Princess Alaska Cruisetour Review: Are Princess Cruise Tours Worth It?
An Alaska cruise is incredible. But if you fly all the way to Alaska, sail past glaciers, watch for whales from your balcony, and then head straight to the airport, you have only seen one side of the state.
That is where a Princess Alaska cruisetour comes in.
Princess Cruises has been traveling through Alaska for decades, and its cruisetours combine an Alaska cruise with a land tour into places like Denali National Park, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, and the wilderness surrounding Denali.
But are Princess Alaska cruisetours actually worth it?
For many travelers, I think they can be—especially if this may be your first or only trip to Alaska. Princess has built an impressive network of Princess-owned lodges, rail transportation, and Alaska itineraries that makes seeing both coastal and interior Alaska surprisingly manageable.
That doesn’t mean every Princess cruisetour is right for every traveler.
Some itineraries move quickly. Some involve long travel days. And choosing the right lodge and land itinerary can make an enormous difference in your overall experience.
So let’s look at what Princess cruisetours include, what the Princess Wilderness Lodges are like, and which type of traveler may get the most from the experience.
What Is a Princess Alaska Cruisetour?
A Princess cruisetour combines a Princess Alaska cruise with a land-based tour through Alaska’s interior.
Instead of ending your vacation when you leave the ship, you continue into Alaska—or, depending on the itinerary, complete the land portion first and cruise afterward.
That distinction matters.
Your cruise might take you through the Inside Passage, where you can visit Southeast Alaska ports, look for humpback whales, bald eagles, and sea otters, and experience spectacular glacier scenery.
The land portion takes you somewhere completely different.
This is where Alaska becomes mountains, forests, rivers, tundra and seemingly endless wilderness. You may travel toward Denali National Park, ride through the interior by train, or spend several nights at one or more Princess Wilderness Lodges.
That combination is one of the reasons a cruisetour can be one of the best ways to experience Alaska on a first visit.
You aren’t simply adding a few nights in a hotel after your cruise.
You are essentially combining two very different Alaska vacations into one trip.
Why Princess Cruises Is So Popular for Alaska Cruisetours
There are several excellent cruise lines in Alaska, including Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean, but Princess Cruises has a particularly extensive Alaska land program.
Princess operates its own wilderness lodges and offers rail transportation designed around its Alaska cruise guests.
That infrastructure matters.
Planning an independent Alaska land tour can involve coordinating hotels, rental cars, train schedules, luggage, excursions and transfers across enormous distances.
Remember: Alaska is the largest state in the United States. Places that look relatively close together on a map can require hours of travel.
A Princess cruisetour packages much of that logistical puzzle into one itinerary.
For travelers who want to see interior Alaska without personally coordinating every transportation connection, that convenience can be a major advantage.
What Is the Princess Alaska Land Tour Really Like?
This is probably the most important thing to understand before booking.
A Princess land tour is not simply an extension of shipboard life.
Once you leave the ship, the experience changes.
Your days may involve a train ride, motorcoach transportation, lodge stays and excursions. Depending on your itinerary, you may have opportunities to see wildlife, visit national parks, hear from local experts or explore independently.
And there can be significant travel time.
Alaska is enormous.
A transfer that sounds simple on an itinerary can occupy a good portion of the day. That doesn’t necessarily make it a wasted day—the scenery during scenic rail travel through Alaska can be part of the experience—but travelers should understand the pace before choosing a particular itinerary.
This is why I would look beyond the number of days when comparing Princess cruisetours.
Look at where you are sleeping each night and how long you actually have there.
Two cruisetours of similar length can provide very different experiences.
Denali National Park Is the Star of Many Princess Cruisetours
For many travelers, Denali National Park is the reason to add a land portion at all.
Denali encompasses more than six million acres of Alaskan wilderness and is home to wildlife that can include grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou, wolves and Dall sheep.
And then there is Denali itself.
At 20,310 feet, Denali is the tallest peak in North America.
Seeing it is never guaranteed. The mountain creates its own weather, and clouds frequently hide it from view. But when Denali decides to make an appearance, it can become one of those travel moments you remember for the rest of your life.
Visitors should also understand that exploring the Denali area and entering deep into Denali National Park are not the same thing.
Much of the national park experience is controlled to protect its wilderness. Transportation and access within the park can be different from a traditional national park road trip, and conditions can affect how far visitors are able to travel.
That’s why I recommend paying close attention to exactly what Denali experience is included—or available as an optional excursion—when comparing cruisetours.
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is one of the most recognizable properties in the Princess Alaska program.
Its biggest advantage is location.
The lodge sits near the entrance to Denali National Park, making it an excellent base for travelers whose priority is exploring the park.
This is the Princess lodge I would look closely at for travelers who want their time centered around Denali National Park, wildlife experiences and park activities rather than simply admiring the mountain from a distance.
You may also encounter presentations, naturalist programs or guest speakers that help put the surrounding wilderness into context.
If Denali National Park is one of your biggest reasons for traveling to Alaska, I would strongly consider an itinerary that gives you enough time here to do more than arrive, sleep and leave the next morning.
Two nights can be considerably more valuable than one.
Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge offers a very different Denali experience.
Despite the name, this lodge is not at the entrance to Denali National Park. It is located farther south in the Denali State Park area.
And that is not necessarily a disadvantage.
For the right traveler, it may actually be the better choice.
The lodge is known for its setting and potential views of the Alaska Range. When weather cooperates, this can be a wonderful location for travelers who love scenery and photography.
I think of the difference this way:
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is about access to Denali National Park.
Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is about experiencing the landscape surrounding Denali.
One of the lodge’s more unusual features is its wilderness treehouse, created in collaboration with Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters. The elevated space provides another place to take in the surrounding scenery and helps make Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge feel like more than simply an overnight stop.
That distinction makes choosing between them much easier.
Ideally, some Princess cruisetours allow you to experience both.
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge
The Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge offers yet another side of Alaska.
Located on the Kenai Peninsula, this is the Princess lodge that really appeals to me for travelers who want a more relaxed wilderness atmosphere.
The Kenai Peninsula is filled with mountains, rivers, wildlife and outdoor recreation. Compared with a faster-moving land itinerary, spending time here can provide some breathing room.
That matters.
There is a temptation when planning Alaska to try to see absolutely everything. But sometimes the memorable part of the trip is having enough time to sit outside, look at the mountains and realize:
I’m in Alaska.
For travelers who appreciate beautiful surroundings and a slower pace, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge can be a great place to include in a longer Alaska itinerary.
Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge
The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge can work particularly well for itineraries extending farther into Alaska’s interior.
Fairbanks provides access to a very different Alaska experience from the Inside Passage or Kenai Peninsula.
Depending on your itinerary and interests, Fairbanks can introduce you to interior Alaska’s history, culture and landscapes while serving as a beginning or ending point for longer Princess cruisetours.
I especially like the idea of Fairbanks for travelers who want their Alaska trip to feel bigger than a cruise vacation.
Once you have traveled this far into the interior, you begin to understand just how enormous Alaska really is.
Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge takes travelers into a quieter part of Alaska, near Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. For travelers who want their Alaska cruisetour to venture beyond the most familiar Denali stops, this lodge adds a very different wilderness experience.
This is a destination I would consider for travelers who have enough time for a longer land itinerary and genuinely want to experience Alaska’s vast interior. The surrounding Copper River region is known for dramatic mountain scenery, enormous stretches of wilderness and access to one of America’s most extraordinary national parks.
And when I say enormous, I mean enormous. Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the United States—bigger than some countries. Alaska apparently saw ordinary-sized national parks and declined to participate.
The appeal here isn’t a busy downtown area or a long list of attractions just outside your door. It is the setting. This is the kind of stop you choose because you want to slow down, look at the mountains and experience a part of Alaska that many cruise passengers never reach.
For a first Alaska trip with limited time, I would probably prioritize Denali. But for travelers building a longer Princess cruisetour, Copper River can add something special: a more remote, less familiar side of Alaska.
Excursions Can Make the Land Portion of Your Cruisetour
Staying at a Princess Wilderness Lodge isn’t just about having a place to sleep between destinations. Depending on the lodge and itinerary, you’ll find optional excursions that can take you much farther into Alaska.
Around Denali, that might mean wildlife-focused tours, rafting, flightseeing or exploring more of the national park. At Mt. McKinley, travelers can look for experiences centered around Denali views, flightseeing and the surrounding wilderness. Kenai opens the door to fishing, river adventures and exploring the Kenai Peninsula, while Copper River puts you within reach of the enormous Wrangell–St. Elias region.
This is one reason I pay attention to how many nights a cruisetour spends at each lodge. A beautiful lodge isn’t nearly as useful if you arrive late, sleep, and leave again the next morning.
| Lodge | Experiences to Look For |
|---|---|
| Denali Princess | National park touring, wildlife, rafting, flightseeing |
| Mt. McKinley Princess | Denali flightseeing, wilderness activities, photography/scenic experiences |
| Kenai Princess | Fishing, river adventures, Kenai Peninsula experiences |
| Copper River Princess | Wrangell–St. Elias, wilderness and outdoor adventures |
| Fairbanks Princess | Riverboat, gold-rush history, Interior Alaska experiences |
Other Princess Lodges and Alaska Land Options
The longer itineraries can reach areas that many Alaska cruise passengers never see.
The right choice depends on whether you want to prioritize:
- Denali National Park
- Wildlife
- Photography and mountain scenery
- The Kenai Peninsula
- Interior Alaska
- Scenic rail travel
- A slower lodge experience
- Or simply seeing as much of Alaska as possible
There isn’t one “best” Princess cruisetour for everyone.
There is a best itinerary for your type of traveler.
The Train Is Part of the Experience
One of the most appealing parts of a Princess cruisetour can be the scenic train journey through Alaska.
This isn’t transportation you simply tolerate until reaching your next destination.
The journey itself can be part of the vacation.
Princess’s Wilderness Rail Service connects portions of its Alaska land program and gives travelers the opportunity to watch Alaska’s landscapes pass by without worrying about driving.
For travelers comparing this with independent travel on the Alaska Railroad, the important question isn’t simply which train is “better.”
It is how much independence you want.
Independent rail travel provides more flexibility when building your own itinerary. Princess rail transportation offers the convenience of fitting naturally into a larger Princess cruisetour.
For many first-time Alaska visitors, that simplicity is incredibly appealing.
What About Glacier Bay National Park?
This is where the cruise half of your vacation becomes just as important as the land portion.
Glacier Bay National Park is one of Alaska’s most extraordinary cruise destinations.
Ships permitted to enter Glacier Bay spend much of the day surrounded by mountains, glaciers and wilderness. Park rangers typically come aboard participating ships to provide interpretation and help passengers understand what they are seeing.
And this is a day when I would absolutely be outside.
You may spot bald eagles, sea otters and other wildlife while moving through the bay, and the scenery can change constantly.
Princess Cruises is one of the cruise lines with longstanding access to Glacier Bay, which is a significant advantage when comparing Alaska itineraries.
If Glacier Bay is on your bucket list, verify that your specific sailing includes it rather than assuming every Princess Alaskan cruise does.
Glacier Bay vs. Hubbard Glacier
You may also see itineraries featuring Hubbard Glacier.
Both can be spectacular, but they are different experiences.
Glacier Bay is a full national park experience involving multiple glaciers and ranger interpretation.
Hubbard Glacier is enormous and incredibly dramatic, and the experience focuses more heavily on viewing this single massive tidewater glacier.
I wouldn’t consider Hubbard Glacier a consolation prize.
But if visiting Glacier Bay National Park is one of your primary goals, choose your itinerary accordingly.
Which Princess Cruise Ships Sail Alaska?
Princess uses several ships in Alaska, and the lineup can vary by season.
Depending on your sailing year and itinerary, you may encounter ships such as Majestic Princess, Royal Princess, Crown Princess, Grand Princess, Coral Princess, Sapphire Princess, Ruby Princess or other Princess cruise ships.
The ship matters—but perhaps not as much as it would on a Caribbean vacation.
For Alaska, I prioritize the itinerary first.
Where does the ship go?
Does it visit Glacier Bay?
How much time do you have in port?
Where does the cruise begin and end?
How does it connect with your land tour?
Then I look at the ship.
That doesn’t mean the onboard experience isn’t important. It absolutely is. You are still spending a week aboard.
But I wouldn’t choose a prettier ship at the expense of a substantially better Alaska itinerary.
Choosing a Balcony Room for Alaska
Do you need a balcony room for Alaska?
No.
Would I want one if the budget comfortably allows it?
Yes.
A standard balcony stateroom gives you your own private outdoor space for watching the scenery without heading to a public deck every time something interesting appears.
And in Alaska, something interesting appears rather frequently.
Mountains. Waterfalls. Whales. Glaciers. Tiny fishing villages. Bald eagles.
There is a lot going on outside.
That said, I would rather see someone book an interior or ocean-view cabin and afford the Alaska excursions they truly want than overspend on a balcony and skip the experiences that brought them to Alaska in the first place.
The cabin should support the trip—not consume the entire vacation budget.
What Is Princess Like Onboard?
Princess generally offers a more traditional cruise experience than some of the newest resort-style ships.
You aren’t choosing Princess because the ship has the most waterslides or the wildest attractions at sea.
For Alaska, that can actually work beautifully.
There are comfortable indoor spaces for days when the weather is cool or rainy, outdoor viewing areas, entertainment, a fitness center, pools on many ships, and plenty happening throughout the day.
Depending on the ship, entertainment might include production shows, live music, trivia and game shows.
Princess also incorporates Alaska-focused enrichment into many sailings, which can add context to the scenery and wildlife around you.
Dining on a Princess Alaska Cruise
Your cruise fare includes meals in the buffet and main dining rooms, while specialty restaurants generally involve an extra charge or may be included through certain Princess packages.
Depending on the ship, specialty dining may include Crown Grill, Princess’s steakhouse, and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria.
I wouldn’t choose an Alaska cruise based entirely on the dining experience, but having enjoyable food at the end of a long excursion day certainly doesn’t hurt.
And there is something particularly nice about finishing dinner, walking outside and discovering that the scenery has completely changed while you were eating.
That’s Alaska.
What Wildlife Might You See?
One reason an Alaska cruise and land tour work so well together is that they give you opportunities to look for wildlife in completely different environments.
Along the coast, you may encounter:
- Humpback whales
- Orcas
- Sea otters
- Seals
- Bald eagles
In Alaska’s interior and national parks, wildlife possibilities can include:
- Grizzly bears
- Black bears
- Moose
- Caribou
- Dall sheep
- Wolves
Of course, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
This isn’t Animal Planet with a production assistant waiting behind a tree to release a bear at precisely 10:15.
The unpredictability is part of the experience.
Should You Do the Land Tour Before or After the Cruise?
If both options work with your schedule, I generally like land first and cruise second.
Why?
The land portion can be more active.
You may change hotels, take longer transportation days, get up early for excursions and cover substantial distances.
Then you board the ship.
Unpack once.
Have dinner.
Order room service if you feel like it.
Watch Alaska float past your balcony.
It creates a natural progression from exploration to relaxation.
Cruise-first isn’t wrong, however. Dates, airfare, inventory and the specific itinerary can easily make the opposite direction the better choice.
I wouldn’t give up a significantly better itinerary simply to travel land-first.
How Does Princess Compare With Holland America Line?
This is one of my favorite Alaska comparisons because both cruise lines have deep experience in the destination.
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line both offer strong Alaska cruise and land programs.
I tend to look at Princess when travelers are interested in an integrated cruise-and-lodge experience, scenic rail transportation and multiple Princess wilderness properties.
Holland America can be a wonderful alternative for travelers who prefer somewhat smaller ships, a more traditional atmosphere or a particular Denali/Yukon itinerary.
Neither is automatically the best cruise line for every Alaska traveler.
And that’s the point.
The best cruise line is the one whose ship, itinerary, land experience, accommodations and travel style match you.
What About Royal Caribbean?
Royal Caribbean can be another good Alaska option, particularly for families and travelers who place greater emphasis on the ship itself.
But I wouldn’t compare Royal Caribbean and Princess solely by cruise fare.
If your priority is combining a cruise with a substantial Alaska land-based tour, Princess’s lodge network deserves serious consideration.
If your family cares more about shipboard attractions, Royal Caribbean may move higher on your list.
Again, Alaska is one destination where itinerary should carry enormous weight in the decision.
Pros of a Princess Alaska Cruisetour
There is a lot Princess does well in Alaska.
You can experience coastal and interior Alaska in one vacation.
The contrast between Glacier Bay and Denali alone can make the extended trip worthwhile.
Princess handles much of the transportation.
That can eliminate a significant amount of logistical planning.
The Princess-owned lodges provide access to multiple regions.
You aren’t limited to one hotel near Denali.
Scenic rail travel becomes part of the vacation.
The journey through Alaska can be nearly as memorable as the destination.
Princess has extensive Alaska experience.
That matters in a destination where transportation and itinerary logistics are complicated.
There are great options for different travel styles.
A short Denali extension and a longer multi-lodge Alaska adventure are very different vacations.
Potential Downsides of a Princess Cruisetour
There are also tradeoffs.
You sacrifice some independence.
A structured tour means you aren’t completely controlling the schedule.
Some itineraries move quickly.
One-night lodge stays may feel rushed, particularly after a long transportation day.
Alaska distances are significant.
You may spend a substantial portion of some days traveling between destinations.
Optional excursions can increase the cost.
Read carefully to understand what is actually included in your land package.
The longest cruisetours require a serious time commitment.
Not everyone can devote two weeks or more to one vacation.
None of these would automatically stop me from booking Princess.
They would make me choose the itinerary carefully.
Is a Princess Alaska Cruisetour Worth It?
For the right traveler, absolutely.
I particularly like a Princess Alaska cruisetour for someone who:
- May only visit Alaska once
- Wants to see more than the cruise ports
- Has Denali National Park on their bucket list
- Doesn’t want to coordinate an independent land itinerary
- Enjoys scenic train travel
- Has enough vacation time to avoid rushing
- Wants to combine wilderness lodges with a traditional cruise experience
I would be more hesitant for someone who dislikes structured travel, wants complete control over each day, or only has enough vacation time for a seven-night cruise.
And if you are already an experienced independent traveler who enjoys renting a car and building complicated itineraries? You may prefer designing your own Alaska land trip.
My Biggest Advice: Don’t Automatically Choose the Shortest Cruisetour
If you remember only one thing from this review, make it this:
Look at nights, not just destinations.
An itinerary may advertise Denali, but how much time are you actually getting there?
Do you arrive late and leave the next morning?
Do you have a whole day to explore?
Does your itinerary include one lodge or several?
What activities are included?
What would you have time to add?
Sometimes adding one extra night can transform a destination from somewhere you technically visited into somewhere you actually experienced.
In Alaska, I think that difference matters enormously.
Planning an Alaska cruise or cruisetour?
Choosing the right itinerary can make a huge difference—especially when you’re comparing cruise lines, land portions, wilderness lodges and how much time you’ll actually have in each destination. If you’d like help putting the pieces together, visit my Alaska Travel Planning page to get started.
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So, Which Princess Alaska Cruisetour Should You Choose?
Start with what you most want to experience.
If Denali National Park is the priority, look for meaningful time at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.
If mountain scenery and photography are high on your list, consider an itinerary including Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.
If you love the idea of slowing down in a beautiful wilderness setting, take a close look at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.
If you want to travel deeper into interior Alaska, consider itineraries that include Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge or other extended land options.
And if this is your first Alaska trip, I would strongly consider combining the land experience with an itinerary that visits Glacier Bay National Park.
That gives you an extraordinary combination:
Glaciers and ocean.
Whales and bald eagles.
Mountains and tundra.
Princess Wilderness Lodges and scenic rail journeys.
A cruise and a completely different Alaska adventure on land.
Final Thoughts on Princess Cruise Tours in Alaska
There is no shortage of ways to visit Alaska.
You can take a seven-night cruise. Build an independent road trip. Travel aboard the Alaska Railroad. Explore the Kenai Peninsula. Head deep into Denali. Or spend weeks trying to piece all of it together.
A Princess cruisetour sits somewhere in the middle.
You get considerably more of Alaska than you would on a cruise alone, without having to independently coordinate every train, lodge and transfer.
And that may be its greatest strength.
Princess has created an Alaska travel system where the ship, rail journey and wilderness lodges work together.
Choose the right itinerary, give yourself enough time in the places that matter, and don’t treat the land portion as simply an add-on to your cruise.
Because once you get beyond the ports, you discover an entirely different Alaska.
And you may decide that was the part of the trip you were really traveling all that way to see.
Frequently Asked Questions About Princess Alaska Cruisetours
For travelers who want to combine an Alaska cruise with destinations such as Denali National Park and Alaska’s interior, a Princess cruisetour can offer excellent value because transportation, lodging and much of the complicated land logistics are coordinated within one itinerary. Whether it is worth the cost depends on how much you value convenience and how much time the itinerary actually gives you at each destination.
If your schedule and budget allow, I prefer itineraries that provide at least two nights in important destinations such as Denali. A longer itinerary isn’t automatically better, but avoiding too many consecutive one-night stays can make the land portion considerably more enjoyable.
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is located near the entrance to Denali National Park rather than deep inside the national park itself. Its location makes it convenient for travelers planning Denali activities and excursions.
No. The two Princess lodges provide different experiences. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is better positioned for accessing the Denali National Park area, while Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is farther south and emphasizes the surrounding wilderness and potential views of Denali and the Alaska Range.
Both can work, but I generally prefer completing the land tour first and cruising afterward. The land portion often involves more transportation and hotel changes, while the cruise allows you to unpack once and relax. However, itinerary, airfare and availability should ultimately determine which direction works best.
No. Never assume that an Alaska cruise includes Glacier Bay simply because Princess sails there. Check the exact itinerary for your sailing before booking if Glacier Bay National Park is a priority.
I think a balcony can be particularly valuable in Alaska because so much of the experience happens outside the ship. However, I would prioritize a strong itinerary and meaningful Alaska excursions before stretching the budget solely for a balcony cabin.
Both have extensive experience in Alaska. Princess can be particularly appealing for its integrated rail and Princess Wilderness Lodge network, while Holland America Line has excellent Alaska and Yukon options and may appeal to travelers who prefer its ships and onboard atmosphere. The better choice depends on the specific itinerary and traveler.
There isn’t one best lodge for everyone. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is a strong choice for Denali National Park access, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge appeals to travelers interested in scenery and photography, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge offers a beautiful wilderness setting, and Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge works well for travelers exploring farther into Alaska’s interior.
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