A Multi-Generational Cruise to Alaska with Princess Cruises

We chose Princess cruises for their expertise in Alaska sailings and after some initial research chose an Inside Passage sailing with a stop in Glacier Bay. We also chose to sail out of Vancouver but could have sailed out of Seattle as well. Our home for the week was the Ruby Princess which was a beautiful ship, but not one of the newer ones in the fleet. The decor in the main areas was grand and traditional, and the rooms were rather plain but nice. All of the staff on board were very friendly and kind. The ship had three main dining rooms, two specialty restaurants — Crown Grill and Sabatini’s — as well as a large buffet and multiple grab and go options. The food at the specialty restaurants was delicious, and we loved the pizza by the slice, but the food in the buffet and in the main dining room was hit and miss.

The ship featured a large spa, complete with a salon and fitness center. It also had a casino, a small arcade and a kids club that my daughter loved.

There was never a lack of activities on board, from fitness classes and comedy shows, to art seminars and Princess’s signature Movies Under the Stars, there was something for everyone. Cruising was perfect for our multi-generational group because we could get around at our own pace and split off into smaller groups while all still being together. Most nights we all met up to dine together as a large group.

Our first port was Juneau, which was the top recommended stop for whale watching. We chose a small group whale watching excursion with Gastineau Guiding. The tour was for only 20 people and our group of 16 made up the majority of it, so it was almost like having a private tour. The tour started with a short hike to see the Mendenhall Glacier before heading out on the water to hopefully see some humpback whales. And boy did we see some whales. We watched a mother and her playful calf swim around before boating over to a large group of whales that were working in sync to catch fish using a process called bubble netting, which we were told is a pretty rare sight. We ended our day in Juneau by eating at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. We feasted on King crab legs that were as long as our arms.

Our next stop was Skagway, a tiny little town with a quaint main street. We started the morning with breakfast at a cafe called The Sittin’ Sasquatch before hopping in and out of some of the cute shops. That afternoon we took the White Pass Railway, a scenic train ride between Skagway and Fraser, BC. On the ride we learned some of the history of the gold rush and the railway while taking in all of the gorgeous scenery.

Our last port stop was Ketchikan, which was by far the largest town to explore. After getting off the ship that morning we wandered in and out of shops for a while. We had lunch at The Alaska Fish House and then watched The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, which I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about, but it was funny and we enjoyed it. We finished off the day by walking to the historic Creek Street, a cute little area of Ketchikan set on a boardwalk along a river. There we watched a couple seals play in the water before walking through the shops along the boardwalk.

Although Alaska cruise itineraries run from May to October on most cruise lines, I highly recommend July for the weather and because it is the prime time for whale watching. And no matter what time of year your visiting plan to pack layers. Our weather ranged from 40 degrees and misty in Glacier Bay to 70 degrees and sunny in Ketchikan.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Alaska. In need of further inspiration? Check out Chelsea Kavcic's guide, 7-Day Alaskan Cruise.