Alaska doesn’t whisper. It roars. With glaciers the size of cities, skies that refuse to darken, and wildlife that casually outweighs your car, the great north does everything at full volume. But beyond the postcard peaks and breaching whales, there’s a whole other side to America’s wild north. Let’s peel back the parka and uncover 10 facts you probably didn’t know about Alaska and why it’s even more magical when explored with Virgin Voyages.
It has more coastline than the rest of the US combined
Yes, really. Alaska’s coastline stretches over 33,000 miles when you include its islands. That’s longer than all other US states combined.
Translation? This place was practically made for sailing. Cruising through Alaska isn’t just scenic. It’s strategic. From narrow fjords to glacier-carved bays, many of Alaska’s most dramatic landscapes are best accessed by sea.
With Virgin Voyages’ elevated take on exploration, you’ll glide past those rugged shores in signature style, champagne in hand, binoculars at the ready.
It’s home to 100,000 glaciers
Alaska holds more glaciers than the rest of the inhabited world combined. Some are retreating. Some are advancing. All are jaw-dropping.
Sailing into glacier country is one of those goosebump moments that sticks with you. The electric blue ice. The thunderous crack of calving. The stillness just before a massive shard splashes into the sea.
On a Virgin Voyage through Alaska, you won’t just see glaciers. You’ll feel their scale. From expansive viewing decks to cozy lounges wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows, every vantage point is curated for awe.
The sun sometimes doesn’t set
In parts of Alaska during summer, the sun barely dips below the horizon. In places like Utqiaġvik, it doesn’t set at all for more than two months.
That means longer golden hours. More time for wildlife spotting. Late-night deck strolls under a pastel sky that feels like it’s been filtered by nature itself.
On board, that extended daylight pairs perfectly with Virgin’s late-night energy. Sunset cocktails that turn into stargazing sessions. Dinner that drifts into dancing. When the sun refuses to clock out, neither do the memories.
It has the highest peak in North America
Denali towers at 20,310 feet, making it the tallest mountain on the continent. On a clear day, it dominates the skyline with a presence that feels almost mythical.
While Denali National Park sits inland, Alaska’s coastal towns like Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau serve as gateways to towering ranges, forested valleys, and alpine adventures.
Through expertly curated Shore Things, Virgin Voyages connects Sailors to helicopter rides over icefields, wildlife expeditions, and immersive cultural tours that bring the scale of Alaska into sharp, unforgettable focus.
You can witness humpback whales bubble-net feeding
Bubble-net feeding is a rare, coordinated hunting technique where humpback whales swim in a spiral, blowing bubbles to trap fish before lunging upward in unison. It’s part science, part ballet, all breathtaking.
Alaska is one of the best places in the world to witness this behavior.
From the decks of your Virgin ship, or on a guided whale-watching excursion, you may see these giants breach, slap their tails, or surface in synchronized arcs. It’s the kind of wildlife encounter that turns even the most seasoned traveler into a wide-eyed kid again.
Alaska has more than 3 million lakes
That’s not a typo. Alaska’s landscape is dotted with over three million lakes and countless rivers carving through mountains and tundra.
This abundance of freshwater shapes everything, from salmon runs to bald eagle habitats. It’s why fishing villages thrive and why coastal communities feel so deeply connected to the rhythms of nature.
When you sail with Virgin Voyages, those landscapes become more than scenery. They become stories, shared by local guides, Indigenous communities, and crew members who help you understand the ecosystem behind the epic views.
It was once sold for two cents an acre
In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. At the time, critics called it “Seward’s Folly.” Today, it’s widely regarded as one of the greatest land deals in history.
Gold rushes, oil discoveries, and thriving tourism transformed Alaska into an economic powerhouse. But beyond its resources, its true wealth lies in its wilderness.
Virgin Voyages approaches Alaska with a modern traveler’s mindset. Respect for the environment. Smaller crowds. Thoughtful itineraries that prioritize immersive experiences over checklist tourism.
It’s one of the best places on earth to see the northern lights
From late August through April, the aurora borealis dances across Alaska’s night skies in waves of green, pink, and violet.
While summer sailings focus on long daylight and peak wildlife, shoulder-season voyages increase your chances of spotting the lights, especially as evenings grow darker.
Imagine standing on deck, wrapped in a blanket, watching ribbons of color ripple overhead. It’s not just a bucket list moment. It’s a perspective shift.
It’s bigger than you think. Way bigger.
Alaska is larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. If it were its own country, it would rank among the largest in the world.
That scale means diversity. Rainforests in the southeast. Arctic tundra in the north. Volcanic islands stretching into the Pacific.
A cruise allows you to experience multiple regions without unpacking more than once. With Virgin Voyages’ adults-only approach, the journey feels refined, relaxed, and refreshingly unhurried. You explore boldly by day, then return to world-class dining, immersive entertainment, and ocean-view serenity by night.
It’s still deeply rooted in Indigenous cultures
Alaska is home to rich Indigenous cultures, including Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Inupiat, Yupik, and many others. Totem poles, storytelling traditions, and art forms carry histories that span thousands of years.
In ports like Ketchikan and Sitka, you’ll encounter living culture, not museum pieces. From heritage centers to locally guided experiences, Alaska invites you to listen, learn, and engage.
Virgin Voyages’ Shore Things are designed to spotlight authentic connections, helping Sailors go beyond surface-level sightseeing and into meaningful discovery.
Why Alaska feels different by sea
Alaska isn’t just a destination. It’s an atmosphere. Crisp air. Pine-scented breezes. The hush of glaciers meeting water. Experiencing it by sea mirrors the spirit of the place itself. Fluid. Expansive. Uncontained.
With Virgin Voyages, that wild beauty pairs with elevated design, chef-driven dining across 20+ eateries, wellness spaces that look out over open water, and entertainment that surprises at every turn. It’s adventure without compromise. Nature without roughing it.
The Last Frontier may be untamed, but your voyage doesn’t have to be.
Ready to meet the wild north?
Alaska is bigger, bolder, and more surprising than most people imagine. From midnight sun to bubble-net feeding whales, it’s a place that redefines scale and stirs something elemental inside you.
And when you explore it with Virgin Voyages, you experience the best of both worlds. Untouched wilderness by day. Elevated, adults-only indulgence by night.
The only question left is when you’re sailing.
