Working at Yodl, I’m surrounded by the belief that travel advice should be honest, transparent, and built on real, firsthand experience. This inspired me to look back at one of the biggest trips I’ve ever taken: a 10-day Alaska cruisetour back in July 2019.
This was an incredible vacation, but no trip is 100% perfect. It’s in the nuances—the things you loved and the things you’d do differently—that the most helpful advice is found.
So, from the perspective of 2025, here is my thoughtful, candid review of that incredible Alaska adventure, designed to inspire your own journey to the Last Frontier.
The Overall Trip: A 7-Day Cruise + 3-Day Land Tour
My goal was to find the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. My wife and I were traveling as a couple, we were in our early 30s, and we hoped kids might be in our near future. We chose a 7-day, one-way northbound “Voyage of the Glaciers” cruise on the Coral Princess, followed by a 3-day independent land tour based in Seward, Alaska.
The Itinerary: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
The “Voyage of the Glaciers” itinerary was perfect. The reason? It includes two full days of scenic glacier cruising: Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. Drifting for hours in front of massive, ancient ice fields, hearing them calve into the ocean, is a core memory. It never got old, and I’m glad we did this after our three port days.
Experience Review: The Ship & Itinerary
The Ship (Coral Princess): ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 Stars)
It’s important to know that the Coral Princess is a classic, mid-sized ship from Princess Cruises. “Classic” can be a code word for “a bit dated.” We knew this going in and we didn’t mind, as we were there for the scenery, not the amenities. But if you’re expecting rock-climbing walls, water slides, and Broadway shows, this isn’t it. The trade-off is that its smaller size allows it to navigate places the mega-ships can’t, and you’re likely to find fewer kids. My take: A good choice if your priority is the destination itself. No regrets, but it likely won’t compare well to more modern cruise ships (if that’s your preference).
Excursion Review: Ketchikan (Misty Fjords Flightseeing)
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
This was a big splurge, and worth every single penny. Seeing the vast, misty fjords and remote alpine lakes from a small floatplane is breathtaking. I’d never been in a small plane, but the entire flight, including both water-based takeoffs and landings, was incredibly smooth. It’s an experience that truly puts the scale of Alaska into perspective. The team at Island Wings was professional and provided a top-tier, unforgettable tour.
Considerations: This is a budget-defining choice, and it’s highly weather-dependent. We were lucky. Have a backup excursion idea in case your flight is canceled or rescheduled.
Excursion Review: Juneau (Whale Watch + Mendenhall Combo)
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)
This was a “best-of” day. The whale watching was mesmerizing. We saw multiple humpbacks, including a mother and calf. Our boat was medium-sized and it was great having an upper deck as an elevated viewing platform, but we still would have splurged for a smaller boat if we went again (and hadn’t done the expensive flightseeing just prior). Visiting Mendenhall Glacier and the powerful Nugget Falls is also a must-do.
Considerations: Doing them as a “combo” tour felt a bit rushed in the moment, but in hindsight we had plenty of time. We actually had enough time afterwards to explore downtown Juneau, grab a beer, and enjoy fish tacos from Deckhand Dave’s. If I did it again, I would book a longer, dedicated whale-watching-only tour.
Excursion Review: Skagway (Yukon Bus Tour & Caribou Crossing)
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 Stars)
This wasn’t disappointing, but it was a very long day on a minibus to accomplish the goal of crossing into the Yukon. The scenic stops (like the view of the White Pass railway and a glacial lake) were beautiful, but the main stop at Caribou Crossing (now Wild Adventure Yukon) wasn’t for us. It felt like a classic tourist trap, complete with a taxidermy museum and a petting zoo. That said, we knew what we were getting into, and wanted to spend this day differently than we had the previous two days. Plus, it was really fun petting the sled dog puppies, running into the Carcross Desert (the world’s smallest), and spotting a brown bear from our minibus.
Considerations: The sled dog puppies were a highlight, but the experience as a whole didn’t feel authentic. If I did it again, I would skip the Yukon bus and instead plan a hike or book a scenic rafting experience.
Excursion Review: Scenic Driving (Whittier, Anchorage, & Seward)
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
This is where the adventure truly began. After disembarking in Whittier, we took a bus along the stunning Turnagain Arm (a must-stop: the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center) to Anchorage, picked up a rental car, and drove the incredible Seward Highway. This was more “transportation” than “excursion,” but the views were so stunning that I think it deserves its own spotlight.
Our Take: Having the freedom of our own car was 10/10. It let us move at our own pace, stop for photos, and build our own itinerary. The Airbnb in Seward was nothing fancy, but it was a perfect home base.
Excursion Review: Seward (Kenai Fjords Boat Tour)
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
If you do one thing in Seward, this is it. It’s a completely different experience from the cruise. On a smaller boat, you get a much more intimate, “on-the-level” view of the wildlife in Kenai Fjords National Park. We saw glaciers calving from much closer than a cruise ship will ever get, along with whales, seals, sea lions, and seabirds (including lots of puffins!!!).
Considerations: This is open water, and it can be rough. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take medicine beforehand. It’s a long day, but absolutely worth it.
Excursion Review: Seward (Exit Glacier & Private Kayak Tour)
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
The hike to Exit Glacier was both beautiful and sobering. It’s a pretty easy hike, and seeing the markers showing how much it has receded is a powerful climate lesson. For our last day, we had breakfast at Le Barn Appetit, a wonderfully quirky local crepe place, followed by a private kayak tour on a calm lake. I don’t remember the lake’s name, but I know we had it to ourselves—and it was incredible! Getting insights from our local guides was fantastic. And yes, after 10 days, we finally spotted a moose in the wild on our way to the airport!
My Final Takeaway
Looking back from 2025, our Alaska trip was genuinely incredible. But it wasn’t perfect, because no single itinerary is perfect for everyone. Our Yukon excursion probably wasn’t the right fit for us, and that’s okay. It’s a classic risk you run when balancing a budget and seeking out different experiences. Do I wish we had better weather? Of course! Did it impact any part of our trip? Not really. We did everything we originally planned on doing… but sometimes under gray skies instead of blue.
This is the real value of a good travel advisor. An expert who truly knows Alaska would have been able to “interview” us, understand our travel style, and say, “You know, that Yukon bus tour isn’t really your vibe. I’d suggest a rafting excursion instead.”
This is why I’m so proud of what we’re building at Yodl. It’s a platform full of experts who provide that exact level of honest, nuanced, and personalized advice. They’ve been there, and they can help you plan an itinerary that is perfectly balanced for you—good, bad, and all.
To get started, find an experienced travel advisor that matches your travel style. Then, plan something incredible!
Transparency Note: While I booked the cruise portion of this trip at a reduced travel advisor rate with Princess Cruises, all opinions and recommendations are my own. My analysis is, and always will be, unbiased and focused on what’s best for travelers.
