The Luminara arrived in Whittier recently to kick off the first season in Alaska for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Concluding a repositioning voyage from Japan, the 456-passenger vessel docked at its new homeport on May 28, 2026.

For its first sailing in the region, the Luminara is offering an 11-night cruise that sails to eight destinations before arriving in Vancouver, Canada.

The itinerary is highlighted by visits to Valdez, Icy Strait Point and Haines, in addition to Petersburg, Sitka, Klawock and Ketchikan. Guests will also enjoy scenic cruising along the Inside Passage and other glaciers in the region.

As part of its first season in the region, the luxury vessel is scheduled to offer 12 additional cruises in Alaska through late September.

Sailing from Vancouver and Whittier, the 2025-built ship will operate a series of seven- to 11-night one-way itineraries visiting 11 ports.

In addition to extended stays in certain ports, the itineraries are highlighted by transits past the Hubbard Glacier and Sawyer Glacier.

According to Ritz-Carlton, the season will also offer a range of personalized shore excursions, allowing guests to explore at their own pace.

Before arriving in Whittier, the Luminara operated its first trans-Pacific cruise, sailing from Yokohama, Japan, in mid-May.

The 13-night repositioning voyage included visits to destinations in Japan and Alaska, such as Aomori, Hakodate, Dutch Harbor and Kodiak.

Joining MSC and Virgin, Ritz-Carlton is one of three cruise lines debuting in Alaska for the summer of 2026.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the companies are part of a record-breaking season in the region.

In addition to the new brands, the destination is also seeing an uptick in capacity by traditional players, as well as the return of other cruise lines, including Azamara. The brand returned to Alaska this May, following a seven-year hiatus.