Family
The State That Should Top Your Bucket List
A Florida sun-lover ships off to the Last Frontier.
Jordi Castan/Stocksy United
I live in Florida because I like being warm. Given the choice, I'll take a beach over a mountain (though I like both) and 80 degrees over almost anything below 40. So, Alaska had never really crossed my mind as a place I needed to see. Too cold, too remote, too far outside my comfort zone.
Alaska was firmly on my husband's bucket list, though. And when we got the chance to have a floating family reunion aboard an Alaska cruise with some of his New Jersey siblings, I said yes before I'd checked a single forecast. They'd fly into Seattle; we'd fly north from Florida. I hadn't seen them in years. That was reason enough.
The Ship Was the Trick
Despite my initial hesitancy, I never once had to rough it. We sailed on Star Princess during her first Alaska season, the same ship that Condé Nast Traveler had just added to its 2026 Hot List, and the trip ran entirely on my terms. I slept in a warm stateroom, and I stepped off the ship only when something genuinely tugged at me. The wilderness sat right there, close enough to touch, but I got to meet it from the comfort of the ship’s deck. I was pleasantly surprised that I could experience Alaska up close without an arduous hike to see glaciers.
If Alaska has never made your list either, the timing is friendlier than you'd guess. The Alaska cruising season runs from late April through early October, with the beginning and end of the season bringing lower fares and thinner crowds. Princess wasn't the only cruise line up there, either. Holland America holds more Glacier Bay permits than anyone. Celebrity and Royal Caribbean run big ships through the Inside Passage. For travelers who prefer small and quiet, Seabourn sails luxury expedition ships into coves the big ships can't enter.
Totem Poles and Bison Fry Bread
Our first stop was Ketchikan. A visit to Saxman Native Village showcased the history and culture of Indigenous tribes, followed by a locally focused meal, including bison-topped fry bread and smoked salmon dip with crackers. Afterward, I watched an apprentice bend over a half-finished totem pole, curls of cedar peeling away under his knife. Inside the Beaver Clan House, the Cape Fox Dancers, in traditional regalia, welcomed us in the Tlingit language, then moved through ancestral stories against the backdrop of drumbeats. Finally, we walked Creek Street, the “notorious” boardwalk that once housed the town's brothels, still perched on wooden stilts above the water. None of this authentic slice of small-town Alaska felt staged for the cruise crowd.
Get the Must-Read Newsletter for Older Women
Sign up for the free, weekly newsletter with the latest stories, expert advice, community updates, and more.
The Day It Rained on Everything
In Juneau, it rained. Not a passing shower but a steady, all-day, soak-through-your-layers rain. I loved it anyway. A comfy bus ride, narrated by a local, took us to Auke Bay, where we boarded a whale-watching tour boat. The soggy weather stopped mattering the moment a mother humpback and her calf surfaced close enough that we all fell silent. Our final Juneau stop was the 13-mile-long Mendenhall Glacier, where short, easy trails delivered wide views of blue-tinged ice across the water. On the way back, we ducked into the iconic Red Dog Saloon, sawdust underfoot, and warmed up while sipping Red Dog Red from Denali Brewing Company.
A Walkable Town and a Train Full of In-Laws
Skagway was the opposite kind of day: sunny and walkable. We spent the morning drifting through downtown shops, hunting for things to bring home to family. Then came the best part of the excursion: the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway tour, a nearly three-hour climb into the mountains in a warm old rail car with enormous windows. (Tip: Sit on the left going up for spectacular, narrated views; you'll catch the same scenery from the right on the way back.) For fresh-air views, step onto the platform, where the Alaskan cold hits clean and sharp. On our climb to an elevation of more than 2,800 feet, we crossed a weathered wooden trestle, spotted a small black bear in the brush, and snapped photos of Bridal Veil Falls.
What We Did Between the Glaciers
The sea days were where the reunion really happened. With nowhere to be, we finally found time to catch up with family over meals, music and movement. One afternoon, we listened to Asian Soul playing by the pool — an unexpected, mild-weather treat on an Alaska cruise. These warmer days were also a great time to walk a few laps around the ship’s upper-deck track while enjoying panoramic views. Other exercise options included an indoor fitness facility, yoga classes and an outdoor multi-use court.
One night, a guitarist played an acoustic set, dozens of candles glowing around him and doubling in the curved glass overhead. And though we enjoyed plenty of entertainment (from stand-up comedy to lumberjack shows to naturalist presentations), we often pulled a few tables together just to chat, laugh and share memories while noshing on snacks or sipping cocktails.
I flew home to Florida still preferring warm weather — but I came back an Alaska lover, too. I'm already wondering when we’ll go back.
Depending on the season and cruise line, fares for a seven-day Alaskan cruise may range from around $1,800 to $2,450 per person for a standard balcony stateroom, with fares higher during July and August.
Have any of you ever been to Alaska? Let us know in the comments below.
More From The Ethel
More for you, from AARP
We are a community from AARP. Discover more ways AARP can help you live well, navigate life, save money — and protect older Americans on issues that matter.