Royal Princess Skips Juneau and Ketchikan After Engine Trouble on Alaska Sailing
If you're aboard the September 12, 2026 Royal Princess Alaska sailing, note that Juneau (September 14) and Ketchikan (September 17) are canceled; only Skagway (September 15) and Victoria (September 18) remain on your itinerary. Any Juneau or Ketchikan shore excursions booked through Princess will be automatically canceled and credited to your onboard account—no need to visit Shore Excursions or Guest Services. Expect a 50% cruise fare refund to your original payment method within 10-15 business days.
A 50% fare refund for losing two of four Alaska ports is a fairly generous gesture, and it tells me Princess wants to head off complaints rather than let this fester on social media—remember, guests already posted the letter to Facebook before Cruise Hive picked it up. The engine issue that's merely slowing the ship, not endangering it, still cost passengers Juneau and Ketchikan, leaving just Skagway and Victoria on a cruise that was sold as a four-port Alaska experience. What stands out to me is Princess hasn't said whether Glacier Bay scenic cruising survives, which for many is the actual draw of an Inside Passage sailing. This is the second Princess ship with propulsion trouble in the region in about a year, after Ruby Princess in July 2025, so I'd keep an eye on how the line handles mechanical issues fleet-wide. If I were on this sailing, I'd take the refund, enjoy Skagway, and ask Guest Services directly about Glacier Bay.