By: Ana Pitiranggon, Employee Development Team Specialist
My family and I were fortunate enough to take a cruise to Alaska in 2009 and it was such a special experience that we wanted to share it with friends and family. We decided that the summer of 2019 was the perfect opportunity to bring the troop of 21 to Alaska cruise with Princess. Nothing brings a family together like travel and that surely was the case for us. We decided on a 7-day Roundtrip Alaska Cruise with Princess from Seattle aboard the beautiful Ruby Princess.
We all made the decision to fly to Seattle a day early to enjoy some of the touristy stuff before our cruise began. We got to check out the famous Pikes Place Market that happened to be full of passengers from various cruise lines.
We got to sample Seattle’s best and world-famous Clam Chowder, got a glimpse of the first Starbucks coffee shop, and enjoyed a dinner on the pier. A pre-night in Seattle is highly recommended if you take this cruise out of Seattle.
Day 1: Embark From Seattle
There was plenty of staff on hand to make our embarkation process a breeze for our Alaska Cruise with Princess. I believe this was the smoothest and quickest embarkation I have been on! We arrived a few hours before we set sail and all 21 of us were on the ship within 30 minutes. As soon as we were on the ship, we headed towards the Lido deck for lunch. The buffet had fantastic options for everyone, including anyone on a gluten-free diet. The staff made sure we knew that they would do everything they could to accommodate for any dietary needs. Once we headed to check out our cabins and unpack some stuff, we noticed our luggage arrived promptly after we boarded.
Day 2: Sea Day
We cruised the coastal waters of British Columbia with the Strathcona Mountains in view. We woke up early this morning and headed towards the open deck on the lookout for wild orcas and humpback whales. Luckily, we were able to spot a few! It was such an exciting moment for everyone! We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Ruby Princess.
This was our first formal night for dinner. It was fun to watch the women in their evening gowns and the men in their best suits. We took plenty of photos with Ruby Princess’ professional and enthusiastic staff.
Day 3: Juneau
Juneau, the little big city, is an adventurer’s dream come true. Many excursion opportunities were offered here. Upon arrival, our group parted for everyone’s individual booked excursion plans.
A few of us boarded the helicopter that flew over the magnificent mountains and touched a centuries-old glacier. Most of us boarded the bus and visited the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier. We followed the trail to the Nugget Falls only to discover a breathtaking view.
We took the bus back to board the city tram to downtown Juneau and ended our day at Tracy’s King Crab Shack, a must-visit according to the dining room staff and they were not kidding! This was the most delicious Alaskan king crab I’ve ever eaten!
Day 4: Skagway
A town built upon the gold rush, Skagway was filled with rich history, culture, and gold! Any history enthusiast would love a stop in Skagway. The bravest one in our group was my daughter-in-law who took a zip line and soared like an eagle above glacially-fed waterfalls. In the afternoon, we re-lived the days of the Gold Rush era and pretended to be gold miners riding out to the fields aboard the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. This narrow-gauge railroad winds along mountainous terrain and over bridges and through tunnels. By the way, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad is rated the number 2 top tourist attraction in the world!
Day 5: Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay is one of the world’s most breathtaking and remarkable destinations. This stop at Glacier Bay was certainly one of the main highlights of the cruise. We stepped out to the open deck and on the balcony to hear the thunderous crack of an iceberg as it caves into the icy, blue water. The water and the environment were so calm it felt as if the ship was simply gliding through the scenery. Glacier Bay is a must-see for anyone thinking about traveling to Alaska.
Related: View All Alaska Cruises With Princess! Click Here!
Day 6: Ketchikan
Ketchikan is a rustic town with spirited thrills to match! Known as the Salmon Capital of the world, we didn’t waste any time finding some delicious wild-caught salmon to taste. Located in the country’s largest national forest, the Tongass National Forest, we decided to hike a bit and were completely awestruck at the beauty of Alaskan scenery. Later, we took a stroll around town, did a little shopping, and sipped on a cup of delicious Alaskan coffee.
Day 7: Victoria
Our last port before returning to Seattle on our Alaska Cruise with Princess was the brilliant and culturally-rich town of Victoria. We arrived a bit late, so we chose to spend our time walking around town. We saw the famous Empress hotel, Parliament building, and walked around Chinatown, which happens to be the second oldest Chinatown in North America.
Once back on the ship we enjoyed one last night by the piano bar talking, laughing, and looking back at the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime week we just experienced onboard the Ruby Princess. Our cruise director, restaurant staff, and housekeeping staff were some of the most professional, kind, and warming people we have ever met on a cruise.
We were met day in and day out with nothing but smiles, friendly faces, and a top-tier service that we felt was unmatched. Thinking about cruising to Alaska? You simply cannot go wrong with a 7-day Roundtrip from Seattle Alaska Cruise with Princess.
Ana Pitiranggon
Employee Development Team Specialist
E-mail: ana@affordabletours.com
Toll Free: 1-800-935-2620 Ext: 116
Direct: 281-243-5116