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Princess Cruises: Which are the best Alaska itineraries?

Monumental glaciers, thriving wildlife and a touch of glamour – Alaska cruises are at the top of many bucket lists and Princess Cruises’ are among the best. 

Alaska has the longest coastline in the entire United States, so it’s no surprise that the undisputed best way to explore this vast state is by ship. And if you’re taking the trip of a lifetime, you want to make sure it’s the best of the best. Princess Cruises, for instance, has been publicly voted the number one cruise line for Alaska an incredible 20 times. 

Taking a Princess Cruises Alaska voyage will mean that you not only see this stunning region from the water, but you’ll also travel across the land and rail, for a full 360° experience. And this is what sets this cruise line apart from the rest: the excursions. Examples include photo safaris in Ketchikan – with its idyllic scenery and leaping salmon – where a local photographer leads off-the-beaten-track tours, sharing professional tips along the way.

For more exhilarating action, a cross-country tour and canoeing excursion on Revillagigedo Island will get the blood pumping, while a morning helicopter ride over Mendenhall Glacier provides one hell of a wake-up call. Princess Alaska cruise tours also include many land-based stays in exclusive Princess lodges, situated near the magnificent Kenai, Wrangell-St. Elias and Denali National Parks.

A cornucopia of pinch-me moments are guaranteed when you cruise to Alaska – whether it’s watching breaching humpback whales, a grizzly bear with her cubs or glaciers rumbling and splintering off into the water. The question is: which itinerary do you pick?

From four-day Princess Alaska cruise options, up to two-week adventures – departing from ports across Vancouver, LA, San Francisco, Seattle and Anchorage – there’s an Alaska cruise with Princess to suit every budget and timeframe. These are our top picks. 

 

– READ MORE: What it’s like to spend a summer cruising Alaska

Princess Cruises Alaska: 5 best itineraries

Best for: Easy introduction to Alaska

Duration: 7 nights
Departs: Throughout May-September in 2025 & 2026
Where: Seattle, Washington | Ketchikan, Alaska | Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska | Juneau, Alaska | Skagway, Alaska | Seattle, Washington
Ship: Royal Princess, Discovery Princess, Majestic Princess
Price: From £786pp

Sailing roundtrip from the modern, laid-back city of Seattle, you’ll be following in the footsteps of the Yukon Gold Rush and witnessing some of the world’s most spectacular natural sights all in just one week. Convenient weekend departures and such close proximity between Alaska and Seattle make this a wonderfully hassle-free option. 

Onboard, sample speciality dishes from Alaska to set the tone and immerse yourself in Gold Rush history.

Soar over ice-capped mountains in Juneau or admire the natural beauty of the Misty Fjords National Monument in Ketchikan – cloaked in sheer granite cliffs, tumbling waterfalls and mirror-like lakes. Come face-to-face with one of Alaska’s most beloved jewels – Glacier Bay National Park where you can’t help but marvel at its sheer power. One major plus of booking Princess Cruises Alaska voyages, is that out of all cruise lines sailing in the region, Princess has the most balconies! Striking views, therefore, are at every turn.

Glide into Skagway where dog-sledding adventures await, as does a 41-mile train ride aboard the ‘Scenic Railway of the World’ – an absolute must. Also holding definitely-visit status is the iconic Red Onion Saloon. Built back in 1897 during the height of the gold rush, this ‘bordello’ was a favoured spot for lusty miners, and while it is no longer operational in its former capacity(!), the atmosphere remains one of high-spirited ribaldry. 

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Alaska landscapes
Princess Cruises Alaska whale watching

Best for: Combining sun with snow

Duration: 11 nights
Departs: Throughout May-September in 2025 & 2026
Where: San Francisco, California | Ketchikan, Alaska | Juneau, Alaska | Skagway, Alaska | Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska | Victoria, Canada | San Francisco, California
Ship: Ruby Princess
Price: From £891pp

Princess’ 11-day Alaska cruise journey will have you trading in the sun-soaked hills and vineyards of San Francisco for rugged mountains along Alaska’s Inside Passage. Find your feet onboard with two sea days to start, exploring all that Princess ships have to offer (top tip: don’t miss the pizza). Onboard entertainment includes traditional axe-throwing competitions hosted by Alaskan lumberjacks, plus a recreation of the famous Klondike Festival – as dancers and live guitar performances bring this celebration to life. 

A full day in the city of Juneau provides opportunities to ride the Goldbelt Tram – climbing to the top of Mount Roberts at 1,800 feet to provide awesome panoramic views over the city, or guided tours through the Glacier Gardens. From here, Glacier Bay National Park calls. As one of the only cruise lines with access to Glacier Bay, Princess Cruises in Alaska take in virtually untouched waters and snow-capped mountains. 

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Book Cruise

Best for: Heading off the beaten track

Duration: 12 nights
Departs: Throughout May-September in 2025 & 2026
Where: Fairbanks, Alaska | Denali National Park, Alaska | Mt. Mckinley, Alaska | Kenai Peninsula, Alaska | Whittier, Alaska | Anchorage, Alaska | Hubbard Glacier, Alaska | Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska | Skagway, Alaska | Juneau, Alaska | Ketchikan, Alaska | At Sea | Vancouver, Canada
Ship: Sapphire Princess
Price: From £1,851pp

This 12-night Princess Cruises Alaska voyage offers an extraordinary adventure among the state’s wild landscapes, kicking off with a five-day overland excursion. Explore Denali National Park on a guided Natural History Tour, keeping your eyes peeled for the park’s “Big Five”: moose, bears, wolves, caribou and Dall sheep as well as glimpses of the famed Denali mountain – the highest peak in North America. Try your hand at river rafting and fishing before cosying up in an idyllic Princess Wilderness Lodge, complete with a wood-burning stove, sun porch and treehouse!

On day six, climb aboard your ship in the state capital of Anchorage. Two days of scenic cruising by the Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park promise sightings of some of the world’s most impressive glaciers, as well as teeming wildlife – from chilled-out seals to mighty whales. Further stops in the gold rush towns of Skagway and Juneau, plus the historic fishing centre of Ketchikan, provide perfect opportunities to get stuck in with Alaskan culture, heritage and nature. Not to mention an unforgettable lumberjack show!

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Princess Cruises Alaska Private Lodges
Margerie Glacier Alaska

Best for: Glaciers galore

Duration: 14 nights
Departs: Throughout May-September in 2025 & 2026
Where: Vancouver, Canada | Ketchikan, Alaska | Juneau, Alaska | Skagway, Alaska | Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska | College Fjord, Alaska | Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska | Hubbard Glacier, Alaska | Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska | Skagway, Alaska | Juneau, Alaska | Ketchikan, Alaska | Vancouver, Canada
Ship: Caribbean Princess
Price: From £1,284pp

Spend two weeks chasing down monumental glaciers across Alaska. Two full days in the world-famous Glacier Bay National Park make for a relaxed voyage with plenty of time to fit every adventure and sight in. Sailing roundtrip from Vancouver makes travel plans wonderfully simple, too. Onboard your Princess ship, soak in endless panoramic views by day, and by night activities like movie screenings under the stars, buzzing dance clubs and mouth-watering dining experiences will have you spoilt for choice. 

One of this Princess Cruises Alaska itinerary’s highlights is a day of scenic cruising in College Fjord – home to the world’s largest collection of tidewater glaciers and featuring dreamy snowcapped mountains as far as the eye can see. This is the place to find the mighty Harvard Glacier – the largest of the College Fjord Alaskan glaciers and certainly one of the most dramatic to observe: its face, at one-and-a-half miles wide, reveals a depth of 200-feet-thick-plus, stretching 24 miles back to the Chugach Icefield. Without a doubt this is nature at its most dramatically beautiful. 

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Best for: Trip of a lifetime

Full itinerary details TBC. Departs June 27, 2027, sailing roundtrip from Brisbane, Australia. Prices from £9,499pp.

A brand-new 79-night ‘Circle Pacific Adventure’ voyage covers a mind-boggling 23,600 nautical miles, and on top of seeing the awe-inspiring wildlife and landscapes of Alaska, you’ll also be travelling to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations: from the island paradise of Tahiti to the vibrant streets of Tokyo.

Visit 32 destinations in 13 countries, including an overnight in Hong Kong and cross the equator not once, but twice! Late-night stays in Honolulu, Juneau (Alaska), Los Angeles, Osaka (for Kyoto), Singapore, Suva, Tahiti (Papeete), and Victoria, British Colombia allow for maximum exploration time. You’ll get the chance to take lesser-travelled trips to Apia (Samoa), enjoy College Fjord scenic glacier cruising in Alaska, and visit unique ports in Japan like Kochi and Kagoshima.  

Access to 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Japan’s highest mountain, the iconic Mount Fuji, and the verdant Singapore Botanical Gardens will have you recounting travel tales for years to come. One for the bucket list, for sure. 

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Princess Cruises Alaska camp fire

Which Princess Cruise ships go to Alaska?

Such a wide selection of Princess Cruises Alaska itineraries means that several ships within the line’s fleet of 17 sail in this region. These include: Discovery Princess, Grand Princess, Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Island Princess, Emerald Princess, Sapphire Princess, Ruby Princess, Royal Princess, Star Princess (making its Alaska debut in 2026) and Sun Princess, too.

Every one of these ships is kitted out with Princess MedallionClass technology, so that drinks, snacks and even summoning your fellow cruise companions is all at the click of a very snazzy button!  

 

– READ MORE: What’s in Princess Cruises all-inclusive package?

What is the best month to go to Alaska on a cruise?

Cruising season in Alaska runs from early May through to late September. Choosing the best month for a Princess Alaska cruise slightly depends on your own preferences and priorities, such as weather, wildlife and crowd levels.

May and September offer cooler temperatures (and higher chances of rain) but have fewer crowds and lower prices. Blooming wildflowers and active wildlife emerge from hibernation in May, while September sees the onset of stunning autumn colours.

June, July and early August bring long daylight hours and great wildlife. Lively brown bears are in full action as the great Salmon run begins – and this is also the prime time for whale watching. High summer is the best time for outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, however, peak season does mean high prices and large crowds.

Sailawaze’s advice? Travel in late June. It’s beautifully warm, days are long, opportunities to spot wildlife are plentiful and you’ll be just ahead of the main crowds.

 

– READ MORE: What to expect from Princess Cruises new ship, Star Princess

Author

Finn Thompson

Hello 👋 I am the newest addition to the Sailawaze writing team. I've always loved travel since as far back as I can remember and am lucky enough to have travelled to some pretty extraordinary places! As a massive animal lover, I think safaris are among my favourite travel memories – there's just nothing like being up close to a beautiful creature like a leopard or elephant! Cruising opens up so many doors when it comes to exploring destinations, as you can visit numerous places in one go, and reach areas you wouldn't be able to by plane or train! I would really like to take a Mediterranean cruise around the little Greek islands and get stuck in with all of the cuisine and culture there.

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Published 16.12.24