Alaska Adventure: One Family’s Princess Cruise Tour

Some vacations are fun, others are memorable — and then there are those rare journeys a family calls “the best trip we’ve ever taken.” For Josh and Katie and their 9-year-old daughter, Alaska delivered exactly that.

With Toastable Travel’s help, the family set out on a Princess Cruise Tour — five land nights from Fairbanks to Whittier, followed by a seven-night southbound cruise through Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, ending in Vancouver. To make it even more extraordinary, we added two pre-tour nights in Fairbanks for an unforgettable Arctic Circle flightseeing adventure into Gates of the Arctic National Park.

What followed was a journey of once-in-a-lifetime moments, family laughter, and the kind of memories that keep Alaska calling them back again and again.

A Magical Start

Fairbanks was their gateway to Alaska, and the adventure began immediately.

“Fairbanks was cute — the airport is itty-bitty, and from the moment we walked out we were greeted with stuffed grizzlies and that Alaskan vibe. Everything felt ridiculously easy — Princess was right there with our bags and transfers.”

The family eased into the rhythm of Alaska with time to explore, including the quirky Ice Museum, before the highlight of their pre-tour addition: an evening flight north into the Arctic.

At first, the weather cut their flight short — but because we had planned an extra day just in case, they were rebooked and soared out again the following evening.

“Flying over the Arctic Circle into Gates of the Arctic National Park was jaw-dropping. I stopped taking pictures because nothing could capture it — untouched wilderness as far as you can see.”

Their pilot noted that only about 4% of Alaska visitors cross the Arctic Circle, and far fewer go to Gates of the Arctic National Park.

“To realize we were part of that tiny percentage was incredible.”

Katie even came home with two Arctic Circle certificates — one from each attempt — a fun twist on an already unforgettable experience.

Riverboats, Rafting & Midnight Sun

From Fairbanks, the official Princess Cruise Tour began. Their first big excursion was a classic: a sternwheeler riverboat down the Chena River. Far from hokey, it surprised them with blueberry donuts, floatplane demonstrations, and a stop at a tribal fish camp, where they met the daughter of a four-time Iditarod champion and played with her dogs.

That same evening brought thrills of a different kind: whitewater rafting in Denali.

“It was freezing — [my daughter] even joked she had snot-sicles — but it was gorgeous. Thirteen miles downriver in dry suits, laughing the whole way.”

The next day brought a Natural History Tour into Denali National Park, where the family joined the lucky “30% club” — those who see Denali’s peak in crystal clarity.

“We saw Denali crystal clear! A mama moose with her two babies and a mama bear made it even more special. Those are the moments you never forget.”

That night, the adventure kept going under Alaska’s famed midnight sun, when they set out on ATVs, splashing through creeks and exploring the wilderness with daylight that simply refused to end.

Trains, Lodges & Favorite Stays

The journey south continued by rail from Denali to Talkeetna, where the glass-domed Princess Rail cars served up breakfast and sweeping mountain views. They played Uno together at their seats, made friends with fellow passengers, and laughed their way through the ride as the Alaskan wilderness rolled by.

“Honestly, I think that was the best meal we had on land. We were sitting in the dome car eating breakfast, playing Uno, and watching mountains roll by.”

In Talkeetna, they explored the quirky downtown before transferring to the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, complete with its treehouse overlook of Denali.

Their favorite stay, however, was the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge in Cooper Landing.

“Our favorite lodge was in Kenai. It felt like our own secluded cabin, with a little patio to sit out and take in the view. We’d go back there in a heartbeat.”

After a gold-panning experience and one last night on land, it was time to board the Sapphire Princess in Whittier.

Southbound at Sea

From the Kenai Lodge, our clients traveled by motorcoach through the famous one-way Whittier tunnel to the tiny port town of Whittier. Princess staff made embarkation seamless; once aboard the Sapphire Princess, they settled into their mini-suite and watched the ship sail out into Prince William Sound — the perfect prologue to seven unforgettable nights at sea. To add to the fun, two family members from another part of the country joined up with them for the cruise portion of the trip!

Hubbard Glacier

The Sapphire Princess glided toward Hubbard Glacier, one of Alaska’s most iconic tidewater glaciers. The wall of ice stretched for miles, glowing with shades of white and deep, impossible blue. Calving — the dramatic thunder of skyscraper-sized ice crashing into the water — is common here, while simply being in the presence of the glacier is truly unforgettable.

Glacier Bay National Park

The following day brought a full immersion in Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rangers boarded the ship to share stories about glaciers, wildlife, and the Tlingit people who have called this area home for centuries. Towering peaks framed the fjords, and tidewater glaciers sparkled in the summer sun as sea otters and birds dotted the waters below.

Skagway

In Skagway, the five of them rode the White Pass Scenic Railway, a narrow-gauge train built during the Klondike Gold Rush. The route climbs nearly 3,000 feet, winding past gorges, trestle bridges, and waterfalls — a mix of breathtaking views and fascinating history.

Juneau

In Juneau, our clients were scheduled for one of Alaska’s most iconic experiences: a helicopter flight to a remote dog camp for glacier dog sledding. The plan had been to soar above the mountains, land directly on the glacier, and take off on a sled pulled by huskies raised by real Iditarod mushers. Katie was especially excited about landing on a glacier.

But Alaska’s weather had other plans. Heavy clouds grounded the helicopters that day, so the family pivoted to a whale-watching tour — and it turned into one of their favorite moments of the trip.

“Best pivot ever! We saw about seven or eight whales, bald eagles, sea lions, and even bears all in one day. Unreal.”

Ketchikan

By the time they reached Ketchikan, the family had already settled into cruise life — dinners, shows, card games, and even making a few new friends onboard. Their private guided excursion in Ketchikan turned into a perfect finale. With a local guide, they explored tucked-away corners of the town, walked through rainforest trails, tasted wild Alaskan berries, and paused at salmon streams, hearing stories that bigger tours often miss.

“It felt like classic Alaska — rainy, rugged, full of life. We loved having a guide who could tailor things just to us. It made the day feel really personal.”

A final day at sea gave them time to soak up the ship’s entertainment, relax, and simply enjoy being together before disembarking in Vancouver.

Looking Back

By the time they arrived in Vancouver, our clients knew Alaska had given them more than a vacation. It had given them a lifetime of memories, over one thousand pictures and videos, and plenty of reasons to return.

“This trip gave us so many firsts and so many dreams for next time. Alaska is huge, and we barely scratched the surface. We’ll be back.”

From the Arctic Circle to Denali, from mama bears and moose to whale flukes and bald eagles, every day had held something new. And as Katie summed it up: “Gratitude.”

One Family’s Alaska Itinerary Summary

Pre-Tour (Fairbanks)

• Jul 12: Arrive Fairbanks, Princess Riverside Lodge

• Jul 13: Arctic Circle Flightseeing into Gates of the Arctic National Park

• Jul 14: Explore Fairbanks on own

Princess Cruise Tour Land (Jul 15–19)

• Jul 15: Sternwheeler Riverboat, motorcoach to Denali, rafting on Nenana River

• Jul 16: Denali Natural History Tour & ATV adventure

• Jul 17: Train to Talkeetna, overnight at Mt. McKinley Lodge

• Jul 18: Motorcoach to Kenai Lodge, gold panning excursion

• Jul 19: Motorcoach to Whittier, embark Sapphire Princess

Princess Cruise (Jul 19–26)

• Jul 20: Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising)

• Jul 21: Glacier Bay National Park (scenic cruising)

• Jul 22: Skagway & White Pass Scenic Railway

• Jul 23: Juneau — whale watching (pivot from canceled glacier dog sledding)

• Jul 24: Ketchikan — private guided excursion

• Jul 25: Day at sea

• Jul 26: Arrive Vancouver, overnight Pan Pacific

• Jul 27: Fly home

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Ready to Write Your Own Alaska Story?

Our clients’ trip shows how Alaska has a way of capturing hearts — from rare Arctic adventures to cozy lodges, thundering glaciers, and wildlife around every corner.

Many thanks to Katie for sharing all about their experiences! 

If Alaska is on your bucket list, let’s create a journey designed just for you — one that leaves you saying, “It was the best trip we’ve ever taken.”

👉 Schedule your consultation here to start planning

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