There’s a certain magic in the air as you step out onto Vancouver’s Stanley Park seawall in the early morning, mist still clinging to the Douglas firs, mountains peeking through the pale blue. It’s the same feeling I get every time I board a ship: anticipation, tinged with that delicious sense that anything could happen. Before I head off to cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage – seven nights of glacier-studded adventure and wild Alaskan ports – I always recommend a few days to soak up what Vancouver has to offer. Because this city is far more than just a starting point for adventure: it’s all part of the experience.
If you haven’t been, Vancouver will steal your heart before you even see your first bald eagle or breaching whale. Think cosmopolitan, but with the friendliness of a country town. Flat whites rival any you’ll find in Melbourne (I tested thoroughly on your behalf), and the multicultural dining scene is off the charts.
Before the cruise, I spent my days cycling along the Stanley Park loop, where ancient towering cedars dwarf everyone, or wandering through Gastown’s cobbled streets, all whistlestop cafes and indie boutiques. Capilano Bridge is essential for any first timer – cross that swaying suspension bridge and pretend you’re in an Indiana Jones film, if your knees are up to it.
By evenings, Vancouver hums: sunset cocktails on English Bay, fresh-caught salmon in a waterfront eatery, maybe one more stroll along Granville Island’s public market. The city offers all the excitement without any of the chaos – Australia’s easy-going cousin across the Pacific.
On embarkation day, the excitement is palpable along Canada Place’s cruise terminal. The Emerald Princess towers above the dock – your floating home for the next week, kitted out with more amenities than some small towns. Princess Cruises has mastered that blend of elegance and homeliness; it’s premium, but always friendly, never stuffy.
First impressions? The ship sparkles. Attentive staff with smiles as big as the Alaskan sky. Staterooms are bigger than you expect – yes, even the interior ones – with comfy beds and all the mod cons. (If you’re splashing out, treat yourself to a balcony room or a suite; watching the glacial fjords slip by from your private perch is pure theatre). There’s a spot for everyone, be it the quiet corners of the library, daily trivia by the pool, or the bustling bars if you’re keen for a chat.
Let’s settle one thing: Princess takes care of you. I’m talking every detail – from cocktails and premium coffee, to those fitness classes you know you should try (but if you prefer unlimited desserts instead, who am I to judge?). If you fancy a real treat,
The Emerald Princess has activities for every taste and tempo: from bridge tournaments to Zumba, wine tastings, to cooking demos. Or you can just find a deck chair, let the scenery do the work, and watch the world glide by. There’s no guilt in skipping the gym to try every pie at afternoon tea.
Dining? Heavenly. You’ll never go hungry, with menus tipping a hat to every corner of the globe. Alaskan crab legs one night, Italian the next, and always, always an option for a nightcap under a blanket of northern stars.
Once out of Vancouver harbour, the wild proper begins. Cruising the Inside Passage is like threading through a live diorama: misty forests, pine-lined islets, bald eagles tracing lazy circles overhead. This isn’t just cruising; it’s immersive cinema, with every window a front-row seat.
Early on, you’ll call in at Juneau, Alaska’s compact capital. Here’s your chance to channel a gold rush adventurer – visit Mendenhall Glacier, take a float plane over the ice fields or, if you’re brave, sample fresh king crab with a view of the docks.
Next up is Skagway, where wooden sidewalks and frontier facades feel straight out of a Hollywood western. Board the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway for a heart-stopping ride up steep, cliffside tracks – guaranteed to wake up anyone still feeling the effects of last night’s trivia victory.
But the real showstopper? Scenic cruising in Endicott Arm. When the captain edges the Emerald Princess close to Dawes Glacier, there’s a hush across the decks. Blue ice sparkles, mountains loom, and seals bask in the drift. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear a chunk of glacier calving into the water, a sound like thunder rolled across the fjords. Bundle up, clutch something warm, and savour the air – it’s the cleanest you’ll ever breathe.
Ketchikan, last major stop in Alaska, is famous for its vibrant Tlingit heritage and stilted harbourside. Keep an eye peeled for the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles, or try your hand at salmon fishing (or, for my money, just find a good pub and let stories flow).
Back on board, days slip easily into a rhythm of gentle discoveries. Join new friends for trivia, catch a musical in the Princess Theatre or be seduced by the spa (yes, you’re allowed to treat yourself). For every action-packed port, there’s a day spent simply gliding past mountains, waterfalls, or tiny fishing boats, watching whales breach in the distance.
And at sunset, everyone lines the rails or overlaps on private balconies, cameras poised and smiles wide. On an Alaskan cruise, every day is a highlight reel. The Emerald Princess makes sure you savour each moment: comfortable, cheerful and—if you wish—utterly carefree.
So my tip? Arrive early in Vancouver, stay up late on deck, eat dessert first, and let yourself be awed. Alaska by sea, with Princess, is the adventure you didn’t know you needed. Go—then tell your friends “you had to be there”.
Travel at 60 has a host of Alaska cruises for 2027 – on sale now. www.travelat60.com