When planning an Alaska cruise, you might find yourself asking a question that seems simple and perhaps even a bit trivial. However, this seemingly small decision could actually be one of the most important choices you’ll make for your voyage. So, what’s better for cruising in Alaska: a big ship or a small one?
Travel agents often respond to this kind of question with gentle reassurances, saying both options are fantastic, while cruise line websites might not always be completely upfront.
I decided to take matters into my own hands by booking back-to-back Alaska sailings on both a small and a large cruise ship. I was eager to personally experience each vessel size, understand their advantages and disadvantages, and share my insights with you as I went.
So, I ended up sailing in Alaska during the same season on two different classes of Royal Caribbean ships, which are at opposite ends of the size spectrum.
The Quantum of the Seas, one of the largest and most technologically advanced vessels sailing the region, and the Brilliance of the Seas, one of the smallest and most classic ships in the fleet. The same destination, two experiences that turned out to be so different that at times it was hard to believe I was in the same part of the world.
What follows is everything I learned, as honestly as I can tell. I hope my experience and tips help you decide which ship size is better suited to your next adventure.
Why Alaska Is Different from Every Other Cruise Destination
Before we get into the ships themselves, I want to make the case for why this question matters so much more in Alaska than anywhere else.
These days, when you book a Caribbean cruise, the ship is often the main attraction. You sail between islands, spend a few hours ashore at each port, then return to the ship for the pool, restaurants, shows, and nightlife. The destination is pleasant, but the ship is where you spend most of your time and money.
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Alaska operates on a completely different logic. Even though the ship remains a focal point, the destination is not merely a backdrop. In most cases, it is the entire reason you are there. The glaciers, fjords, wildlife, wilderness, and the raw, overwhelming scale of Alaska’s natural world are what most visitors come for.
The ship you choose will either connect you to all of that or, in some cases, put considerable distance between you and the “real” Alaska experience outside. And that is not a good or bad thing; it is more a matter of which option suits you and your cruise companions or family better.
The Alaska cruise industry has grown enormously over the past two decades. Between 1.5 and 2 million passengers now visit Alaska by cruise ship each year, making it one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations. As the industry has grown, ships have also become larger. That growth has created genuine trade-offs worth understanding before you book.
The Two Ships: Some Background Worth Knowing
The Brilliance of the Seas entered service in 2002 as the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Radiance class. Understanding the design philosophy behind that class tells you a great deal about the experience of sailing on her.
Brilliance of the Seas (Radiance Class)
- Length: 292 meters
- Gross tonnage: ~90,090 GT
- Maximum capacity: 2,543 passengers
- Start of operation: 2002
The Radiance-class ships were built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany at a time when Royal Caribbean was specifically considering scenic cruising destinations such as Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern Europe.
The designers were tasked with creating a ship that would bring passengers as close to the natural world as possible while still delivering the comfort and amenities of a full-service cruise experience. The result was a class of ships characterized by an extraordinary amount of glass, open deck space, and access to areas of the ship that most large vessels keep off-limits to passengers.
The floor-to-ceiling windows that run throughout the Brilliance, from the Viking Crown Lounge at the top of the ship down through the main atrium and dining areas, were not an aesthetic choice. They were a deliberate design decision to make the outside world feel present even when you are inside. Access to the bow of the ship, which allows passengers to stand at the very front of the vessel as it sails through a fjord, was equally intentional. The Radiance-class ships were built for Alaska in a way that very few cruise ships before or since have been.
The Quantum of the Seas, on the other hand, tells a very different story. She entered service in 2014 as the inaugural ship of Royal Caribbean’s innovative Quantum class, marking a complete rethinking of what a cruise ship could be. Built at the same Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, the Quantum was designed around technology, entertainment, and an onboard experience never attempted at sea before.
Quantum of the Seas (Quantum Class)
- Length: 347 meters
- Gross tonnage: ~168,666 GT
- Maximum capacity: 4,905 passengers
- Start of operation: 2014
When the Quantum launched, the North Star observation capsule, the Two70 entertainment venue with its robotic screen arms, the iFly skydiving simulator, and the virtual balcony cabins that display real-time ocean views on interior cabin walls were all firsts for the cruise industry.
The ship originally debuted sailing from New York, spent several seasons in Asia, and recently joined the Alaska/Australia rotation. You can feel that global, technology-forward sensibility in every aspect of the onboard experience. She measures just over 347 meters in length and weighs nearly 169,000 gross tons, making her the second-largest cruise ship to sail in Alaska annually, behind only her sister ship, the Ovation of the Seas.
The Brilliance, by comparison, measures 292 meters and weighs just over 90,000 gross tons, making the Quantum 87 percent larger by gross tonnage. That number is almost too abstract to be useful until you stand on the deck of each ship and experience the sheer difference firsthand.
What the Scenery Actually Feels Like on Each Ship
The most immediate and visceral difference between the two ships shows up in how you experience Alaska’s scenery, and it starts the moment your ship enters the region.
Sailing through the Inside Passage on the Brilliance, the landscape feels close. Uncomfortably, wonderfully close. The ship sits lower in the water than a larger vessel, which in most cases doesn’t even sail through the passage. That means the shoreline, the tree line, and the mountain faces are not far above your line of sight but right there at eye level or just above. When the ship is sailing through a narrow channel and the forested hillsides rise on both sides, it does not feel like you are watching a nature documentary from a comfortable distance. It feels like you are inside the landscape itself.
Having the option to access the bow on Radiance-class vessels really makes a big difference for the passengers, enhancing the sense of immersion in the region. Standing at the very front of the ship as it glides through a fjord is one of those unforgettable moments that’s hard to put into words unless you’ve experienced it yourself.
Feel the wind on your face, watch the water part on either side, and see the towering fjord walls rise ahead—the only barrier between you and them is the railing you’re holding on to. On days when the ship gets close enough to the glaciers to hear the ice cracking, being at the bow feels like stepping into something timeless and vast, connecting you with nature’s ancient might.
On the Quantum, the relationship with the scenery is different. It is more mediated, more comfortable, and more managed. The ship is tall enough that the lower-deck outdoor spaces often place the waterline well below your line of sight, making the landscape feel a bit less immediate.
Also, due to their size, ships of the Quantum class, such as the Quantum and Ovation of the Seas, generally do not sail the traditional, narrow Inside Passage; instead, they primarily sail in the open ocean along the outer coast, offering scenic cruising through larger areas such as Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.
Unlike the Brilliance, the bow is not accessible to passengers, but the ship offers some genuinely impressive alternatives.
The Solarium on Deck 14 is a remarkable space — a vast, glass-domed, climate-controlled area with hot tubs, sun loungers, and forward-facing views of whatever the ship is sailing toward. On a cold or rainy Alaska day, which is not uncommon in the region, the Solarium offers something the Brilliance simply cannot match: the chance to watch the wilderness unfold through glass while sitting in a hot tub at a comfortable temperature. It is not the same as standing at the bow, but for some, it might be even better.
The North Star is in a class of its own. This glass observation capsule extends from the ship’s upper deck on a mechanical arm and lifts passengers approximately 90 meters above sea level, offering unobstructed 360° views of the surrounding landscape. When the ship is sailing through fjord country or approaching a glacier, the perspective from the North Star is something you genuinely cannot get any other way. The full experience costs between $45 and $69 per person, depending on sailing and demand.
Tip: On port days, a free, shorter demonstration ride on the North Star is often available to passengers. Just remember to book it as soon as you can while onboard via the Royal App, as spots tend to fill up quickly.
The Itinerary Question: Where Each Ship Actually Takes You
This is the part of any big-ship-versus-small-ship discussion that tends to get glossed over in favor of talking about onboard amenities, and in my opinion, it is the part that matters most, depending on what you have in mind for sailing the region.
The size of your ship does not just affect how you experience Alaska. It can determine which parts of Alaska you actually get to visit.
Although the Brilliance also visits most traditional ports in Alaska, her smaller size and shallower draft allow her to navigate waterways off-limits to larger vessels, such as Tracy Arm Fjord, one of the most dramatic and beautiful places I have ever visited on a cruise ship. It requires navigating a very narrow, ice-choked channel that cruise ships above a certain size cannot safely enter.
Another one is Endicott Arm, which leads to the Dawes Glacier. Both Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm fjords offer an experience of Alaska’s glacial wilderness that is among the most extraordinary available on any cruise itinerary worldwide.
Although larger ships, such as the Quantum of the Seas, can also navigate Endicott Arm and visit the Dawes Glacier, the experience is quite different. Smaller ships can get much closer to the glacier, whereas on larger ships, passengers will, in most cases, experience it from afar.
Sailing into Tracy Arm aboard the Brilliance of the Seas, I can tell you firsthand that sailing across the ice, close enough that the ship was breaking through the thin ice around us as we approached the glacier face, was one of the defining moments of my entire cruising life. The sound of it, the deep crunch and crack of the hull moving through the frozen surface, is unique and unforgettable.
Larger ships like the Quantum follow itineraries built around the established port infrastructure in Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria in British Columbia.
These are extraordinary places in their own right, and any honest account of Alaska cruising has to acknowledge that. Juneau offers some of the best whale watching in the world, the Mendenhall Glacier, and helicopter excursions onto the ice field. Skagway features the White Pass Railway and one of the best-preserved Gold Rush-era historic districts in North America. Ketchikan has more totem poles than anywhere else on earth, and Creek Street is one of the most colorful and genuinely fascinating historic sites on any cruise itinerary.
The difference is not between good ports and great ports. It is between ports and areas accessible to all ships and experiences available only to smaller ships. If sailing into a remote glacier fjord and standing at the bow as the ship breaks through ice is on your Alaska bucket list, a smaller ship is the best option for it.
Life Onboard: Where the Gap Is Widest
The onboard experience is where the two ships diverge most dramatically, and where your personal travel style matters most in choosing the right one.
The Quantum of the Seas is, by any objective measure, one of the most impressive cruise ships ever built for the range and quality of its onboard offerings and attractions.
The SeaPlex is an enormous covered sports and games complex where the main court transforms throughout the day, hosting everything from football, basketball, and tennis to bumper cars, roller skating, and a laser tag maze — a level of variety that has no real equivalent on a ship of the Brilliance’s size.
The iFly skydiving simulator and the FlowRider surf simulator are the kinds of attractions that would draw crowds at a land-based resort, let alone on a cruise ship.
The Two70, which transforms from a daylight lounge into an unusual evening performance venue featuring gigantic screens supported by robotic arms and immersive projection technology, is unlike anything else at sea.
The dining options, spanning more than a dozen venues featuring Asian, Italian, American, and international cuisines, along with a French patisserie, multiple specialty restaurants, and one of the largest buffet operations on an Alaskan cruise, give passengers a level of choice the Brilliance cannot match.
None of this is meant to diminish the Brilliance. But it is worth being honest about what a smaller, older ship offers compared to a modern ship like the Quantum of the Seas.
The Brilliance has a casino, three pools, a main theater with solid evening entertainment, a lounge with live music, and a well-run selection of dining venues. The overall atmosphere is warm, relaxed, and genuinely pleasant.
However, if you are traveling with teenagers or with family members who need constant variety and stimulation to stay happy, the Brilliance will feel limited and perhaps dated in a way the Quantum will not.
What the Brilliance offers that the Quantum cannot is a certain quality of atmosphere well suited to the Alaska experience. The ship moves through the world at a pace that invites contemplation. The decks are uncrowded enough that you can stand at the railing for an hour, watching for whales, without feeling like you are blocking foot traffic. The lounges are quiet enough that you can actually have a conversation without raising your voice. And the overall sense of the ship as a vehicle for experiencing the destination rather than a destination in itself is something that larger ships, regardless of how spectacular they are, tend to lose as they grow.
Crowds, Space, and the Glacier Viewing Problem
One of the least-discussed yet most practically important differences between big and small Alaska cruise ships is what happens to the outdoor deck space when the ship reaches a destination worth seeing.
On the Quantum, with somewhere between four and five thousand passengers on board, days of glacier viewing and fjord sailing create genuine competition for outdoor observation space. The ship has multiple outdoor areas, and the crowd does distribute itself, but at peak moments, when the ship approaches a glacier face or a pod of humpbacks appears off the bow, the best spots fill quickly, and staying long enough to get the photographs you want requires patience and a willingness to hold your position.
On the Brilliance, with roughly half the passenger count and a layout that prioritizes outdoor access, the same moments feel entirely different. I am not saying there isn’t competition for the best spots, but, funny enough, there is room. There is breathing space, and it feels less chaotic. For anyone who travels with a camera or simply wants to experience these moments without the energy of a crowd, this difference is significant enough to shape the entire character of the trip.
Weather, Comfort, and the Honest Trade-Off
Alaska’s weather is genuinely unpredictable, a fact that visitors from more temperate climates sometimes underestimate. The Southeast Alaska panhandle, where most cruise itineraries operate, receives substantial rainfall throughout the summer. Mornings that begin in bright sunshine can turn gray and wet within a few hours. Wind off the glaciers can make outdoor temperatures feel significantly colder than the air temperature alone suggests.
The Quantum handles bad weather days better than the Brilliance, and it is worth being clear-eyed about this.
The combination of the covered, heated pools, the Solarium with its glass dome and hot tubs, and the Two70 lounge with its enormous rear-facing glass wall means that even a full day of rain and cold need not feel like a wasted day. There are warm, beautiful, well-designed spaces where you can watch Alaska pass by in complete comfort, and that is a genuine advantage.
On the Brilliance, the floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the ship are lovely and offer genuinely good views in all conditions. But the covered indoor spaces with prime viewing positions are fewer and smaller, and on a rough-weather day, the competition for those spots among two and a half thousand passengers can make them feel less restful than you might hope.
The counter-argument, equally valid, is that the Brilliance rewards good-weather days in a way the Quantum cannot match. Standing on the open deck of a smaller ship in full Alaska sunshine, with mountains on every side and a glacier visible ahead, is one of the most purely joyful experiences on any cruise anywhere. The smaller ship puts you closer to it all, with nothing between you and the wilderness except the clean, cold air.
The Practical Side: Booking, Seasons, and Cabin Choices
A few practical notes to consider as you plan your Alaska cruise, regardless of which ship size you ultimately choose.
Alaska cruise season normally runs from May through September, and the timing of your trip within that window affects the experience considerably.
May and early June tend to offer the best glacier-viewing conditions, as ice levels are typically higher and glaciers are more active. The long daylight hours of early summer, including the near-midnight sun in late May and June, also create extraordinary photographic conditions. Late July through September is peak season for wildlife, particularly humpback whales, orcas, brown bears, and bald eagles, all of which are more active and more visible later in the season.
On smaller ships, cabin placement has a more pronounced impact on your experience than on larger vessels. Cabins on the lower decks and toward the bow tend to offer the most immersive connection to the scenery, while higher decks give you better sightlines for glacier viewing.
You can watch the video about my cabin on the Brilliance of the Seas below, or explore other cabin tips and more on our YouTube channel if you want to go deeper into this topic.
Book early, regardless of which ship you choose. Alaska cruises, particularly sailings on smaller ships with more exclusive itineraries, sell out much faster than Caribbean or Mediterranean voyages of comparable length. The most sought-after sailings on ships like the Brilliance can be fully booked twelve to eighteen months in advance during peak season.
The Bottom Line
I loved sailing on both of these ships. They were fantastic in completely different ways.
I want to be clear about that before offering any verdict, because the honest answer is that both the Quantum of the Seas and the Brilliance of the Seas offer genuinely excellent Alaska cruise experiences.
The Brilliance gave me Alaska the way I had always imagined it might feel before I first visited. Close, raw, overwhelming, and humbling. Nature was the main character, and the ship was content to play a supporting role.
The Quantum gave me comfort, extraordinary entertainment, and a level of onboard variety that made every sea day genuinely enjoyable. But the honest truth is that a ship that impressive tends to compete with its destination rather than serve it, and in a place as remarkable as Alaska, that is a trade-off worth careful thought.
If you are choosing a ship for your first Alaska cruise and your primary motivation is to experience the wilderness, glaciers, and fjords as directly and intimately as possible, a smaller ship will serve you better. If you are traveling with a family that needs variety and entertainment to stay happy, or if you value extensive indoor comfort options for the inevitable bad-weather days, or if you are a returning Alaska visitor who has already explored the remote fjords and wants a different kind of experience, the Quantum is a phenomenal choice.
The right answer is the one that aligns with your expectations and the kind of Alaska voyage you truly want to enjoy. I hope the experiences I shared from both vessels in this article provide you with enough information and enthusiasm to help you discover which one is the perfect fit for you.
If you want to learn more about large and small ships in Alaska, check out my full video comparison below, featuring footage from both ships, the glaciers, the fjords, the North Star, the Solarium, and the Two70. If you are planning an Alaska cruise, subscribe to the channel for the complete Alaska port series, with detailed guides for every port I visited during both Alaska sailings, and more.
FAQ
What is the best ship size for an Alaska cruise?
There’s no single right answer — it depends on what you’re looking for. Smaller ships like the Brilliance of the Seas offer a more immersive nature experience, access to narrower fjords, and closer glacier viewing. Larger ships like the Quantum of the Seas offer more onboard entertainment, a wider variety of dining options, and comfortable indoor spaces for cold or rainy days. The best ship size is the one that matches your travel style and priorities.
Can large cruise ships get close to glaciers in Alaska?
Larger ships are generally limited to the most popular and well-developed Alaska ports and cannot navigate the narrower fjords that smaller ships access. However, ships like the Quantum of the Seas offer unique viewing experiences, such as the North Star observation capsule, which lifts passengers 90 meters above sea level for panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape, including distant glaciers.
What is the difference between the Quantum of the Seas and the Brilliance of the Seas in Alaska?
The Quantum of the Seas is 87% larger in gross tonnage than the Brilliance of the Seas. The Quantum carries up to 4,900 passengers and offers extensive onboard entertainment, including the SeaPlex, iFly, FlowRider, Two70, and over a dozen dining options. The Brilliance carries up to ~2,543 passengers and offers a more classic, intimate cruise experience with a stronger focus on Alaska’s natural scenery and more exclusive itinerary stops.
Do smaller cruise ships have better Alaska itineraries?
Smaller ships typically offer more varied and exclusive itineraries in Alaska. Ships like the Brilliance of the Seas can navigate narrow fjords such as Tracy Arm Fjord and Endicott Arm, get closer to glaciers like the Dawes Glacier, and dock at smaller ports like Haines that larger ships cannot access. Larger ships typically visit the most popular ports — Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria — which are excellent destinations but less off-the-beaten-path.
Is the Quantum of the Seas good for families cruising Alaska?
Yes, the Quantum of the Seas is an excellent choice for families visiting Alaska. It offers activities for all ages, including the SeaPlex multi-sport complex, the iFly skydiving simulator, the FlowRider surf simulator, Broadway-style shows, and a wide variety of dining options. The ship also has extensive covered indoor spaces, which is a significant advantage for families in Alaska on cold or rainy days.
When is the best time to cruise Alaska?The
Alaska cruise season runs from May through September. Late May and early June offer the best glacier viewing conditions and the possibility of experiencing the midnight sun. Late July and August are peak season for wildlife viewing, including humpback whales, orcas, bears, and bald eagles. Each part of the season has its own advantages, so the best time depends on your priorities.
Is the North Star experience on the Quantum of the Seas worth it?
The North Star is one of the most unique experiences available on any Alaska cruise ship. The glass observation capsule lifts passengers approximately 90 meters above sea level and offers 360-degree panoramic views of Alaska’s landscapes. The paid experience costs $45-$69 per person, depending on demand, but on port days, passengers can often ride for free during a short demonstration. Booking through the ship’s app in advance is strongly recommended as spots fill up very quickly.
