Alaska Cruising with Princess | The Vacation of a Lifetime (2024)

Best Cruise Line
Alaska Sailings

Discover unmatched adventure in Alaska’s glaciers and wildlife with Princess Alaska cruises. Sail through the Great Land's beauty aboard world-class ships, proudly named the Best Alaska Cruise Line.

Top 12 Resorts in Alaska
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

This award-winning lodge is your gateway to exploring the Kenai Peninsula. Fish for wild salmon, kayak with your loved ones, then unwind in the cozy elegance of the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge®.

Best Overall Cuisine
"Wild for Alaska Seafood"

Savor award-winning cuisine with "Wild for Alaska Seafood," featuring a rotating selection of Alaskan seafood dishes and destination-inspired co*cktails, delivering an authentic taste of Alaska’s bounty.

Alaska's Inside Passage is the area that makes up the Southeast Region of Alaska. Approximately 1,000 miles North of Vancouver, it was the center of activity during Alaska's 19th century Gold Rush. Also known as the "Panhandle," the Inside Passage is popular for spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, vivid Native cultures, astounding history and exceptional hospitality.

Alaska Inside Passage

Cruises Most cruises to Alaska's Inside Passage are seven nights long and typically begin and end in either Vancouver or Seattle. This "roundtrip" itinerary makes this a very popular cruise vacation because of the convenient flight schedules and availability of affordable roundtrip airline tickets in to and out of Vancouver and Seattle. Longer 10- and 11-night Inside Passage Cruises are available from California.

Depending on your ship and itinerary, a typical Alaska Inside Passage cruise spends the first day cruising the famed Inside Passage, a narrow waterway nestled between towering mountains, waterfront communities, and the Pacific Ocean. Then, depending on your itinerary, you will visit 3 or 4 of the following Alaska ports of call and National Parks: Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Sitka, Glacier Bay National Park,Hubbard Glacier, Misty Fjord, Icy Strait Point, Tracy Arm Fjord.

Northbound Alaska Cruises are one way voyages that begin in Vancouver or Seattle, and travel north through the Gulf of Alaska and end in the northernmost cities of Seward, Whittier or Anchorage, Alaska.

Northbound Alaska Glacier Cruises While there are similarities between a a roundtrip Inside Passage Cruise and a one-way Glacier cruise, there are a number of differences as well. These provide unique benefits which give you a chance to enjoy more of Alaska.

Since Northbound Alaska Glacier cruises are one way trips, your cruise will not repeat its route by doing a U-turn back to the orginal departure port. Each day can provide a new opportunity to see glaciers, mountains, wildlife and scenery without repeating a segment of your journey.

Just like an Inside Passage Cruise, Northbound Alaska Cruises sail through the Inside Passage and up to Seward or Whittier, where passengers disembark the ship. Depending on the cruise line and ship, Alaska Glacier Cruise passengers not only visit the same ports and attractions they would've seen on the Inside Passage Cruise, but they may also visit College Fjord for breathtaking glacier views, or Valdez for yet another day in port.

Compared to a roundtrip Alaska Inside passage cruise, Northbound Alaska cruises have fewer days at sea. This also allow you to spend more days in Alaska ports or National Glacier Parks. If you only have a week and want maximum glacier viewing and time on land, this is your best choice for an Alaska Cruise Vacation.

Depending on your cruise line and ship, these cruises typically visit four or more of these ports and sights: Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Sitka, Vancouver, Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, Valdez, Seward / Whittier / Anchorage

Southbound Alaska Cruises are one way voyages that begin near Anchorage in Seward or Whitter and travel south through the Gulf of Alaska and end in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Southbound Alaska Glacier Cruises

While there are similarities between a a roundtrip Inside Passage Cruise and a one-way Glacier cruise, there are a number of differences as well. These provide unique benefits which give you a chance to enjoy more of Alaska.

Visitors arrrive in Anchorage either the day of the cruise or after completing an land tour into Alaska's Interior. At least one overnight hotel stay in Anchorage before your cruise is recommended to ensure the most rest and early arrival times to the ship. Guests then transfer by motorcoach or train to Seward or Whittier. The 120 mile ride goes by quickly as visitors enjoy one of the most scenic drives into any departure port. Since Southbound Alaska Glacier cruises are one way trips, your cruise will not repeat its route by doing a U-turn back to the orginal departure port. Each day can provide a new opportunity to see glaciers, mountains, wildlife and scenery without repeating a segment of your journey.

A Southbound Alaska Cruise will head down the Alaska Coast, visit glacier areas, into the small waterfront communities and then sail through the Inside Passage to Vancouver, where passengers disembark the ship. Depending on the cruise line and ship, Alaska Glacier Cruise passengers not only visit the same ports and attractions they would've seen on the Inside Passage Cruise, but they may also visit College Fjord for breathtaking glacier views, or Valdez for yet another day in port.

Compared to a roundtrip Alaska Inside passage cruise, Southbound Alaska cruises have fewer days at sea. This allows the guest to spend more days in Alaska ports or National Glacier Parks. If you only have a week and want maximum glacier viewing and time on land, a Southbound or Northbound cruise is your best choice for an Alaska Cruise Vacation.

Depending on your cruise line and ship, these cruises typically visit four or more of these ports and sights: Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Sitka, Vancouver, Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, Valdez, Seward / Whittier / Anchorage

If you've traveled with big ship cruise lines in the past, it's time to forget everything you thought you knew about cruising. And if you've avoided cruising because you thought it would be like traveling in a floating mall, it's time to think again. Small Ship and adventure cruising is something else altogether.

Small Ship Cruising in Alaska

- You'll visit places the larger ships cannot visit.
- You'll get up close and personal with glaciers and wildlife.
- Many of your adventure excursions are included.
- Itineraries are unrestricted - ships go where the action is.
- There are onboard experts and naturalists for your education.

Every cruise line offers a great experience to its passengers, but a true luxury cruise experience is head and shoulders above the rest of the cruise industry. These cruises appeal to the traveler who demands the finest quality available and luxury cruise ships offer services and amenities that rival the best resorts worldwide.

Luxury cruises are characterized by a refined onboard atmosphere, a wide variety of exotic destinations, spacious accommodations and the highest level of personalized service. In other words, the finest of everything. Luxury vessels have opulent public areas and offer fabulous art collections, gourmet cuisine, fine wine, fresh flowers and attention to detail. Although the style differs from conventional ships to yachts to sailing vessels, the common denominator is quality.

Why Choose a Luxury Alaska Cruise Line:

- Small ships, big value
- Fewer Passengers All-suite, all-balcony staterooms
- Onboard amenities of the highest quality
- Personalized, superior service
- Gourmet dining in a relaxed atmosphere
- All-inclusive services including shore excursions, airfare, and more

Experience more of Alaska and the Canadian Rockies with a Tour

Experience the full wonder of America's Last Great Frontier with an Alaska Cruisetour. Alaska cruise and land packages pair an Alaska cruise vacation with a multi-night land tour into the heart of Alaska's vast interior, including Denali National Park. Land tours are available before or after your Alaska cruise with travel by deluxe motor coach or train and comfortable stays at the finest Alaska hotels and wilderness lodges.