Star Princess, Princess Cruises’ newest Sphere Class ship, has made her Seattle debut ahead of a full summer season of Alaska cruises.
The 177,800-ton ship accommodates 4,300 guests and is one of the largest ships Princess has ever deployed to Alaska. For her inaugural season, Star Princess will operate 20 weekly roundtrip sailings from Seattle, visiting some of Alaska’s most popular ports and scenic cruising destinations.
The ship’s arrival was celebrated with a traditional maritime plaque exchange between the Port of Seattle and senior officers from Star Princess. Captain Gennaro Arma, Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha, and representatives from local maritime, port operations, labor, and public safety partners were in attendance.
The celebration followed an Alaska-themed drone show at Seattle Center on May 1, which welcomed the ship to Seattle and highlighted the connection between the city and Alaska cruising.
“It’s especially meaningful for the officers and crew of Star Princess to be here in Seattle, a port with a proud maritime heritage and long-standing connection to Alaska,” said Captain Gennaro Arma of Star Princess.
He added that the ship was designed for these journeys, combining advanced technology, comfort, and elegance while continuing Princess Cruises’ long legacy in Alaska.
Star Princess Alaska Itineraries
During the 2026 Alaska season, Star Princess will sail roundtrip from Seattle to Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Scheduled ports and scenic cruising highlights include:
- Ketchikan
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Sitka
- Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier
Star Princess will be joined in Alaska by Royal Princess, which will also sail weekly from Seattle’s Pier 91 to the Inside Passage during the 2026 and 2027 Alaska seasons.
Princess Cruises Supports Alaska Communities
As part of the inaugural Alaska celebrations for Star Princess, Princess Cruises also announced several charitable contributions to communities in Southeast Alaska.
In Ketchikan, Princess Cruises is contributing $100,000 to the Joseph T. Craig American Legion Post 3. The donation, made as part of a commitment alongside Holland America Line, will help rebuild Alaska’s oldest American Legion post after it was destroyed by arson. The post supports veterans, their families, and the broader Ketchikan community.
In Juneau, Princess Cruises is donating $25,000 to Juneau Flukes to support whale research and marine conservation.
In Skagway, the cruise line is donating $25,000 to the Skagway Childcare Council to help expand access to quality childcare for local families.
In Sitka, Princess Cruises is donating $10,000 to Sitka Trail Works to support the maintenance and preservation of the area’s trail systems.
More About Star Princess
Star Princess is part of Princess Cruises’ Sphere Class, following the debut of Sun Princess.
The ship features a wide range of dining and bar venues, entertainment, activities, and accommodations, while still offering the Princess guest service the cruise line is known for.
With space for 4,300 guests, Star Princess brings a larger, next-generation Princess ship experience to Alaska cruises from Seattle.
Princess Cruises’ Biggest Alaska Season Yet
Princess Cruises is calling 2026 its biggest-ever Alaska season.
The cruise line’s expanded Alaska program includes eight ships, 180 departures, and 19 destinations. Guests can choose from Alaska cruises by sea, as well as cruise tours that combine a cruise with land-based experiences.
Princess Cruises is also continuing its North to Alaska program, which brings Alaska-themed experiences onboard. The program includes appearances from local lumberjacks, Iditarod champions, storytellers, Alaska seafood menus, shore excursions, and commentary from Glacier Bay Park Rangers and Naturalists.
All eight Princess ships sailing in Alaska in 2026 will offer the North to Alaska programming.
The Princess ships sailing in Alaska this season are:
- Star Princess
- Coral Princess
- Royal Princess
- Ruby Princess
- Grand Princess
- Emerald Princess
- Discovery Princess
- Island Princess
Final Thoughts:
The debut of Star Princess in Seattle is a major moment for Princess Cruises’ 2026 Alaska season. With weekly sailings from Pier 91, visits to popular Alaska ports, scenic glacier viewing, and the cruise line’s largest Alaska deployment to date, Star Princess is set to be one of the most notable new ships sailing Alaska this year.
Are you sailing to Alaska this year? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy cruising!
Ethan