Princess Cruises will feature a 55-foot floral replica of Star Princess in the Rose Parade on January 1, 2026, showcasing Alaska wildlife and scenery ahead of the ship’s inaugural Alaska season.

Alaska Theme Dominates Float Design

The float depicts Alaska’s Inside Passage with glaciers in icy blues, bald eagles, spouting humpback whales, bears catching salmon, and a moose, all crafted from over 300,000 flowers, seeds, bark, and natural materials. Animated elements include whales rising from water, sea otters, soaring eagles, and bears with salmon in their mouths.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the new year by sharing the wonder of Alaska with millions of people watching the Rose Parade,” said Marie Lee, Princess Cruises chief marketing officer.

The float showcases Star Princess’s signature venues including The Dome, a glass-enclosed entertainment space atop the ship, and the sphere-shaped Piazza with floor-to-ceiling windows. Viewers may hear a nod to “The Love Boat,” the television show that introduced cruise vacations to mainstream audiences.

Eight Ships Sailing Alaska in 2026

Princess’s 2026 Alaska season expands to eight ships with 180 departures visiting 19 destinations. Star Princess will sail weekly seven-day Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Seattle from May 3 through September 19, 2026.

The 177,800-ton, 4,300-passenger Star Princess is Princess’s newest ship, delivered in September 2025. The Sphere-class vessel currently sails Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale before repositioning to Seattle through the Panama Canal in spring 2026.

Rose Parade Details

The Rose Parade attracts 800,000 spectators along its 5½-mile route and more than 28 million U.S. television viewers. The float, built by Artistic Entertainment Services, measures 55 feet long and 21 feet high.

“It is an honor to welcome Princess Cruises, Los Angeles’ Hometown cruise line back to the Tournament of Roses Parade,” said Mark Leavens, president of the 2026 Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

The parade’s 2026 theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” which Princess connects to its crew and Alaskan guides, storytellers, artists, and naturalists who work with passengers during Alaska cruises.

Princess markets itself as the number one cruise line in Alaska, operating from multiple West Coast ports including Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Whittier.

• There are 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes in Arizona.
• Rattlesnakes are particularly common to see from May to October.
• While rattlesnakes have earned a reputation for being dangerous, they generally only attack when they feel threatened.

If you’re an Arizonan, you’ve probably heard the tales of the state’s rattlesnakes or experienced them firsthand.

There are 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes in Arizona. The Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake is even the official state reptile. 

Rattlesnakes are particularly common to see from May to October, since the snakes typically hibernate during the colder months.  

While rattlesnakes have earned a reputation for being dangerous, they generally only attack when they feel threatened. You might encounter them while on a hike or even in your backyard, so you might want to watch your step.  

Take a look at these photos of some of Arizona’s different kinds of rattlesnakes.

Which state has the most rattlesnakes?  

You guessed it — Arizona has the most species of rattlesnakes in the country with 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes. 

Texas is next with 10 different species of rattlesnakes. 

What area of Arizona has the most rattlesnakes? 

While rattlesnakes can be spotted all throughout Arizona, there are five places where they’re particularly common:  

• Sonoran Desert
• Chiricahua Mountains
• Superstition Mountains
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
• Grand Canyon region

Rattlesnakes are generally more common in areas with lower elevation. So, if you’re afraid, you might want to head north to Flagstaff. 

Record year for CAL FIRE training

The office of Governor Gavin Newsom said CAL FIRE has trained more than 650 Company Officers in 2025, marking a record year for leadership development across California.

According to the governor’s office, four Company Officer academies have operated at full capacity during 2025.

The newest site, the Atwater Training Center in Merced County, opened in July 2025 to meet rising training demand.

Existing facilities in Ione, Redding and Riverside have supported the expanded training programme.

The office said this training year reflects a sustained focus on developing professional leaders for CAL FIRE operations across the state.

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, said: “Rapidly expanding our world-class firefighting force is just one piece of California’s unprecedented investment in fire protection and readiness.

“From new training facilities to the Southern California Emergency Operations Center, we’re building the infrastructure and workforce our communities need to face the climate challenges ahead.

“While Donald Trump undercuts federal readiness for mega-fires that threaten communities across the west, California continues to dominate with key investments in fire readiness and response.”

Company Officer Academy Class 25-14 graduation

The office confirmed that 38 CAL FIRE Company Officers have graduated from Company Officer Academy Class 25-14 at the Ione Training Center.

This cohort is described as the final class in the 2025 training cycle.

The graduates have completed an intensive syllabus and will move into leadership roles across the department.

CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler administered the oath to the new Company Officers.

Tyler’s keynote address highlighted the workload involved in delivering this year’s instruction.

CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler said: “This milestone year of training represents our commitment to the future of CAL FIRE and the safety of California.

“We recognize the achievement of these 38 students, as well as the dedication of our training staff who maintained exceptionally high standards while sustaining this record-setting pace.”

State investment in wildfire readiness and prevention

The governor’s office linked the graduation to wider state investment in wildfire response and prevention capabilities.

According to the office, California has doubled its spending on wildfire prevention and resilience efforts since 2020.

State figures report more than $2.5 billion allocated to wildfire resilience programmes.

An additional $1.5 billion is due to come from the 2024 Climate Bond.

California has also invested $173 million in community-based wildfire projects aimed at helping local areas protect themselves from wildfires.

The office described the firefighters graduating at the new training facility as an example of this funding in practice.

The governor’s office added that California has joined the Northwest Wildland Fire Fighting Compact.

This agreement expands mutual aid partnerships for major wildfire incidents to additional agencies across the US and Canada.

How expanded CAL FIRE capacity relates to sector priorities

The expansion of CAL FIRE Company Officer training and the opening of the Atwater Training Center in Merced County provide practical information for fire and rescue chiefs and senior officers tracking workforce development in US wildland agencies.

A record total of more than 650 Company Officers trained in 2025 indicates the scale of leadership capacity being built within CAL FIRE.

Training officers and instructors may note that four academies operated at full capacity, with a new site added to handle increased demand.

Emergency and disaster response managers can draw on the detailed figures on state investment, including more than $2.5 billion for wildfire resilience, $1.5 billion from the 2024 Climate Bond and $173 million for community-based projects.

Government departments and mutual aid coordinators will be directly affected by California’s decision to join the Northwest Wildland Fire Fighting Compact, which broadens access to partner resources during major wildfire incidents.