Princess Cruises – Golden Princess • May 22 – June 1, 2015
About This Experience
This Alaska cruise itinerary traced the Inside Passage with scenic fjord cruising through Tracy Arm and port calls in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. The voyage featured glacier viewing, wildlife sightings, and cultural excursions, with moderate walking required at most ports and extended outdoor viewing from open decks or tenders.
❄️ North to the Glaciers
In May 2015, we left behind the spring in Cincinnati and the familiar bustle of everyday life to embark on a 10-day journey to Alaska’s Last Frontier. Our adventure began in San Francisco, where we gave ourselves an extra day to enjoy the city before embarkation. From the playful sea lions of Pier 39 to warm sourdough bowls on Fisherman’s Wharf, we filled our pre-cruise day with quintessential coastal charm. We were about to set sail on our first Princess voyage aboard the Golden Princess, a newly refurbished beauty promising panoramic views and elegant comforts. We had no idea just how much this trip would stir the soul.
📖 Cultural Insight: Many cruise ships sailing to Alaska feature onboard guest speakers, often historians, geologists, or Indigenous storytellers who offer enriching context for what’s seen ashore.
🚢 Embarkation
Embarkation at the Port of San Francisco started with a twist: a delay due to extended onboard cleaning gave us unexpected free time. Instead of frustration, we saw it as a bonus—and spent a few more sunlit hours revisiting the sea lions and devouring street food on the piers.
When we returned later, embarkation flowed smoothly. We were assigned Interior Stateroom 524 on Caribe Deck 10, a cozy retreat with smart storage and a surprisingly quiet ambiance. The ship itself radiated understated elegance: soft lighting, gleaming wood finishes, and a crew that seemed genuinely happy to welcome us aboard.
🗓️ Cruise Itinerary: Daily Logs
Friday, May 22 – Departure from San Francisco
📍 Location: San Francisco, California
🕒 Departure: 4:00 PM
📌 Event: Embarkation
The fog rolled in just as we slipped past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate. A perfect send-off. With all engines running, the Golden Princess surged northward, and the city lights faded behind us.
🎐 Maritime Tradition: When passing through scenic straits or narrow channels, many ships honor an old nautical superstition by blowing their horn beneath major bridges—like the Golden Gate—for good luck.
Saturday, May 23 – At Sea
📍 Location: Pacific Ocean, off the California Coast
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
The Pacific was kind, offering gentle swells and steady winds. We wandered the ship’s many lounges, played our first round of trivia, and watched sculptors craft swans out of ice on the deck.
Sunday, May 24 – At Sea
📍 Location: British Columbia Coastline
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
📌 Event: Naturalist Talk & Scenic Viewing
Clouds hung low, and temperatures dipped as we traced the British Columbia coast. The onboard naturalist explained the science of stabilizer fins, which we were grateful for as the waves began to build. Fellow passengers became familiar faces—especially a warm Australian couple, Helen and Phil, and a duo we would soon call Mom and Dad.
Monday, May 25 – Scenic Cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord
📍 Location: Tracy Arm Marine Park, Alaska
🕒 Arrival: 1:00 PM | Departed: 6:00 PM
📌 Event: Sawyer Glacier Scenic Cruising
By early morning, we’d crossed into Alaskan waters. Tracy Arm was otherworldly: towering granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, and icebergs in hypnotic blues drifted alongside the hull. As we reached Sawyer Glacier, the captain rotated the ship so all could marvel. There were no words—only gasps and camera clicks.
Tuesday, May 26 – Haines, Alaska
📍 Location: Haines, Alaska
🕒 Arrival Time: 6:00 AM | Departure: 9:00 PM
📌 Event: Glacier Point Wilderness Safari
We stepped off into sunlight and serenity. Our tour took us by fast catamaran across glacial waters, then on foot through rainforest trails, leading to a majestic glacier view.
Wednesday, May 27 – Juneau, Alaska
📍 Location: Juneau, Alaska
🕒 Arrival Time: 7:00 AM | Departure: 5:00 PM
📌 Event: Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari
In the chill of the morning, we boarded a tender into Juneau. A hike along the Mendenhall trails gave us pristine glacier views. The whale watching portion was the star—we witnessed a humpback come under our boat and surface nearly capsizing us!
Thursday, May 28 – Ketchikan, Alaska
📍 Location: Ketchikan, Alaska
🕒 Arrival Time: 11:00 AM | Departure: 7:00 PM
📌 Event: Deadliest Catch Crab Fishermen’s Tour
Rain fell on and off, but we embraced it. The Deadliest Catch tour felt like stepping into a TV documentary. Rugged fishermen shared their stories with grit and humor, and watching crab pots hauled aboard brought their world vividly to life.
Friday, May 29 – At Sea
📍 Location: Hecate Strait
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
We cruised past the edges of Haida Gwaii, with weather gradually clearing. We watched chefs carve ice sculptures in the open air and lingered over chai lattes with friends.
Saturday, May 30 – Victoria, British Columbia
📍 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
🕒 Arrival Time: 7:00 AM | Departure: 2:00 PM
📌 Event: English Tea at Butchart Gardens
Under sunny skies, we strolled Butchart Gardens’ vibrant paths. Spring was in full bloom—tulips, roses, and fountains framed by winding trails. Afternoon tea in the garden’s teahouse was delicate and divine.
Sunday, May 31 – At Sea
📍 Location: Pacific Ocean
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
Crossing back into California waters, we sailed past Oregon and into the home stretch.
Monday, June 1 – Return to San Francisco
📍 Location: San Francisco, California
🕒 Arrival Time: 7:00 AM
📌 Event: Disembarkation
We slipped beneath the Golden Gate just after sunrise. Disembarkation was seamless. We stepped onto dry land with suitcases in hand and hearts full of Alaska’s grandeur—and the connections that defined the journey.
🍽️ Dining Experiences
Dinner in the main dining rooms felt both refined and relaxed. We had traditional assigned seating, allowing deep conversation and friendship with our tablemates. Favorites included steak, roast chicken, and rich pastas, always paired with attentive service. For breakfast and lunch, we rotated between the Horizon Court buffet and Lido deck snacks—pizza slices, fresh omelets, and the occasional decadent afternoon tea.
🍝 Dining Tip: Specialty restaurants often allow reservations on embarkation day before they’re fully booked—walk straight to the maître d’ after boarding for the best chances.
🎭 Entertainment Onboard
Evening entertainment included live violinists in the atrium, guest fashion shows starring passengers (including our friends!), and an unexpected favorite: the Park West art auctions. The cruise staff kept things lively with trivia, dance parties, and small surprises. One highlight was hearing the life story of a Holocaust survivor who we met onboard. He wrote a book, but I could not remember its title.
🧭 Scenic Cruising
Tracy Arm Fjord was the showstopper. As the ship glided through narrow, icy corridors, waterfalls tumbled down cliffs, and the stillness of Sawyer Glacier held the ship in awe.
💫 Favorite Moment
Haines stole our hearts. It was off the beaten path, rich with Alaskan authenticity, and our safari took us to a glacier overlook that felt like a sacred moment. But even more memorable were the people: our “cruise parents,” the spirited Australians, and every friendly face that made the Golden Princess feel like home.
📋 Cruise Details
📍 Embarkation Port: San Francisco, California
🗺 Itinerary: Inside Passage with Tracy Arm Fjord
🚢 Cruise Line & Ship: Princess Cruises – Golden Princess
📆 Sailing Date: May 2015
⏳ Duration: 10 Days
Cruise Itinerary Disclaimer:
Cruise itineraries shared on OceansAfoot are independently written and based on personal sailings. OceansAfoot is not affiliated with any cruise line and does not receive compensation or direction from operators referenced in these narratives.
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