Princess goes big in Alaska for 2028 with 185 sailings, eight ships

Princess Cruises has opened sales for its 2028 Alaska season, unveiling a program of 185 departures across 14 itineraries aboard eight ships.

The season will feature sailings ranging from four to 16 days, with departures from Seattle; Vancouver, B.C.; Anchorage (Whittier); San Francisco; and Los Angeles.

Among the eight ships heading north will be Star Princess, along with Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Royal Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess.

Princess, which has been sailing to Alaska since 1969, says its 2028 program will combine glacier-focused cruises with land-based cruisetours and stays at its collection of Princess Wilderness Lodges.

"Alaska is one of the world's most awe-inspiring destinations, and Princess has spent nearly 60 years helping guests experience it in a way few others can," said Jim Berra, Princess Cruises chief commercial officer, in a press release. "Our 2028 season brings together glacier-filled voyages, unforgettable wildlife and cultural experiences, Princess Wilderness Lodges and Rail, along with seamless cruisetours that take guests deeper into the Great Land – creating a complete Alaska vacation."

86 visits to Glacier Bay

Across the season, Princess ships will visit 16 destinations, including Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.

Scenic cruising will take guests through four major glacier regions: Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, and Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier.

Princess has scheduled 86 visits to Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during the 2028 season.

Select ports will also feature the cruise line's More Ashore late-evening calls, providing guests with additional time to explore destinations.

Voyage of the Glaciers returns

Princess' Voyage of the Glaciers itineraries will once again form a key part of the Alaska program.

The one-way voyages sail between Anchorage (Whittier) and Vancouver, with visits to ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.

Many itineraries include two glacier-viewing experiences and can be combined with a land-based cruisetour.

For travellers looking for a roundtrip option, Princess will offer Inside Passage voyages from Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, combining Alaska's glaciers, wildlife and coastal communities with the convenience of returning to the same West Coast homeport.

Cruisetours take guests inland

Princess' 2028 Alaska cruisetours will combine a cruise with multiple nights on land, giving guests access to the state's interior, national parks and the company's wilderness lodge network.

Most itineraries include visits to Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park, while select options visit as many as four national parks in a single vacation.

The program includes stays at Princess-owned properties near Denali, Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks.

Princess will also offer its Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service between Whittier and the Denali area. Guests travel aboard custom glass-domed railcars equipped with open-air viewing platforms.

Three cruisetour collections will be available: Denali Essentials, Denali Explorer and Denali Escorted.

The company's Alaska lodge portfolio includes Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, located on the Kenai River, serves as a base for activities ranging from salmon fishing and rafting to visits to Seward and Exit Glacier and wildlife cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park.

Experiences onboard & ashore

Princess will also continue its North to Alaska onboard programming, which brings Alaska-focused culinary, cultural and entertainment experiences onto its ships.

Programming includes Puppies in the Piazza, Cook My Catch, Tales from the Deadliest Catch, Native Alaska cultural presentations and the Glacier Bay National Park Junior Ranger program, along with educational experiences at Princess Wilderness Lodges.

On shore, Local Connections excursions will include whale watching in Juneau, White Pass Railway experiences in Skagway, lumberjack experiences in Ketchikan, helicopter glacier landings near Denali and wildlife cruises through Kenai Fjords National Park.