Sailing To Alaska On The Majestic Princess Travel Tips

Two years! Two years nearly to the day since I last traveled just for the sheer pleasure of travelling. It was my joy and pleasure to sail on the beautiful Majestic Princess to Alaska roundtrip out of Seattle.

Embarkation was on Sunday, so I flew up Friday evening for two nights at the Hyatt Regency Seattle and to spend time visiting with friends and seeing some of the city. Both the airline, Alaska Airlines, and the hotel had great Covid protocols, and I felt really safe. Even had an amazing cocktail at a bar (Canon on 12 ^th Ave.) that checked vaccination cards!

Finally, it was time to board the Majestic Princess! The Medallion made embarkation a five-minute process. WHEW! Since everything was done in advance via the Medallion Class app, all I had to do was show my proof of vaccination and negative Covid test. From that point on…it’s all done with the Medallion. Everything from opening the stateroom door and checking in at your muster station to ordering a drink and checking in at the spa. Ordering a Hot Chocolate on the app and having it delivered directly to you on the pool deck is pretty cool.

There’s a free lanyard that comes with the Medallion. So many people had them that it looked a bit like a conference. But there are options from “watch bands” to clips to necklaces and bracelets. You can order them in advance (I got the clip) or purchase them onboard. And the color of your Medallion corresponds to your Captain’s Circle level!

Our itinerary included Juneau, Skagway, the Inside Passage, and Ketchikan with an “at sea” day at the beginning and the end. Coming from 90+ degree temperatures and the relentless sunshine of Los Angeles, I was so happy to have temperatures in the 50s and overcast skies. Even the rain couldn’t dampen my joy of traveling and getting a bit of a different perspective.

Masks were worn by most in public areas, including the theaters, unless they were eating or drinking. The ship staff were always masked. Plus, knowing that everyone was vaccinated and had tested negative made me feel as safe as possible onboard.

We did our best to try every dining option. (I believe we came pretty close.) One of my favorites was Harmony. It is one of the specialty dining locations so there is an additional charge…but it is worth it! The service we received there, and at every turn onboard, was wonderful. I enjoyed the cocktail “tutorials” at Good Spirits.

We had a Mini-Suite on the Aloha deck and enjoyed every moment in it. Our steward was personable, very kind, and (I suspect) part ninja. The pad outside the door allowed us to let him know when we were out of the room for service. But even when we forgot, by the time we came back our room was sparkling! The extended balcony was perfect for relaxing and watching the world go by.

Aside from a whale watching excursion in Juneau, my travel companion and I mostly spent our port time supporting the local economies. The whale watching excursion was booked through Princess Cruises. Wildlife will never follow our itinerary, so these excursions are always a toss-up. I got super, SUPER lucky to see a TON of Orca. There were a few Humpback Whales but they, apparently, were shy and a lot of Sea Lions. All in all, it was a great excursion.

After some shopping in Skagway, we stopped at The Skagway Brewing Company. They had a good vibe and great service. If you are a beer drinker…be sure to check them out.

We cruised four glaciers in the morning of our Inside Passage day. It was a beautiful time even if I did put on ALL the clothes to hang out on my balcony. Luckily, we had purchased the unlimited pass to The Enclave at Lotus Spa. It’s the perfect way to warm up after time near glaciers!

In Ketchikan, while many from the ship were on excursions, we got a good taste of the town. We got to taste amazing salmon at Salmon Etc. I bought a wonderful seasoning blend there. Per the owner, always buy wild! We stopped at the 108 Tap House & Burger Bar for drinks and a snack. The Sorbet Cosmopolitan I had was delicious and the poutine really hit the spot. Before heading back to the ship, we shopped a bit more and came back with good souvenirs.

Disembarkation, after our last sea day, was very smooth. Based on our disembarkation form, we were assigned a color and number that corresponded to the provided luggage tags. We were Purple 1. Our disembarkation lounge and time was assigned by that color/number as well. Once we debarked and found our luggage, we were on our way. Just note: It’s a bit of a hike to the Ride Share pick-up location!

All in all, it was a great trip and I highly recommend it!