For years, I dismissed Alaska with the same thought many people have: "It's cold. It's not for me."
I couldn't have been more wrong.
As Alaska cruises have become increasingly popular with my clients, I started to understand the appeal, even though I hadn't experienced it for myself.
Long before I had the opportunity to sail there, Alaska had firmly earned its place on my bucket list.
What was once a significant gap in my cruise knowledge as a cruise-focused Travel Counsellor now holds the title of my favourite cruise I've ever sailed.
High praise from a self-confessed cruise addict.
In early July 2026, I embarked on Star Princess, the newest and largest Princess ship sailing in Alaska. The trip was the prize in an incredible travel agent competition run by Princess Cruises in late 2025.
Eleanor embarked on Star Princess, the newest and largest Princess ship sailing in Alaska, in early July 2026
First Stop: Seattle
My husband and I began with two nights in Seattle. As first-time visitors, we were struck by just how deserving the city's nickname, the Emerald City, really is.
We spent our first day on a chef-led food tour of the famous Pike Place Market, followed by a stroll along the picturesque waterfront and a narrated harbour cruise.
We rounded off the day at Sky View Observatory on the 73rd floor of Seattle's tallest building, watching the Fourth of July fireworks light up the skyline in the distance. It was the perfect start to the trip.
Life Aboard Star Princess
I'd previously sailed twice on Sun Princess, the sister ship to Star Princess, so there was plenty that felt familiar.
Princess has clearly listened to guest feedback, with subtle improvements such as a larger O'Malley's Irish Pub and better restaurant locations, while retaining everything I already loved about the ship.
Our Deluxe Balcony cabin was modern, comfortable and, most importantly, offered uninterrupted sea views.
We sailed on the Princess Premier package, which included a premium drinks package, unlimited speciality dining in selected restaurants, shore excursion credit, a digital photo package, Wi-Fi, and more.
We made the most of the dining options, enjoying five speciality restaurants: Crown Grill Steakhouse, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, The Catch by Rudi, Teppanyaki, and the wonderfully unique Love by Britto, where art, storytelling and a tasting menu combine to create a truly memorable evening.
Eleanor and her husband were upgraded to the Sanctuary Collection, Princess's 'ship within a ship' concept
The Sanctuary Experience
One of the biggest surprises came courtesy of Princess Cruises, who upgraded us to include Sanctuary Collection benefits. On Sphere-class ships, Sanctuary is a true "ship within a ship" experience, with exclusive facilities reserved for Sanctuary guests.
Our favourite spot quickly became the adults-only Sanctuary Club at the aft of the ship. Complete with day beds, rocking chairs, plush loungers, a private pool and two hot tubs, it was our sanctuary in every sense of the word!
The staff couldn't have looked after us better, and there was always something relaxing happening throughout the day.
Sail aways and sea days became something special. Afternoons drifted by with hot chocolate delivered straight to the hot tub or wrapped in a blanket on a rocking chair, alternating between reading my book and viewing the ever-changing scenery.
Sanctuary guests also have access to an exclusive restaurant, where we enjoyed several breakfasts and two excellent dinners.
Exploring Ketchikan
Before travelling, I'd researched every port and pre-booked a number of Princess excursions. We explored our first stop, Ketchikan, independently.
Colourful wooden buildings lined the streets as we wandered around under glorious blue skies – quite ironic for what's widely known as the rainiest city in the USA.
We loved wandering along the famous wooden boardwalk of Creek Street, which overlooks Ketchikan Creek. A few weeks after our visit, the annual Salmon run would begin, with thousands of Salmon making their way upstream using the famous fish ladder, attracting bears and other wildlife. It's one of Alaska's iconic spectacles.
Ketchikan is an Alaskan city facing the Inside Passage, a popular cruise route along the state's southeastern coast
Ketchikan also offers an incredible range of excursions, from the Totem Heritage Center and the famous Alaskan Lumberjack Show to fishing adventures featured on Deadliest Catch, ATV tours, and scenic seaplane flights over Misty Fjords.
Glaciers & Fjords
Our next day wasn't a port at all but one of the highlights of any Alaska itinerary: glacier viewing.
We were awake at 4:30 AM to watch Endicott Arm Fjord unfold around us. Starting at the bow before retreating to the warmth of the Sanctuary Club, we watched the landscape transform almost minute by minute.
There are moments in Alaska that simply can't be captured by photographs or videos, and this was one of them.
As we ventured deeper into the fjord, more and more ice appeared in the water. Unfortunately, conditions meant there was too much ice to reach Dawes Glacier itself.
Alaska teaches you very quickly to expect the unexpected, and while we were naturally disappointed, I knew there was still so much to come.
Glacial viewing was one of Eleanor's highlights
Juneau: Flights & Whales
Later that day, we arrived in Juneau, where our next adventure was waiting.
We boarded a seaplane for a spectacular 40-minute flight over five glaciers, and it instantly became the highlight of the trip so far. Seeing vast fields of ice stretching into the distance was simply breathtaking.
You might think one glacier looks much like another, but in Alaska every landscape is completely different. Next time, I'd love to return with my children and take the helicopter flight that lands on a glacier before dog sledding across the ice.
Back on the ground, we grabbed lunch at the historic Red Dog Saloon before heading out on a whale-watching excursion.
Eleanor made the Alaska trip with her husband
I chose to stand outside for almost the entire trip. Boats work together to locate the whales, and it wasn't long before we spotted our first humpback. For me, the magic wasn't just seeing them; it was waiting for that next unmistakable breach, breaking the silence before another graceful dive beneath the water.
We didn't see many that afternoon, but throughout the cruise I spotted several whales from our balcony and from the top deck. The first time it happened, I was completely alone, and I remember standing there simply awestruck.
Skagway: The Historic Railway
Our final Alaskan port was Skagway, home to what many consider the region's must-do excursion: the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.
Built during the Klondike Gold Rush, the narrow-gauge railway climbs almost 3,000 feet through tunnels, over towering trestle bridges, and alongside dramatic mountain drops. It's nothing short of an engineering masterpiece.
I spent most of the journey standing on the outdoor viewing platform. At times I could almost touch the mountainside on one side of the train while looking straight down into valleys and lakes on the other.
Eleanor enjoyed a spectacular seaplane flight over the glaciers before and saw Skagway White Pass
I genuinely thought I'd already experienced Alaska at its best from the sea and from the air, but once again I was wrong.
Mountains gave way to forests, glaciers, waterfalls, and endless lakes. Even after standing outside for nearly two hours, I wasn't ready for the journey to end.
It truly has to be seen to be believed.
Our final stop was Victoria, British Columbia. We decided to spend our final evening enjoying the ship, although everyone I spoke to assured me Victoria is well worth exploring.
What struck me most about Alaska is that I could repeat exactly the same itinerary next year and have a completely different holiday with different weather, different wildlife, different scenery, and different experiences.
There's an unpredictability about Alaska that you simply have to embrace, and I found myself loving that more than anything. We packed for every possible weather scenario and were rewarded with almost uninterrupted sunshine and surprisingly mild temperatures.
My children, aged four and three, didn't join us on this trip, but I'm already planning the day we bring them back. That's partly for them... and partly because I want to experience it all over again myself.
Closing Thoughts
Even now, scrolling through my camera roll, I realise it fails to capture what made Alaska so extraordinary.
It can't recreate the silence, the bald eagle soaring overhead, the sudden appearance of a whale surfacing to breach, or the constant change in the landscape. Most of all, it can't capture how it makes you feel.
No photograph or article ever truly can. You'll simply have to experience Alaska for yourself.
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