princess discovery alaska cruise reviews

O. Christine

My Alaskan Cruise Experience on Discovery Princess (Review + Real Photos)

Site under maintenance, please excuse our appearance.

This article’s recommendations may include affiliate links.

It was always my bucket list dream to visit every US state – especially the country’s largest state: Alaska! But Alaska being the largest state meant I also had no idea where to start when it came to planning an Alaska adventure. That’s why I booked an Alaskan cruise with Princess Cruises to help guide me.

Disclosure: I sailed to Alaska on Discovery Princess, hosted by Princess Cruises. This review is based on my own experiences.

In July, I went on a summer Alaskan cruise on Princess Cruises’ newest ship: Discovery Princess , and I am excited to tell you all about it and show you real photos too.

If you want to learn more about cruises to Alaska, an inside scoop on the new Discovery Princess, and insight on what it is truly like to be on an Alaskan cruise ship, you’re in the right place.

Alaskan Cruise Itinerary on Princess Cruises

Alaskan cruise route details

If you are thinking about taking an Alaskan cruise you are probably wondering which routes are better, and which departure ports and ports of call are best too. The answer is, they are all great options – it just depends on what your travel needs are. 

the Alaskan cruise route I chose:

• Route: Alaska Inside Passage
• Ports of Call: Ketchikan, Endicott Arm + Dawes Glacier (scenic cruising), Juneau, Skagway (we ended up rerouting to Sitka on my sailing), Victoria BC
• Ship: Discovery Princess 
• Duration: 7 days
• Departure Port: Seattle round trip

There are a number of Alaska Ports of Call options available to choose from on Princess Cruises, depending on the itinerary and ship you choose. 

• Definition: A cruise port of call is a stop along the voyage route.
• Aboard Princess’ newest ship: Discovery Princess and along the sailing route I went with, the 7-day Alaska Inside Passage itinerary provided an opportunity to explore glaciers, wildlife, culture and history, and local food.

Discovery princess Rooms and Review

What room to get on an Alaska Cruise

I stayed in a standard Balcony stateroom on the 11th floor (Baja deck) and wouldn’t change a thing!

If you are on a budget, the low price of an interior or ocean-view room may feel most appealing to you (after all, you can indulge in the Discovery Princess’ panoramic views throughout the ship). But if you have the ability to upgrade I would 100% recommend a balcony room at a minimum. 

Why I prefer a balcony room

An Alaskan cruise has tons of scenery. Imagine waking up to a stunning landscape as your captain pulls into the next port of call.

Marine wildlife sightings are sporadic. All of my whale sightings were from my balcony while I was getting ready for dinner. I would’ve missed it otherwise!

The balcony rooms are also quite spacious. My husband and I settled in nicely and I loved having a desk and refrigerator with plenty of closet room and walking space.

With a balcony, we were able to book a special romantic breakfast from our room too, set up for us with a scenic view.

Perks for your stateroom on Discovery Princess

You can order free robes for your room, and room service is complimentary too! There are also free laundromats on each floor.

We made the most of our closet and shelf space and immediately unpacked our bags to maximize space.

Be sure to allow your stateroom Steward to come in each day and evening to help put away extra decor pillows and turn down the room for bed — this makes it even more spacious.

Room Types on Discovery Princess

Interior Room: these are the lowest priced options and usually what the advertised price of a sailing shows on a website. You still get a comfortable bed, closet, bathroom, and tv, but you’ll have to enjoy the view on the top deck of the ship.

Oceanview: if you want a view but don’t need fresh air and a breeze across your face (or don’t mind an obstructed balcony), an ocean view window might suit you just fine. 

Balcony: there is a standard version, a deluxe version with a couch, or a premium deluxe version with a couch and a larger balcony. I stayed in the standard balcony stateroom, which I thought was a perfect size for us. For reference, I am 5’9 and my husband is 6’0, and both average weight.

Mini-suite: these offer larger balcony sizes, separate sitting areas with a sofa bed, and premium amenities.

Suite: you can choose from Vista, Premium, or Penthouse suites if you would like to splurge on your Alaskan cruise

Things to Do on Discovery Princess

What is there to do on a Princess Cruise to Alaska?

Activities on the Discovery Princess

For cruises longer than 3 nights (or farther distances), it is common to wonder whether there is enough to do on a cruise ship to stay entertained. Especially when there are multiple at-sea days.

I loved at-sea days on Discovery Princess because it was a good time to wind down, enjoy the ship’s facilities, and even book special services like a massage or pedicure (I did both!)

On the Discovery Princess Alaskan cruise, there are also lots of activities to enjoy from early in the morning through the evening. They include:

Active/Sports:

• Gym with fitness and meditation classes available
• Basketball court
• Mini golf 
• Running track on the top deck
• Outdoor ping pong tables

Wellness activities:

• Spa and salon services
• Non-surgical cosmetic services
• Sauna day pass at the Enclave
• The Sanctuary day pass
• Complimentary health and wellness workshops

Games/events:

• Competitions like bag toss, floating egg, and more
• Movies on the big screen on the top deck outside
• Cocktail presentations
• Evening shows at the theater
• Casino access

Dining Options with Discovery Princess

What are the dining options on Discovery Princess Alaskan cruise?

I was really impressed with the dining experience aboard the Discovery Princess. There is a nice mix of dining rooms and eateries included in the base price and a fantastic selection of specialty restaurants for an additional fee. 

My favorites were by far the French bistro, Crown Grille, and Sabatini’s Italian trattoria (all three are specialty dining), as well as Slice Pizzeria and the International Cafe (both included for free with your sailing).

Here is a breakdown of the dining options on the ship, including what is free and included in the standard sailing package, and what requires an upgrade or premium package.

Free Dining options on Discovery Princess

• 3 main dining rooms with a la carte dining (Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau)
• 2 bistros with buffet-style dining (World Market and Horizon Bistro)
• Gigi’s Pizzeria (a la carte dining)
• International Cafe (24 hours with pastries and rotating food items)
• Outdoor eateries on the top deck (Salty Dog Grille, Slice Pizzeria)
• Swirls Ice Cream
• The Pastry Shop

At-cost Dining with Discovery Princess

• Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
• Bistro Sur la Mer (French bistro)
• Crown Grille (steak house)
• Ocean Terrace seafood bar (a la carte cost)

Other dining perks

If you have a full suite or mini-suite you get Club Class access to the Skagway dining room, which means you don’t have to make reservations and have dedicated waitstaff, exclusive menu items, and expedited service. On busy dinner nights this is absolutely worth it (I had access as press to check it out for myself and used it multiple times).

Shore Excursions with Princess Cruise – Alaska Options

Are the Princess Cruise shore excursions worth it for your Alaskan cruise?

It is no secret that the cost of excursions can add up when it comes to planning big adventures like an Alaska trip. The prices can range from approximately $15 to $800 from what I saw, depending on the excursion.

But, for most people on cruises, we want the help and guidance of a company like Princess Cruises who knows which Port of Call is best for which activities. The access, convenience, and expertise can make it worth it.

What kind of excursions are on a Discovery Princess Alaskan cruise?

Princess Cruises offer a mix of wildlife, local/cultural, food, and adventure tours. It is actually quite a large library of options and can get overwhelming if you aren’t sure what you want.

Read on for my tips on which ones to get…

The best tours to book on an Alaskan Cruise

I am still on cloud nine after some of my tours with Princess Cruises. Here are some I recommend out of the ones I tried, as well as any I would definitely choose the next time.

Helicopter Glacier & Dog Sledding Tour

I 100% recommend splurging on a helicopter tour over glacial planes and fjords in Juneau. That was top 5 most memorable things I’ve ever done. Paired with a dog sledding experience on this particular excursion, it is definitely bucket list worthy.

Seating note: Helicopters can load up to 5-6 passengers so you are not guaranteed a window seat. Make sure you have a good zoom lens if you want photos. I was in the middle with 3 other passengers and am glad I had a good camera!

Kayaking Tour

I did a sea kayaking tour in Sitka and, despite the rain, had so much fun! Kayaking of any sort is a great group activity that helps you get active without too much walking. The sea kayaking tour provided tandem kayaks which is super fun for a family or couples. 

Bear Watching Tour

Wildlife tours in general are perfect excursions for an Alaska cruise. I booked my tours too late and the bear-watching ones were sold out. If I was to do this tour again, I’d definitely sign up for a bear tour.

I thought I’d see them by chance (outside of a tour) but that didn’t happen, so doing a tour that takes you to a viewing platform where you can watch bears catch their salmon dinner would be so fun!

Culture Tour

There are thousands of indigenous peoples native to Alaska. You can take a culture tour for a low-impact experience that provides insight to the original people who still inhabit Alaska.

I enjoyed learning about the history of Totems and their significance in passing down stories across generations and about the Tlingit Nation.

Tips for choosing excursions with Princess Cruises

• Reserve your excursions early. I was shocked at how quickly tours booked up, and I selected mine about a month out.
• Choose activities you wouldn’t normally do; get outside of your comfort zone! My most memorable excursion was a helicopter ride over glaciers and fjords that landed on a dog sledding camp – like, what!? Amazing.
• Remember that excursions booked through the cruise have a guaranteed return (trust me, I saw it in real life). If your tour runs late the ship WILL wait for you if it was booked through the ship. That alone is super important because we definitely saw a tour show up late.

Discovery Princess Review: Costs, Value, and more

Cost, amenities, cruise facilities, etc.

My Alaskan cruise on the Discovery Princess really brought me up to speed on what cruising is like in 2022 and I loved it! I can’t wait for my next cruise adventure and am so glad I went during the summer.

Not exaggerating, my husband and I immediately went home and started looking up other cruise itineraries to enjoy for our birthdays, holidays, and more. Our text messages and my DMs were full of questions and people excited about the prospect of cruising for themselves. 

Check out my three Instagram videos from the trip here:

• About the ship
• About the experience
• About one of my tours

My highlights of this Alaskan cruise

• A sailing route to multiple cities I would’ve otherwise not have visited
• A stunning balcony room with 24/7 serene views
• Award-winning chefs with delicious dining options
• Access to bucket list excursions
• Life at sea!

What does an Alaskan Cruise cost?

This was a common question I received, though there is no set answer because it depends on the season, itinerary you choose, packages onboard, and shore excursions.

Yes, you can totally do this cruise for less than $1,000 if you don’t add on tours and extras (I recall the base price for an interior room on my sailing was $499, for example). But….you can also do it for significantly more. It all depends on your needs, which is what I love because there are so many options.

That said, if you wanted to do close to the exact trip I did, I recommend you estimate about $2,500 per person for the experience.

This will account for:

• standard balcony room
• plus drink package
• wifi package
• specialty dining costs
• shore excursions
• crew gratuity
• taxes and fees

Is cruising a great deal?

Yes! With the costs of travel accommodations skyrocketing for some destinations, cruising is more appealing than ever.

Expert tip: if you want to make the most of your sailing experience, be sure to look objectively at cruise offerings. I recommend the following to consider adding on to your booking:

• Beverage package: I got the Plus Beverage package for up to 15 drinks per day (valued at $12 max each), which was more than enough!
• Wifi package: there are multiple options here depending on the number of devices, but it is totally worth having so you can check emails, make calls, text while at sea.
• Specialty dining: I found that most specialty restaurants are $29/pp and gelato and sushi run for about $3.50 a piece. 

To save money on these essentials, I suggest upgrading to Princess Plus so that your drinks package, wifi for 1 device, and tips for the crew, are included. There’s also Princess Premiere if you want more (like 2 specialty restaurants per guest, more wifi devices, a higher drink limit, and unlimited photo package).

More ways to save on Princess Cruises

I definitely recommend getting on the Princess Cruises newsletter to be alerted about sales and last-minute availability on sailings.

I would also recommend inviting a 3rd or 4th person in your room so you can split your costs (they are often discounted or free ).

Last, I recommend you become flexible with dates ! Some dates will be cheaper than others, depending on the season.

What about COVID + cruising?

[This answer is about my sailing specifically. Check with Princess Cruises for up-to-date information.]

For my sailing during 2022, Princess Cruises took heed to CDC regulations: they required us passengers to show proof of vaccination and a negative PCR or Antigen test in order to board the ship. 

There were also hand-sanitizing stations throughout the ship and the buffet bistros had hand-washing stations at each entrance. 

Ship staff all wore their masks, though masks were optional for passengers. I personally chose to wear my mask throughout the ship and only removed it in my room, the spa, and at meals or outside areas. 

Update 2023: unless traveling to destinations that specifically require it, most cruises have returned to normal operations without vaccine and testing requirements.

Would I do this cruise again?

A few people have asked me this too! The answer is yes. I would do an Alaskan cruise again (next time, a glacier/national park route!) and I would totally sail with Princess Cruises again. It is one of our fondest travel memories as a couple and we know of a few people who were inspired by our trip and booked one for the next year!

I like that Princess Cruises had plenty of activity options for adults, and there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of children (it didn’t feel like a theme park). This crowd had more couples and adult singles, and if there were kids they were old enough to hang in the kids/teen area on their own. 

Enjoy your Alaska cruise!

I hope my real review of my Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises gave you a taste of my experience and helped answer any questions you might have! Let me know what cruises you are considering with Princess Cruises, and be sure to try the new Discovery Princess.

Hey Pinterest Fam!

Share this review of My Alaskan Cruise Experience On Discovery Princess   by pinning the image below to your planning board.

wow what a beautiful fulfilling trip. Thank you for sharing this.

yes so beautiful!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Princess Cruises

Discovery Princess Alaska Inside Passage 8/7-8/14/22 review (long)

By nattie , August 23, 2022 in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

There has been a lot of negativity lately from seasoned Princess cruisers on these boards. I dont want to minimize their valid complaints, but would like to report that this cruise (second for us this year on Princess) was great. The weather might have helped, we have not seen a drop of rain the entire 10 days we were in WA and AK. We were using the pools and sunbathing the entire cruise too.

We are seasoned cruisers, both DH and I are Elite on Princess and have sailed a number of other lines (most recently Haven on NCL) and DS just turned Elite after this Alaska Cruise. On to the review:

Seattle:  We flew in 2 days ahead of time (never know with airlines these days) and enjoyed amazing weather in Seattle as well as "Air and Boat" show weekend. The Mountain was out the entire time, weather was better than what we left on East Coast. We lucked out! On advice from our friends that moved to Seattle are 2 years ago, we stayed in Bellevue instead of downtown Seattle. Very safe and nice area, about 20-30 min ride to downtown.

Embarkation : Somewhat more chaotic than what we are used to in FLL where if you fill everything online and get your medallions ahead of time, you just walk onto the ship pretty much. However, absolutely not as bad as NCL's disaster in New Orleans. Worst part was huge queue for medallions that no one tells you can bypass if you already have them. Also, had to show all the docs (passports, covid vaccinations and tests) even though everything was uploaded to Medallion app ahead of time, in FLL you just tap your medallion and if everything is there, they will let you through. Another minus point for Seattle embarkation is that the ride share lot is at least 5 full minutes walk from the ship (10 with luggage). Port authorities are pretty much forcing you to take overpriced cabs. But that's not Princess's fault.

Sidenote Medallion App : The app worked just fine for me, from dining reservations to ordering drinks, I could not report any issues. I personally quite like the app experience, all of us wear it on the wrist and it makes life so much easier vs constantly misplaced and demagnetized cruise cards. Now Princess is rolling out a program where you can pay with Medallion off the ship at select merchants. Personally I have not tried this, but I am not opposed to it.

Sidenote Internet : BAD, especially comparing to Caribbean. On par with what we had in 2019 in Baltic. I was able to check emails daily (after letting them load forever), but no streaming or actually logging into work stuff.

Ship : Just gorgeous, it still kind of "smells new" :). We liked certain improvements made comparing to Regal (same class, our favorite ship on Princess) : sports court positioning and additional space around it, removal of fountains in between 2 main pools and addition of seating area and hot tub there, overall more spaciousness of interior on decks 7, 6 and 5. Not sure what was removed, but extra space was nice. We did not like the reversal of Princess Live to more of a lounge seating, but I think everyone else liked that. Also, the free pizzeria on 6 is called Gigis and while menu is the same, the vibe and decor are distinctly not. Now it looks more like a diner vs Italian bistro. Again, personal opinion.

This sailing had a full ship, which we have not experienced this year yet. We did not feel crowded at any time on Discovery even with the ship being full.

Room:  We had a quad mini suite on Riviera. I am glad I have insisted on quad, so DS (13) could have a bunk bed and a place to lounge around during the day, vs only the couch. My only issue with the room was balcony size, but that's the same on all ships of this class. We normally book a mini, so no surprises there.

Dining:  Most of the evening meals we ate in the dining room. I dont know why but consistently the 6th floor aft dining room (Ketchikan on this ship) that used to be reserved for traditional dining has absolutely the WORST service. It was like that on Regal in Jan and same here. I have prebooked most of our times before we sailed in that dining room and cancelled all of the reservations after first night.

We did not have to wait more than 10 min or so when we came to any other dining room with or without reservation (we made some friends and sometimes wanted to dine together). It did help that our preferred dining time is around 8 pm.

One thing we absolutely hated this cruise was the Bistro Sur La Mer. Never again. But this is purely personal choices because of the food served. Quality of the food was fine and ambience was nice, we simply did not like the food presented. I LOVE escargoes and what is done to them in that restaurant is a travesty.

We did like Alaskan twist on the regular dining room menues, my DS especially loved the Alaskan Berry Soup. 

Breakfasts and lunches we normally had in the buffet or Gigis or from Salty Dog on the pool deck. No surprises at any of these places, we liked the food and the variety offered.

Drinks : I was fretting a bit about not getting Premier package, but it turned out to be not necessary for us at least. Variety of wines on board was quite limited anyways, but the Pinot Noir they carried as "house" variety was quite good and included in the package. Somehow the Strawberry Daiquiri was way better in Alaska than in Caribbean :). Also, bartender at Take 5 turned my son onto mojito zeroes (mojito sans booze), I believe DS was solely responsible for the lack of mint on the ship by the end of this sailing (kidding!)

Entertainment : Did not do any of the shows in main theater. Alaska itinerary is quite brutal with early risings most of the time, so we were pretty much done after dinner. We did see some game shows in Princess Live and enjoy live music (LOVE that about Princess) in various lounges. Especially liked the band in Take 5 and guitar player in Wheelhouse. We also did a lecture on Alaska by the onboard naturalist and while we did get some useful info, the gentlemen himself was quite insufferable (non stop ponderous quotes and boasting). Again, probably a personal opinion.

There was only one production show, Rock Opera. Seen it before, so didnt go.

Ports and excursions:  I normally try to see what cruise line offers and compare to what I can find independently. I was very pleasantly surprised this sailing with quality and price points of Princess excursions, we ended up with ship tours in almost all of the ports.

• - Ketchikan. Did the wilderness cruise and crab feast tour. Very nice, the only somewhat negative is that it is not "all you can eat" now (it was at the time of booking), but we were full after what was offered and blueberry cheesecake was absolutely the best! To the point that DS wanted to make cheesecake when we got home.
• - Glacier viewing tour. We were bumped off that tour originally and waitlisted. I came directly to excursion desk upon boarding and was lucky enough to get our tickets. This is absolutely a MUST if you can afford it (expensive!). There was only one boat going to glacier from the cruise ship (so 50-75 people out of 3000 pax) and glacier and wildlife put on the show just for us. Huge chunk of the glacier (300 ft tall per captain) fell off, we have seen an eagle fish for salmon, several whales and otters as well as distant bear sighting. The weather was also perfect, not a rain drop in sight and clear skies. The crew of the boat was absolutely amazing and my only regret is that I completely forgot to grab a wallet when we left the ship at 6:30 am (yes you read that correctly), so I didnt tip them. They had free coffee/hot chocolate/tea and donuts available for everyone as well as made several Alaska themed snacks (smoked salmon and kelp pickle anyone?). There were food and beverages for purchase too. Captain and his crew of naturalists narrated the whole tour, pointed out wildlife, gave TONS of interesting info. Absolutely the best tour.
• - Juneau. We did the dog summer camp tour. I still dont get the whole point of Iditarod, but I very much like the explanation give by our musher "very expensive hobby" :). This was the most disappointing tour of the cruise. Loved the ride and all the dogs, but "play with puppies" time was absolutely not as advertised, we only got one puppy to hold for like 5 minutes. More puppies, please!
• - Sitka. We were informed ahead of time about the port change, so I prebooked the excursion online before we even departed. We did the wildlife cruise, bear sanctuary and eagle sanctuary. Our driver was Sitka native and clearly loved her city. The boat ride was great and we have seen a lot of whales, momma and bay seal and relaxing sea lions. At the bear sanctuary bears put up a show too. Sitka ended up being my favorite port of the entire itinerary!
• - Victoria. Because of substituting Skagway for Sitka, we were able to dock in Victoria at 5 pm (thank you Captain Tim for negotiating an earlier port time!). We ended up taking a shuttle into the city and just walking the streets for couple of hours. 

Debarkation : Very smooth. We took fool advantage of port valet program, so easy!

While on board we have booked our next adventure - 2 weeks in Med on Enchanted next year. We are certainly coming back to Princess.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

cruisequeen4ever

CruzinNoony

Great review.  Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your review. 🙂

1 hour ago, nattie said: This sailing had a full ship, which we have not experienced this year yet. We did not feel crowded at any time on Discovery even with the ship being full.

How was the staff to passenger ratio, since it was a full ship did it feel under staffed or appropriate for the numbers onboard?  Also do you know if the Chef's Table was available during your sailing?  Thanks, and great review!

8 minutes ago, JeffT237 said: How was the staff to passenger ratio, since it was a full ship did it feel under staffed or appropriate for the numbers onboard?  Also do you know if the Chef's Table was available during your sailing?  Thanks, and great review!    

We didnt have any issues with stuff. Bartenders were busy, but wait times for drinks were normal (or at least they did not seem excessive to us). Buffet was busy at peak times, but we were always able to get seat after a bit of searching. 

Dont know about Chef's table, sorry!

Are the cabs much closer to the boarding area?   Thanks for the heads up, might do that instead of Uber.  Not sure what the cost if but the convenience might be worth it.

15 hours ago, redroses said: Are the cabs much closer to the boarding area?   Thanks for the heads up, might do that instead of Uber.  Not sure what the cost if but the convenience might be worth it.

The cabs are right next door, literally as you walk out of the building. We took a cab on the way back from the cruise and it was $65-70 to the airport area hotel. I believe driver said it was $60 to airport. I might be wrong on $ though.

1 hour ago, nattie said: The cabs are right next door, literally as you walk out of the building. We took a cab on the way back from the cruise and it was $65-70 to the airport area hotel. I believe driver said it was $60 to airport. I might be wrong on $ though.

Thanks! Great info, will do the cabs.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 22 hours ago

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 09:00 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 07:42 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 07:01 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 06:19 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• Cocktail of the Week
• Artist of the Week
• Movers & Shakers
• Fashion & Beauty
• Bachelor Nation
• Elevated Experiences
• Work With Us
• Advertise With Us

Cruise review: Seattle to Alaska on the Discovery Princess

My wife and I were just mildly interested in traveling to Alaska when we booked a cruise in June this year. We were actually more interested in experiencing what life is like aboard a cruise ship and visiting Alaska was just an added bonus. As it turns out, it was a pleasant surprise.

According to the Port of Seattle , cruise ships were mostly a novelty in Seattle with just six vessels and around 6,000 passengers back in 1999. Today, the city is considered the premier hub for Alaska and Pacific Northwest cruises. As I learned on a trip earlier this year, most cruise passengers don’t live in Washington state and I think that is a shame. By booking a cruise that boards and disembarks in Seattle, we saved hundreds of dollars in airfare. But it gets better.

We were some of the first passengers to travel aboard Princess Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Discovery Princess , which only made its debut a few weeks earlier. The ship is 1,083 feet long and 217 feet (and 6-1/4 inches) tall, features 19 decks and 1,830 guest cabins. It can hold as many as 3,660 guests and 1,346 crew members. While our cruise was near capacity, it never felt like it. Unlike stories we heard from others who had to stand in line for a couple of hours just to board their cruise ship, the Princess crew was very efficient. We got on ship in about 30 minutes. And everyone was friendly, too. Go figure.

Our home away from home

Given that we were told ahead of time that our room might not be ready for an hour or two, we weren’t expecting it to be ready, but we went straight to the room anyway. To our surprise, it was ready for us. We were celebrating our anniversary and were surprised to find champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries (compliments of a friend). Our balcony stateroom was fairly good-sized and Princess made good use of the space. (For instance, the room’s writing desk also doubled as a hair-drying station, which sounds awkward, but it really wasn’t.)

Our side "wall" was a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that led to a small balcony. When booking the trip, we weren’t sure if we wanted to spend the extra money for a balcony room, but we're glad we did. While the ship’s interior staterooms are the most affordable (and still very nice), they don’t have windows. This is fine for the days at sea where there isn’t anything to look at but water. But when you get closer to Alaska, you will not want to miss the views of the mountains, waterfalls, icebergs and wildlife. Some will say, "You won’t be spending much time in your room anyway," but that isn’t completely true. Your room becomes a place of refuge after a busy day of activity, and for one particular day, a front-row seat to a spectacular nature show. (More on that below.)

Aboard the Princess Discovery

Today’s cruise ships are like small cities on the water. After we checked out our room, we went exploring the rest of the ship to get our bearings. It was a noble idea. Even on our last day on the ship, we still got turned around. Fortunately, this ship is equipped with plenty of signage and interactive maps and listings on each deck.

In the center of the Discovery Princess is the Piazza with its elegant spiral staircases, chandeliers, fountains and tilework. Live music is played here at all times of the day. When we arrived, a string trio played classical music while baristas were busy making espresso drinks at the International Café. This is also where you can watch and/or participate in silly competitions. It’s sort of the hub of the ship where you’ll find a variety of restaurants, bars, gift shops, a fine art gallery, an internet café and more. On the ship, you’ll also find performance venues, fitness activities, a spa, a hair salon, art gallery, plus special places for the kids and hideouts for adults.

Remember when watching reruns of "The Love Boat," how every episode showed cruise guests celebrating and throwing streamers and confetti into the sea when the ship pulled out of port? Well, the Princess ships don’t do that anymore. Instead, they offer what is called a Sailaway Celebration once the ship leaves the port. Because of a noise ordinance in Seattle, cruise ships have to be relatively quiet while in port. But once they leave, it’s time to party. Starting off with a horn that plays that iconic "Love Boat" theme, a party breaks out with live music, singers and dancers around the Sky Pool. (The people soaking in the hot tubs have the best view.) This is where we met our cruise director DuVaul Gamble and Captain John Smith.

The ship’s best feature

Princess offers what I think will be a game-changer. Every passenger is given a "medallion" before boarding. You can purchase more expensive versions that can be worn as a necklace or bracelet, but the standard free version is worn with a lanyard. It serves as a homing device. Using the medallion app on your phone, you can place a drink or food order, and a server will be able to find you anywhere on the ship! Ironically, it had trouble finding us when we placed a couple of orders to be delivered in our room, but it worked well most of the time. This eliminated a lot of lines at the different food and beverage bars. You can even use the device to find your friends and family on the ship.

Dining at sea

The Discovery Princess offers many different dining spots to choose from – many of which are included in your fare. From family-friendly foods to steaks and seafood, the 'standard' food fare served in the dining rooms is as delicious as it is impressive. However, if you want to go super fancy, you can indulge in one of the ship’s more upscale restaurants, but it will cost you.

By far, the most popular dining choice is the World Fresh Marketplace buffet. Open early in the morning until late at night, the buffet is actually two identical buffets with a pastry shop separating the two. We recommend going to the furthest buffet as it will be the least crowded.

There is a huge mix of food offered here with new, additional items offered each day. The buffet is perfect for when you’re hungry "right now" and don’t want to wait at a sit-down restaurant or dining room. It is also perfect for families with picky eaters. It’s also the most causal spot on the ship. It also makes for a good place to meet with friends or families to play games.

Other options include:

Dining rooms: There are three main dining rooms on the ship, each with its own theme and design. However, the menus are the same, so you won’t miss out if you only dine in one location. All three are open each night (unless the ship is of low capacity) and one is available for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, there is an "always available menu" (offering a selection of steaks, chicken and salmon) and different themed selections that change nightly.

"Free" Restaurants: Restaurants and quick-serve dining locations that are included with your fare include the 24-hour International Café, which serves up soups, sandwiches, French pastries and espresso. (The almond croissants are especially good!), Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar, Gigi’s Pizzeria (which has been voted the "best pizza at sea"), Swirls (soft ice cream), Slices (more pizza) and the Salty Dog Grill, which serves up hamburgers, hot dogs and fries poolside.

Premium Restaurants: Restaurants that will cost you extra cash include Bistro Sur La Mer ("French bistro-style fare with a modern twist"), Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria (daily fresh pasta and family recipes), Salty Dog Gastropub (gourmet burgers and traditional pub fare), Crown Grill (USA Today ranked it as one of the "Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses") and Gelato (Italian ice cream). You’ll also find the Chef’s Table Lumiere, described as a "perfect culinary journey for any special occasion" and "an extraordinary treat for both gastronomes and gourmet novices," which sounds incredible but also sounds out of our price range.

Entertainment at sea

Unlike other cruise ships, Princess doesn’t offer waterslides or go-karts. Instead, they focus on interactive entertainment options. Every day, there were numerous things to fill our time. Here are some of our favorites:

The impressive Princess theater is located at the front end of the ship and is home to the ship’s best entertainment. "Rock Opera" is a Broadway-quality production featuring a mix of classic rock, musical theatre and opera with amazing costumes and choreography. The other big show is "Spotlight Bar," just as good but totally different. This original production is debuting on the Discovery Princess and takes place in a neighborhood bar. Although no words are spoken, the audience gets to know each of the characters and what they are dealing with through song and dance numbers. Karen Bruce is the director and choreographer who has worked on large stage shows and TV programs in the United Kingdom. While on board, we had a comedian and a magician perform at the theater, as well.

Many different trivia contests are offered each day with various topics including music, TV shows, geography, Disney, etc. They are a great way of meeting other people on the ship. Some of the game shows, like Deal or No Deal, Yes No Game, Strikeout, Liar’s Club, The Perfect Couple, Marriage Match, and Hollywood Hiccups are a bigger affair and attract a crowd. The humor is good-natured and, for the most part, fairly clean. I will say that we found a few events where the crew crossed the line a bit.

Many of the venues on the ship offered live music from classical piano to a tribute to ABBA. If karaoke is your thing, you won’t be disappointed. Other activities we found on the ship include social get-togethers, lots of classes (dance, arts and crafts, fitness), bingo, poker demonstrations, ice carving demonstrations, afternoon teas, wine tastings and more.

For parents who want to have some alone time away from their kids, the ship offers three different childcare/club options. The Tree House at Camp Discovery (for kids 3-7) offers clever playtimes like Lego boat-building contests and pajama movie nights. The Lodge at Camp Discovery (for kids 8-12) features kid-sized Olympic competitions, rocket building and treasure hunts. The Beach House Teen Lounge (for youth 8th-12th grade) sounds especially cool. It is a hangout that, yes, offers video game tournaments, but also sports competitions and the Rock the Boat teen-only party with awards and mocktails.

The art of relaxing

With so much to do, it’s easy to forget to take time to just relax, enjoy the sea breeze and read a book. Though the weather was iffy on our trip, we still got a number of sunny days where we could enjoy lounging under the sun. The ship lido deck featured two pools, three hot tubs and plenty of space to lay out. One day the weather was particularly chilly and I spotted a couple in a hot tub wearing winter hats, which was brilliant. There is a large screen that plays movies and concert videos throughout the day and is the location for "Movies Under the Stars" at night.

At the other end of the ship is the Wake View Bar and Wake View Pool, an infinity-styled pool right at the edge. This was a quieter part of the ship and I was surprised that more people didn’t take advantage of it. On the next deck up, we found the Retreat Pool. It’s an adult-only pool with two hot tubs and (of course) the Retreat Bar nearby. We visited this spot a few times as it is a much quieter space to relax and hang out.

In what is known as The Sanctuary, parents can unwind without their children in a private space that features private cabanas, signature beverages, light meals and al fresco massages. I am envious that I wasn’t able to experience The Enclave within the Lotus Spa. Is a thermal suite that features a hydrotherapy pool with a cascading rain shower and therapeutic air jets, heated stone beds, soothing water beds, a Turkish-style steam bath, and the Caldarium, which is described as a light steam chamber infused with herbal aromas and the Laconium, which is a heated, dry chamber and is said to help with purification and detoxification of the body.

The Lotus Spa also offers a variety of relaxing treatments, such as facials, aroma stone therapy massages and detoxifying ocean wraps and an aromatherapy thermal suite. The salon offers women’s styling, color, men’s haircuts and shaves, manicure and pedicure choices and teeth whitening. Who knew?

Especially on the Alaska Cruise

While on board, we were immersed in an Alaskan theme. During the day, the cruise directors were dressed as lumberjacks, banners hung with images of Alaska’s gold rush heritage, photo galleries featured amazing images and the stories behind them. Even a Baked Alaska was offered one night in the dining rooms. Our ship offered a lot of enrichment presentations related to Alaska, including Steve Hites’ "North to Alaska" show. We even got to spend some time with Alaskan sled dog puppies. (Okay, we got about 30 seconds to hold one and get our picture taken, but they are pretty cute.) But one of the highlights of the trip came on our way to Juneau.

Beginning at 5 a.m., we traveled through the Endicott Arm. Outside of our room, we saw real icebergs float by. Not giant ones that could sink the ship, but still plenty big. Naturalist Michael Modzelewski was on board giving commentary through our room’s TV, sharing stories and telling us what to look for while we dined on breakfast and coffee delivered to our room. He would point out sightings of grizzly bears, bald eagles and killer whales. Our ship didn’t get very close to them, but we did see a few of each, which was still pretty cool.

Ports of call

While on our seven-day cruise, we made stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria B.C. While we planned on experiencing each stop on our own, many excursions are available. Excursions included ziplining, kayak tours, bike tours, train rides, whale watching tours, glacier viewing, etc. If you plan on taking an excursion, I would suggest that you book one from the ship. For one, we found that the prices were the same whether you purchased from the ship or right off the dock. Second, if you are on an excursion that was booked from the ship and you are getting back late, the ship will wait for you before disembarking. From what I hear, that isn’t always the case. And for one couple on our ship, arriving late made for an embarrassing situation. Before leaving one port, our captain instructed everyone on the right side of the ship to look out and cheer for the 30-minute late couple. I suspect that they received a strong talking to, as well, but I don’t know for sure.

Known as the "Salmon Capital of the World," Ketchikan is picturesque and dotted with historical, stilted buildings. A lot of them are now home to various jewelry stores and whatnot. Right off the boat, you’ll find Ketchikan Creek and the adjacent Creek Street, which used to be a red light district but is now filled with tourist shops. I’m not a fisherman, but the Creek Street Bridge is said to be a good place for fishing. There is a fish ladder that teems with salmon during late July and August. Other easy spots to visit include The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, the Tongass Historical Museum, Chief Johnson’s totem pole and the Totem Heritage Center.

One of the most popular places to visit in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier. Shuttles to and from can be found right off the port. The shuttle takes about 20 minutes and then there a 25-minute hike to the visitor center. You won’t be able to get real close to the glacier, but it is still very impressive. The Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway is also very popular. The six-minute ride to the mountaintop leads to an observatory, nature center, restaurant, a theater showing a film on Tlingit history and culture and of course, a gift shop. The trip is pretty spendy though. However, if you hike up the mountain and purchase something at the gift shop of the same value as the tram ride, your ride will be complementary. In town, the place to be is the Red Dog Saloon, where Wyatt Earp once checked in his gun, but failed to claim it when he left. The place was hopping when we visited. There was a line of people waiting outside the swinging doors all day long. Juneau also features the Alaska State Museum, the Last Chance Mining Museum and lots of hiking.

Our favorite stop on our trip was Skagway. A former gold rush hot spot, this place is rich in history. We decided to hike along the Lower Dewey Lake Trail. The length of the trail is just over three miles long. However, it was a bit more challenging than we had expected. Don’t let the name “lower lake” fool you. You have to climb up a long way. However, the trail around the lake is beautiful and you’ll even find rails that were once used during the gold rush. The White Pass Yukon Railway offers a 20-mile train ride outside of Skagway up to the White Pass Summit. We didn’t go on it, but we heard from others that did that the experience was amazing.

In town, the road is paved but the sidewalks are made out of wood. The Klondike Gold Rush National Park watches over 20 historic buildings, many of which feature exhibits worth checking out and it’s all free. If you have time, see “The Days of ‘98” vaudeville show. It is the longest-running show in Alaska since 1923. Need a snack? Stop by Yukon Heath’s Popcorn Emporium or the Klondike Doughboy which serves up elephant ear-styled fry bread. We did both! And then there is the Arctic Brotherhood Hall building which was decorated with over 8,800 pieces of driftwood. Nobody knows why. It is now used as a visitor’s center.

Victoria, B.C.

We didn't arrive to Victoria until 7 p.m. on the last night of our cruise. Since we've been to the city often and had only enough time to find a restaurant (which we could already do on the ship), we decided to stay in and watch a movie in our room. Hey, you gotta find time to relax, right?

Learn more about Princess Discovery cruises here.

Jeff Totey is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. See more of his work here .

• Do Not Sell or Share
• Cookie Preferences

Discovery Princess

Courtesy of Princess Cruises |

Find a Cruise on Discovery Princess

with a cruise advisor

The newest ship in the Princess fleet, Discovery Princess launched in March 2022. The ship is equipped with Princess Cruises' signature MedallionClass technology, which allows cruisers access to Wi-Fi, touchless experiences (such as contactless payment) and food and beverage delivery anywhere on the ship. Discovery Princess holds 3,660 passengers and 1,346 crew members. Overall, the new ship gets positive reviews from recent cruisers, with many complimenting the staff and the modern, clean spaces.

Cabins range from interior rooms and ocean view accommodations (158 to 172 square feet) to balcony cabins and suites (214 to 1,873 square feet). There are a variety of dining options on board as well, serving everything from pizza and American classics to sushi and seafood. Specialty dining venues include the French Bistro Sur La Mer, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, The Salty Dog Gastropub and Crown Grill steakhouse. Or, for an extra special experience, enjoy a meal on your balcony or snag a reservation for a multicourse dinner at the Chef's Table Lumiere. (Note: Specialty venues incur an additional fee and some require reservations.) When it comes to entertainment, Discovery Princess boasts a casino, a show lounge, a jazz club and a theater that puts on Broadway-style shows.

Other amenities cruisers can enjoy on this ship include several pools, movies under the stars, a spa and an art gallery. Meanwhile, traveling families will appreciate the kids clubs, which offer programming and activities for youths ages 3 to 17.

The only major complaint from recent cruisers was that the internet connection was fairly slow and sporadic.

Discovery Princess sails mostly in California, Mexico and Alaska, with stops at ports like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico , and Juneau, Alaska .

Pros & Cons

New ship offers MedallionClass technology and numerous dining options

Wi-Fi access can be spotty, according to past cruisers

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.3
• Health Rating » 4.3

Discovery Princess ranks # 6 out of 15 Princess Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 6 in Best Princess Cruises
• # 7 in Best Cruises to Mexico
• # 16 in Best Cruises to Alaska
• # 22 in Best Cruises for Families
• # 39 in Best Affordable Cruises
• # 40 in Best Cruises for Couples

Discovery Princess contains 15 decks. Find out which features are available on each Discovery Princess deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 317 guests have reviewed Discovery Princess , giving it a rating of 4.4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

Royal Princess

Sky Princess

Quantum of the Seas

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Home » Cruise » Princess Cruises » Princess Cruises to Alaska: The Pros and Cons

Princess Cruises to Alaska: The Pros and Cons

If you are considering a cruise to the Last Frontier, we detail the pros and cons of sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska.

Share this post:

If you are considering a cruise to Alaska , the first cruise line that may come to mind is Princess Cruises. You’ve seen the advertisements and marketing campaigns, but are they really the best cruise line in Alaska? Well, we’ve just returned from our 5th Alaska cruise, 2nd with Princess, and want to share our thoughts with you. In this post, we detail the pros and cons of sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska.

It’s true that Princess Cruises has earned quite the reputation when it comes to cruising in Alaska. And for good reason, as there are several pros of sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska.

WATCH OUR LATEST VIDEO OF THE PROS AND CONS OF PRINCESS CRUISES!

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Princess Cruises to Alaska!

Pros of Sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska

Number of ships.

If you look at the sheer number of vessels cruising in the region, Princess Cruises comes out on top with seven ships. This number is matched only by Holland America Line which comes in a close second place with six ships in Alaska this season.

Even within the Princess fleet, there is variety in the ship’s cruising to Alaska in terms of size, age, and amenities. If you enjoy mega-ships, there’s a ship for you. If you’d prefer a smaller, more intimate experience, there’s also a ship for you. Perhaps, you love that new ship smell. Lucky for you, the cruise line’s new Discovery Princess is cruising Alaska as well.

Cruisers have the choice between Discovery Princess, Majestic Princess, Crown Princess, Sapphire Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess, and Ruby Princess in 2023 and 2024.

Discovery, Majestic, and Royal all belong to Princess Cruises’ largest class of ships to date, the Royal Class. At over 140K gross tons, these are some of the largest vessels that cruise the region. Crown, Sapphire, and Ruby Princess are similar in size at around 113-115K. Grand is the smallest Princess ship cruising to Alaska at around 107K; yet all four of these ships belong to the same class, the Grand Class.

The ranking of these Princess ships in Alaska from newest to oldest is: Discovery, Majestic, Royal, Ruby Crown, Sapphire, Grand. Discovery Princess launched in 2022, while Grand Princess debuted in 1998.

Variety of Itineraries

Given the number of Princess Cruises ships sailing to Alaska, this allows the cruise line to offer a variety of itineraries. Princess Cruises offers roundtrip sailings that depart from Seattle , Vancouver , and even San Francisco . The cruise line also features one-way sailings from Anchorage (Whittier) to Vancouver and vice versa.

While most of our cruises have been roundtrip from Seattle or Vancouver, our recent Majestic Princess cruise was our first one-way sailing. We really enjoyed getting to experience a bit more of the region with this itinerary.

Given the number of ships and departure points, this allows the cruise line to offer a variety of cruise lengths as well beyond the traditional 7-day cruise. Guests even have the option to extend the cruise with a land tour, but more on that in a bit.

The good news is that no matter which ship or itinerary you choose, all Princess Cruises to Alaska include at least one day of glacier viewing. Many of these itineraries include scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park , which we highly recommend. Select sailings even include a visit to both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay.

New Alaska Food and Beverage Offerings

One of the reasons we couldn’t wait to hop onboard Princess Cruises to Alaska this year was to check out the new Alaska food and beverage offerings.

New for 2023, Princess is offering an expanded Wild for Alaska Seafood menu. Guests can expect a rotation of fresh Alaska seafood dishes in the main dining room as well as the World Fresh Marketplace. Some of the dishes on the MDR menus included Wild Alaskan Salmon, Bering Seafood Stew, Alaskan Ale-Braised Short Ribs, Alaska Crab Cake or Salmon Cake, Alaskan-Caught Halibut, Cod, or Tuna, and more.

Along with all the locally sourced food selections, Princess Cruises plans to feature destination-inspired cocktails. While promotional materials indicate there will be special hot chocolate-based creations, themed frozen drinks, and cocktails made with local spirits, they were not yet available on Majestic Princess. However, there were Alaska wines, Alaska beer, and a few spirits sourced from local distilleries like an Anchorage whiskey.

Not to mention, Majestic Princess is now home to a brand new specialty restaurant. Replacing Bistro Sur La Mer, The Catch by Rudi is the first Princess restaurant primarily devoted to seafood. The creative dishes and attractive price of $39 per person will lure you in.

We had a chance to dine at The Catch during our sailing and really enjoyed it. While not much has changed in terms of theming in the venue, the food selections were certainly a step above the former Bistro Sur La Mer.

MedallionClass Experience

Another pro of sailing with Princess Cruises to Alaska is the MedallionClass experience that its ships offer. This technology is aimed at making your vacation more personalized and contactless.

One of the highlights of MedallionClass is OceanNow where you can order food and drinks anywhere on the ship. Whether you want to order a latte or cappuccino to your stateroom while you are scouting wildlife from your balcony or a pina colada while lounging in the solarium, you can do so through the app.

Other benefits are the wearable technology and keyless stateroom entry. We love the fact that we don’t have to carry around a room keycard. Your Princess Medallion can be worn in a watch band, a belt clip, a bracelet, or a necklace for added convenience. As you approach your stateroom, there is no need to fumble for your keycard as the technology will sense your Medallion and unlock your door for you.

Your Medallion can even be used to pay ashore in select destinations. Further, you can locate your friends and family onboard the ship, watch your digital muster drill, and much more. How’s that for convenience?

Extended Time in Port

Regardless of the cruise line or itinerary, you can expect a pretty typical line-up of Southeastern Alaska ports of call on most contemporary ships. These ports include Juneau , Ketchikan , and Skagway , with Icy Strait Point or Sitka sometimes replacing one of the options. Roundtrip sailings will usually include a call into Victoria, B.C. as well.

What does differentiate Princess from some of the competition is its extended time in port and preferential docking locations. For instance, NCL docks at Ward Cove in Ketchikan which requires transportation to get to the Downtown area unlike other cruise lines who dock closer.

On our recent Majestic Princess sailing, we were literally in port ALL DAY. In Icy Strait Point, we were docked from 6 AM to 7 PM. We were in Juneau from 6:30 AM to 5 PM and in Ketchikan from 10 AM to 6 PM. This is in contrast to other ships that may only dock from 7 AM to 1 PM in Juneau or Ketchikan or for 4-5 hours in Victoria in the evening.

While ashore, Princess also offers cruisers a variety of shore excursions for all types of travelers. Some of these activities are created in partnership with Animal Planet and/or Discovery. Some may also boast small groups or local connections to get you closer to your destinations.

SCORE DEALS ON YOUR PRINCESS CRUISE TO ALASKA!

North to Alaska Programming

While most cruise lines do offer onboard enrichment opportunities when cruising to Alaska, Princess Cruises features an entire North to Alaska program of specially curated activities. These opportunities usually include talks by locals and experts on topics such as history, Alaskan culture, and wildlife of the region.

Some exclusives include Alaskan lumberjacks, Deadliest Catch, and Libby Riddles who is a retired dog musher. We had the opportunity to listen to Libby Riddles share her story and road to victory in the Iditarod race.

Other onboard events include “Puppies in the Piazza” during your visit to Skagway (which we did not get to experience as our ship did not call into this port), a Night at the Klondike, the Midnight Sun Experience, and more.

Further, during the scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park, a park ranger will come onboard the ship to provide real time narration, Additionally, they will offer a formal presentation in the main theater with more in-depth information. This should not be missed during your Princess cruise to Alaska.

Traditional Cruise Experience

When sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska, your cruise ship will provide the perfect backdrop to your majestic destinations. In general, Alaska cruises are more relaxed. But, on Princess Cruises, you won’t feel overwhelmed by trying to do everything on the ship as well as while ashore.

That’s not to say that you will be bored on the ship though. You will still find all the traditional elements of a cruise vacation like pools, bars and lounges, restaurants, and entertainment spaces to keep you occupied between ports of call.

All the usual cruise activities like nightly production shows in the main theater, trivia, game shows, Bingo, Movies Under the Stars, and live music will still occur. You can also find a spa, fitness center, and casino onboard Princess ships. Though, you won’t find all the flashy bells and whistles found on some other cruise lines. In a sense, Princess Cruises provides a more classic cruise experience.

Further, Princess does still offer kids programming to ensure Alaska cruises are fun and engaging for multi-generational families as well.

Best Pizza at Sea

What Princess Cruises lacks when it comes to racetracks and virtual reality arcades, it makes up for with pizza!

Princess Cruises has been consistently voted as having the best pizza at sea, and we agree. On many ships in the fleet, Alfredo’s or Gigi’s serves up delicious handmade pies in a sit-down restaurant setting that is completely complimentary. There’s also a poolside pizzeria on most ships serving up quick grab and go slices.

When devouring your pizza, be sure to save some room for dessert. Princess Cruises now features premium desserts, with and without alcohol. These desserts are included in the Princess Plus and Princess Premier fares or can be purchased a la carte otherwise. These Italian-inspired gelato treats are definitely instagram-worthy.

New Inclusive Fare Options

Like most contemporary cruise lines, Princess Cruises’ standard fare  includes most onboard amenities . Still, there are additional services and amenities not covered in this cruise price. To offer more “all-inclusive” cruise vacations, Princess Cruises has rolled out its Princess Plus and Princess Premier pricing options. These options might make sailing with Princess Cruises to Alaska a bit more attractive for those worried about “nickel and diming” on a cruise.

Guests can upgrade from the Princess Standard fare to the Princess Plus package for $60 per person, per day. This package includes the crew incentive ( also known as gratuities ), WiFi for one device per guest, and the  Plus Beverage package . New in 2023, the Princess Plus package also features two premium desserts per cruise, two fitness classes per cruise, and an unlimited juice bar.

Princess Cruises has also added a third pricing option, Princess Premier. The Princess Premier package is the most inclusive offering and is $80 per person, per day to upgrade. This package includes the Premier Beverage Package, WiFi for 4 devices per guest, Crew Appreciation, and two specialty dining meals per guest. 

With this fare, guests also get a photo package, unlimited premium desserts, unlimited fitness classes, unlimited juice bar, a Medallion accessory, reserved seating in the theater, and entries to win Princess Prizes.

Cruisetours and Lodges in Alaska

In conjunction with your Alaska cruise vacation, Princess Cruises also offers cruisetours and lodges to extend your stay in the Last Frontier. In fact, another differentiating factor is that Princess owns and operates five wilderness lodge properties and several luxury railcars. This makes Princess an easy choice if you are considering adding a land-portion to your Alaska cruise.

These unique cruisetours combine a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise with scenic rail travel from the ship to the lodge via exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service. During the land portion of these cruisetours, travelers can visit some of the state’s most popular areas that are not accessible by cruise ship, spending three or more nights on land at Princess Wilderness Lodges. Further, every cruisetour visits Denali National Park.

The five Princess Lodges include: Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Cons of Sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska

While there are many pros of sailing Princess Cruises to Alaska, there are also some cons of which to be aware.

Fewer Bells and Whistles

If you usually cruise newer ships in the Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line fleet but were considering Princess for your Alaska cruise, you may be disappointed in the onboard offerings. While Princess cruise ships do feature all the cruise staples, you won’t find any bells and whistles on its ships.

This means that you won’t find sky diving simulators or bumper cars like on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas . You also won’t find a race track, laser tag, or a VR complex like on NCL’s Norwegian Encore. If these types of signature attractions are a must for your kids and teens, you should probably consider another cruise line.

Along the same lines, you won’t find Broadway shows on Princess ships either. While some Royal Caribbean and NCL ships feature signature entertainment venues and shows, Princess productions are more akin to traditional cruise ship revue shows.

Further, you won’t find any over-the-top theming at the bars and lounges or any high energy nightlife. In fact, most bars close by 11 PM.

Of course, Alaska cruises are more about the destination than they are the ship anyway.

Lackluster Entry Level Staterooms

Personally, one of our biggest cons of sailing with Princess Cruises to Alaska is the lackluster entry level staterooms. After 65 cruises with various cruise lines, there are some things that we have come to expect in our usual balcony cabins. Yet, they are missing with Princess. This means that you might need to upgrade your accommodations which can increase your Alaska cruise costs . We upgraded to a premium deluxe balcony cabin.

In particular, a sofa or loveseat which comes standard in many competitor cruise lines’ cabins does not with Princess Cruises. Specifically, cruisers will need to upgrade to a deluxe balcony or mini-suite in order to get a sitting area in their stateroom. With more and more travelers never fully disconnecting on vacation and even working remotely, we think the extra seating area is essential.

Further, cruisers who have sailed with other lines might be surprised that even the newer ships in the Princess fleet still feature shower curtains in the bathroom. Yes, that means the dreaded clingy shower curtain while you are trying to bathe. While showering on a cruise ship is never ideal, this makes the situation even worse.

Thankfully, Princess has finally listened, and the new Sun Princess debuting next year will fix both of these issues!

Fewer Dining Options

Compared to some other ships cruising the region, Princess ships tend to have fewer dining options. Of course, Princess Cruises has main dining rooms that offer multi-course meals each evening with some featured “Local Eats Alaska Flavors”.

There’s also the World Fresh Marketplace/Horizon Court. This buffet serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday; however, the venue is not well laid-out in our experience. This made it rather congested at peak meal times during our recent Majestic Princess sailing.

In terms of other casual dining, there’s a sit-down pizza venue on some ships (which we love) and the International Café serving some quick grab and go items. Outdoors, there’s a grill and a pizzeria (or Noodle Bar on Majestic Princess). Though, we were not impressed with the quality or preparation of the grill items during our visits.

In terms of specialty restaurants, there are also fewer options than many mega-ships from competitor brands. On most of the Princess ships sailing Alaska, you will only find a Sabatini’s Trattoria and a Crown Grill steakhouse. Majestic Princess does feature a brand new seafood restaurant, The Catch, which is also coming to Discovery Princess soon. However, you will not find a hibachi restaurant, a sports pub, a Mexican restaurant, etc.

BOOK NOW : Exclusive Rates on Alaska Cruises!

More Alaska Cruise Tips

If you are planning your Alaska cruise and need more tips, we have you covered. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

• Best time of year to take an Alaska cruise
• Our expert Alaska cruise tips
• Alaska cruise packing guide

Have you sailed with Princess Cruises to Alaska? What are some of your pros and cons for sailing with this cruise line? Drop us an anchor below to share your recent Alaska cruise reviews.

Related Posts

Cruiseline module – Remove Title

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to our newsletter!

Even though we cruise Princess we do agree with your assessment. Your comments on food and rooms were spot on. We are always very impressed with their service and hospitality but the buffet, which really could be a blast, becomes quite routine, in particular the breakfast. Lots of positives with Princess and you covered them well.

DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

What’s Trending

Contact Us: [email protected]

Travel, RV Camping, Hiking & Outdoor Adventures

15 Cruise Tips You’ll Love For The Discovery Princess Cruise To Alaska

Pin This For Later!

• Facebook 40
• Pinterest 938

Last Updated on October 10, 2022 by Lori

Is taking your family on an Alaska cruise on your bucket list? Our Discovery Princess Alaska cruise was one of the best vacations ever!

There are so many Alaska cruise ships and cruisetours to choose from you are sure to find the perfect Alaska itinerary your family will love!

Here are some cruise tips we learned on our Princess Discovery Alaska cruise that helped us have smooth embarkation and debarkation days, and general tips for making your Alaska cruise a vacation you and your family will remember for a lifetime!

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Disclosure Policy  for more information.

Why Choose A Princess Alaskan Cruise ?

Princess Cruise lines have been sailing the Alaskan waters for over 50 years! Seven Princess ships offer cruises and cruisetours ranging from seven to 12 days departing from Vancouver B.C., Anchorage (Whittier), Seattle, San Franciso, and Los Angeles.

Princess Cruises also operate five wilderness lodges near national Parks combining a seven-day cruise with a multi-night land tour and rail service – sometimes referred to as a Land, Sea & Rail tour.

With all the choices Princess cruise lines offer, at first we were a little overwhelmed by which of the Princess Alaska ships to choose from. However, with a little bit of research, we soon found the best Alaska cruise itinerary that included all the places we wanted to see.

Best Time To Go On A Cruise To Alaska

You might be wondering when is the best time to book an Alaskan cruise. Alaskan cruise ships sail to Alaska from May to September.

While on our Discovery Princess cruise, Captain Tim told us there really isn’t a “bad time” to visit Alaska. However, July and August are considered the best time to cruise to Alaska as you will have warm sunny days, long days, and see lots of wildlife.

Decide Which Ports of Call You Want To Visit

Before booking your Alaskan cruise, decide which ports of call you want to visit.

On a Princess cruise to Alaska, you can choose to take an Inside passage to Alaska, a Voyage of the Glaciers, or a Land & Sea Cruisetour.

Alaska Cruise Ports of Call

• College Fjord
• Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier
• Glacier Bay National Park
• Hubbard Glacier
• Icy Strait Point
• Victoria (British Columbia)

Once you decide which ports you want to visit will determine what port you will sail from. If you decide to take an Alaska Inside Passage Round-Trip tour as we did, you can choose to leave from San Franciso, CA, or Seattle, WA.

Discovery Princess 7-Day Cruise To Alaska Round-Trip From Seattle

We chose to take the newest Princess cruise ship to Alaska – The Discovery Princess. Why did we choose this ship from all the other princess cruise ships?

For one, the Discovery Princess itinerary was perfect for what we wanted to see, and we loved that it was the Princess’s newest ship in its fleet.

We also chose to upgrade to a Discovery Princess balcony cabin on the Lido deck which I highly recommend! This particular cabin had an unobstructed view so we had perfect views of the beautiful glaciers right from our cabin!

Looking at the Discovery Princess deck plan, you’ll notice that this deck also has a pool, several places to eat, bars, ice cream, and the buffet. It was so easy to run for a cup of coffee in the early mornings and not have to take the stairs or elevator!

While more experienced cruises will direct you to choose a room in the mid-aft section of the ship (less chance of feeling seasick, better views, etc.) we did not feel sick and loved that all we had to do was to look out of our window to see the beautiful mountains and glaciers!

Once we chose our ship, it was time to explore our ports! The Inside Passage Alaska cruise would sail round-trip from Seattle, Washington, and visit the ports of:

• Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier
• Victoria, B.C.

Choose Your Shore Excursions Early

Once you’ve chosen your Alaska itinerary and cruise ship, one of the first things you need to do is to choose and book your Princess Alaska excursions. Don’t wait until you get on the ship, as popular shore excursions sell out quickly!

Shore excursions range in price from $45 – $300+. We loved our shore excursions; however, there were so many things to see at each port that it’s no wonder people cruise to Alaska over and over again!

If this is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation – be sure to set aside funds to take that helicopter ride to land on a glacier or get on one of the smaller excursion boats that will take you up close to the glaciers.

Download The Princess Medallion App Onto Your Smartphone

Discovery Princess is considered one of the Princess Medallionclass® of ships that use an app to make it easy to book your dining reservations, get directions to where you want to go on the ship, and view your bill onboard.

***Note: I highly recommend checking to receive the Princess Patter in paper form. You can do this on the app under “preferences”. The Princess Patter is delivered to your room by your steward each night and contains all the activities, times for dining, and whether you need to change your clocks!

You will receive a Princess Medallion to wear while on the ship that will unlock your stateroom door, servers to know which food and beverage plan you have to charge food and drink to your room, and to get on and off ship (plus much more!)

Book Your Dining Before You Get On The Ship

There are three Main Dining Rooms (MDR) on the Discovery Princess ship that serve the exact same menu each night:

Princess now has what’s called – Dine My Way where you can choose the time you want to eat dinner (5:00 – 9:00 p.m.) and whether you want a private table for your party or don’t mind sharing a table.

Having a dining reservation will ensure you have a table at the time you prefer to eat. That being said, while we had reservations for the Ketchikan Dining Room at 7 p.m. each evening, we found that time didn’t really work for us all the time.

You can change your reservation time in the Medallion app; or, you can just wait in the “no reservation” line at any dining room.

We found that we enjoyed the Juneau Dining Room. It was less crowded at the time we wanted to eat and we would only have to wait a few minutes to be seated.

If you have a large group however and want to sit together, I highly suggest making a reservation for each night so that you can sit together and won’t have to wait.

World Fresh Marketplace

The World Fresh Marketplace is the buffet dining area. There are many choices of things to eat here! Plus, there is an entire rea just for desserts!

You don’t need a reservation to eat at the buffet, and there are plenty of tables available. It’s a great place to get coffee in the morning too. The World Marketplace is open at 5 a.m. for breakfast and remains open for lunch and dinner.

Other Breakfast Choices

If you are looking for a more sit-down dining room experience for breakfast, you don’t need to make a reservation for the Skagway Dining Room. They serve breakfast from 7-9 a.m. and you can order daily specials as well as eggs any way you like.

The International Cafe is open 24 hours and serves specialty coffee and quick bites.

Reserve Your Speciality Dining Before You Get On The Ship

While there are many free dining options to try, Discovery Princess has a number of Speciality Dining rooms that I also recommend you try.

Specialty Restaurants have an additional fee to dine there – but, in my opinion, is definitely worth the extra charge.

Crown Grill

This steakhouse is one of the most popular restaurants on the ship – so make your reservation early! They serve aged and hand-cut, cooked-to-order steaks and seafood.

This was one of the first Speciality dining reservations I made after booking the cruise. The food was amazing!

Cover Charge – $29 per person charge.

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

Sabatini’s serves handmade pasta with authentic sauces with flavors of the Mediterranean.

We were able to book Sabatini’s while on ship – but they only had a reservation on the last day of the cruise. Since we weren’t going off the ship that day, was the only way we could dine here. We were so glad we did!

Cover Charge – $25 per person charge.

Bistro Sur La Mer

French Bistro-style dining serving authentic French dishes

Cover Charge – $29 per person

The Salty Dog Gastro Pub

A fun place serving Stout Beef Short Ribs, Lobster mac & Cheese, and the famous Salty Dog Burger!

Cover Charge – $18 per person

Simple Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Your Princess Cruise To Alaska

Arrive 1-2 days before the cruise.

You don’t want to be stressed if your flight is delayed, or worse, canceled that you might miss your cruise if you’re flying on the day of the cruise. Arrive at least one day early, relax and get some rest.

You Don’t Have To Book The Princess Transfer From The Hotel To The Pier.

Before choosing your hotel, check to see if the Seattle Express Shuttle makes a stop at your hotel.

We booked a round-trip shuttle on Seattle Express Shuttle from our hotel to the Pier and from the Pier to the airport when we arrived back in Seattle.

The Seattle Express Shuttle made it so easy! I pre-booked both shuttles (there is a discount for a round-trip ticket), received an email with my confirmation number, then received a follow-up email a few days before my trip. On the day of the cruise, the driver came into the lobby of the hotel to get us – calling us by name.

After getting off the ship, we didn’t have to stand in the long line for the Princess Transfer to the airport (which I heard was 2 hours). We met the Seattle Express Shuttle in Lane R, told them our name, and got on the shuttle. We arrived at the airport by 9:30 a.m.

When You Arrive At The Seattle Pier, find a Porter For Your Ship To Take Your Bags

This was one cruise tip I’m glad I learned before going on our cruise! Remember that there are other cruise lines docked at Pier 91. Be sure to ask if they are collecting bags for your particular cruise. The porters don’t work for Princess, so be sure to tip them.

***NOTE: By using a porter, you can skip the very long line of people who are carrying their bags with them and need to put their bags through security. Those with carry-on bags can walk up the stairs to wait to be checking-in by Customs. You will then go through security with your carry-on bags, and then walk onto the ship!

Be sure to have your Passports, Vaccination Card and complete the ArriveCan App BEFORE you arrive for check-in.

The ArriveCan App needs to be completed because the ship stops in Canada. The ArriveCan app can be downloaded to your smartphone and needs to be completed no later than 72 hours before embarkation. It can also be completed by computer from the Princess website if you don’t have a smartphone. You will need to upload your passport information, vaccination card, and answer a few health questions.

You can upload all the information for everyone in your party, so every person doesn’t have to download the app.

Take a screenshot of the confirmation code in case the internet isn’t working and you are unable to pull up the app. I showed a screenshot of the QR code which shows completing the information for both my husband and me, and it was fine.

Bring Along A Pen & Highlighter.

Your steward will leave forms in your stateroom that you will need to complete during your cruise. If you forget to bring a pen, you can just go to Guest Services and they will give you one.

I wish I had brought along a highlighter to mark the activities I wanted to see on the Princess Patter. So, I am adding a Highlighter to the list of things to bring.

Turn On The BridgeCam On The TV In Your Stateroom To hear The Captain

During the first couple of cruise days, I kept opening the stateroom door to hear the Captain’s announcements as they are not broadcast into the staterooms. One day, we were watching the BridgeCam on tv and heard everything that was being broadcast in the hallway. From then on, no more opening the door to hear what was being said!

Don’t Miss The Naturalist Narrating Over The BridgeCam When Entering Endicott Arm Fjord At 4:30 a.m.

I was so happy I had heard an announcement that the naturalist would be narrative over the BridgeCam TV as we entered Endicott Arm or I would have missed so much!

Michael, the Naturalist on board the Discovery Princess came on at 4:30 am as we were just entering Endicott Arm. He spoke about the history of Dum Sum Glacier we were seeing, told us when the Eagles were flying by, to look for the waterfalls that were coming us and on which side of the ship to look!

Don’t miss his narration!

Don’t Feel You Have To Book An Excursion At Every Port

The ports on your Alaskan cruise have so many things to see, places to eat, and historic areas that you don’t need to book a shore excursion – if you don’t want to. Many people just stayed on the ship to enjoy the pool and hot tub!

We chose not to take an excursion in Ketchikan, Alaska, and instead took the time to walk around the town. It was only a short walk to historic Creek Street with lots of shops along the way to purchase Alaska memorabilia and restaurants to taste the local cuisine.

Make Sure To Have Small Bills For Tips

Another good tip that I learned and used was to make sure we had $1 and $5 bills for tips. Tips are very much appreciated by tour guides, ordering room service on the ship, and for anyone else that you think may have gone above and beyond in service.

You Don’t Need To Pack As Many Clothes As You Think You Do!

One of the first questions I had as a new cruiser was – How many suitcases can I take?

While there isn’t a specific number of suitcases allowed, you really don’t need to overpack!

Keep in mind some airlines charge a per-bag fee. We each had one 28″ suitcase and carried backpacks as our carry-ons. This worked perfectly for us.

I also recommend these Luggage tag holders that are customized for each cruise line. Just print out your luggage tag from your Princess cruise personalizer, fold and insert it into the bag tag made specifically for Princess cruises (or any cruise line you are sailing on).

Plus, I added these cute Luggage Name & Address card holders so I could easily identify my luggage.

Things we brought and used on our seven-day Alaska cruise :

My suggestion is to pack layers. One day it might be sunny and the next day you’ll need a warm coat!

Lightweight fleeces, a puffer vest, warm insulated coat , baseball hat, winter hat , long-sleeve shirts, nice dress shirts and pants, sports jacket or suit and dress for formal nights , rain jacket, waterproof hiking boots , binoculars, and a lightweight day pack which was awesome to take on excursions!

Kids and adults used the pool and hot tubs whether it was sunny or cold and cloudy. So, be sure to pack your bathing suit too!

Use The Port Valet To Take Your Luggage To The Seattle Airport

The Port Valet is FREE in Seattle and will take your luggage from the ship and directly to the airport. You won’t see your bags until you get to the baggage carousel at your destination.

Using the Port Valet service was the BEST thing ever!

Your steward will leave the Port Valet information in your room on Tuesday evening. The application must be returned by Wednesday noon to be accepted. If, for some reason, your steward did not leave the information, go to Guest Services.

***Note: Only certain airlines participate in the Port Valet service: Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon, JetBlue, Southwest & United. Your flight must be between certain hours to use the Port Valet Service.

If approved, your steward will place your boarding passes, and special luggage tags in your stateroom. Then, on the last night of the cruise, place the luggage tags on your bags and set them outside your stateroom before you leave for dinner. The ship’s crew will take your bags, and the next time you see them will be at the baggage terminal at your destination.

When you get to the Sea-Tac airport, just head to the security line with your carry-ons and your boarding passes. It was so nice not to have to lug our bags onto the shuttle and then wait in line at the airport to check our bags. All we had to do was to walk to the security line, and when we got to New York, our bags were there!

If your airline charges a fee for bags, you will see that charge on your princess account.

Final Thoughts About Our Princess Discovery Cruise To Alaska

Whether you take a Princess cruise or another cruise line to Alaska, it will be an experience you’ll never forget. Our cruise to Alaska had been on our Wish List of places to visit for a long time, so we decided to take this trip of a lifetime to celebrate my 60th birthday! The cruise to Alaska was all we thought it would be – and I’m sure you will love it too!

Other Travel Articles You Might Enjoy

Top Things To Do In Branson Missouri

11 Best Things To Do In The Great Smoky Mountains

How To Plan A One Day Trip To Niagara Falls New York

9 Things You Don’t Want To Miss In Acadia National Park

18+ Amazing Things To See In The White Mountains of New Hampshire

You may also like

Best Tips For Taking A Ride On The Mount Washington Cog Railway

19+ Top Things To Do In Branson, Mo – All Ages Will Love

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Alaska Tourism
• Alaska Hotels
• Alaska Bed and Breakfast
• Alaska Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Alaska
• Alaska Restaurants
• Things to Do in Alaska
• Alaska Travel Forum
• Alaska Photos
• All Alaska Hotels
• Alaska Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Alaska
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Hot Tubs on Alaskan Cruise - Alaska Forum

• United States    
• Alaska (AK)    

Hot Tubs on Alaskan Cruise

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• United States forums
• Alaska forum

Not sure why you are worried about others & what they do? Seems as the only concern is if the ship has a hot tub .. or not (it has 10).

I’m pretty sure people would appreciate using a suit in them.

• Hot Tubs on Alaskan Cruise 4:56 pm
• Kenai Fjord cruise 4:19 pm
• Whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau on NCL Encore 3:27 pm
• ATTENTION: Mendenhall Glacier - Book now; permits limited 2:18 pm
• Summer accomodation 11:15 am
• Question about Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood 10:44 am
• Denali for 2 days or Valdez for 3 days? 7:51 am
• Alaska Islands and Oceans/Maritime Wildlife Refuge today
• want to go fishing wife wants to go to walmart yesterday
• A Day in Girdwood? yesterday
• Help refining Alaska road trip yesterday
• Trip Report Alaskan Dream Cruises - Inside Passage Sojourn yesterday
• South Central Alaska or Yellowstone/Glacier yesterday
• Tracy Arm Fjord excursion yesterday
• "TOP 10" Recommended Things to See & Do in Alaska 7 replies
• Best way to see Alaska 5 replies
• Alaska cruise - best choice cruise line 10 replies
• Train to Alaska from Vancouver 3 replies
• Alaska in August... WHat to expect 7 replies
• Holland america vs Princess Cruise 16 replies
• Bear Lodge in Fairbanks 10 replies
• Estimated Drive Times - are these accurate? 5 replies
• Cell Phone Coverage 16 replies
• Best time of year for Whales & Bears 3 replies

Alaska Hotels and Places to Stay

• Why KEEP ALL QUESTIONS in 1 original thread?
• Why post SPECIFICS about your question initially?
• RESOURCES for planning a trip?
• Why study a MAP of Alaska?
• Weather and sunrise/sunset?
• Which rental companies offer one way car rentals?
• BEAR viewing trips?
• Coupon books?
• FISHING in Alaska?
• CLOTHES for summer travel?
• Renting an RV in Alaska?
• Web cameras for Alaska?
• Car camping in Alaska?
• Trip Reports 2020
• Self-serve laundromats?
• Free wifi in Alaska?
• Panning for gold ?
• Seeing NORTHERN LIGHTS?
• Mileage and travel times?
• Scenic drives?
• Alaska by TRAIN: Alaska Railroad?
• BEAR SAFETY in Alaska?
• Where can I go bear viewing by boat?
• TRIP REPORTS 2020
• TRIP REPORTS 2019
• Trip Reports for previous years