Alaska Seen Through The Lens Of The Star Princess

The Alaskan cruising season is in full swing – but what’s it really like?
Star Princess is sailing her first season – and these stunning photographs take you there.
It’s a cruise in two parts – the luxurious comfort of the ship, while outside is the countryside they call “the last frontier”.

For many Australians, cruising Alaska sits high on their travel bucket list. It is a place of glaciers the size of cities, mountains draped in snow even in summer, and wildlife so abundant it feels as though nature still rules the world.

These photographs, taken on the Star Princess’ first season just a few weeks ago, bring the experience to life. Yet photographs, spectacular as they may be, never quite prepare you for the reality.

The first thing that strikes visitors is the sheer scale. Alaska is vast. The landscape unfolds like an epic nature documentary played out in real time. Forested islands drift past beneath cloud-wrapped peaks. Waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres down granite cliffs. Eagles circle overhead like beautiful drones.

Why cruise Alaska

Cruising is the finest way to experience this extraordinary corner of the planet. Much of coastal Alaska remains inaccessible by road, meaning ships can venture deep into wilderness areas where civilisation feels a very distant concept.

One moment guests are enjoying breakfast overlooking calm blue water. The next, they are standing on deck watching a glacier emerge from the mist like a frozen cathedral.

It is a journey lived in two completely different worlds.

Outside, there is the raw power of nature. Inside, there is comfort, luxury and warmth. The contrast is part of Alaska’s enduring magic.

A typical day might begin with a steaming coffee on a private balcony as dawn light spills across snow-capped mountains. The air is crisp enough to remind you that this is a land shaped by ice. In the distance, a humpback whale breaches, its enormous body rising impossibly from the water before crashing back into the sea.

Later, the ship glides silently into a glacier-carved fjord. Here, the world turns blue. Towering walls of ancient ice stretch across the horizon.

Some glaciers are thousands of years old, rivers of compressed snow frozen in time. Their colours range from brilliant white to an almost luminous sapphire, created by centuries of pressure squeezing every bubble of air from the ice.

Then comes a sound many travellers never forget. A thunderous boom. A section of glacier breaks free and crashes into the water below.

It’s a phenomenon known as calving. It is one of nature’s most spectacular performances. The noise echoes around the mountains like artillery fire, followed by waves rippling across the icy bay. It is both beautiful and humbling, a reminder of the immense forces that continue to shape Alaska’s landscape.

Princess Cruises history with Alaska

Princess Cruises has spent more than five decades exploring these waters and is now offering its largest-ever Alaska season, with eight ships sailing the region and an expanded range of immersive experiences designed to bring guests closer to the culture, wildlife and scenery of The Great Land.

But Alaska’s appeal extends far beyond glaciers. This is one of the greatest wildlife destinations on Earth. Black bears roam forested hillsides. Mountain goats cling to seemingly impossible cliff faces. Sea otters float lazily on their backs in sheltered coves. Orcas patrol the channels while humpback whales migrate through nutrient-rich waters.

And then there are the salmon. Each year millions of them return from the Pacific Ocean to the rivers where they were born. The annual migration is among the most astonishing wildlife spectacles anywhere in the world.

Along rushing streams, brown bears gather to feast. These bears are enormous. Standing upright, some can reach nearly three metres tall. Watching one casually pluck a salmon from a river with remarkable precision is a sight that leaves visitors speechless.

It is wilderness in its purest form.

Legendary seafood

Alaska’s seafood is legendary for good reason. The nutrient-rich waters produce some of the finest seafood on the planet. Wild King Salmon, halibut, crab and cod are celebrated across the state, appearing on menus from humble fishing villages to world-class restaurants.

The crabs alone have become part of Alaska folklore.

The giant king crabs hauled from the icy waters of the Bering Sea can appear almost prehistoric. With legs stretching wider than many household dogs, they look more like creatures from another era than something destined for a dinner plate.

Their sheer size often astonishes first-time visitors.

Princess has embraced Alaska’s culinary heritage with specialty dining experiences showcasing regional seafood, including Wild King Salmon, crab and halibut dishes inspired by local flavours.

Yet while Alaska dazzles outdoors, life onboard offers an entirely different pleasure. After a day spent exploring glaciers, spotting whales or wandering historic frontier towns, there is something wonderfully satisfying about returning to a warm ship.

Guests can soak in heated spas while gazing at mountain scenery through glass walls. Outdoor pools steam gently in the cool northern air. Lounges provide cosy retreats from the elements, while restaurants serve cuisine that rivals many leading city establishments.

As darkness falls, another side of Alaska emerges. The sky takes on extraordinary colours. During summer, twilight can linger for hours. The sun sinks reluctantly beyond distant peaks, painting the horizon in shades of gold, pink and violet.

On clear nights, the stars appear in astonishing numbers.

Away from city lights, the heavens reveal themselves in all their splendour. Constellations shimmer above black mountain silhouettes while the ocean reflects the sky like polished glass.

For many travellers, these quiet moments become the most treasured memories of all.

Alaska also possesses a rich cultural history shaped by Indigenous communities, prospectors, fishermen and pioneers. Stories of the Klondike Gold Rush, Native Alaskan traditions and generations of hardy settlers add depth and humanity to the landscape. Princess incorporates many of these stories through guest speakers, local storytellers and cultural presentations designed to connect travellers with the people behind the destination.

Then there are places such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan each offer their own distinct character.

In one town, visitors can ride historic railways through mountain passes once travelled by gold seekers. In another, they can board small boats in search of whales or venture into dense rainforest alive with birdsong.

Every stop feels different. Every day brings a new adventure. Perhaps that is why Alaska occupies such a special place in the hearts of travellers who have experienced it.

Few landscapes possess the power to stop conversations mid-sentence simply because everyone is staring out the window.

Alaska does that.

For Australians dreaming of a once-in-a-lifetime journey, Alaska delivers something increasingly rare in modern travel: genuine awe.

This is not a holiday. It is a front-row seat to one of the most magnificent natural theatres on Earth.