Alaska by Sea: Our Cruise Aboard the Emerald Princess
By Susan Reid, Travel & Cruise ConsultantTravelled September 2026 · 8 min read
Quick takeaways
- Susan sailed to Alaska from Vancouver aboard Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess.
- Ports included Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, plus scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.
- Her sailing was one of only two this season able to visit Johns Hopkins Glacier.
- Susan’s must-do: the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway.
- Before the cruise, she stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver on a cruise package with breakfast and a taxi voucher to the terminal.
- On board, she booked the Chef’s Table, an intimate multi-course dinner with wine pairings and a galley tour. Her verdict: worth every penny!
- In Skagway, don’t miss the Skagway Weenie Wagon for reindeer sausage and Skagway Spirits Distillery for a tasting.
Did you know only two sailings were able to get into Johns Hopkins Glacier this season? We were lucky enough to be on one of them! But more on that later…
Our Alaska cruise aboard the Emerald Princess, sailing from Vancouver, was packed with glaciers, gold-rush history, a train ride through the mountains, and a wildlife sighting we never saw coming. Every day brought something completely different.
Before we sailed: Vancouver
Before the cruise, we stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver. It was so convenient! We booked their cruise package, which included breakfast and a taxi voucher to get us to the cruise terminal. No stress, no rushing, and we started our vacation with a good breakfast.
Pro tipAlways arrive the day before your cruise. A hotel cruise package like the one at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront takes care of breakfast and getting you to the ship!
Life on the Emerald Princess
The scenery outside our window changed constantly. Mountains rose right up out of the water, forests stretched along the shoreline, and waterfalls showed up around every corner. The ship was our home base for the trip. It was the perfect place to relax, enjoy a good meal, watch the scenery go by and talk about the day’s adventures. And there were plenty of those!
The Chef’s Table
Myself and a few fellow passengers booked the Chef’s Table through the Princess app. The Chef’s Table is an intimate, multi-course tasting menu limited to 10 guests per sailing. It included a behind-the-scenes galley tour, a personal waiter, guided wine pairings, and the Executive Chef explaining each course to us himself.
It is so hard to pick my favourite dish, as everything was incredibly flavourful, beautifully presented and perfectly paired with fantastic wines. The Salmon Gravlax and Caviar was my first time ever trying caviar, and one for the books!
If you have the good fortune of doing the Chef’s Table, trust me when I say that it is worth every penny!
Pro tipThe Chef’s Table is limited to 10 guests per sailing, so book it through the Princess app as soon as you can.
Juneau: Gold Mines and Gold Panning
Our first stop was Juneau, where we did a mine tour and tried our hand at gold panning.
The mine tour was a great look at Alaska’s gold-mining history. Walking through the old mining areas and hearing the stories of the people who came north chasing their fortune, you get a real sense of how tough life was back then.
Then came the fun part, gold panning! Swirling that pan around and watching for those tiny flashes of gold is a lot more exciting than you’d think. We didn’t strike it rich, but it was a fun way to experience a little piece of Alaska’s history for ourselves.
Skagway: The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
If Juneau introduced us to Alaska’s gold-rush history, Skagway brought it to life.
One of the highlights here was the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. We settled in on the historic train and watched steep mountain slopes, deep valleys and rushing waterfalls go by around every bend. It’s easy to see why this route was so important during the Klondike Gold Rush. Looking out at that terrain, I can’t imagine the determination (and bravery!) it took for the prospectors who travelled through here more than a century ago.
This was more than a sightseeing excursion. It felt like travelling through a piece of history. If you’re in Skagway, don’t miss it!
Skagway Weenie Wagon & Skagway Spirits Distillery
After our train travels, we had some time to explore Skagway. We had researched the area before our trip and knew of two spots we wanted to stop.
First stop was the Skagway Weenie Wagon for authentic reindeer sausage (for the adventurous eater!) and gourmet hot dogs. And the best part, it’s women-owned and operated!
Afterwards, we made our way to Skagway Spirits Distillery for a tasting. Skagway Spirits is a small, family-run distillery. It’s a little off the beaten path, but well worth the detour! Here you can sample small tasters of their house-made gin and vodka before ordering from their cocktail menu. Popular menu items include the Almond Sour, Spruce Tip Tonic and Rhubarb Collins. It was a great way to end our adventures in Skagway.
Ketchikan: Creek Street, Salmon and a Surprise Seal
Ketchikan is a colourful little waterfront town with plenty of character. We spent our time exploring Creek Street, a historic boardwalk lined with colourful buildings right along the creek. It’s the perfect spot to wander and take photos.
And our timing couldn’t have been better! The salmon were making their way upstream, and the creek was full of them working against the current. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, we spotted a seal in the creek! Watching the salmon swim upstream with a seal hanging around nearby, right in the middle of town, was amazing. You can’t plan moments like that, and sometimes they’re the ones you remember most.
Glacier Bay and Johns Hopkins Glacier
Now for the highlight of the whole cruise: Glacier Bay National Park.
As the Emerald Princess sailed deeper into the bay, the scenery just kept getting more dramatic. There were towering mountains all around us, ice everywhere, and massive glaciers flowing right down to the water.
Then we made it into Johns Hopkins Glacier. Knowing we were one of only two sailings able to visit this season made it extra special. The size of it is hard to describe. That brilliant blue ice against the mountains looked almost unreal. We could hear the ice cracking and shifting, and everything else was so quiet. We just stood there taking photos and trying to take it all in. Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice.
Final Thoughts
Every port gave us something different, and every day brought another incredible view. Alaska has a way of making you feel very small, in the best possible way.
We came home with lots of photos, great stories, and a few tiny pieces of gold from our panning adventure. If Alaska is on your bucket list, I’d love to help you plan it!
Planning your own Alaska cruise
Inspired to see Alaska for yourself? Here’s what we tell clients who are planning a trip.
- When to go: go in late May or September for lower prices and fewer crowds. Since we travelled in September, the shops in port had almost all their merchandise on sale as they got ready to close mid-September until the following spring!
- Choose Glacier Bay: prioritize an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay National Park. It’s the gold standard for scenic cruising, with park ranger narration, and cruise lines need special permits to enter, so not every sailing goes there.
- Pack in 3 layers: for port days in the cooler months, pack a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm fleece or insulating mid-layer (avoid cotton, which holds moisture), and a trusted waterproof, windproof outer shell.
- Sailing from Vancouver: fly in the day before and stay close to the cruise terminal, like we did at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront.
- Book early: popular excursions like the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway can fill up, and the Chef’s Table only takes 10 guests per sailing.
Advisor tipAlaska cruises fill up fast for summer. We can put together the whole trip for you, from flights and your pre-cruise hotel to the cruise and excursions.
Dreaming of Alaska? Susan would love to help you plan your own Alaska cruise.
FAQs
Where did Susan’s Alaska cruise sail from?
Vancouver, British Columbia, aboard Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess.
Which ports did the cruise visit?
Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, plus scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.
Where should I stay in Vancouver before an Alaska cruise?
Susan stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront on a cruise package that included breakfast and a taxi voucher to the cruise terminal.
What made Johns Hopkins Glacier so special?
Susan’s sailing was one of only two this season able to visit Johns Hopkins Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park.
Is the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway worth it?
Susan says don’t miss it! The historic train climbs through mountain slopes, deep valleys and waterfalls along the Klondike Gold Rush route.
When is the best time to cruise Alaska?
Alaska’s cruise season runs from about May to September. Susan recommends late May or September for lower prices and fewer crowds.
What is the Chef’s Table on Princess Cruises?
An intimate, multi-course tasting dinner limited to 10 guests per sailing, with a behind-the-scenes galley tour, a personal waiter, guided wine pairings and each course explained by the Executive Chef. Susan booked it through the Princess app.
Where should I eat and drink in Skagway?
Susan recommends the Skagway Weenie Wagon for reindeer sausage and gourmet hot dogs, and Skagway Spirits Distillery for a tasting of their house-made gin and vodka.
What should I pack for an Alaska cruise?
Pack in 3 layers: a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm fleece or insulating mid-layer (not cotton), and a waterproof, windproof outer shell.
