Alaska’s summer 2027 cruise season opens for booking soon. EWT Tours is taking inquiries now for our group on the Princess Denali Explorer — 12 days combining 4 nights in Alaska’s interior with 7 nights cruising the glaciers route. Here’s what to know if you’re considering it.

Why book Alaska this far ahead?

Three real reasons:

  1. Inventory disappears fast. Princess publishes 2027 cruisetour rates roughly 18 months out. The best stateroom categories sell out within months — especially the coveted forward balconies on Glacier Bay days.
  2. Pricing only goes up. Princess’s published pricing typically rises 8-12% in the year leading up to departure. Booking early locks in current rates.
  3. EWT Tours caps at 16. Once we’re full, we’re full. We don’t open second departures unless demand justifies — which means booking the moment you’re ready to commit.

What this trip is

12 days. 11 nights. Two distinct Alaska experiences:

Land portion (4 nights):

  • Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage
  • Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge — the mountain visible from the property
  • Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge — full day Natural History Tour into Denali National Park, looking for moose, caribou, bears, wolves, and Dall sheep
  • Princess’s exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail journey from Denali to Whittier

Cruise portion (7 nights) on Island Princess:

  • College Fjord scenic cruising
  • Hubbard Glacier — North America’s longest tidewater glacier
  • Glacier Bay National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Three Alaskan port days: Skagway (Gold Rush history), Juneau (capital), Ketchikan (salmon capital)
  • Inside Passage scenic cruising
  • Disembark Vancouver

Who this trip is for

Most travelers booking this trip fall into one of three groups:

The “first-time Alaska” couple — they’ve heard about cruising Alaska for years and decided this is the year. They want both interior and coastal in one trip without overthinking logistics.

The repeat cruiser — they’ve done the Caribbean, Mediterranean, maybe one Alaska cruise. The cruisetour adds Denali to what they’ve already experienced.

The bucket-lister — Alaska is on a list of “must do before X.” Often retired or pre-retired. Often celebrating something.

Who this trip is NOT for

Honest assessment:

  • Adventure-grade travelers. This is a comfortable, scenic trip. No required hiking or kayaking.
  • Budget-first travelers. Alaska pricing reflects logistical complexity (lodges, rail, cruise).
  • People who hate cruise ships. The cruise portion is genuinely 7 days on a ship.

The EWT Tours difference vs. booking Princess directly

Princess sells T6AFB4 directly. You can book it yourself. What EWT Tours adds:

  • Daniel Cope as your guide on both land and sea — pre-arranged group dinners, vetted shore excursions, the small-group social glue
  • Cap of 16 travelers — you’re not lost in 3,500 cruise passengers
  • Group rates on shore excursions — we book the right tour at each port
  • Pre-trip packet — what to pack, what to expect at each lodge, restaurant recommendations
  • Single point of contact for questions before, during, and after

What’s next

Pricing is being finalized. Final brochure pricing publishes in late spring 2026. Early inquirers get:

  • First look at exact dates
  • First look at pricing
  • Priority on stateroom selection
  • Single supplement waiver if traveling solo and willing to pair (limited spots)

Ready for the early-access list? Request 2027 Alaska info → — we’ll add you. See the full Alaska tour page →