Ginger Pepper

Hello, we're currently at the end of our wonderful cruisetour through Alaska in Fairbanks. Tomorrow we're booked for an all day tour of the paddle boat, train and gold dredge and the next day we fly out, but not until later at night.

 

We don't have a rental car and don't feel like spending $200+ dollars on the excursions offered by Princess, so can anyone recommend anything free or low cost to do and/or see while in Fairbanks this Friday?

 

Thanks!

We will only arrive in Fairbanks next week but the Morris Thompson Cultural Center in downtown Fairbanks has been highly recommended, with displays, movies, handicrafts, workshops, etc ... and it's all free!

My suitcase with a TSA approved lock has a tiny hole that the authorities can access to open the bag in the unlikely event that they will need to open it when you are not there.

On September 11 we have reserved the Traitors' Cove bear viewing by floatplane with Michelle of Island Wings. Our return flight to Ketchikan will be via Misty Fjords (we have 9 hours in Ketchikan, including 3-4 hours at Traitors' Cove) - hope we get to see some bears!

Princess Connoisseur cruisetour (we leave very soon!) includes almost all meals on the land portion in the lodges. You get a voucher for free choice of meals at the lodge restaurant plus 15% gratuity. The Connoisseur also includes the Tundra Wilderness Tour at Denali with two nights at the park.

Great idea - keep the comments coming!

We had a great time - the crew and service were excellent. The captain was Heikki Laakkonen, and I thought he did a great job. I just arrived home, but I'll maybe try to post a few more observations about the cruise in the next couple of days.

Thanks for posting and if you have time to write, it will be great to hear some more comments. Very sorry to hear about the crew member and we extend condolences to the family.

I didn’t see this reported elsewhere, but I’m currently on the Crown Princess May 31 southbound from Whittier to Vancouver and there have been a couple of incidents to keep things exciting.

 

On Tuesday morning coming into Skagway, we were awakened at 4:30 am by an announcement from the captain broadcast into all the cabins. There was a fire in the engine room, we lost propulsion, and all crew were called to their emergency stations. They also called in tugboats to assist us if needed. After about 10-15 minutes, the captain came back on to say everything had been resolved. Just a little excitement for the passengers, but I felt sorry for the crew who all had to get up at 4:30 then work the next day!

 

Today (Friday) as we were just north of Vancouver Island, the ship turned around. The captain came on to say that someone had fallen off a fishing boat and was injured. Being the nearest large ship, we were going to assist with our medical staff. We reached the fishing boat, which was alongside a tug pulling a barge. A rescue plane came and two people parachuted out. Then the helicopter came and medivacced the injured person. For those on the June 7 sailing of the Crown, the captain said we would still be on time arriving in Vancouver despite the approx. 2 hour delay.

 

There's always some excitement when you are cruising!

We are six family and friends who will be on the Crown in August. Sounds like you enjoyed your cruise. How was the ambience on the ship - captain, crew, service, etc in general? Thanks!

The website and much more information is on: http://fairbanks-alaska.com/

Here is the information on the Internet -

Self-guided Walking Tour of Fairbanks, Alaska

The self-guided Walking Tour of the downtown area is a favorite for many visitors.

Allow two to three hours for the entire tour, or tailor it to meet your needs.

You can pick up the tour brochure for $1 at the Visitor's Center on First and Cushman. Available in Japanese and German, too!

The 38 point walk takes visitors across the Chena River to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, then back across the river to First Avenue for a close-up look at the residential section of Old Fairbanks. It also includes one of Fairbanks' most infamous land marks: The Line. The former red light district stretches along Fourth Avenue between Barnette and Cushman streets.

The walking tour also includes stops at Courthouse Square, at the corner of Cushman Street and Second Avenue, the Clay Street Cemetery, and the old Empress Theatre, now the Co-op Building.

The tour winds back to Golden Heart Plaza, just behind the visitors center. The plaza features a fountain and bronze statue honoring Alaska's "Unknown First Family."

For more information on some of the historic buildings you will see, see our Fairbanks History page, as well as the link from there to Historic Preservation.

We will be in Fairbanks for a couple of days before the beginning of our cruise tour and plan to rent a car and drive (about 60 miles on paved road) to Chena Hot Springs and Ice Museum. We understand that the route and the place itself are lovely. There is also a restaurant, bar and guided tours of the site.

keep posting....I think you are doing the same tour as us but we are doing the next one, we leave next monday, we also get in a day early.....please post what you do in fairbanks....looking forward to reading your posts

Regarding what to do in Fairbanks - we're on a Princess Cruisetour in August but have done some research in advance. We're arriving two days early in Fairbanks and plan to visit the new Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center in downtown Fairbanks, with exhibits, free brochures, handicraft presentations and shop; the other day we plan to drive (about one hour from Fairbanks) to Chena Hot Springs and Ice Museum - entrance $15. We understand that there is beautiful scenery on the way too. In any case - enjoy your trip!

We will be in Alaska from August 27 (in Fairbanks) until September 12 (Ketchikan) - in Juneau on September 10 - maybe we will get to see the Aurora ... any chances?

I've just read your wonderful review and looked at your maginificent pictures - really great! Now, by way orf introduction, I'm Julie, originally from Philadelphia but living for the last 43 years in Israel (Ramat Gan). Four of us (my friend Varda and another couple with whom we travel lots) will meet up with my brother and his wife (also Philadelphia residents until now), for three weeks in Alaska, from Fairbanks to Vancouver, with a land portion then a cruise on Crown Princess from Anchorage (Whittier port) to Vancover, in August 2014. Your review has really given us lots of great tips and ideas - where are you in Israel? It would be great to get together if you are nearby and would like to - as long as you're not afraid of doggies since I have two beutiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (named Ginger and Pepper). Anyway - thanks again for the fantastic review, and continue to enjoy and to travel!

Eldridchapman, I have upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness Tour. I didn't use a TA for this trip but did call Princess directly. I did have to pay the difference between the two tours. As part of my Conniseur Cruisetour there was a dinner at a theater one night that didn't get great reviews so I had that removed and received a credit.

 

Ginger pepper, I will post my review.

Thanks in advance for posting your review! Just a note though - the Princess Connoisseur Cruisetour includes the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali - you don't need to pay anything additional if you are on the Connoisseur Tour - check your itinerary!

I will be doing a Conniseur Cruisetour in a little over 30 days. We are flying into Anchorage and spending a few days on our own first and then starting on the Cruisetour a few days later. I opted to do the Cruisetour because I wanted hubby to be able to enjoy the sights himself without the driving. Our tour does include two days at Denali. I'm fine with the options we chose. There is so much to research that it's overwhelming at first. I feel like I did so much more research on Alaska than I did when I planned our trip to Europe. I did use our miles to get our airfare. Now that it's almost time to go I'm getting really excited.

We are six family and friends doing the Connoisseur Cruisetour in August. It will be great to hear from you after you return - enjoy enjoy! and please write after you return. Have a great trip!

We reserved in January for our early September excursion (combined Traitor's Cove bear viewing and Misty Fjords)

Sounds like you are planning a great family trip! Regarding excursions - we're six adults who will be in some of the same ports, but having researched the subject, maybe I can make a couple of suggestions - Juneau: Harv and Marv Whale Watching - it seems that having your own "family" boat would be a great advantage (6 person boat) and they will either drop you off at Mendenhall Glacier and you can taxi back to the ship or, if time permits, will stay with you for a short visit there (about 15 minutes) and return you to the ship. Ketchikan: Depending how long you will be in port, we have reserved with Island Wings for a combination Bear Watching and Misty Fjords excursion (altogether about 5-6 hours). Ketchikan: Chilkoot Tours has several different excursions for different periods of time and maybe you could consult with them regarding the optimal time for your family. In any case, enjoy!

We have booked with Island Wings for a combination excursion with bear viewing and Misty Fjords (altogether 5-6 hours). Their service, suggestions and assistance are excellent!

We will be in Fairbanks for two days before starting our Cruise Tour in August. We plan to drive one day to Chena Hot Springs and Ice Museum (60 miles from Fairbanks), and also visit the Cultural Center in central Fairbanks. If you need a good place to eat, the Pump House (historical building) on the river in Fairbanks has been recommended to us. Happy travels!

We will be in Ketchikan in late August - early September and have arranged a "nature and animal" excursion with Island Wings (Michelle) - to Traitor's Cove to see the bears feeding on salmon and flying back to the ship via Misty Fjords - altogether about 5-6 hours.

In Ketchikan we are doing a combo excursion of bear viewing and Misty Fjords with Island Wings - altogether about five - six hours

Unfortunately, we will be too late in the season for these sites. But I'm in touch with Michelle at Island wings now to book a trip to Traitors Cove :D

If you're interested, we have booked with Michelle at Island Wings for an excursion to Traitors Cove for 4 hours and then a 2 hour flight over Misty Fjords before returning to Ketchikan - altogether a 6 hour excursion. Our trip will be the first week in September.

Although we have not been on a Princess Land Package before (but on lots of Princess cruises) - we did some research and it seems that the Connoisseur Alaska Cruisetour, in which most of the meals (expensive in Alaska) and many tours, are included, the Connoisseur is good value for what it includes. We will be on the Connoisseur from Fairbanks on August 29 - six family and friends travelling together. In any case, most recommendations from previous travellers are land portion first, then cruise. Whatever you choose - happy travels!

Alaska is such a special place that I feel one should go all out and book the 15 day escorted Connoisseur tour. It has 8 days on land and then the 7 day cruise. That is what I am doing next year but I have taken a shorter land tour/cruise in the past plus two cruise-only cruises. Have no idea what ship will be there in 2015. My favorite ships are the Sapphire and the Coral. We will be on the Crown next year because it is the one that the tour meets up with on the dates we can go.

What date is your Cruisetour starting in Fairbanks? We are six family and friends on the Connoisseur Cruisetour starting August 29.

What date is your Cruisetour starting in Fairbanks? We are six family and friends on the Connoisseur Cruisetour starting August 29.