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Alaska Cruise

An absolute highlight of our year was the epic 20-day cruise to Alaska, embarking just one week after we returned from Japan! This extraordinary 20-day Alaskan itinerary is only offered once a year by Princess Cruises. Since they will not be offering a voyage this long in 2027, we felt incredibly lucky to secure our spot for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

DAY DATE Port or Activity ARRIVE DEPART
FriJun 12San Francisco, CA5:00pm
SatJun 13At Sea
SunJun 14At Sea
MonJun 15Ketchikan, AKNoon8:00pm
TueJun 16Wrangell, AK8:00am5:00pm
WedJun 17Endicott Arm, AK (Cruising)
ThuJun 18Juneau, AK7:00am7:00pm
FriJun 19Skagway, AK6:00am7:00pm
SatJun 20Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, AK (Cruising)
SunJun 21Hubbard Glacier, AK (Cruising)
MonJun 22Valdez, AK8:00am6:00pm
TueJun 23Anchorage (Seward), AK9:00am7:00pm
WedJun 24College Fjord, AK (Cruising)
ThuJun 25At Sea
FriJun 26Sitka, AK7:00am5:00pm
SatJun 27Icy Strait Point AK7:00am8:00pm
SunJun 28At Sea
MonJun 29Prince Rupert, BC, Canada7:00am2:00pm
TueJun 30At Sea
WedJul 1At Sea
ThuJul 2San Francisco, CA6:00am

We had an absolute blast exploring all the incredible ports! While it is hard to choose a favorite among so many amazing stops, Skagway truly stole the show:

Ketchikan, AK (Jun 15)

Wrangell, AK (Jun 16)

This is the shop where new totem poles are built and old totem poles are refurbished.
This is the shop where new totem poles are built and old totem poles are refurbished.
The biggest problem for the longevity of a totem pole is the base rotting out. Many totem poles have a replaceable base to extend their life.
The biggest problem for the longevity of a totem pole is the base rotting out. Many totem poles have a replaceable base to extend their life.

Endicott Arm, AK (Cruising) (Jun 17)

The breathtaking Dawes Glacier is tucked away at the head of Endicott Arm in the Inside Passage. This stunning, active tidewater glacier is famous for calving massive, thunderous blocks of ice directly into the fjord!

Where the Dawes Glacier meets the fjord.
Where the Dawes Glacier meets the fjord.
Usually ships don't come this close to the glacier due to all the ice in the water. We got lucky!
Usually ships don't come this close to the glacier due to all the ice in the water. We got lucky!

Juneau, AK (Jun 18)

Nestled at the base of lush, snow-capped mountains along the Gastineau Channel, Juneau is the stunning capital of Alaska, defined by its dramatic coastal wilderness. Accessible only by plane or boat, it serves as an exciting gateway to the massive Mendenhall Glacier, rich gold-mining history, and vibrant Alaskan culture.

This quickly became Doris's favorite city, thanks to a fantastic public library right near the port where she loved to relax with a good book.

The famous Red Dog Saloon.
The famous Red Dog Saloon.
The Alaskan State capital building. Vic and I went inside for a fascinating tour of the building.
The Alaskan State capital building. Vic and I went inside for a fascinating tour of the building.
The day Alaska became a state was an incredibly exciting day for the residents.
The day Alaska became a state was an incredibly exciting day for the residents.
'Ike' is referring to President Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th president of the USA. 'Ike' was a shortening of his last name 'Eisenhower'.
'Ike' is referring to President Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th president of the USA. 'Ike' was a shortening of his last name 'Eisenhower'.
The Ruby Princess docked in Juneau long enough to let off passengers, then moved out to anchor in the bay. To return to the ship, we got to take a scenic shuttle ride!
The Ruby Princess docked in Juneau long enough to let off passengers, then moved out to anchor in the bay. To return to the ship, we got to take a scenic shuttle ride!
We were delayed returning to the ship by a landing aircraft.
We were delayed returning to the ship by a landing aircraft.
Boarding the ship from the shuttle craft.
Boarding the ship from the shuttle craft.

Skagway, AK (Jun 19)

Steeped in the thrilling history of the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway stands out as a premier destination along the Inside Passage, perfectly blending dramatic mountain vistas with beautifully preserved nineteenth-century frontier architecture. Centered around its historic Broadway corridor—complete with vintage wooden boardwalks, the rustic Mascot Saloon, and the historic White Pass & Yukon Route railway depot—the town offers an authentic step back into the wild prospecting era of 1898. For anyone captivated by dramatic landscapes and frontier engineering history, exploring this vibrant, walkable community easily becomes the highlight of an Alaskan journey!

The downtown has beautifully retained its historic character.
The downtown has beautifully retained its historic character.
The Red Onion Saloon was legendary in its day.
The Red Onion Saloon was legendary in its day.
The interior of the historic Red Onion Saloon.
The interior of the historic Red Onion Saloon.

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, AK (Cruising) (Jun 20)

Covering over three million acres of towering mountains, dynamic glaciers, and deep fjords, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a breathtaking UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its pristine marine wilderness. As ships cruise through its icy waters, visitors are treated to stunning views of massive tidewater glaciers—such as the iconic Margerie Glacier—calving giant blocks of ice into the sea amid a backdrop of raw, untamed Alaskan beauty.

Hubbard Glacier, AK (Cruising) (Jun 21)

Flowing down from the St. Elias Mountains on the border of Alaska and Canada's Yukon Territory, the Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America! Known as the "Galloping Glacier" because of its rapid surges, it stretches over seventy-six miles long and terminates in a massive, six-mile-wide wall of blue ice that towers hundreds of feet above the sea, frequently calving thunderous blocks into Russell Fjord.

Valdez, AK (Jun 22)

Nestled at the head of Port Valdez and surrounded by towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and the massive glacial systems of Prince William Sound, Valdez is a stunning coastal port known as the "Switzerland of Alaska." Rich in gold-rush history and serving as the scenic southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the town offers dramatic fjord views, deep maritime heritage, and a front-row seat to some of Alaska's most breathtaking alpine scenery.

While Vic and Doris went souvenir shopping and Helen stayed on the ship to rest, Charles set off on a solo adventure through Valdez! He explored two fascinating museums: the Valdez Museum, which dives into local Native culture, early explorers, the 1898 Gold Rush, aviation, and the oil industry, and the Remembering Old Valdez Exhibit, which vividly recounts the history of "Old Town" and the powerful impact of the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake.

Anchorage (Seward), AK (Jun 23)

Located at the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward is a picturesque historic port town framed by rugged mountains and the deep waters of Resurrection Bay. Renowned as the southern terminus of the historic Alaska Railroad and the Iditarod National Historic Trail, this vibrant coastal community offers dramatic scenery, abundant marine wildlife, and a rich frontier heritage rooted in railroading, maritime exploration, and the outdoor adventures of the Kenai Peninsula.

Our main adventure in Seward was an exciting visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center! We spent a wonderful couple of hours marveling at the incredible marine exhibits before heading back to the ship.

Can you find the flounder in this picture?
Can you find the flounder in this picture?

College Fjord, AK (Cruising) (Jun 24)

Discovered by an expedition in 1899 and named by elite researchers from Amherst College, College Fjord in Prince William Sound is a breathtaking glacial amphitheater that boasts an incredible concentration of tidewater and hanging glaciers. As ships cruise down its deep waters, visitors are treated to a magnificent panorama of massive ice rivers—many of them named after famous East Coast universities like Harvard, Yale, and Vassar—cascading down from the surrounding mountains directly into the sea.

Sitka, AK (Jun 26)

Steeped in a unique blend of Tlingit heritage and Russian colonial history, Sitka is a captivating island community nestled against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Edgecumbe and the protected waters of the Inside Passage. Renowned as the historic capital of Russian America, the town is home to remarkable cultural landmarks like Sitka National Historical Park—famous for its towering totem poles and coastal rainforest trails—offering visitors an enriching window into Southeast Alaska's deep and diverse past.

We saw an eagle that had caught a fish. However, it was very nervous as there were other, younger eagles overhead waiting to swoop down and claim her prize!
We saw an eagle that had caught a fish. However, it was very nervous as there were other, younger eagles overhead waiting to swoop down and claim her prize!
Waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal a fish.
Waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal a fish.
Keeping a close, watchful eye on the competition.
Keeping a close, watchful eye on the competition.
Finally, it can grab one bite before having to look up again.
Finally, it can grab one bite before having to look up again.
Charles and Helen took a very pleasant stroll through the magnificent forest.
Charles and Helen took a very pleasant stroll through the magnificent forest.

Icy Strait Point AK (Jun 27)

Located on Chichagof Island near the historic Tlingit village of Hoonah, Icy Strait Point is Alaska's premier privately owned cruise destination, blending rich Native heritage with world-class wilderness adventures. Centered around a meticulously restored 1912 salmon cannery, the site offers visitors an authentic taste of local Alaskan culture, excellent whale-watching opportunities in the nutrient-rich waters of Icy Strait, and is home to the world's largest ZipRider for an unforgettable adrenaline rush!

Prince Rupert, BC, Canada (Jun 29)

Nestled within a lush coastal temperate rainforest along British Columbia's rugged northern coast, Prince Rupert is a vibrant port city known as the "City of Rainbows" for its frequent maritime mist and rainfall. Steeped in thousands of years of rich Tsimshian heritage and framed by breathtaking fjords, islands, and mountain wilderness, this historic community today serves as a vital cultural crossroads and a major transportation gateway connecting the Pacific Northwest to the world.

Shipboard Life

We had a fantastic group of 8 that ate dinner together almost every night! Front row, left to right: Sue, Doris, Mitchi and Helen. Back row, left to right: CH, Vic, Anesu (our wonderful waiter), Mark and Charles.
We had a fantastic group of 8 that ate dinner together almost every night! Front row, left to right: Sue, Doris, Mitchi and Helen. Back row, left to right: CH, Vic, Anesu (our wonderful waiter), Mark and Charles.
Charles's birthday was actually at the beginning of June before the cruise, but he decided to add it to the 'special occasions' section of the Princess website anyway. He sneakily chose a sea day during the cruise and didn't tell a soul. When the waiters brought the cake out, everyone—including Helen—was completely surprised!
Charles's birthday was actually at the beginning of June before the cruise, but he decided to add it to the 'special occasions' section of the Princess website anyway. He sneakily chose a sea day during the cruise and didn't tell a soul. When the waiters brought the cake out, everyone—including Helen—was completely surprised!
In the past, Princess served Baked Alaska every day during their Alaska cruises. On this trip, they weren't offering it, so Charles playfully asked the Sous chef, Riccardo, for one. Riccardo promised to deliver but never did. Charles then spoke with the Executive chef, and a beautiful Baked Alaska appeared the very next day! Of course, Riccardo still tried to take the credit for it!
In the past, Princess served Baked Alaska every day during their Alaska cruises. On this trip, they weren't offering it, so Charles playfully asked the Sous chef, Riccardo, for one. Riccardo promised to deliver but never did. Charles then spoke with the Executive chef, and a beautiful Baked Alaska appeared the very next day! Of course, Riccardo still tried to take the credit for it!
Sous chef, Riccardo
Sous chef, Riccardo
Executive chef, Kuldeep
Executive chef, Kuldeep

Reflecting on these incredible twenty days, this Alaskan cruise aboard the Ruby Princess truly was the trip of a lifetime! From the awe-inspiring, thunderous glaciers and the breathtaking wildlife, to the countless laughs and cherished memories made over dinners with wonderful friends, every single moment exceeded our wildest expectations. It was a completely epic adventure that we will treasure forever!