarely interact, preserving both the wilderness experience and social distance. Group sizes are typically limited to 12 guests.
Exceptional Wildlife
Wildlife in Alaska is the highlight of any trip. Our Alaska small ship cruises and Alaska land tours focus on remote regions where wildlife thrives. Our travelers often leave with a greater appreciation for conservation. And conservation initiatives benefit from tourism dollars.
The Small Ship & Wilderness Lodge Advantage
The ships we work with in Alaska average 45 guests, with some as small as 4 cabins; the lodges average 30 guests, with some as small as 5 rooms. For cruises, this small ship model is statistically safer than larger cruise ships carrying as many as 5,000 guests. Read a firsthand Alaska COVID travel experience from AdventureSmith’s founder: I Took an Alaska Small Ship Cruise During COVID-19.
MORE ALASKA RESOURCES:
Alaska Trips
Alaska Trip Reviews
Best Time to Visit Alaska
Alaska Travel Guide
Alaska Small Ship Cruises
Small Alaskan Cruise Lines
Glacier Bay Cruises & Tours
Alaska Inside Passage Cruises
Alaska Whale Watching Cruises
Alaska Yacht Charters
Luxury Alaska Cruises
Alaska Family Cruises
Alaska Cruise Deals
Alaska Tours
Visiting Denali National Park
Alaska National Park Tours
If you have questions about Alaska travel restrictions or are looking for advice, please use the comments below. We will answer your questions to make this Alaska travel restrictions update even better. If you are interested in booking an Alaska vacation package, please contact us. Thanks.
Comments will be moderated and will appear after they have been approved.
Do I require a US eTA on a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska
Thanks for your question. Whether or not a visa is required for cruise embarkation/disembarkation points will depend on your nationality and individual visa policy of each country to be visited. The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is needed by visitors of many different nationalities if they wish to enter Canada by plane. You can learn more about the eTA by visiting Canada.ca/eta. Depending on nationality you may also need to look into an ESTA for visiting Alaska. The best thing to do is contact your cruise operator for a list of entry/exit requirements for all countries you will be visiting via air or boat (Canada and the USA).
We are cruising on NCL this May and we’re just advised that cruising the Inside Passage is now restricted and our itinerary has been altered accordingly. We have also been told other cruise lines were advised if the same restrictions. What we don’t know is why?
Hi Mel,
Thank you for your question. As an Alaska small ship cruise expert, we cannot speak to itinerary changes for Norwegian Cruise Lines. We are not aware of any changes to regulations affecting small ship cruises. Note that on Monday, January 30, 2023, the City and Borough of Juneau placed a limit on large cruise ships berthed in downtown Juneau. If your itinerary includes Juneau, this could be the cause of your changes. Learn more in the Juneau Empire. Learn more about the differences between small ship and big ship cruises. Have a great time in Alaska. If you’d like to explore where the big ships can’t, please reach out.
What if you have had covid and your doctor has advised you not to get the vaccine now?
Hi Scot,
The state of Alaska is fully open and welcoming U.S. domestic travelers regardless of vaccination status. For International travelers, vaccination is still required.
AdventureSmith is a global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations – as our article mentions above, most small Alaskan cruise lines and wilderness lodges we work with in Alaska are enforcing vaccination and/or testing requirements. If you are interested in joining one of our Alaska small ship cruises or Alaska land tours please contact us directly to discuss specific vaccination policies as they relate to our trips.
Are we required to have a visitors visa to visit Alaska from Canada ? We are fully vaccinated against covid.
Hello, Canadian citizens may enter the United States for tourism without visas but will need to show valid passports, proof of residence, and follow the additional United States Entry Requirements as it pertains to Covid-19 testing. Here are some additional resources from Travel.State.Gov on Tourism & Visas and Visa Requirements – Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada
My mother and I are planning a trip to Anchorage from Texas. My mother is vaccinated, but I am not. Do we both need to get tested 72 hours before the trip and will we need to test again before leaving Anchorage? Thank you for your assistance.
Hello and thank you for your question.
As a U.S. citizen traveling domestically to Alaska, there are no vaccination or testing requirements for you to visit (though the State strongly recommends testing). U.S. domestic travelers can freely enter, leave, and travel throughout Alaska without testing or showing proof of vaccination. But as a reminder, although the state itself has no entry requirements, some day tours, and most small Alaskan cruise lines and wilderness lodges that we work with are enforcing vaccination requirements for crew and passengers alike during Alaska cruises and land tours. So requirements may depend on your trip itinerary. Contact our experts for a full consultation on your perfect Alaska trip.
Hello! I’m from the Uk wanted to find out more about entering Alaska during covid 19. I am currently unvaccinated, but I want to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine when I visit Alaska. Is it possible that I can enter Alaska as a unvaccinated foreigner to get the j&j vaccine? Thank so much!
Hi there & thanks for your question. As of today 3/10/22, you must be fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the United States by plane if you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa). Only limited exceptions apply.
Here’s a couple helpful links from the CDC regarding travel to the US by air:
Find out if you can board a flight to the United States
Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers
US entry rules are dynamic and may change with little notice, so use these thinks for the most up-to-date info.