When it comes to cruising Alaska with Princess, picking a ship is just the beginning. Next comes the hard part: choosing what to do on all your stops.
From easy walking tours of frontier towns to panning for gold, learning about the state’s indigenous cultures, watching bears fish for salmon, fishing for salmon yourself, hiking, zip lining, kayaking, hiking, dog sledding or taking a train to the Yukon, Princess has extensive excursion choices for all ages and all abilities.
Here are some of our favorites for getting out and exploring the best that this wild, beautiful state has to offer.
Whales and bears at Icy Strait Point
Whales and bears top the list of Alaska’s iconic wildlife. See both (hopefully) and more on this 5 1/2-hour wildlife and wilderness tour that takes you on a high-speed catamaran to Point Adolphus, one of Alaska’s premier whale-watching sites just outside of Glacier Bay National Park.
The abundance of nutrients in the bay attracts a broad swath of sea life, so you’re likely to spot orcas, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises and humpback whales during your tour. In fact, whales are so abundant that a sighting is guaranteed, or you will receive a partial refund. After your whale watching adventure, you’ll drive through Chichagof Island; look out for black-tail deer and bald eagles along the way. Once at the Spasski River, climb to the top of the viewing platforms in the hopes of catching a glimpse of coastal brown bears hunting for their next meal.
Dog sledding in Skagway
PRINCESS CRUISES
If you’re a dog lover, you can’t visit Alaska without going to a musher’s camp. Princess offers a variety of excursions with a sled dog component, but the best allow you to hop on a sled for a ride powered by Alaskan huskies. Your furry racing team might even have competed in famous competitions like the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. You’ll learn more about the sport of mushing and even get to cuddle playful sled dog puppies after your ride. This half-day adventure includes a scenic round-trip drive from Skagway to the musher’s camp in Klondike National Historical Park.
Sea kayaking from Sitka
Alaska is an adventure lover’s paradise, and while the frontier towns are interesting, we recommend getting out onto the water or into the wilderness to get the true Alaska experience. One way to get close to the sea is with a kayak tour.
This three-hour small group adventure starts with a short motorboat ride to a floating base camp in a nearby cove, where you’ll board two-person kayaks. Your guide will lead you through scenic waterways and teach you about the area’s natural life along the way. As you paddle, be on the lookout for eagles, blacktail deer, sea lions, brown bears and whales.
Flightseeing from Ketchikan
PRINCESS CRUISES
If you think Alaska’s mountain, ocean and wilderness scenery is stunning from the shore, wait until you get a true bird’s eye view from an authentic Alaskan bush plane. You’ll take off directly from the waters of Ketchikan Harbor and fly over Revillagigedo Island and the Tongass National Forest on the way to the remote Salmon Falls Resort. Get ready for a water landing, then head to the lodge where you can enjoy a glass of wine or Alaskan beer as chefs prepare a feast of salmon, crab and halibut. Take in the coastal views before getting a different perspective of your surroundings on a motorcoach ride back to your ship.
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Island heritage adventure in Wrangell
Wrangell’s indigenous peoples are key to its culture and history, so cruisers should make it a point to interact with them during their visit. A fun way to do so is with an island tour led by a Tlingit guide.
During this 2 1/2-hour cultural tour, you’ll visit the Chief Shakes Tribal House to view totems and indigenous art, listen to stories and take in a folkloric show, and head to Petroglyph Beach to see ancient rock carvings. Passing through downtown Wrangell, you’ll also see Kiks.adi Totem Park, which celebrates the heritage of the Tlingit people, and the original site of Redoubt Saint Dionysius, the imperial Russian fur trading outpost that formed the basis of the modern city. While the original fort no longer stands, you can learn more about the cultural exchanges that make up Wrangell’s history at the nearby Wrangell Museum.
Jeep and canoe safari near Ketchikan
PRINCESS CRUISES
If you like a little speed with your outdoor adventures, this combo tour is for you. First, you’ll take a four-wheel drive Jeep Wrangler on abandoned logging roads up into the sub-alpine region of the Tongass National Forest. Your next stop is Lake Harriet Hunt, a secluded mountain lake, where you’ll find a fleet of canoes, modeled after Alaska Native watercraft. Follow your guide to a camp in the forest where you can hang out in a gazebo with a snack or take a walk through the beautiful old-growth forest.
Private salmon-fishing in Ketchikan
In Alaska, Princess offers a variety of excursions for anglers, ranging from fly-fishing on the rivers to deep-sea fishing. But if you can only choose one fishing tour, make sure it’s in Ketchikan, the “salmon capital of the world.” If you have a group of six or fewer, you can take more control of your outing (and choose your own fishing companions) with a four-hour private salmon fishing tour. Experienced and novice fishers alike can try their hand at catching king, coho and pink salmon under the guidance of your fishing vessel’s expert crew. Even nonfishers will enjoy tagging along on this one for the gorgeous views and potential wildlife sightings out on the water.
White Pass Route by coach and train from Skagway
PRINCESS CRUISES
Follow the route prospectors took during the 1898 Klondike gold rush on this all-day train and coach adventure into the Canadian Yukon. You probably won’t find any nuggets, but the rich scenic views are worth their weight in gold.
The tour begins with a bus ride from Skagway along the Klondike Highway, through the famous White Pass Summit and the wilderness of Tormented Valley, and into the Yukon. After a barbecue lunch and stops at a musher’s camp and the First Nations village of Carcross, you’ll begin the journey back to Skagway by train on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. You’ll have a seat in a vintage or replica train car for the 27-mile journey, where you’ll run down your phone battery snapping pics of the mountain and glacial scenery.
Tongass Forest hike near Wrangell
Princess offers a variety of hiking and biking excursions across Alaska, but you can’t beat a small group hike in a beautiful natural setting. This intimate hiking adventure starts with a 14-mile drive south of Wrangell with stunning views of the Inside Passage.
Your guide will lead you on a 1-mile, round-trip hike into the Tongass National Forest and down to Nemo Point Beach, giving you the opportunity to spot wolves, bears and other wildlife. At the beach, stop to scan for whales offshore and fuel up with a snack for the uphill climb back to the trailhead.
