Our Alaska Cruise from Vancouver: A Princess Inside Passage Experience

Elizabeth Kremer, owner of Magically Designed Vacations and Senior Travel Advisor, sailed to Alaska this summer aboard Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess. In this post, she shares her firsthand experience, from the excursions and incredible wildlife encounters to what she packed and what she learned along the way.

Alaska is one of our favorite cruise destinations, and it's easy to see why. The breathtaking scenery, dramatic mountains, glaciers, wildlife and ever-changing views make an Alaska cruise feel different from any other cruise experience.

This summer, we traveled to Alaska aboard Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess for a seven-night Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver. This was our second time sailing on Emerald Princess, so it was nice to return to a ship we already knew and enjoyed.

Along the way, we explored Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, cruised through Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier, and had some incredible wildlife encounters.

Here's a look at our Alaska cruise experience, the excursions we chose, what we packed, and a few things we think are worth considering when planning an Alaska cruise of your own.

Why We Chose an Alaska Cruise from Vancouver

There are several ways to experience Alaska, but cruising appealed to us because it allowed us to see several different destinations without constantly unpacking and changing hotels.

Our cruise was a roundtrip sailing from Vancouver, which also gave us the opportunity to spend some time in Vancouver before boarding the ship.

Our itinerary included:

• Vancouver – embarkation

• At sea

• Juneau – whale watching and wildlife

• Skagway – White Pass Scenic Railway

• Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier – scenic cruising

• Ketchikan – lighthouse, totems and wildlife

• At sea

• Vancouver – disembarkation

  
  

For us, the combination of ports, scenic cruising, wildlife and excursions made this a wonderful way to experience Alaska.

Vancouver Before the Cruise

We spent some time in Vancouver before boarding the ship, and one of our stops was the Vancouver Aquarium.

We loved the aquarium, and it was a fun way to begin a trip that would soon have us surrounded by Alaska's marine and coastal wildlife.

If you're arriving in Vancouver before an Alaska cruise, consider giving yourself some time to explore the city rather than arriving just in time to board. It gives you a chance to start the vacation before the cruise even begins.

Juneau: Our First and Favorite Port

Juneau was one of the highlights of the trip for us.

We booked Princess' Local Connections: Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest Created by the Allen Family excursion.

The four-hour excursion included a short motorcoach ride to Auke Bay, where we boarded a water-jet catamaran designed for wildlife viewing. A naturalist was also onboard to help us learn more about the wildlife and environment around us.

And the wildlife did not disappoint.

We saw a pod of orcas, including a mama and baby, along with humpback whales and eagles.

We even got to see the orca’s breach. It all happened so fast that we didn't get a picture, but honestly, that almost makes the memory even more special. We weren't worried about capturing the perfect photo—we were watching it happen right in front of us. It was truly a memory of a lifetime.

Seeing the orcas was one of those moments that is difficult to put into words. You can look at photos and videos of Alaska wildlife all day, but being there and watching a pod of orcas moving through the water is something completely different.

This was easily one

of our favorite experiences of the entire cruise.

Would We Recommend a Whale-Watching Excursion in Juneau?

If seeing wildlife is high on your Alaska wish list, consider a whale-watching or wildlife excursion.

Of course, wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. That's part of the adventure.

But for us, getting out on the water gave us a completely different perspective of Alaska than we would have had simply exploring the town.

Skagway: Riding the White Pass Scenic Railway

Our next port was Skagway, where we took the White Pass Scenic Railway.

The excursion lasted about 2¾ hours and was one of the easiest ways to experience the spectacular scenery surrounding Skagway without having to hike.

The historic railway travels through mountain scenery, waterfalls, gorges and other dramatic landscapes.

And honestly, the scenery was the star of the excursion.

We loved being able to sit back, look out the windows and watch the landscape change as the train climbed through the mountains.

If you're visiting Skagway and want to experience the scenery without committing to a strenuous activity, a train excursion is worth considering.

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier

One of the most anticipated parts of our itinerary was scenic cruising through Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier.

We had an early morning start for this part of the cruise, but it was worth getting up for.

The scenery was beautiful as we made our way through the fjord, surrounded by mountains and water.

And then there was Dawes Glacier.

There really is something special about enjoying a cup of coffee on your balcony while taking in the view of a glacier. It's one of those simple cruise moments that you don't forget.

Seeing the glacier from the ship was beautiful, but one of my favorite parts of the morning was spotting so many seals resting on floating pieces of ice.

It's easy to think of an Alaska glacier experience as being all about the glacier itself, but watching the wildlife around the ice made the experience even more memorable.

This is also one of those moments when it's worth stepping outside and simply watching the scenery rather than feeling like you need to be doing something else. On an Alaska cruise, the scenery is part of the experience, and you never know what you might see.

Do You Have to Cruise Glacier Bay to Experience Alaska?

One question that comes up when planning an Alaska cruise is whether you need to choose an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay.

The short answer is no.

Our itinerary took us through Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier, and it gave us a beautiful glacier experience along with incredible scenery and wildlife. We saw seals resting on floating ice and spent the morning watching the mountains, ice and water from the ship.

If you're comparing Alaska cruises and an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay is stretching the budget, don't automatically rule out an itinerary that doesn't include it.

An Inside Passage itinerary can still give you a wonderful Alaska experience.

Cruise fares vary based on the cruise line, ship, sailing date, cabin category and itinerary, so it's worth comparing the overall value rather than choosing solely based on whether Glacier Bay is included.

For us, sailing through Endicott Arm and seeing Dawes Glacier was a memorable part of the trip, and we never felt like we were missing the Alaska experience because our itinerary didn't include Glacier Bay.

When comparing Alaska cruises, look at the ports, scenic cruising, glacier viewing, excursions, ship, cabin and total cost rather than focusing on just one feature.

Ketchikan: Eagles, Seals and More Time on the Water

Our final Alaska port was Ketchikan.

We chose the Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles excursion, which combined several different experiences into one outing.

We traveled by boat to see Guard Island Lighthouse, visited Totem Bight State Park, and spent time at Vallenar Rocks Wildlife Viewing Area.

Once again, we were able to see wildlife. We spotted seals and eagles, which made the boat portion of the excursion especially enjoyable.

I also liked that this excursion wasn't focused on just one thing. We got a combination of wildlife, scenery and history.

There was even a salmon spread with crackers, bull kelp pickles, artisan chocolate and beverages included during the excursion.

It was a fun way to experience several different sides of Ketchikan without trying to fit multiple separate excursions into one port day.

What We Packed for Our Alaska Cruise

Don't overpack.

You might look at Alaska and assume you're going to need a suitcase full of heavy winter clothes.

We didn't.

We lucked out with nice weather throughout our trip, but the wind made a difference, especially when we were out on the water. Layers and a good windbreaker or rain jacket were key.

A Good Rain Jacket Is a Must

My rain jacket had a thin fleece layer built in, and it ended up being one of the most useful things I packed.

It wasn't too hot, but it gave me enough warmth when we were outside, especially during our boat excursions when the wind made it feel colder.

I wore it with tech-dry leggings throughout the trip, and that combination worked well.

Bring a Packable Down Jacket

I also brought a lightweight down jacket that packed easily into my luggage.

I used it when sitting on our balcony and on the day, we cruised to Dawes Glacier.

Having something warm that didn't take up much room in the suitcase was helpful.

Don't Forget a Hat and Gloves

I brought one warm knit hat and a pair of gloves.

The gloves were especially useful when we were sitting outside on the balcony or on the boat excursions.

And here's a practical cruise tip: Emerald Princess has a laundry room, so we were able to wash clothes during the cruise, which helped us avoid overpacking.

What I Actually Wore

For most days, my basic combination was:

• T-shirts

• Tech-dry leggings

• Rain jacket/windbreaker

• Packable down jacket when needed

• Comfortable tennis shoes

  
  

I also brought a few dresses for evenings on the ship. I didn't need anything overly formal, but having a few options for dinner and evenings gave me a chance to dress up a little.

That was plenty for us.

If you plan to do actual hiking, your clothing and footwear needs may be different. We weren't doing strenuous hikes on this trip, so comfortable tennis shoes were all we needed.

The biggest lesson? Layers are much more useful than bringing a huge amount of bulky clothing.

What Made This Alaska Cruise Special

Looking back, it wasn't just one part of the trip that made our Alaska cruise memorable.

It was the combination of everything.

It was watching a mama orca and her baby swim with their pod.

It was seeing humpback whales and eagles in Juneau.

It was watching the orcas breach, even though we didn't manage to get a photo.

It was riding the White Pass Scenic Railway through the mountains.

It was waking up early to cruise through Endicott Arm and seeing Dawes Glacier surrounded by ice and mountains.

It was watching seals resting on floating ice.

It was spotting eagles and seals again in Ketchikan.

And it was simply having the opportunity to sit outside and watch Alaska pass by from the ship.

That's one of the things we love about cruising Alaska. The scenery isn't just something you see when you arrive in port.

The scenery is part of the journey.

Would We Recommend an Alaska Cruise?

Yes, 100%! Alaska is honestly our favorite cruise destination.

A cruise gives you the opportunity to experience multiple destinations, incredible scenery, scenic cruising and wildlife while unpacking just once. For us, there's something special about being able to wake up each day to a completely different view and have the journey itself be such a big part of the experience.

But choosing the right Alaska cruise matters.

Look at more than just the itinerary name.

Consider:

• Which ports are included?

• Will you have scenic glacier cruising?

• Does the itinerary include Glacier Bay, Endicott Arm or another scenic area?

• What excursions interest you?

• What type of ship do you prefer?

• How much time do you have in each port?

• What cabin location and category make sense for you?

• What is included in the cruise fare?

• What is the total cost once you add excursions and other extras?

  
  

There isn't one Alaska itinerary that works for every traveler.

For us, our Princess Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver gave us exactly what we were hoping to experience: beautiful scenery, incredible wildlife, memorable excursions and the chance to see Alaska from the water.

Planning an Alaska Cruise?

An Alaska cruise can look very different depending on the cruise line, ship, itinerary, sailing date and the experiences you want to have once you reach Alaska.

That's where having someone help you compare the options can be useful.

Our travel advisors can help you compare Alaska cruise itineraries, ships, ports, excursions and travel styles to find an option that fits your priorities and budget.

And if you're considering Alaska, don't assume you have to choose the most expensive itinerary or pack your entire closet.

Sometimes the right trip is the one that gives you the experiences that matter most to you.

Our Alaska cruise gave us whale watching, orcas, glaciers, seals, eagles, mountains, a scenic railway and plenty of time to simply enjoy the journey.

Those are the moments we'll be talking about for years to come.