Alaska Cruise on the Grand Princess [Between Anchorage and Vancouver]

I recently returned from an Alaska cruise with my family where we sailed the Inside Passage from Anchorage, Alaska, (via Whittier, Alaska) to Vancouver, Canada.

Overall I enjoyed the trip, especially since I was traveling with family and I always have a good time when they’re around, but it wasn’t quite what I expected.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say the whole trip was a disappointment. I really enjoyed traveling to a new area (this was my first time in Alaska) and spending time with my family. Plus, the port stops were really fun. However, it wasn’t all great. There were some aspects of my Alaska cruise (the scenic cruising days and the ship’s food and entertainment, in particular) that left me feeling let down.

In this post, I’ll give you a look at what it’s like to cruise to Alaska, including what I liked and didn’t like about the Grand Princess, and I’ll share some tips to make your Alaska cruise the best it can be.

An Alaska Cruise on Grand Princess

I was excited to sail on Princess Cruises for this Alaska trip. I’ve been on 3 Princess voyages (in 2005, 2007, and 2008) and loved each of them, so I was eager to see if Princess was as good as I remembered it to be. I had even been on this ship, the Grand Princess, before.

The 2,600-passenger Grand Princess debuted in 1998 and was refurbished in 2019. It’s not a modern mega-ship; instead, it’s a mid-sized traditional cruise ship that’s been refreshed to appeal to today’s travelers.

How I Booked an Alaska Cruise

While it’s possible to book cruises using miles and points, I opted to pay cash for this trip since it wasn’t too expensive and I prefer to save my miles for luxury hotels and business class flights.

We got a great deal through my father-in-law’s travel agent and ended up paying just about $3,550 for 3 people in a mini-suite for 7 nights. I would normally book a cruise through an online travel agency (they often offer extras like shipboard credit), but this method offered significant savings over the prices we found elsewhere.

Hot Tip:

If you happen to be traveling with a group of 3 and a single traveler, it’s usually much cheaper to book 2 people in each room. My family of 3 was traveling with my mom who was staying in her own room. Since the price difference between having 1 or 2 people in a room is negligible, we booked my daughter in my mom’s room, but she slept in our room once we were on the ship. This trick saved us almost $1,000 when compared to booking my daughter as a third person in our room.

I paid for the whole trip using my Chase Sapphire Reserve^® to earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar.

If you don’t have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, another card that is good for booking cruises is the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, which earns 3x points per dollar spent on all travel purchases, including cruises.

Alaska Itinerary: Inside Passage

We booked the 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers with Glacier Bay (Southbound) on the Grand Princess. This cruise started in Anchorage (Whittier) and sailed south to Vancouver.

Day 1: Anchorage

We flew into Anchorage on the night before our cruise. I booked a 1-night stay at the Hyatt Place Ancohrage-Midtown, about a 10-minute drive from the airport. Cash rates at the time were over $500 per night (!) so I used a Hyatt Category 1-4 free night certificate instead of cash.

Alternatively, I could have paid 15,000 World of Hyatt points for this Category 4 property which would have resulted in a 3.46 cents per point value (which is awesome, considering we value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents each).

On top of the incredible value I got by using my free night certificate, the staff at Hyatt Place Anchorage-Midtown were wonderful and they had one of the best Hyatt Place breakfasts I have ever had.

Our cruise left out of Whittier, which is about an 80-minute drive from Anchorage. We booked a private transfer to pick us up at the hotel and drop us off at the cruise terminal. Since we were traveling as a group of 7, the private transfer wasn’t much more than the cost of booking a train or bus and it was so much more convenient.

Days 2 and 3: Scenic Cruising at Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park

The first 2 days on Grand Princess were dedicated to scenic cruising. Unfortunately, the fog and ice were so bad on the day we were supposed to be at Hubbard Glacier that we had to skip the stop entirely.

The next scenic cruising day was spent in Glacier Bay National Park.

I was really looking forward to these scenic cruising days to get up close to some glaciers. However, in my opinion, I found the glaciers in the Alaskan summer to be disappointing. I had visions in my head that didn’t quite jive with reality, so I was underwhelmed by the experience.

The scenery was definitely beautiful, but the glaciers themselves weren’t what I was expecting.

Hot Tip:

One of the most important Alaska cruise tips I can offer is to manage your expectations. Weather can be a factor that may cause you to miss a scenic cruising day entirely. Plus, Alaska glaciers may be less dramatic than you’d imagine.

Day 4: Skagway

Our first port was in Skagway. This quaint gold-rush-era town is a common stop on many Alaska cruises.

We booked one of the most popular excursions at this port — a trip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. A ride on this vintage train takes you up the mountain and actually crosses the Canadian border. One of the cool things about this ride is that you’re able to stand outside while the train is moving — a feature that will make the ride much more exciting for older kids who may be bored while sitting on a train looking at the scenery.

Hot Tip:

If you’re taking a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, sit on the left-hand side of the train (looking forward). While both sides will eventually see the same thing (the train turns around at the top of the mountain) all of the narration happens as you’re going up, when the people on the left side have better views.

Day 5: Juneau

I was looking forward to our day in Juneau because we booked an excursion to visit Dog Sled Summer Camp. We chose this activity because my daughter studied the Iditarod (a yearly long-distance dogsled race in Alaska) in school last year and this was an opportunity to bring all of that to life.

We loved learning all about these incredible dogs and the mushers who train them for races like the Iditarod. Our fantastic guide, Shaynee Traska, who owns about 50 of the dogs at the camp, competed in and finished the Iditarod herself — an incredible achievement. Her dedication and love for her dogs and the sport of dog sledding (Alaska’s state sport) was evident from the moment we met her.

Back on the ship, our day continued with a presentation by Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod. She gave a great talk about her experience and then signed books and took pictures afterward. My daughter read her book in school last year so it was a cool experience to meet her in person. This day ended up being the highlight of my trip.

Hot Tip:

Check out more of my experience at Dog Sled Summer Camp on Instagram.

Day 6: Ketchikan

Ketchikan is the quintessential Alaskan town. It has wildlife, a rich native Alaskan history, totem poles, lumberjack shows, and of course, beautiful scenery.

It’s a very walkable town so it’s easy to just hop off the ship to explore on foot. Our boat docked just steps from downtown, but there’s a second docking area for cruise ships that’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown. You’ll want to double-check your ship’s docking location before assuming you can just walk off the ship straight into downtown Ketchikan.

We walked through downtown Ketchikan and over to historic Creek Street. Since we visited in July, just at the beginning of the prime salmon-spawning season, we missed the bulk of it. But, we were still able to see some brave salmon struggling to swim upstream.

There are plenty of spots to watch this phenomenon along Ketchikan Creek and there’s even a salmon ladder, which helps the fish get to their destination.

Day 8: Vancouver

Our cruise ended in Vancouver, and we decided to stay a couple of days to explore before heading home.

I booked 2 nights at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver and it was my first experience as a Hyatt Globalist (hello, free breakfast!). At the time, this hotel was a Category 3 property, so I was able to book 2 nights for just 30,000 World of Hyatt points total at peak pricing. The cash cost would have been $846, resulting in a 2.8 cents per point in value (a great redemption in my book).

Hot Tip:

Hyatt Regency Vancouver is now a Category 4 hotel requiring 12,000 (off-peak), 15,000 (standard), or 18,000 (peak) World of Hyatt points per night.

On our first day in Vancouver, we visited the Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park. Then we did a day trip to nearby Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It was a fantastic way to end the trip.

My Alaska Cruise Experience on Grand Princess

Let’s get to some details about my experience with Grand Princess on a 7-night Alaska cruise.

Princess Cruises’ MedallionClass

Grand Princess is a MedallionClass ship. Each passenger gets a small Medallion to wear on the cruise. This Medallion does everything from unlocking your stateroom door to identifying you each time you get on or off the ship.

It also allows you to track everyone in your party (either through the mobile app or via interactive boards on the ship), a huge benefit when you’re traveling with a group as I was. This feature is also fantastic when you’re cruising with kids. I felt comfortable letting my daughter roam the ship on her own (mostly back and forth to the kids’ club) since I knew I could pinpoint her location at any time.

Bottom Line:

One of the best things about sailing with Princess Cruises is the Medallion system. Each guest gets a quarter-sized Medallion to wear throughout their cruise. It acts as a room key, an ID when getting on and off the ship, and it can even pinpoint the location of your travel companions.

Mini-Suite With Balcony Stateroom

For this Alaska cruise, I booked a mini-suite with a balcony (stateroom D210, to be exact). At 323 square feet, the mini-suite offered about 100 square feet more space compared to the regular balcony stateroom.

The decor was a bit dated, but the room was very comfortable and had plenty of space.

There was a sitting area with a couch that could be converted to a bed, which is what we used for my daughter. Our stateroom attendant converted the couch to a bed and back again each day so it was very convenient.

Our mini-suite had tons of storage space and a full-sized shower/tub in the bathroom (which you know is a big deal if you’ve ever experienced a typical tiny cruise ship shower).

While not luxurious, the bathroom was clean and spacious for a cruise ship, which was exactly what we needed for this trip.

The balcony had a small table and 2 chairs. We were traveling with family so we booked 3 rooms next to each other with connecting balconies. Our stateroom attendant opened up the doors between our balconies so we could move freely between them. If you’re cruising with family, it’s worth it to book adjacent rooms with connecting balconies.

While our room’s decor wasn’t what I’d call contemporary or luxurious, the room itself was clean, spacious, and comfortable. For us, it was 100% worth it to book the mini-suite over the standard balcony stateroom.

Bottom Line:

Whether you decide to go for a standard room, a mini-suite, or a suite, be sure to book a stateroom with a balcony. So much of an Alaska cruise is about the scenery and you’ll be thrilled to be able to enjoy it from the comfort and privacy of your own balcony.

Food

My first 3 cruises ever were on Princess and I remember the food being excellent. On this cruise, the food was fine. Not bad, not amazing, just fine. Don’t get me wrong — there were a few things that were fantastic, but overall it wasn’t as good as I had remembered.

One of the highlights was the International Cafe. Open 24 hours a day, this grab-and-go cafe offered pastries, sandwiches, and desserts throughout the day.

I’m a coffee-and-pastry kind of gal when it comes to breakfast, so I loved the selection there. I grabbed incredible pastries (the almond croissant was delicious) along with fruit and chia pudding each morning to bring back to my room. The International Cafe had specialty coffees for an extra charge, so instead I ordered coffee through room service (which was included in the cruise price) each morning.

The food in the dining rooms was decent, but it was a definite step down from what it used to be years ago.

In addition to the main dining rooms that were included in the cruise price, there were 3 specialty restaurants on Grand Princess that could be booked for an extra charge. I was traveling with my mom and she got a complimentary specialty restaurant dinner as part of a drink package, so we tried out Crown Grill, the only one we could get a reservation for.

The appetizers and desserts were delicious, but the steaks we ordered were totally flavorless (which was surprising considering this was the specialty steakhouse). Had I paid the cover charge, I would have been disappointed.

Bottom Line:

While I didn’t go hungry on this cruise, the food on Grand Princess was mediocre overall. There were some highlights (the pastries at the International Cafe were fantastic), but not much stood out otherwise.

Entertainment

The entertainment on Grand Princess was a letdown. I generally don’t get involved in too many cruise ship activities, however, I do enjoy going to the evening shows and the art auctions. Both were mediocre on my cruise.

The nightly shows in the main theater were OK at best. The production quality was lower than I’ve seen on any other cruise I have been on (across multiple cruise lines) and the hired acts (magician, comedian, etc.) weren’t much better. To be fair, the singers and dancers that performed many of the evening shows in the theater weren’t untalented — the shows themselves and the production quality is what was lacking.

Going to art auctions is one of my favorite things to do on a cruise ship. I’ve always been into art and I’ve enjoyed growing my collection with pieces I’ve purchased on cruise ships.

The art auctions on this cruise were run by Park West Gallery, as they are on just about any cruise ship you’ll find. Unfortunately, the art staff on board was unorganized and 1 member was downright pushy and rude. The art director himself was a nice guy and was able to find a specific piece I wanted (that wasn’t even on the ship) so I ended up buying that one and another from one of my favorite artists, David LeBatard, aka Lebo (sadly, the artist passed away a few days after my cruise).

Camp Discovery Kids’ Club

When you’re going on a cruise with kids, having a kids’ club is invaluable. For little ones, it’s basically free babysitting, and for older kids, it offers a chance for them to have fun with other kids their own age while you can enjoy more adult things like going to a show, grabbing a drink, or enjoying a quiet dinner.

The kids’ club on Princess was called Camp Discovery and it was available free of charge for kids ages 3 to 17. There were 3 unique rooms that were divided by age group:

• The Treehouse: Ages 3 to 7
• The Lodge: Ages 8 to 12
• The Beach House: Ages 13 to 17

My 9-year-old was in The Lodge which offered activities like video games, skeeball, foosball, and crafts.

I loved that I was able to give her privileges to sign herself in and out of the kids’ club (available for ages 8 and up on days at sea only — adults need to sign kids in and out while in port). She enjoyed the autonomy of managing her own time and having a place to go to do things she enjoyed with other kids when she wasn’t into what the adults were doing (looking at glaciers, for example).

As mentioned, since Grand Princess was a MedallionClass ship, I was able to know where my daughter was at all times. This made me feel comfortable allowing her to go back and forth from the kids’ club on her own since I could see exactly where she was on the ship at all times. I even knew where she was when she ditched the kids’ club to go to the buffet with some new friends — ha!

Bottom Line:

Camp Discovery is the kids’ club on Princess Cruises ships. There were 3 separate areas that were divided by age group — The Treehouse was for ages 3 to 7, The Lodge was for ages 8 to 12, and The Beach House was for kids ages 13 to 17. Camp Discovery was included in the cruise price.

Captain’s Circle Loyalty Program

I love a good loyalty program and having elite status can really enhance a trip in my opinion. Status within the Princess Captain’s Circle program is earned either by the number of cruises you take or the number of cruise days.

I have Captain’s Circle Platinum status with Princess Cruises and this was my first cruise at that level so I was excited to see what perks I’d be able to take advantage of.

The answer, I discovered, was basically none.

The list of benefits offered To Captain’s Circle members was full of things that weren’t really benefits, like “Circle Center Online” (I still have no idea what this is) and “Circle Savings Account” (again, no clue what this is). As a Platinum member, I was able to save 50% on a Wi-Fi package, which was great until I realized that these packages used to be free for Platinum members.

I was very disappointed in Princess Cruises’ loyalty program, Captain’s Circle, as it offered no real tangible benefits on my Alaska cruise.

Final Thoughts

Perceptions of trips can change with time. While I did feel some disappointment during my cruise — specifically with the scenic cruising days and the food and entertainment on Grand Princess — I still look back on the trip with fond memories.

This was a family vacation and I got to spend over a week exploring new places with the people I love, which is what it’s all about. So, no, my Alaska cruise wasn’t exactly what I expected — but it was an incredible and memorable vacation nevertheless.