Alaska by Sea: Our Cruise Aboard the Emerald Princess

By Susan Reid, Travel & Cruise Consultant
Travelled September 2026 · 6 min read

Susan in front of Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess

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.

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!

Mountains and ocean views from the Emerald Princess in Alaska

Chef’s Table

NEED YOUR INFO HERE: Tell us what the Chef’s Table dinner was like (number of courses, a dish that stood out, did you go into the galley, would you recommend it?)

NEED YOUR INFO HERE: Chef’s Table photo

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.

Susan and friends in hard hats on the Juneau mine tour

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.

The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway train

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!

Susan and friends on board the White Pass train

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.

Creek Street boardwalk in Ketchikan, Alaska

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.

A Distillery Stop

NEED YOUR INFO HERE: Which port was it in, what’s the distillery called, whether it was an excursion or something you found on your own, and what you tried (any favourites?)

Susan and friends at a distillery in Alaska

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.

Glacier and mountains in Glacier Bay, Alaska

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.

NEED YOUR INFO HERE: Any pro tips for someone planning this cruise? Anything you’d book again, or do differently?

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.

Sailing from Vancouver: Susan’s cruise sailed from Vancouver, an easy flight from across Canada. Fly in the day before and stay somewhere close to the terminal, like the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront.
When to go: Alaska’s cruise season runs from about May to September.
Glacier Bay: only a limited number of ships are allowed into Glacier Bay National Park each day, so if it’s a must for you, check that it’s on your itinerary.
Book excursions early: popular excursions like the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway can fill up.
Pack layers: it can be cool on deck near the glaciers, even in summer.

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.

Plan your trip with Susan Book with Susan

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.