Princess Alaska Explorer 7-Night
Alaska
Seven nights on the Inside Passage with a long-standing Alaska leader, with Glacier Bay or College Fjord on select itineraries and park rangers and naturalists aboard on glacier days. MedallionClass lets you order food anywhere on board and find your group without a phone call, and Cruisetours can extend the trip inland by rail to Denali and Princess's own lodges.
Pricing varies by date — ask us
Quoted per sailing, resort or departure
- Operator
- Princess Cruises
- Group perks from
- 8+ cabins
Or call / text 954-698-4438
This is a supplier profile, not a priced offer. Tell us your dates and group and we quote the specific sailing, resort or departure.
Our take
For Alaska, Princess is the line we start with: it is an authorized concessioner for Glacier Bay National Park, sails from five West Coast ports, and owns five wilderness lodges so a cruise can become a cruise-plus-Denali trip without stitching vendors together. The ships are classic, comfortable and quieter than the mega-ships — which suits the 45-plus travelers and multigenerational groups Alaska attracts. It means a flight to Seattle, Vancouver or Anchorage from Florida; that is the main cost to plan around.
Highlights
- A long-standing Alaska leader — Inside Passage sailings, with Glacier Bay or College Fjord on select itineraries
- Princess Cruisetours extend the sailing inland by rail to Denali and the company's own Alaska lodges
- MedallionClass wearable: order food anywhere on board, find your group, unlock your stateroom hands-free
- Park rangers and naturalists come aboard for glacier days; Discovery at Sea runs enrichment throughout
- North to Alaska programming — local guides, Iditarod mushers and Deadliest Catch crews come aboard
Who this trip suits
- Travelers who want Alaska done properly — Glacier Bay, College Fjord and the option of Denali by rail and lodge
- Couples and families 45-plus who prefer comfort and enrichment to water slides
- Multigenerational groups who want one booking for cruise and land
- Anyone who wants the Inside Passage from Vancouver, a round-trip from Seattle, or a one-way from Whittier
Who should look elsewhere
- Families whose kids need a water park — Princess's kids' programming is modest
- Travelers who want a Florida departure; Alaska means flying west
- Anyone chasing the cheapest fare; Alaska in peak summer is not cheap on any line
- Those who want Caribbean party energy
What's included
- Stateroom accommodations
- All meals in main dining room and casual venues
- Broadway-style and live entertainment
- Pools, fitness center, kids/teen clubs
- Most onboard activities and trivia
What's not included
- Flights and pre/post-cruise hotel
- Gratuities (typically USD 16-18/pp/day, usually pre-payable)
- Alcohol, soft drink, and specialty coffee packages
- Specialty restaurants (cover charge USD 30-60/pp)
- Shore excursions
- Wifi, spa, photos
The real cost of this trip
The “from” price is the operator's land-only rate. This is what sits on top of it, so the number you budget is the number you pay.
| Flights to the West Coast | The single biggest add-on for a Florida family; we price Seattle, Vancouver and Anchorage options. |
| Excursions | Alaska excursions (glacier flights, dog sledding, fishing) are expensive and sell out — we book them at the same time as the cruise. |
| Getting to the port | Florida departures mean a drive and parking, or a car service; Alaska and Europe sailings add flights. We price the options for your dates. |
| Gratuities | Charged per guest per day to your onboard account unless prepaid — a real line item for a family. |
| Drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining | Sold separately or as packages on most lines; we price packages against paying as you go. |
| Shore excursions | Extra on every mainstream line; we book the ones that sell out with the cruise. |
| Travel protection | Not included. We recommend it and quote it with the fare. |
| Solo travelers | Most lines charge a single supplement; a few ships have solo cabins — ask. |
Good to know
- Departure ports
- Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles (round-trip) or Whittier/Anchorage (one-way). Flights from Florida are the first thing we price.
- Glaciers
- Princess is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park; College Fjord is on select itineraries.
- Lodges
- Five Princess wilderness lodges in Alaska for cruisetour extensions.
- Pricing
- Fares are not shown here; Alaska pricing moves with the season (May and September are the value months).
Group minimums
Group rates and amenities unlock at these tiers. Negotiated through Travel Connects' supplier relationships.
| Tier | What you get |
|---|---|
| 8+ cabins | Group rates and amenities generally start around 8 cabins. We negotiate the specifics per booking. |
| 16+ cabins | Larger groups typically earn more — onboard credit, an amenity package, or a comped berth. Terms vary by line, ship and sailing. |
| 24+ cabins | At this size private events and upgrades are usually available. We quote what the line actually offers for your sailing. |
Questions we get about this trip
Where do Alaska cruises leave from?
Princess sails round-trip from Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, or one-way between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage). One-way sailings pair with the Denali cruisetours; round-trips from Seattle are the simplest flight.
What is a Cruisetour?
A cruise plus a land segment before or after — typically rail to Denali and nights at Princess's own lodges (Denali, Mt. McKinley, Kenai, Copper River, Fairbanks). The 10- and 12-day Denali Explorer packages are the classic shape.
Glacier Bay or College Fjord?
Both appear on Princess itineraries; Glacier Bay is the national park with rangers aboard, College Fjord has multiple tidewater glaciers. Some sailings do one, some both — we check the exact itinerary.
How far ahead should we book?
School-holiday weeks and the newest ships sell out eight to twelve months out; group space needs to be held early. Shoulder-season weeks can be booked closer in.
What if we need to cancel?
Each line publishes its own schedule, and refundable and non-refundable fares behave differently. We show you the exact terms for your sailing before you pay a deposit.
Cancellation policy
Refundable fares: full refund 90+ days out, sliding scale 89-30 days, no refund inside 30 days. Non-refundable fares: deposit forfeit at booking, 75% credit if cancelled 90+ days out. Travel insurance covers most cancel-for-any-reason scenarios — strongly recommended.
Documents needed
Valid passport book strongly recommended for international sailings. Closed-loop US-departure sailings accept birth certificate + government photo ID. No visas needed for typical Caribbean/Mexico itineraries; Bermuda OK with passport.