Why Princess is the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of Alaska Cruising

by Elizabeth Schaaf, Straight Away Travel

Many travelers assume Alaska is a simple trip to plan because it’s still within the United States. In reality, Alaska is one of the most complex destinations I book. There are dozens of cruise itineraries, multiple cruise lines, different glacier experiences, land tour options, rail journeys, wilderness lodges, and shore excursions to consider. The choices can be overwhelming, and not all Alaska vacations are created equal. One of the biggest mistakes I see is travelers focusing on the ship itself rather than the destination. In the Caribbean, a flashy water park, go-kart track, or surf simulator might be the star of the show. In Alaska, the destination should be the attraction. That’s where professional guidance becomes invaluable.

For years, I’ve provided concierge-level service to my clients, helping them cut through the noise and avoid what I call the “check-box syndrome”—the temptation to cram every possible activity into a single trip. The result is often a vacation spent rushing from one experience to the next rather than truly enjoying the incredible landscapes, wildlife, and culture that make Alaska so special.

Choosing the right cruise line is one of the most important decisions you’ll make because it directly impacts the Alaska experience you’ll have. That’s one reason Princess stands out.

Princess has been sailing Alaska since 1969 and has spent decades refining its Alaska program. The cruise line has consistently earned “Best in Alaska” recognition from travel industry organizations, travel publications, and travelers themselves. That reputation wasn’t built overnight. It comes from decades of investment in Alaska, including exclusive wilderness lodges, custom-built rail service, deep local partnerships, and destination-focused itineraries designed to showcase the very best of the Last Frontier.

In short, Princess doesn’t simply visit Alaska—it is woven into the fabric of how Alaska travel is experienced.

Here’s why Princess continues to be one of my favorite recommendations for Alaska travelers and how working with an experienced advisor can help ensure your trip lives up to the Alaska you’ve been dreaming about.

This section is already pretty good. I’d mainly tighten the wording, make the comparison a little more elegant, and elevate the sense of exclusivity.

I know what you’re thinking: “Don’t all Alaska cruises go to the same places?” Not even close.

Glacier Bay National Park is widely considered the crown jewel of Alaska cruising. This protected wilderness is home to massive tidewater glaciers, rugged mountains, abundant wildlife, and some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America. Here, glaciers regularly calve into the sea, sending house-sized chunks of ice crashing into the water with a thunderous roar that can echo for miles. Because Glacier Bay is a protected National Park, access is tightly controlled. Only a limited number of ships are permitted to enter each day, and not every cruise line has the authorization to bring guests into the park. Princess does.

As one of the longest-standing operators in Alaska, Princess has built a decades-long relationship with Glacier Bay National Park and remains one of the select cruise lines authorized to sail these waters. That distinction matters. While other itineraries may substitute scenic cruising in places such as Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm, both beautiful destinations in their own right, Glacier Bay offers an experience that simply stands apart.

Princess also enhances the experience in a way few cruise lines can. National Park Rangers board the ship for the day, providing narration, answering questions, and helping guests understand what they’re seeing. Throughout the day, they’ll point out wildlife, explain the history of the glaciers, and share insights about the delicate ecosystem that makes Glacier Bay so remarkable. You’re not simply looking at a beautiful landscape. You’re experiencing one of America’s most treasured national parks with expert guides helping bring it to life.

Let’s start with one of the biggest misconceptions about Alaska cruising. Roundtrip Alaska cruises, primarily from Seattle or Vancouver, arebe fantastic vacations. They’re convenient, easy to plan, and often a perfect fit for families who want a simple fly-in, fly-out experience. In fact, my own family is sailing on a roundtrip Inside Passage cruise out of Seattle this summer, so trust me when I say I’m not anti-roundtrip.

What I am saying is that Alaska offers far more variety than most travelers realize. One of the most important decisions you’ll make isn’t just choosing a cruise line. It’s choosing the right itinerary. The itinerary that works beautifully for a family looking for a relaxing week away may not be the best choice for someone whose dream is to see the largest glaciers possible, spend more time in pristine wilderness, or continue into Alaska’s interior after the cruise. This is exactly where concierge-level planning and professional expertise become so valuable.

One of Princess’s signature Alaska experiences is their Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary. Unlike a roundtrip sailing, this is a one-way, seven-day journey between Vancouver and Whittier (near Anchorage). Because the ship isn’t required to turn around and retrace its route, it can travel deeper into Alaska and devote more time to the destination itself. The result is an itinerary that often includes two of Alaska’s most spectacular glacier experiences: Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier. For travelers who want to maximize their time in Alaska and potentially add a land-based adventure afterward, Voyage of the Glaciers is often one of the strongest options available.

This is where my role as your advisor really matters. My job isn’t to tell every traveler to book the same cruise. It’s to help you understand the trade-offs between the various options and determine which experience best aligns with your priorities, budget, and travel style. Sometimes the right answer is a convenient roundtrip sailing. Sometimes it’s a one-way cruise paired with a rail journey into Denali.

The key is making sure the Alaska you’re booking is the Alaska you’re actually dreaming about.

For many travelers, the cruise is what gets them to Alaska. The interior is what makes them fall in love with it.

If your Alaska adventure ends when you step off the ship, you’re missing some of the state’s most iconic landscapes. Denali, vast wilderness, towering mountains, rushing rivers, and the feeling of being truly immersed in the Last Frontier are found inland, far from the cruise ports. That’s where Princess CruiseTours shine.

Rather than trying to piece together trains, hotels, transfers, and sightseeing on your own, Princess has spent decades creating seamless journeys into Alaska’s interior. Their exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service takes guests from the ship deep into the heart of Alaska in comfort and style. Step aboard a glass-domed railcar and watch the scenery unfold around you as snow-capped peaks, winding rivers, dense forests, and wildlife that often appear right outside your window.

The experience feels effortless. Your luggage is handled for you, transfers are coordinated, and every detail is designed to keep your focus where it belongs: directly on the Alaskan experience.

The lodges are a destination in themselves. Princess owns and operates several wilderness lodges located in some of Alaska’s most spectacular settings, including near Denali National Park and along the Kenai River. These aren’t simply places to spend the night. They’re designed to immerse you in the landscape, with soaring timber architecture, expansive views, and easy access to the natural wonders surrounding them.

The result is an Alaska experience that goes far beyond a cruise. You don’t just see Alaska from the water. You experience its mountains, forests, rivers, and vast wilderness firsthand.

Princess has some of the best onboard enrichment in the industry, and their North to Alaska program goes far beyond a few lectures in the theater. These are immersive experiences that connect you to Alaska’s culture, people, and traditions in a way that few cruise lines can match.

Puppies in the Piazza

This is the event everyone talks about long after the cruise ends. Princess partners with Alaskan sled dog organizations to bring actual sled dog puppies on board. Guests can meet the mushers, hear stories from the Iditarod Trail, learn about the incredible bond between dogs and handlers, and yes—hold and cuddle future racing champions. Watching a piazza full of grown adults melt into a puddle over a litter of fluffy puppies is part of the fun.

Cook My Catch

Few travel experiences are more authentically Alaskan. After spending the day on a guided fishing excursion in ports such as Juneau or Ketchikan, you can bring your freshly caught salmon or halibut back to the ship. Princess’s chefs will prepare it for you that evening, transforming your catch into a memorable meal. There’s something uniquely satisfying about enjoying fish you caught yourself while sailing through the very waters where it was swimming just hours earlier.

Local Personalities and Alaska Storytellers

Alaska isn’t just glaciers and wildlife—it’s the people who call this rugged place home. Throughout the voyage, Princess welcomes local experts onboard to share their stories and experiences. You may hear from championship lumberjacks, Native Alaskan cultural ambassadors, veteran bush pilots, or even captains made famous on Deadliest Catch. Their firsthand accounts provide an authentic glimpse into the challenges, traditions, and remarkable spirit of life in the Last Frontier.

I know what you’re thinking: “But I found an Alaska cruise for hundreds less.” You probably did. And for some travelers, that’s exactly the right choice. But Alaska is one destination where what happens off the ship is often more important than what happens on it. Not all cruise lines have the same access, the same infrastructure, or the same ability to deliver the full Alaska experience.

That bargain cruise fare can quickly become more expensive once you start adding the things many travelers assume are included. Beverage packages, specialty dining, and other extras often come with additional costs. Some ships dock far from town, requiring shuttle transfers before you can even begin exploring. Others may sail scenic routes but lack permits to visit Glacier Bay National Park, widely considered one of the crown jewels of Alaska cruising.

When comparing cruise fares, don’t just ask, “Which cruise is cheapest?” Ask instead, “Which cruise will give me the Alaska experience I traveled thousands of miles to see?”

For many travelers, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey. In that situation, value matters far more than finding the absolute lowest price.

One of the biggest mistakes I see travelers make when planning an Alaska vacation is trying to do everything. The train. The glacier. The helicopter. The dogsledding. The whale watching. The flightseeing tour. The salmon fishing excursion. And somehow they want to squeeze it all into a single week.

The reality is that Alaska is enormous. The state is larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. Distances are vast, weather can influence plans, and some of the most memorable moments happen when you simply slow down and take it all in.

Rather than trying to check every possible experience off a list, I encourage my clients to focus on what matters most to them. Are you passionate about wildlife? Glaciers? Photography? Fishing? Alaska’s Native cultures? Wilderness adventures? There is no single “right” way to experience Alaska.

That’s one of the reasons I often recommend Princess. Their Alaska program isn’t built around rushing guests from one activity to the next. It’s designed to immerse you in the destination. Their ships feature more balcony accommodations than almost any other cruise line sailing Alaska, allowing guests to experience the scenery in a way that feels personal and unhurried. Some of the best moments of an Alaska cruise aren’t found on an excursion at all. They’re found early in the morning, wrapped in a robe with a cup of coffee in hand, watching mist rise from the water as snow-capped mountains drift past your balcony.

That’s the kind of memory that stays with you long after the vacation ends. Because the true luxury of Alaska isn’t seeing more. It’s having the time and space to fully experience what you’re seeing.

Alaska is not a destination where last-minute planning usually pays off. Glacier Bay permits are limited, the most desirable cabin categories often sell first, and the best CruiseTour dates and lodge availability can disappear 12 to 18 months before departure.

The good news? With a little advance planning, you can secure the experiences that make an Alaska vacation truly unforgettable.

Whether it’s choosing the right itinerary, deciding if a CruiseTour is worth it (spoiler alert: it usually is), selecting the best cabin location, or understanding which side of the ship offers the best viewing opportunities, there are countless small decisions that can make a big difference in your overall experience.

That’s where working with an Alaska specialist comes in.

My job is to help you navigate the options, avoid common mistakes, and make sure every detail is tailored to the type of Alaska adventure you want to have. From selecting the perfect sailing to preparing you for what to expect once you’re onboard, I’m here to make the process simple and stress-free.

Princess has spent more than 50 years perfecting Alaska vacations, and there is a reason so many travelers return to them again and again. Their combination of immersive onboard programming, exclusive Glacier Bay access, wilderness lodges, and seamless rail service creates an experience that is difficult to replicate.

If Alaska is on your bucket list for 2026 or beyond, I’d love to help you build a trip that goes beyond simply seeing Alaska and allows you to truly experience it.

Reach out to Straight Away Travel, and let’s start planning your Alaska adventure.