12. Cruising as Crew in Alaska
- Esther
- Dec 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
The Legend made her repositioning cruise from Honolulu to Vancouver. For the summer season, she sailed week-long Alaska cruises from Vancouver all the way up to Seward (most cruise ships only do a roundtrip from Vancouver or Seattle in one week). From Seward, guests could take tours to Denali to begin their land program, either before or after the cruise.
Our itinerary included: Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway and Seward. Cruising in Alaska is an active vacation, with countless places to explore and incredible wildlife to experience.
Cruising as Crew in Alaska
During that summer, I spent three unforgettable months cruising Alaska aboard the Legend. Cruising in Alaska was incredible, with wildlife all around you, and of course the unforgettable Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. You can hear the ice cracking, almost like a gunshot. It’s something you never forget: absolutely amazing and not to be missed.
Vancouver
Vancouver was an amazing city, and the Legend always docked in Gastown —remember the steam clock? Whenever I wasn’t working, we used to go to Robson Street, a perfect place for shopping and grabbing sushi for lunch.
One of my favorite moments was taking a walk through Stanley Park. Seeing the Totem Poles up close really brought the city’s history to life. I also loved visiting Granville Island, with its market and small boutiques, a charming escape from the busy cruise schedule.
Ketchikan
I really enjoyed Ketchikan. Walking along Creek Street, with all the cute wooden houses by the water. I even bought a golden whale tail pendant as a memory of Alaska. After work, we often headed up to Cape Fox Lodge for lunch, you have to take the cable car, which made it feel like a little adventure before the meal. Guests loved the Lumberjack Show, and some went on floatplane tours to Misty Fjords.
Juneau
Juneau was definitely my favorite port during that season. There were so many tours to choose from, the most popular being trips to Mendenhall Glacier by bus, helicopter, or floatplane departing right next to the ship. Whale watching and kayaking were also amazing ways to explore the area.
One of the most unforgettable moments for me as a crew member happened when I joined the Social Host to assist with a guest’s wedding during a helicopter landing on Mendenhall Glacier. The couple actually got married on top of the glacier, it was truly spectacular, and being part of that moment made it extra special.
Right next to the ship, floatplanes took off for glacier tours, and we often stopped at The Hangar on the Wharf for lunch. The views from there were incredible, a perfect spot to take a break after work.
During my time in Juneau, we even saw a bear come down to the shopping street looking for food, definitely a little scary, but unforgettable! Hiking to Mount Roberts was another highlight; the trails and the views of the surrounding mountains made it one of my favorite excursions.
Sitka
In Sitka, we were always tendering, which made it a bit challenging for us crew to get out and explore, as we were only in port for part of the day. I only managed to go ashore a couple of times, but even those short visits were unforgettable. This place is full of wildlife, we often spotted killer whales, eagles, and sea otters lounging on the rocks. Being able to watch this from both the ship and on shore was a real highlight of the place.
Skagway
This port was always a lively stop, full of history and charm. The streets are lined with old-style wooden houses, giving the town a true Gold Rush-era feel. The White Pass & Yukon train departs from the station here, and the whole area feels like a living museum, definitely not to be missed. I was never able to take the train tour myself because of my crew duties; it simply took too many hours. I used to go out for a hike or playing pool at the Red dog Saloon. Very populair tours here are helicopter rides to the glacier and dogsledding tours.
Seward
Seward was our turnaround port. Most guests arrived from Denali, where they had completed a Royal Caribbean-organized land tour. Typically, they flew into Fairbanks, took the train to Denali National Park for a few days, and then continued by train to Anchorage for an overnight stay before the bus brought them to Seward to board the ship.
One time, we had a medical emergency just before arriving in Seward, and the ship had to sail at full speed, arriving at 1:00 a.m. Even at that late hour, I went out with other crew members to the only local bar in town.
During my time in Seward, some crew and I also went on a dogsledding tour. We visited the place where all the sled dogs were waiting, and there were some adorable puppies we got to hold. Later, we set out on the sled tour with the dogs, an unforgettable experience and a perfect end to the Alaska season.
Alaska is definitely a bucket-list destination. During my time onboard, the most whales I spotted were along the Inside Passage from Vancouver to Alaska and in Sitka, where I also saw killer whales, sea otters, and eagles. I would highly recommend visiting this incredible place at least once in your life, the landscapes, wildlife, and experiences make it truly unforgettable.
Want to read more blogs? What about: 11. Aloha from Hawaii, life as a cruise crew member
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