Lady’s Exciting 7-Day Alaska Cruise Itinerary

Today I want to bring you my guide to a 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary. This part of the United States is known for everything from massive glaciers to abundant wildlife, and seeing it all up close is an amazing experience. In this advertising feature in partnership with Princess Cruises, I’ll show you what it’s like to go on a cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage.

7-Day Alaska Cruise Itinerary

I’ve traveled to North America for a 7-day Alaska cruise that will take me to Juneau, the Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, and Ketchikan.

I’m spending 3 days in Vancouver before I embark, and a day in Seattle after I disembark (you can read all about it in my Vancouver and Seattle itinerary).

I’m traveling with a media group of digital content creators and journalists, and we can’t wait to see what Alaska has in store for us.

We’re here right at the start of the May-to-September Alaska cruise season, and we’re excited to be some of the first people of the year to cruise through the Inside Passage.

Day 1: Departure from Vancouver

After a great time in Vancouver, we check in for our all-inclusive cruise, go through passport control, and board the Discovery Princess. The process takes a while, but it’s worth it when we arrive in our Mini-Suites and see the views from our balconies.

There’s a sail-away celebration at 4:30pm, where singers and dancers kick off the cruise with entertainment. Soon we’re leaving the port and waving good-bye to Canada as the ship starts its voyage to Alaska.

We spend the first evening exploring the Discovery Princess and having a buffet dinner at the World Fresh Marketplace restaurant.

Afterwards we head to the Princess Theater to see a show by comedy pianist Tom Franek. It’s part humor and part acrobatic piano playing, and it’s a fun way to start the trip.

Day 2: At Sea

The next morning our 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary continues with a day at sea.

We enjoy a ship tour in the morning, where we learn that the Discovery Princess is the newest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet. With 19 decks and 1,830 guest cabins, it can hold up to 3,660 guests and 1,346 crew.

As we walk around the ship, we get to see everything from the Princess Theater to the many restaurants, bars, performance venues, pools, hot tubs, shops, fitness areas, and wellness facilities on board. It feels like we’re in our own floating city.

After the tour we learn about Princess Cruises MedallionClass® technology. It powers the wearable devices we use to open our Mini-Suite doors and order food and drinks.

The MedallionClass® app also has everything from an interactive map of the ship to a list of all the activities for the day.

And that’s to say nothing of the MedallionNet Wi-Fi, which is pretty good considering how remote we get.

After all the education, its time for some fun. We dress in formal attire and head to the captain’s cocktail welcome party. There we’re treated to a champagne tower, live entertainment, and dancing.

From the party, we head to the Crown Grill for a Winemaker Dinner in partnership with California’s Caymus Vineyards. We enjoy a multi-course meal with a wine pairing that goes down a treat.

Following dinner we walk to the Princess Theater for a Rock Opera performance. It’s a fun show, and a great way to end an entertaining day at sea.

Day 3: Juneau

The next morning our 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary continues with free time before our first port of call: Juneau.

I enjoy breakfast at Sabatini’s, the Italian restaurant on board. Suite guests can have breakfast here, and I’ve been invited to experience it. It’s calm and relaxing, and I can see why people book full suites to enjoy perks like this.

Later on I take advantage of the Princess Plus package I’m on. It not only gives passengers a beverage allowance, two fitness classes, Wi-Fi for 1 device, crew appreciation, and an unlimited juice bar, but also 2 premium desserts per day.

I indulge in the last of these by ordering a huge ice cream sundae at the gelato shop. Yum.

At 2pm the ship arrives in Juneau. My group disembarks and explores the capital of Alaska for an hour before our shore excursion starts. There are lots of shops within walking distance of the ship, many of which feature colorful facades.

When it’s time to leave for our excursion, we meet back by the ship. We’re booked on a seaplane ride that will take us to five glaciers, including the Norris, Taku, Hole-in-the-Wall, and East and West Twin glaciers.

Sadly, when we arrive we’re informed that rainy weather means it’s been canceled.

A representative from Princess Cruises is nearby, and she re-books us with tickets to ride Juneau’s famous tram. It takes passengers up the mountain for panoramic views and hiking trails.

Unfortunately, when we arrive at the tram terminal, we find out it’s closed due to inclement weather.

We make one last attempt at a shore excursion in Juneau by booking an independent whale watching tour. A bus drives us out to the harbor, but as soon as we arrive we’re informed that the tour has been canceled due to the lack of visibility.

Back in Juneau, we console ourselves with some shopping and a trip to the wild-west Red Dog Saloon. Our departure isn’t until 9:30pm, so we have time to enjoy the city before we leave.

The day has been a good exercise in learning that Alaska’s unpredictable weather means we should manage our expectations for our time here.

Back on the ship, we enjoy a special evening at “360: An Extraordinary Experience”. This immersive 7-course tasting menu is paired with drinks and a multi-media Mediterranean adventure.

It’s an extraordinary culinary journey that’s exclusive (and complimentary) to guests that have booked full suites. I feel lucky I’ve been invited to discover it.

Day 4: Scenic Cruising at the Hubbard Glacier

The next morning my 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary continues as I enjoy an Ultimate Balcony Breakfast delivered to my room. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the stomach.

Everything from Champagne to pastries, eggs, fruit, and smoked salmon graces the table. It makes for a great meal and an excellent photo opportunity with the mountains in the background.

After breakfast I take a look at the list of on-board events, which range from Zumba to trivia and Movies Under the Stars.

I choose one and head to the Princess Theater to see a presentation called “Glaciers & Polar Bears” by naturalist Michael Modzelewski. He gives a dramatic talk about Alaska with colorful photos to illustrate his stories.

At noon the ship cruises into Yakukat Bay, an 18-mile (29-kilometer) wide body of water that extends from Disenchantment Bay to the Gulf of Alaska.

We’re here for 4 hours of scenic cruising, and we see everything from islands to snow-capped mountains and the famous Hubbard Glacier.

I view some of it from the top deck of the ship, and some from The Sanctuary. The latter is an exclusive adults-only retreat with cabanas, lounge chairs, and a hot tub.

Guests can pay to spend time in this relaxing outdoor enclave, and while I’m here I discover that it’s a great place to take in the scenery.

Due to an abundance of ice floating in the bay, we don’t get as close to the Hubbard Glacier as we might have in high summer when the temperatures are warmer (again, we learn that the weather dictates the experience here).

It’s still awe-inspiring to see it from a distance, though, and to admire the stunning mountains closer in.

In the evening we meet for a group dinner in the Ketchikan dining room. It’s one of the main large sit-down restaurants on the ship, and it’s open three meals a day.

The menu rotates, and tonight we enjoy an Italian dinner replete with arancini, pasta, and fresh seafood. While not Italian, I can’t help ordering a Baked Alaska for dessert. When in Rome, right?

Day 5: Sitka

The next morning my 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary brings me to Sitka. It’s a glorious sunny day, and the snowy peaks gleam in the sun. I can’t wait to go sightseeing.

The ship arrives at 8am and I disembark at 8:30 with a few of my fellow group members. We take a shuttle into town and spend a couple hours exploring.

We visit everything from the Orthodox church to Castle Hill, where Alaska’s official transfer from Russia to the United States took place in 1867.

We pass shops and cafes, then walk along the waterfront to Sitka National Historical Park. This 122-acre (49-hectare) area has coastal walking trails through dense woodland.

Along the way we spot everything from a juvenile bald eagle to the numerous totem poles that dot the grounds.

When we’re done exploring, we take a shuttle back to the ship and meet for our afternoon shore excursion. It’s a hike through the Tongass Rainforest, and we arrive at the trailhead after a short bus ride along the coast.

The hike is a gentle guided nature walk with lots of stops where we learn about four local ecosystems and their respective flora and fauna.

Our guide points out spruce, hemlock, and red alder trees, as well as plants like skunk cabbage that are used for various purposes by bears and humans alike.

Along the way we take in beautiful coastal scenery, mountain landscapes, and flowing rivers. It’s an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon under the Alaskan sun.

We depart Sitka at 4:30pm. That evening we enjoy another dinner in the Ketchikan dining room and a spectacular Alaskan sunset off the coast. It’s a great end to a gorgeous blue-sky day.

Day 6: Ketchikan

Speaking of Ketchikan, the next morning my 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary brings me there at 8am. I disembark and walk into town to explore for a couple hours before my shore excursion.

Ketchikan is full of colorful shops, seafood restaurants, and historic buildings with signs detailing their histories.

Creek Street is the main event here. The former red-light district, its heritage buildings sit along wooden walkways built above the flowing waters of a salmon spawning stream. It makes for an atmospheric scene.

In the afternoon I head off on an Eagle Islands Sea Kayaking excursion. After a short bus ride, my group gets into tandem kayaks and paddles out into the Pacific Ocean.

The tide is high and the water glassy as we make our way along the coast and around two small islands.

The scenery is beautiful and the light rain makes little pools on the water. We spot an eagle’s nest on one island and admire birds flying around us.

On the way back to shore, we’re rewarded with views of humpback whales surfacing near our kayaks. It’s magical.

We arrive back at the ship just 2 minutes before our 4:30pm departure time. It makes me glad Princess Cruises guarantees its ships will wait for any passengers that book shore excursions through them.

We enjoy another dinner in the Ketchikan dining room, then head to a show called Spotlight Bar at the Princess Theater. It’s a fun musical production that caps off a great day in the 49th state.

Afterwards we head to Crooners Bar, one of many watering holes on the ship. There’s live piano entertainment, and we listen as our fellow passengers sing their favorite songs for us.

Day 7: At Sea

The next morning my 7-day Alaska cruise itinerary calls for a day at sea. We’re heading south to Seattle now, and the ship will take us all along the coast of Canada today.

My group is invited to tour the bridge, and we’re escorted in to see the room from which the ship is commanded.

We enjoy sweeping views from the floor-to-ceiling windows and listen to an explanation of all the instruments and monitors that are used to navigate the seas.

After the bridge tour we get to see one of the ship’s full suites. It’s spacious with a large living area, huge bathroom, and wide balcony. Across the hall from it is a concierge lounge for suite passengers.

Between that, the 360 dining experience, and breakfast at Sabatini’s, I can see why people book these premium cabins.

After seeing the suite I head to lunch at Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar, the ship’s sushi restaurant. Along with two others from my group, I enjoy everything from assorted nigiri to spicy tuna and salmon rolls. It’s delicious.

In the evening my group meets for a farewell dinner at Sabatini’s. The multi-course Italian meal is replete with pasta, risotto, branzino, and decadent desserts.

Disembarkation

The next morning our 7-day Alaska cruise comes to an end. We wake up early and disembark at 8:30am. Our journey isn’t over yet, though, and we’re looking forward to spending a day in Seattle before we fly home.

Best 7-Day Alaska Cruise Itinerary

So what’s the verdict? I enjoyed my Alaska cruise, and I liked that it offered a good mix of destinations and excursions. The ports of call gave me an overview of what the southeastern part of the state has for visitors.

We spent a lot of time at sea, but the on-board entertainment was varied enough that there was always something to do on the ship.

The cruise was a great way to experience multiple coastal destinations in one trip, and the perfect vantage point from which to enjoy the scenery the state is known for.

Someone I met while I was there told me Alaska is the most revisited place in the world. I can see why they said it. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of what The Land of the Midnight Sun has to offer, I’m itching to go back and discover more.

Princess Cruises has a range of land-and-sea offerings called Cruisetours that take passengers to the ports and into the interior. I might just have to start planning my next trip to experience one of them.

If you’re interested in going to Alaska, you can find the perfect cruise for your style here. Happy travels!

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