Princess Cruises on Tuesday opened sales for its 2028 Alaska program, announcing 185 departures across 14 itineraries aboard eight ships and expanding its land-and-sea vacation packages that pair coastal voyages with rail travel and lodge stays inside the state.
Fleet, itineraries and land options
The line said the season will feature sailings that range from four to 16 days, and that its fleet for Alaska will include the newly promoted Star Princess along with Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Royal Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess.
Princess also emphasized its cruisetour options and its collection of branded wilderness lodges that provide access to interior Alaska destinations. Among the lodges listed were Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.
"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," Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer Jim Berra said in a statement.
The company framed the lineup as a mix of classic glacier-view itineraries, wildlife-focused ports of call and land excursions that move beyond the coast to national parks and interior communities.
What this means for Alaska communities
For Alaska ports and businesses, an expanded schedule from a major cruise operator typically means more passengers moving through gateway communities such as Anchorage, Seward, Whittier, Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. Ship calls bring revenue to tour operators, taxi services, restaurants, retail shops and sightseeing providers, and cruisetours funnel visitors inland, supporting lodges, guide services and rail and road operators.
Princess has operated in Alaska since 1969, giving the company a long history in the state that it says supports its ability to combine ship-based excursions with rail travel and wilderness-lodge stays. The company’s emphasis on multi-night cruisetours and lodge packages tends to extend visitor stays and spending beyond the typical one-day shore excursion model.
Season snapshot
Key details released by Princess:
- 185 departures across the Alaska season
- 14 unique itineraries covering coastal cruises and combined cruise-plus-land programs
- Eight ships assigned to Alaska, including the Star Princess
- Sailings lasting four to 16 days
| Ships assigned | Itinerary length |
|---|---|
| Star Princess; Discovery Princess; Emerald Princess; Royal Princess; Coral Princess; Crown Princess; Island Princess; Ruby Princess | 4–16 days |
Industry context and visitor economy
Cruise capacity and schedules are closely watched by Alaska officials and local businesses because they affect port operations, employment and revenue for tourism-dependent towns. Larger seasonal deployments and new ship introductions often increase passenger counts and create demand for expanded shore excursions and transport services.
Princess’ packaged approach — linking coastal sailings with rail journeys and overnight stays at branded lodges near national parks — is aimed at travelers seeking longer, more immersive trips to interior Alaska. Those land-based components direct visitors to communities that do not typically see high volumes of one-day cruise visitors, potentially spreading economic benefits more widely across the state.
Booking and timing
Princess said sales are open for the 2028 season. The company did not publish precise port-call schedules or dates in its initial announcement; interested travelers and local operators should review the line’s detailed schedules and port rotations as they become available to plan logistics, crew needs and local tour capacities.
For communities and businesses that rely on shore excursions, the next steps will be tracking the line’s port schedules, passenger capacities per sailing and the distribution of day-cruise versus cruisetour passengers to prepare staffing, transportation and reservation systems for the influx.
As the cruise industry continues to adapt in the post-pandemic era, announcements like Princess’ 2028 lineup will be a focal point for Alaska’s travel sector, which depends on stable, predictable ship calls spread across the summer months.
Reporting from the state capital will monitor subsequent schedule releases and will note how the line’s 2028 plans align with port infrastructure, community readiness and the broader Alaska visitor season.
