Alaska by Cruise

We did a Princess 7-day Alaska Inside Passage cruise from Seattle. Our Princess’ 7-day Seattle Inside Passage itineraries included Ketchikan, scenic cruising in Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Victoria, and Seattle.

Ketchikan:

In Ketchikan, we did the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour on the Aleutian Ballad, the real boat featured on Deadliest Catch. The tour lasts about three hours and travels through the calmer waters of the Inside Passage around Ketchikan. The crew demonstrates different kinds of fishing gear, including crab pots, prawn pots, octopus barrels, ad longline gear, while sharing stories about life on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska. But what really made it unforgettable were the eagles. There were so many of them circling the boat, waiting for their feeding stop, and seeing them swoop in so close was incredible.

After the excursion, we walked around town for a bit. Ketchikan is a really cute port town worth exploring.

Scenic Cruising: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier

We booked a room on the cruise with a balcony, and this was the morning when the balcony truly paid off. Princess sails through Endicott Arm, a dramatic fjord surrounded by sheer cliffs, waterfalls, floating ice, and, if conditions cooperate, views of Dawes Glacier.

Juneau

Our main excursion in Juneau was Mendenhall Glacier, but before heading there, we did the Mount Roberts Tramway. Once you get to the top, there are trails and viewpoints, including the short walk to Father Brown’s Cross, which gives you a great view of Juneau from above.

After that, we went to Mendenhall Glacier and walked to Nugget Falls. It’s an easy, mostly flat walk from the visitor center, and the whole way you have beautiful views of the glacier and lake.

Skagway

In Skagway, our main focus was the White Pass excursion, which took us by train through the mountains and then by bus into the Yukon. It was absolutely worth it. Dramatic mountains, waterfalls, and those sweeping views that make you realize just how far from home you are. I also loved the Welcome to Alaska sign.

Helpful tip: If you do the train-and-bus excursion into the Yukon, make sure to bring your passport, since you cross into Canada.

After the excursion, we walked around town, and I really liked the shopping there. Skagway has that historic Gold Rush feel, but it’s also very easy to explore, with fun shops and a lot of character.

The scenery between ports was just as special as the ports themselves. The mountains were incredible, and the cruising felt like part of the experience, not just a means of transportation from one stop to the next.

The naturalists on board said that people often fall so in love with Alaska that they ask, “If you were going to buy a house here, where would it be?” His answer was Haines, Alaska, and after sailing past it, I understood why. It’s a quiet, horseshoe-shaped town tucked deep into the mountains.

Between the lighthouses, mountain views, and constantly changing coastline, the stops were amazing, but the sailing between them was just as memorable.