Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have appointed Micaela Fowler as vice president of government affairs for their combined Alaska and Yukon land operations, following the retirement of longtime executive Ralph Samuels.
Samuels, who served in the role for nearly 18 years, will retire on June 2, 2026. Fowler, who joined the organisation a year ago as director of southeast Alaska government and community relations, steps into the vice president position with immediate effect.
Robert Morgenstern, senior vice president of Alaska operations, paid tribute to the outgoing executive. “Ralph’s steady leadership, integrity and deep understanding of our industry have left a lasting mark on our business,” said Morgenstern. “We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him the very best in a well-earned retirement.”
Fowler brings direct government experience to the role. Before joining the Alaska operations of Holland America Line and Princess, she served as Alaska’s Deputy Commissioner of Commerce, where she oversaw a range of government functions and initiatives.
Morgenstern said Fowler had already established herself as a key voice within the organisation. “Micaela has quickly become a trusted voice for Alaska and Yukon operations for Holland America and Princess,” he said. “She is well positioned to build on the strong foundation Ralph established and to continue our strong partnership in the state of Alaska.”
Holland America Line and Princess jointly manage Carnival Corporation’s combined land operations business in Alaska and the Yukon. The two brands operate a portfolio of lodges, rail services, and land-based experiences that connect cruise passengers to interior Alaska destinations.
Holland America Line is approaching 80 years of operations in Alaska. Its land assets include the Holland America Denali Lodge at the entrance to Denali National Park, the Holland America Skagway Inn, and the Holland America Dawson City Inn in the Yukon. A major expansion of the Denali Lodge is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Princess Cruises operates five lodges across Alaska, including the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, alongside rail services linking ship arrivals to inland destinations.
The government affairs function the two brands share covers federal, state, and local stakeholder relationships in support of Carnival Corporation’s broader Alaska commitments. Fowler’s background in state commerce policy and her work building community relationships since joining the organisation position her to maintain those ties as Alaska’s cruise and tourism season accelerates.
Alaska remains one of the most significant cruise destinations in North America, with the summer season drawing hundreds of thousands of passengers annually. Both Holland America and Princess offer itineraries combining sea voyages with land programmes through the interior, making government and community relations central to their operational model in the state.
