August 12, 2026 Team Contributor
Princess Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028 Alaska season, offering 185 departures across 14 itineraries aboard eight ships, including the newest Star Princess. The season went on sale Aug. 11 and includes cruise options from Vancouver, British Columbia, giving Canadian travellers another option for exploring Alaska by sea.
Sailings range from four to 16 days and depart from Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage (Whittier), San Francisco and Los Angeles. The programme visits 16 destinations, including Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, with scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord and Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.
Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer, is of the view, “Alaska is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations, and Princess has spent nearly 60 years helping guests experience it in a way few others can. Our 2028 season brings together glacier-filled voyages, unforgettable wildlife and cultural experiences, Princess Wilderness Lodges and Rail, along with seamless cruisetours that take guests deeper into the Great Land – creating a complete Alaska vacation.”
2028 Alaska Season Brings More Ways to See the Region
Princess Cruises will operate the Alaska season aboard Star Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Royal Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess.
The line’s Voyage of the Glaciers itineraries remain a central part of the programme, sailing between Anchorage (Whittier) and Vancouver. These one-way voyages include visits to major Alaska ports and glacier-viewing opportunities, with options to add land-based cruisetours.
Roundtrip Inside Passage sailings will also operate from Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Princess says the voyages are designed to offer access to Alaska’s glaciers, wildlife and coastal communities from West Coast homeports.
The 2028 season includes 86 visits to Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Select itineraries will also feature late-evening calls to More Ashore, giving guests additional time to explore ports and local attractions.
The early release of 2028 itineraries also reflects a wider cruise industry trend, with other lines expanding their long-term programmes. Holland America Line, for example, has unveiled its most extensive Europe cruise season in nearly a decade.
Cruisetours Extend Alaska Trips Beyond the Coast
Travellers looking to combine a cruise with time inland can choose from Princess’ cruisetours, which pair Alaska sailings with stays at Princess Wilderness Lodges and travel through the state’s interior.
Most cruisetours include visits to Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park. Select itineraries can cover as many as four national parks, while Princess will offer three collections: Denali Essentials, Denali Explorer and Denali Escorted.
The programme also includes Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service between Whittier and the Denali area. The custom glass-domed railcars are designed for sightseeing and include open-air viewing platforms.
Princess’ wilderness properties include Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.
More Alaska Experiences Onboard and Ashore
The cruise line will continue its North to Alaska programming, featuring Alaska-inspired dining, cultural presentations and destination-focused entertainment. Guests can also choose Local Connections shore excursions, including whale watching in Juneau, White Pass Railway experiences in Skagway, lumberjack activities in Ketchikan, helicopter glacier landings near Denali and wildlife cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Cruise options are also expanding for Canadian travellers in other markets. Sunwing has introduced MSC Opera cruise packages departing from Montreal, combining flights, transfers and seven-night Caribbean sailings in a single vacation package.
The 2028 season builds on Princess Cruises’ long-running Alaska programme, which dates back to 1969. With departures from Vancouver and a mix of one-way, roundtrip and land-and-sea options, the new season gives Canadian travellers several ways to plan an Alaska cruise, add time ashore and extend their trip into the interior. Bookings are now open, allowing travellers to begin comparing itineraries, departure cities and cruise-and-land combinations well ahead of the 2028 season.
Related Post:
About the Author
