Princess Cruises’ newest luxury ship has set sail on its first Alaskan excursion after arriving in Seattle over the weekend.
The new Sphere-Class Star Princess arrived in Washington State for its inaugural Alaska season, which will take place from May 3 to September 23, 2026. The 2026 Alaska season will feature 20 weekly round-trip voyages from Pier 91 in Seattle through Alaska’s famed Inside Passage.
Star Princess arrived in Seattle this month after crossing the Panama Canal last month following a series of Caribbean excursions over the winter. The ship’s arrival in May was celebrated with an Alaska-themed aerial drone show and the exchange of a memorial plaque between the Port of Seattle and the vessel’s senior officers.
“It’s especially meaningful for the officers and crew of Star Princess to be here in Seattle, a port with a proud maritime heritage and long-standing connection to Alaska,” said Princess Cruises Captain Gennaro Arma. “We’re grateful to the Port of Seattle and our port partners for their warm welcome and continued collaboration.”
Arma added that the Star Princess was designed with these expansive journeys in mind, bringing together “advanced technology, comfort, and elegance as we continue Princess Cruises’ legacy in Alaska.”
This year’s Alaska season will feature weekly trips through the Inside Passage with visits to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka, as well as “breathtaking glacier viewing with Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.” Star Princess will be joined by its sister vessel, Royal Princess, throughout the 2026 and 2027 Alaska seasons.
The cruise line said it also celebrated the inaugural Alaska season by making more than $150,000 in donations to organizations located in cities along its route.
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The Star Princess had been operating out of its home port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since November 2025, where it had its official naming ceremony. The 4,300-person capacity ship was built and assembled in Italy over the span of two years before it set out on its maiden voyage in the Western Mediterranean in October 2025.
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The Star Princess is the second Sphere-class cruise ship in Princess’s fleet, the largest designation the cruise line uses.
The Star Princess features several restaurants ranging from gourmet to cafe, original stage productions in a new high-tech theater, live music and themed events. A massive glass-enclosed sphere offers unparalleled ocean views, and also hosts themed events and candle-lit concerts.
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Star Princess also features a one-of-a-kind interactive attraction based on a historic Hollywood landmark. Spellbound by Magic Castle is a theatrical dining and cocktail experience that presents as a 1920s magic speakeasy, but is located in the heart of the ship itself. It’s inspired and developed in partnership with the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, the home and clubhouse of the world’s greatest prestidigitators, cardsmiths, illusionists and mentalists.
Spellbound originally debuted on the Sun Princess with its own unique theme. The Star Princess version is inspired by the life and illusions of the Great Cardini, a master magician who honed his skills while fighting in the trenches of WWI as a member of the British Armed Forces. The Magic Castle in Los Angeles is currently by Randy Pitchford, a video game developer, magic practitioner, and the great-nephew of Cardini.owned by
I was at the Magic Castle for the cruise line’s media preview event, and the exclusive Star Princess event was clearly crafted with love for the history of the artform and careful attention to detail. I’m still trying to figure out how that card ended up in my pocket.
Princess Cruises is accepting reservations aboard Star Princess and its other ships online or by calling 1-800-774-6237.
