How I Stopped Being a Deck Chair Tourist and Actually Experienced Alaska

By Community Member · Crown Princess (Princess Cruises)

I learned the hard way that the secret to Alaska isn't found in your cabin—it's out there in the rain, the wildlife, and the people.

I'll be honest: when I booked my seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruise on the Crown Princess last June, I was thinking beaches and relaxation. I imagined myself lounging by the pool with a frozen margarita, maybe catching a glacier or two from my balcony. I'm laughing at myself now because that's literally the worst way to experience Alaska, and I almost missed the real magic entirely. The Crown Princess is a beautiful ship—don't get me wrong. The moment I stepped aboard in Seattle, I was impressed by how spacious everything felt, how the atrium somehow made 2,000 passengers feel like fewer. My cabin on Deck 9 had a nice balcony, the beds were comfortable, and the room service was reliably good. But here's the thing I didn't realize until day two: a cruise ship to Alaska is really just a floating hotel that happens to visit incredible places. The actual experience? That happens when you get off the boat. I almost learned this lesson too late. That first day, I spent most of it unpacking, attending the muster drill (which I'll admit felt tedious), and exploring the ship's restaurants and lounges. The Crown Princess has plenty of dining options—the main dining room, the Horizon Cou…