The back story
Glacier Bay: Ships do not dock; usually 9–10 hours in the bay with NPS rangers aboard; Johns Hopkins Inlet only in late summer (nps.gov/glba, Oct 2026) · Season: Seattle’s 2026 cruise season ended in October with nearly 2 million revenue passengers (Port of Seattle, 19 Oct 2026); Princess sells Alaska 2026–2028 · Home ports: Seattle (Bell Street, Pier 66; Smith Cove, Pier 91), Vancouver (Canada Place) · Ports of call: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Victoria · Gateway airports: Seattle–Tacoma (Link light rail), Vancouver YVR (Canada Line)
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The back story
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·In depth
Rainforest, tidewater glaciers and gold-rush towns along the Inside Passage, reached the way the first visitors came: by ship.
The ports
Who it suits. On a budget: A seven-night round trip from Seattle on a mainstream ship, with Ketchikan’s Creek Street, Skagway’s national-park walking tours and Pike Place Market before you sail. Mid-range: A premium line with Glacier Bay on the itinerary, the White Pass railway and the Goldbelt Tram booked ahead, and a night at the Pan Pacific above Canada Place. Luxury: A small luxury ship on the Inside Passage, a balcony suite for the Glacier Bay day, and the Fairmont Olympic or Fairmont Pacific Rim at either end.
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Pier 66 and Pier 91
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Home port · Washington, USA
Two cruise terminals: Bell Street at Pier 66 downtown and Smith Cove at Pier 91.
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Canada Place
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Home port · British Columbia, Canada
The downtown cruise terminal on the waterfront, below the Pan Pacific hotel.
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Visit Ketchikan
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Port of call · Alaska
The first Alaskan port on most voyages, with downtown berths and a visitor centre on Berth 2.
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Travel Juneau
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Port of call · Alaska
Alaska’s capital, reached only by sea or air, with the Goldbelt Tram above the cruise docks.
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Railroad, Broadway and Ore docks
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Port of call · Alaska
The gold-rush town at the head of the Lynn Canal, with three deep-water docks run by the White Pass & Yukon Route.
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Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Port of call · Alaska
The Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, outside town, with frequent shuttles to Harrigan Centennial Hall.
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Rangers board the ship
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Scenic cruising · Alaska
A day of scenic cruising among tidewater glaciers, with National Park Service rangers aboard. Ships do not dock.
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Hoonah
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Port of call · Alaska
A port beside the Tlingit village of Hoonah, built around a century-old salmon cannery.
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Ogden Point
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest·Port of call · British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia’s capital, where cruise ships berth at the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority’s Ogden Point.
