Princess's Coral Princess

This ship's design maximizes the number of staterooms with ocean views -- 90 percent, most with private balconies. Two main dining rooms and two alternate restaurants, plus a 24-hour buffet, serve a variety of cuisine, from Continental to New Orleans-style fare to Italian food. A variety of entertainment venues are housed on the ship: an outdoor movie screen, three showrooms, bars and lounges, and sports facilities including a mini golf course and multisport court. Children and teenagers enjoy their own exclusive hangouts and activity programs. The spacious Lotus Spa and fitness center overlook the water and offer massage therapy, saunas and aerobics classes. Three pools -- one with a retractable dome -- are located on three different decks. The ship also features a cigar bar, the Sanctuary, an art gallery, a TV studio, and a London-themed casino.

Cruises from Juneau depart from May to September.

Alaska's capital city of Juneau is a dramatic sight with a backdrop of lush green mountains. Visitors here can drive, float, paddle or take a helicopter to the monumental Mendenhall Glacier. Other popular excursions include cruising along the straits and sounds of the Tongass National Forest, prospecting for gold at the original site of gold discovery or visiting the Alaska State Museum and the Alaska Brewing Company.

A traveler's first view of this Inside Passage port town may be of a boat-filled harbor enveloped in snowcapped mountains. The rustic city of Ketchikan has been called the totem pole capital of the world. Tours show off the city's streets, restored from the pioneer days; the harbor's salmon canneries; and the world's oldest collection of totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center. Sportfishing, kayaking, hiking, bear watching and Misty Fjords seaplane excursions are also popular.

As the northernmost point of the Inside Passage, the town reflects its mining past in the false-front buildings and gold rush relics. Tourists can experience the majesty of White Pass summit and the Yukon territory aboard the railway, paddle to Glacier Bay and Chilkoot Bald Eagle Preserve, get a close-up view of the natural beauty on a wilderness safari, soar over glaciers on a helicopter tour or, for those who catch the fever, pan for gold.

Cruises from Vancouver depart from spring through fall.

Vancouver is located in the southwest corner of British Columbia in western Canada. It lies about three hours north of Seattle, WA, by car. If driving to Vancouver from the United States, allow for extra time at the border crossing, which can get busy, especially during holidays and long weekends.

Cruises from Anchorage (Whittier) depart from May to September.

A small wilderness community, inaccessible by road until 2000, Whittier, AK is a gateway to Anchorage. The route between Whittier and Anchorage is along beautiful Turnagain Arm, famous for its sweeping tidal changes, in the shadow of the Chugach Range. The city's location in a prime wildlife-watching area pays off -- visitors can see Dall sheep, mountain goats, beluga whales, bald eagles and other species.

The icy wilderness of this spectacular national park and preserve displays massive glaciers that stretch from the ice-draped St. Elias and Fairweather mountain ranges to the ends of majestic fjords. The park is also home to an amazing world of marine life, including humpback whales, sea otters, porpoises and harbor seals.

Hubbard Glacier is the one glacier in the world that does not move at a glacial pace. Quite the opposite. In fact, in 1986, Hubbard Glacier -- the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent -- moved an average of just under 5.5 feet per hour. Keep a watchful eye as you sail through Yakutat Bay; you may be a witness to geological history.

Denali National Park is one of Alaska's most popular destinations. Everything about Denali National Park is big, from animal inhabitants like grizzlies, moose and caribou to North America's highest peak, the venerable Mt. McKinley. The park itself is larger than the entire state of Massachusetts. Denali is a favorite with adventure seekers and explorers who want an up-close experience of Alaska's untamed wilderness.

Much of charming Talkeetna looks just as it did in the early 1900s, with many buildings from the period still in operation; the downtown area has been designated a National Historic site. The town’s close proximity to Denali National Park and Mount McKinley makes it the perfect location for outdoor activities from hiking and mountain biking to rafting and flightseeing.

Nestled between the Alaska Range and the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage is Alaska's largest city. Surrounded by unspoiled wilderness, this port offers multi-cultural experiences and adventure. Take a city tour and visit the Museum of Art and History, or bike or walk along a coastal trail. Many passengers take a pre- or post-cruise trip to Denali National Park; it's home to a variety of wildlife and Mount McKinley, North America's tallest peak.