Why Royal Princess. The 7-night itinerary. All 4 Glacier Bay dates compared.
⚡ Quick read shows just the summary. Click any section to expand.
At a Glance
The numbers that matter.
What we’re working with — and what the deck is stacked with for Alaska 2027.
187Princess departures in 2027
4Lines departing Seattle (no Carnival)
2Seattle ships with Glacier Bay
$1,299Royal Princess inside · Glacier Bay
$2,599Royal Princess Mini-Suite ⭐
$17,793Total all-in (3 cabins, 5 adults)
The Shortlist
Our top three picks for the Crew.
⚓
Reconfigured for the actual Crew
Brett+Madi+Lucy (~18 mo) · Bob+Brenda · Luke (22) & Levi (17) · 3 cabins · $1,300/pp target.
Lucy sails free as a 3rd passenger in Brett & Madi’s cabin (kids under 2 free with 2 paying adults).
Bob & Brenda are upgrading to a Mini-Suite on Royal Princess (~$2,599/pp — separate sitting
area, larger balcony, the “balcony suite” sweet spot). Luke & Levi take inside.
Adjacent cabins, same deck — book all 3 under one TA reservation so the cruise
line’s group coordinator can cluster them. On Glacier Bay: only 2 of the Seattle
7-night ships actually visit the park (Royal Princess & HAL Eurodam). Royal Princess wins.
After deep-diving every ship sailing from Seattle in June 2027, three rose to the top
for this group. Royal Princess hits all the constraints: Glacier Bay, infant-friendly
(cares available shipwide), and 3 adjacent cabins bookable through Princess. NCL Bliss
is the alternative if Brett & Madi want the active ship. HAL Eurodam is the premium
pick — same Glacier Bay routing as Royal Princess, smaller ship, more refined dining
and entertainment, ~$2,260 more cruise fare for Bob & Brenda to upgrade to a Neptune
Suite. Luke & Levi take inside.
Seattle → Juneau → Skagway → Glacier Bay → Ketchikan → Victoria → Seattle
7 nights · Saturdays in June (5, 12, 19, 26)
Inside
$1,299/pp
Oceanview
~$1,700/pp
Balcony
~$2,000+/pp
⭐ Mini-Suite
$2,599/pp
Glacier Bay National Park — only 2 Seattle 7-night ships get it; this is the cheaper of the two
At $1,299/pp inside, it’s the only ship that hits Glacier Bay and fits the budget
“North to Alaska” immersive program — local fishermen, Alaska seafood, Mendenhall helicopter partners onboard
Princess Plus package ($65/day non-Sphere, $70/day Sphere class as of Jan 14, 2026) bundles drinks, wifi, tips — one line item, easy to budget
The Sanctuary — adults-only deck with private cabanas (great for Bob & Brenda with their Mini-Suite perk, while the rest of the Crew is in other parts of the ship)
3 adjacent cabins, same deck — Princess’ group coordinator is the most accommodating of the major lines for adjacent-cabin requests when all 3 are booked on the same TA reservation
Infant-friendly: cribs available shipwide on request, the 18-month-old sails free as 3rd in Brett & Madi’s cabin (just pay port fees ~$200)
Skews 50+ — if the 22yo is the wildcard, this might feel slow after day 3
No go-karts or water slides — the active-amenity line ends at Movies Under the Stars
Formal nights exist — pack at least one nicer outfit
The bullseye for this group. Glacier Bay day, Bob & Brenda get the
Mini-Suite, Lucy sails free, and 3 adjacent cabins bookable on one TA reservation.
Per-couple cruise fare: Brett+Madi+Lucy $2,598 (inside, Lucy free) ·
Bob+Brenda $5,198 (mini-suite) · Luke+Levi $2,598 (inside).
Total cruise fare: $10,394.
Norwegian Cruise Line · 4,000 pax · Inside $1,479/pp
Seattle → Sitka → Dawes Glacier → Juneau → Icy Strait Point → Ketchikan → Victoria → Seattle
7 nights · Saturdays in June (5, 12, 19, 26)
Inside
$1,479/pp
Oceanview
~$1,800/pp
Balcony
~$1,559+/pp
⚠️ Over budget by ~$180/pp — inside at $1,479 is the cheapest NCL Bliss sails at. The 22yo gets go-karts, water slides, laser tag, observation lounge. The 17yo qualifies for NCL’s Entourage teen program.
The most fun ship sailing Alaska in 2027 — top-deck go-kart track, Aqua Park water slides, laser tag, VR games, observation lounge with 180° windows built for glaciers
Entourage teen program for 13–17 — Luke (22) can still hang there, Levi (17) gets dedicated activities
“Free at Sea” promo bundles drinks, wifi, specialty dining, $50 excursion credit per port
Dawes Glacier is scenic — a 33-story tidewater glacier, but smaller scale than Glacier Bay
Sister itinerary to Royal Princess on Saturdays — can compare both at the same port times
Infant-friendly: NCL provides Pack-n-Plays and bottle warmers on request; the under-2 program is called “Guppies” (parent-participation, no drop-off); Lucy sails free
Inside at $1,479 is over the $1,300/pp ceiling — oceanview is ~$1,800+
No Glacier Bay — the 7-night Seattle itinerary hits Dawes Glacier + Icy Strait Point, not the national park
4,000 passengers = busier embarkation, longer buffet lines on day 1
Specialty dining is a la carte, can blow up the onboard budget
Pick this if the 22-year-old is the wildcard. If Glacier Bay is negotiable
and the active ship is the priority for the brothers, NCL Bliss delivers. Total cruise fare
for 3 cabins inside: $8,874 (over the $1,300/pp ceiling by ~$1,050 total).
Holland America Line · 2,100 pax · Inside $1,464/pp · Neptune Suite $6,200–$8,400/pp (verify at booking)
Seattle → Juneau → Glacier Bay → Sitka → Ketchikan → Victoria → Seattle
7 nights · Saturdays in June (5, 12, 19, 26)
Inside
$1,464/pp
Oceanview
~$1,800/pp
Verandah
$2,199+/pp
⭐ Neptune Suite
$6,200–$8,400/pp
Total @ Inside+Neptune
$18,256–$22,656
vs Royal Princess Inside+Mini
$10,394
The best food in Alaska. HAL’s Pinnacle Grill (steakhouse), Tamarind (pan-Asian), and Canaletto (Italian) are the most awarded cruise-ship dining rooms in the industry — a real step up from buffet-and-mainline
Glacier Bay National Park — only 2 Seattle 7-night ships get it; this is the more premium of the two
Smaller ship (2,100 pax) = faster embarkation, more intimate ports, less crowded Lido deck. Easier to keep eyes on Lucy in a crowd
Neptune Suite for Bob & Brenda: concierge, priority tender in ports, in-cabin binchique bath, separate living room. ~$6,200–$8,400/pp vs $2,599 Mini-Suite — ~$3,600–$5,800 more for the full HAL premium experience (verify current published rate at booking — Neptune pricing is dynamic)
EXC Port Talk program — local Alaskan experts, park rangers, and naturalists come onboard for daily lectures. More enrichment than other lines
3 adjacent cabins, same deck — HAL’s group coordinator will cluster on request when all 3 are on the same TA booking
Infant-friendly: Pack-n-Plays on request, Club HAL has “Pelicans” (3–7) but no formal under-2 program. HAL has port-day babysitting through Club HAL After Hours ($10/hour) — the most reliable babysitting of the 3 Glacier Bay options
Skews 60+ — quiet, refined pace. Bob & Brenda will love it; Luke (22) may find it slow after day 2
~$450/pp more than Royal Princess inside at base fare. Neptune Suite for Bob/Brenda is ~$7,200–$11,600/couple more than Princess Mini-Suite (Neptune pricing is dynamic; verify on HAL.com)
No go-karts, no water slides, no top-deck thrills. The entertainment is a string quartet, Broadway-style show, BBC Earth productions
Dress code leans more formal than Princess — HAL has 2 formal nights, Princess has 1 (depending on itinerary)
Pick this if the Crew wants a quieter, food-focused, more refined voyage — and Bob & Brenda are willing to stretch the budget further.
Glacier Bay day, premium dining onboard, smaller ship = easier to keep the Crew together.
Per-couple cruise fare: Brett+Madi+Lucy $2,928 (inside, Lucy free) ·
Bob+Brenda $12,400–$16,800 (Neptune Suite, dynamic) · Luke+Levi $2,928 (inside).
Total cruise fare: $18,256–$22,656 (~$7,862–$12,262 more than the Royal Princess recommendation — Neptune pricing is dynamic; verify at booking).
Holland America Eurodam — $1,464/pp inside, the other Seattle + Glacier Bay option.
Older (2008, refreshed 2023), 2,100 pax, refined “explorer” vibe — live music in
the BB King’s Blues Club, BBC Earth in Concert programming, and arguably the
best food of the bunch. About $165/pp more than Royal Princess for the same
Glacier Bay experience. Full Eurodam profile →
Head-to-Head
Every ship on the table.
All four major lines running 7-night roundtrip Alaska out of Seattle in June 2027,
side by side. Pricing reflects current published rates — expect ±$200/pp
movement as sailings fill and Wave Season (Jan–Mar 2027) promos land.
Note on Glacier Bay: the 7-night Seattle roundtrip from NCL Bliss,
Star Princess, and Quantum of the Seas does not include
Glacier Bay. Only Royal Princess and HAL Eurodam (both Saturdays from Seattle)
include Glacier Bay on the 7-night. The other ships substitute Dawes Glacier
(NCL, Star) or Tracy Arm Fjord (Quantum).
The full breakdown — who sails where, what the ship is actually like, and where
the “wow” moments are. Read the cards that match your top contenders, skim the rest.
Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Line · Built 2018 · Refurbished 2024
DAWES GLACIER (not Glacier Bay)
4,004Guests
168kGross Tons
20Decks
2018Built
~1,700Crew
Sample 7-Night Saturday Departure (June 5, 12, 19, or 26)
Day 1 · Sat
Seattle, WA
Departs 4:00 PM
Day 2 · Sun
At Sea
Cruising
Day 3 · Mon
Sitka, AK
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Day 4 · Tue
Cruising Dawes Glacier
Endicott Arm Fjord
Day 5 · Wed
Juneau, AK
1:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Day 6 · Thu
Icy Strait Point, AK
6:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Day 7 · Fri
Ketchikan, AK
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Day 8 · Sat
Victoria, BC → Seattle
Arrives Seattle 7:00 AM
Why the Crew will love it
The most fun ship sailing Alaska in 2027 — top-deck go-kart track, water slides, laser tag, VR games, observation lounge with 180° floor-to-ceiling windows built for glaciers
Manhattan-style comedy club and Broadway shows nightly
Free at Sea promo can include drink package, specialty dining, wifi, $50 excursion credit per port
Multiple “Freestyle” dining options — no assigned dinner time
NCL’s Entourage teen program (13–17) keeps the 17yo engaged with their own activities
Things to know
No Glacier Bay on the 7-night Seattle route — substitutes Dawes Glacier (a 33-story tidewater glacier) and Icy Strait Point
Cheapest June 2027 sailing is $1,479/pp inside — over the $1,300/pp ceiling by ~$180/pp
4,000+ passengers means lines at embarkation and at the buffet
Specialty restaurants (Cagney’s, Le Bistro) cost extra — NCL is the “pay for what you want” model
⚓ The Call
Pick this if the 22-year-old is the wildcard and Glacier Bay is negotiable.
The active ship, the go-kart track, the Entourage teen program for the 17yo — it’s the
most fun sailing in 2027. But the price climbs over budget ($1,479/pp inside), and the
7-night Seattle route hits Dawes Glacier, not Glacier Bay National Park.
Princess Cruises · Built 2013 · Refurbished 2018 · The one that hits Glacier Bay under budget
GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
3,560Guests
142kGross Tons
19Decks
2013Built
1,780Staterooms
Sample 7-Night Saturday Departure “Inside Passage with Glacier Bay” (June 5, 12, 19, or 26)
Day 1 · Sat
Seattle, WA
Departs 3:00 PM
Day 2 · Sun
At Sea
Cruising the Inside Passage
Day 3 · Mon
Juneau, AK
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Day 4 · Tue
Skagway, AK
6:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Day 5 · Wed
Glacier Bay National Park
All day cruising with park rangers
Day 6 · Thu
Ketchikan, AK
6:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Day 7 · Fri
Victoria, BC
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Day 8 · Sat
Seattle, WA
Arrives 7:00 AM
Why it’s the Crew’s Pick
Glacier Bay National Park day — the marquee Alaska experience with National Park Service rangers boarding the ship, narrating the glaciers
Glacier Bay National Park — only 2 Seattle 7-night ships get it; this is the cheaper of the two
At $1,299/pp inside, it’s the only ship that hits Glacier Bay and fits the budget
“North to Alaska” immersive program — local fishermen, Alaska seafood, Mendenhall helicopter partners onboard
Princess Plus package ($65/day non-Sphere, $70/day Sphere class as of Jan 14, 2026) bundles drinks, wifi, tips — one line item, easy to budget
The Sanctuary — adults-only deck with private cabanas (great for Bob & Brenda with their Mini-Suite perk, while the rest of the Crew is in other parts of the ship)
3 adjacent cabins, same deck — Princess’ group coordinator is the most accommodating of the major lines for adjacent-cabin requests when all 3 are booked on the same TA reservation
Infant-friendly: cribs available shipwide on request, the 18-month-old sails free as 3rd in Brett & Madi’s cabin (just pay port fees ~$200)
Things to know
Average guest age skews 50+ — if the 22yo is the wildcard, this might feel slow after day 3
No go-karts or water slides — the active-amenity line ends at Movies Under the Stars
Formal nights exist — bring at least one blazer/sport coat
Inside cabin is small (~162 sq ft) and the Glacier Bay day you’ll want to be on deck anyway
⚓ The Call
Book it. Royal Princess is the only ship in this analysis that hits Glacier Bay
and fits the $1,300/pp budget. Inside cabin at $1,299/pp. Total cruise fare for 3 cabins:
$7,794. Glacier Bay day is the single reason to cruise Alaska in the first place
— make sure your itinerary includes it. Saturdays June 5, 12, 19, or 26, 2027.
Princess Cruises · Built 2025 · Sphere class · Brand new for Alaska
DAWES GLACIER (not Glacier Bay)
4,300Guests
175kGross Tons
21Decks
2025Built
2,157Staterooms
Sample 7-Night Sunday Departure (June 6, 13, 20, or 27)
Day 1 · Sun
Seattle, WA
Departs 3:00 PM
Day 2 · Mon
At Sea
Cruising
Day 3 · Tue
Ketchikan, AK
6:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Day 4 · Wed
Cruising Dawes Glacier
Endicott Arm Fjord
Day 5 · Thu
Juneau, AK
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Day 6 · Fri
Skagway, AK
6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Day 7 · Sat
Victoria, BC
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Day 8 · Sun
Seattle, WA
Arrives 7:00 AM
Why it’s still a contender
$1,199/pp inside is the cheapest Saturday-departure sailing in this analysis — under the $1,300/pp ceiling
Brand-new Sphere class ship — the Dome glass-enclosed pool/solarium is a stunner
Movies Under the Stars on the top deck — bucket-list Alaska moment
Princess Plus package ($65/day non-Sphere, $70/day Sphere class as of Jan 14, 2026) bundles drinks, wifi, gratuities, and crew appreciation
The Sanctuary adults-only retreat with private cabanas
Things to know
No Glacier Bay on the Seattle 7-night route — Star Princess sails to Dawes Glacier (a 33-story tidewater glacier) instead. (Glacier Bay is on the longer Vancouver roundtrips, not the 7-night from Seattle.)
Average guest age skews 50+ — fewer 30s/40s couples, more retirees
Formal nights a real thing — bring a blazer
Quieter nightlife — if you want 2 AM pool parties, look elsewhere
⚓ The Call
Book it for the new-ship experience, not the Glacier Bay. Star Princess is the
newest and cheapest ship in this analysis at $1,199/pp inside, but its 7-night
Sunday route from Seattle visits Dawes Glacier, not Glacier Bay. If the 22yo is OK
with the slightly quieter vibe and the Crew is willing to give up Glacier Bay for a brand-new ship,
this is the best budget play. Otherwise, step up to Royal Princess (Saturday, $1,299)
for the Glacier Bay day.
Biggest ship on the list = biggest choice of dining and entertainment
Two70 lounge transforms into a high-tech performance space nightly
Honest tradeoffs
No Glacier Bay — you get Dawes Glacier, smaller and less dramatic
Royal Caribbean skews family-heavy — more kids in the pool areas
Itinerary is the same Sitka/Skagway/Juneau shell — less variety than Bliss
⚓ The Call
Pick this if the Crew is thrill-seekers first, glacier-seekers second.
Bigger and louder than the other options, with the most onboard activities on this
list. The Glacier Bay miss is real, but you trade that for a cruise ship that feels
like a resort.
Upscale dining — one of the best at-sea culinary programs
Modern couples vibe — 35–55 is the sweet spot
Honest tradeoffs
No Glacier Bay — you get Endicott Arm (a fjord, gorgeous but not a national park)
Premium pricing — closer to $2,000+/pp for balcony
Smaller onboard activity list than RCL/NCL
⚓ The Call
Pick this for the “couples retreat” vibe. The most refined
ship on the list, with the most discerning food and wine program. Best fit if the
Crew is willing to spend more and skip Glacier Bay for a more grown-up cruise.
Holland America Line · Built 2008 · 80 years of Alaska
GLACIER BAY ACCESS
2,100Guests
86kGross Tons
11Decks
2008Built
$1,499From (inside)
The refined Alaska traditionalist
Glacier Bay access + decades of Alaska expertise (80-year anniversary in 2027)
BB King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, Lincoln Center Stage — music programming is best-in-class
Smaller ship = ports the big ships can’t reach
Plant-based and classic dining — excellent, often underrated
Honest tradeoffs
Demographic skews 60+ — the quietest ship on this list
Oceanview at $1,799+ pushes past budget
Interior cabin value is solid, but the magic of Alaska is being on deck
⚓ The Call
Consider for parents or grandparents in the Crew. HAL is the line
most often recommended for multigenerational groups where some members prefer
refined days over go-kart laps. Glacier Bay + quieter ship = real Alaska atmosphere.
Holland America Line · Built 2000 · Refurbished 2024
GLACIER BAY ACCESS
1,432Guests
61kGross Tons
10Decks
2000Built
$944From (inside)
The cheap Glacier Bay ticket
Cheapest Glacier Bay sailing we found at $944/pp inside — under budget with room to spare
Smallest, most intimate ship on this list (1,400 guests) — feels like a private yacht
Same HAL expertise, same Glacier Bay permit, same 80-year anniversary programming as Eurodam
BB King’s Blues Club + Lincoln Center Stage — live music onboard every night
Honest tradeoffs
Built in 2000 — the ship shows its age, even after the 2024 refresh
Cabins are tighter than the modern ships
Skews 60+ even more than Eurodam — the brothers will feel outnumbered
Limited active amenities — no go-karts, smaller water slides (none, actually)
No oceanview at budget pricing ($1,302 exceeds $1,300/pp ceiling)
⚓ The Call
The sleeper only if budget is the only driver — and you can fly to Vancouver.
$335/pp cheaper than Royal Princess with Glacier Bay access, but the 7-night sails
from Vancouver (roundtrip), so you’ll need a Vancouver flight instead of
Seattle. The ship is also much older (2000, refurbished 2024), smaller
(1,432 pax), and quieter — skews 60+. The brothers would have
little to do onboard. Total cruise fare: $5,664
(lowest in this analysis), but the airfare to Vancouver usually eats the savings.
Every 7-night Seattle roundtrip sailing in June 2027 from the ships in this analysis, color-coded by ship and ship-line.
Click any sailing to jump to that ship’s profile or book direct.
Pricing shown is the lowest inside-cabin published rate for that date; expect ±$200/pp with Wave Season promos.
Royal Princess · Glacier Bay (Sat)Star Princess · Dawes Glacier (Sun)NCL Bliss · Dawes Glacier (Sat)HAL Eurodam · Glacier Bay (Sat)Quantum of the Seas · Tracy Arm (Mon)
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
30
31
Jun 1
2
3
4
5
⭐ Royal Princess · $1,299 HAL Eurodam · $1,464 NCL Bliss · $1,479
6
Star Princess · $1,199
7
Quantum · $819
8
9
HAL Zaandam (Vancouver) · $994
10
11
12
⭐ Royal Princess · $1,349 HAL Eurodam · $1,494 NCL Bliss · $1,559
13
Star Princess · $1,199
14
Quantum · $899
15
16
HAL Zaandam (Vancouver) · $1,064
17
18
19
⭐ Royal Princess · $1,399 HAL Eurodam · $1,564 NCL Bliss · $1,609
20
Star Princess · $1,299
21
Quantum · $899
22
23
HAL Zaandam (Vancouver) · $1,059
24
25
26
⭐ Royal Princess · $1,349 HAL Eurodam · $1,599 NCL Bliss · $1,669
27
Star Princess · $1,299
28
Quantum · $899
29
30
HAL Zaandam (Vancouver) · $1,054
Jul 1
2
3
Reading the calendar: The first Saturday in June (Jun 5) has 3 ships sailing — Royal Princess, HAL Eurodam, and NCL Bliss.
All three are roundtrip Seattle. The only days with 3 simultaneous sailings are the 4 Saturdays. Most other days have 1 sailing.
HAL Zaandam sails Wednesdays from Vancouver, BC (separate flight) and visits Glacier Bay too. Pricing is the lowest inside-cabin rate
per that date — actual price varies by cabin class and may have changed since this report was generated.
The lowest published fare per date, per cabin class, in USD per person (double occupancy). These are the rates the cruise lines have actually published for these specific sailings — expect $50–$300/pp downward movement when Wave Season (Jan–Mar 2027) drops new promos, and $200–$500/pp upward if a sailing sells out. Click a date to open the cruise line’s page for that sailing.
💡 How to read these tables:
Each row is one sailing. Cabin classes are columns. Gold cells are the cheapest option for that date. Green cells include Glacier Bay. Numbers are per person, before taxes/fees — add ~$200–$300/pp for port fees + $250–$400/pp for onboard extras.
Reading the cheapest-date rule: The cheapest Glacier Bay sailing in the analysis is Royal Princess on Jun 5, 2027 at $1,299/pp inside. The cheapest Mini-Suite (Bob & Brenda’s choice) is Royal Princess Jun 5 at $2,599/pp. HAL Eurodam Neptune Suite pricing is dynamic ($6,200–$8,400/pp range observed for Alaska season) — verify current rate on HAL.com. HAL Zaandam (Vancouver, not Seattle) has lower headline fares but requires a separate flight.