Princess to Alaska

[lovetotraveltx]

We are traveling to Alaska in June of 2015. Can't book quite this early but gathering information.

 

We would like to do Denali 1st then cruise.

 

Recommendations on which Princess Ship and Cruisetour!

 

Thank you!

[califgary]

We did a tour starting in Anchorage - went to McKinley Lodge, Denali and then Copper River. Make sure when you can, upgrade the basic Denali 1/2 tour you get automatically to the full day Denali adventure (costs a little more). This all day tour goes much much farther into Denali Park. We sailed from Whittier to Vancouver on the Sapphire - went to Glacier Bay (a must see) and also Hubberd Glacier.

 

We enjoyed the Sapphire the whole trip went smooth as glass - all the transfers and luggage handling went perfectly. The hard part is packing 2 bags one for the tour and one that goes right to the ship (formal wear etc).

 

Have FUN we sure did!

[JimmyVWine]

 

Recommendations on which Princess Ship and Cruisetour!

 

Thank you!

 

As you noted, it is too early to book. Which means that it is also too early to know which ships will be positoned in Alaska in 2015. There is a good bet that either or both of the Coral and Island will be in Alaska, and they get many votes here. We loved the Sapphire, but she and her sister (Diamond) are headed to Asia and may not be in Alaska in 2015, but one never knows. Other than Royal and Regal, there wouldn't be a bad ship for Alaska, and it is hightly unlikely that Royal or Regal will be doing that route.

[lovetotraveltx]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. A few more details, please. Did you do the guided tour or on your own? How many day tour? You get an option to upgrade to full-day? Are you meaning the wilderness tour in Denali?

 

When they pick you up at the airport your cruise stuff goes straight to the cruise not with you to Denali?

 

Also, what size ship did you pick? I heard smaller is better to Alaska.

 

Did you do any excursions during the cruise?

 

:)

[califgary]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. A few more details, please. Did you do the guided tour or on your own? How many day tour? You get an option to upgrade to full-day? Are you meaning the wilderness tour in Denali?

 

When they pick you up at the airport your cruise stuff goes straight to the cruise not with you to Denali?

 

Also, what size ship did you pick? I heard smaller is better to Alaska.

 

Did you do any excursions during the cruise?

 

:)

 

HI: We did the "on your own" I think the tour was called Off the Beaten Path. We wanted a tour that stayed at each lodge 2 days so we werent put in a lodge and then having to leave again next day. Our tour started on a Saturday and we were put on the ship the next Saturday. You keep your suitcases until the night before your land tour leaves - put both suitcases out one is tagged "take me with you" and the other is tagged with a "to the ship" (something like that). the take me with you suitcase goes with you on the bus you dont see the to the ship suitcase until you get to the ship (our suitcase was in our cabin when we arrived). We picked the ship based on itinerary they all dont go to the same spots - We wanted Glacier Bay and Hubberd Glacier and the Sapphire was the ship doing that itinerary. We have also done HAL on the Statendam which is a small ship - the ships go to all the same towns just about - We did a helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau which was awesome landed on the glacier and we got to walk around and drink champagne! We did the train ride in Skagway which was also fun and beautiful. We did not do a tour in Ketchikan (last stop).

[Host Jazzbeau]

IMO the best first cruise to Alaska (based on my ONE cruise, but a hell of a lot of research) is the Princess Voyage of the Glaciers, Southbound from Whittier to Vancouver, on Coral or Island Princess, with a DIY land tour before the cruise.

 

• Princess - there are only a few lines that can go into Glacier Bay; Princess is the best.

 

• Voyage of the Glaciers - because it's one-way, you don't waste any time doubling back so you have more time for scenic cruising and in port

 

• Southbound - allows you do to the more-stressful land portion first and then relax on the cruise (first two days are scenic cruising).

 

• To Vancouver - Inside Passage to Vancouver is both more scenic and smoother than the route to Seattle.

 

• Coral or Island Princess (sister ships) - these ships have more public space than any of the newer and larger ships; in Alaska this translates into much more outside viewing space for Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, etc. They have a full Promenade Deck plus 2 public balconies forward and 4 aft, in addition to the usual pool deck areas. The result is that you don't need to pay for a balcony (which it may be too cold to use), and can put that money into shore excursions.

 

• DIY land tour - while it's true that Princess has the best land tour packages of any cruise line, you are still stuck with their rigid itinerary, their captive hotels, lack of a car so their captive restaurants and their captive tours. If you fly to Anchorage and rent a car, you can plan your own itinerary, stay at a wide range of motels or B&Bs, eat at a wide choice of restaurants, and most importantly plan your own sightseeing.

 

Enterprise in Anchorage has very good deals on rental cars. Cruise Critic Alaska forum and TripAdvisor have great ratings for B&Bs, restaurants and sightseeing.

 

Talkeetna is a funky stop-over town and a great base for flightseeing.

 

Make sure you spend at least two nights near Denali, and book the park shuttle bus to Eielson (much longer, much cheaper, and just as nice as the tour bus).

 

There are many threads and reviews on the Cruise Critic Alaska forum. As a starting point, here's mine:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1877302

 

[Proud to say one of my pictures is in Cruise Critic's featured slideshow today!]

[OCruisers]

We are traveling to Alaska in June of 2015. Can't book quite this early but gathering information.

 

We would like to do Denali 1st then cruise.

 

Recommendations on which Princess Ship and Cruisetour!

 

Thank you!

 

Either Island or Coral would be our choice! :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[nukesubsailor]

We are traveling to Alaska in June of 2015. Can't book quite this early but gathering information.

 

We would like to do Denali 1st then cruise.

 

Recommendations on which Princess Ship and Cruisetour!

 

Thank you!

 

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.

[lovetotraveltx]

IMO the best first cruise to Alaska (based on my ONE cruise, but a hell of a lot of research) is the Princess Voyage of the Glaciers, Southbound from Whittier to Vancouver, on Coral or Island Princess, with a DIY land tour before the cruise.

 

• Princess - there are only a few lines that can go into Glacier Bay; Princess is the best.

 

• Voyage of the Glaciers - because it's one-way, you don't waste any time doubling back so you have more time for scenic cruising and in port

 

• Southbound - allows you do to the more-stressful land portion first and then relax on the cruise (first two days are scenic cruising).

 

• To Vancouver - Inside Passage to Vancouver is both more scenic and smoother than the route to Seattle.

 

• Coral or Island Princess (sister ships) - these ships have more public space than any of the newer and larger ships; in Alaska this translates into much more outside viewing space for Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, etc. They have a full Promenade Deck plus 2 public balconies forward and 4 aft, in addition to the usual pool deck areas. The result is that you don't need to pay for a balcony (which it may be too cold to use), and can put that money into shore excursions.

 

• DIY land tour - while it's true that Princess has the best land tour packages of any cruise line, you are still stuck with their rigid itinerary, their captive hotels, lack of a car so their captive restaurants and their captive tours. If you fly to Anchorage and rent a car, you can plan your own itinerary, stay at a wide range of motels or B&Bs, eat at a wide choice of restaurants, and most importantly plan your own sightseeing.

 

Enterprise in Anchorage has very good deals on rental cars. Cruise Critic Alaska forum and TripAdvisor have great ratings for B&Bs, restaurants and sightseeing.

 

Talkeetna is a funky stop-over town and a great base for flightseeing.

 

Make sure you spend at least two nights near Denali, and book the park shuttle bus to Eielson (much longer, much cheaper, and just as nice as the tour bus).

 

There are many threads and reviews on the Cruise Critic Alaska forum. As a starting point, here's mine:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1877302

 

[Proud to say one of my pictures is in Cruise Critic's featured slideshow today!]

 

Thank you for all the detail. If we rent a car and do it on our own can we stay in Denali and still ride the train? Do wilderness tour...?

[Host Jazzbeau]

If you rent a car you can't ride the train from Anchorage to Denali, but you will be driving along the road parallel to the tracks so you'll see everything (and you can pull over at the viewpoints to enjoy the best view as long as you want). But you can still take the train from Anchorage to Whittier the morning of your cruise!

 

You can certainly book the Tundra Wilderness Tour (53 miles into the park, $125.50 per person) if you like, but I suggest the Eielson Visitor Center Shuttle Bus (66 miles into the park, $33.50 per person) as a much better value. Not only do you go further into the park, but the Eielson Visitor Center is very worthwhile in itself.

Edited October 9, 2013 by jazzbeau

[lovetotraveltx]

Can you stay in the park, (Denali), overnight or are the bus tours just day tours in to the park and out?

 

Thanks again to everyone.

 

Is the coniseur (spelling, sorry!) very scheduled. Not sure about the 15 days either, but will look in to it. For us it's a special occasion and once in a lifetime thing, but not for our friends.

[melody hounddog]

Wonderful information. Thanks everyone!

[geoherb]

We did a cruise tour last summer that started in Fairbanks. We had two nights there, took the train to Denali (and upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness Tour) for one night, took a bus to Princess McKinley Lodge (which supposedly has views of Mt. McKinley) for one night, then a bus to Anchorage for one night. On our tour, taking the shuttle into Denali would not have been an option due to our arrival time. I'm so glad we upgraded from the Natural History Tour. The difference in price was around $60 per person.

 

The restaurants at the Princess lodges were not that bad. The prices were exactly what I expected (since I had looked online before going). There are other places to eat right across the road from the Denali Princess Lodge.

 

The things that were included on our tour (steamboat excursion and gold mine excursion in Fairbanks, train ride, bus rides, animal rehab facility) were interesting. It helped that we got a great last-minute price. The price for a similar itinerary next year is $3,000 more than we paid.

 

I was afraid of being bored on the long bus rides, but they weren't that bad. I still correspond with the couple we sat with on the train. They're hooked on cruising now like we are.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Can you stay in the park, (Denali), overnight or are the bus tours just day tours in to the park and out?

 

There is a lodge on private land at the very far end of the shuttle bus road (a small number of buses go that far), but it is very rustic. Most people find that the shuttle bus to Eielson (or a little further to Wonder Lake if the weather is clear) is sufficient.

[RNGALNG]

We too have had the opportunity to do both land and cruise.

 

I agree with the idea of doing the land first and then cruise.

 

We opted for a 6 day land, starting in Anchorage for to nights. We picked a Princess tour of the city on our full day there. We were then taken to the train that took us to the Princess Denali lodge where we spent two nights. On our full day there, we took the shorter tour of the park. We were new to Princess, didn't know about Cruise Critic so didn't know about the option of changing to a longer tour. The next leg was by bus to Copper River for two nights. This was our most favorite stay. It is a smaller lodge and more personal than the one at Denali. At Copper River, we again took a Princess tour on our full day. Then the same bus and driver took us to the shores where we took a boat over to the Princess ship for our trip south.

 

We were happy to have the two days at each stop. It didn't feel as rushed, having to put bags out every night. . . on the road again. . .if it's Tuesday, it must be Denali!

 

Whichever tour you choose, things to remember about Alaska that we learned:

 

1. Wildlife will not stop and pose for pictures. Have a good camera, lots of memory cards, and batteries. You can delete the shy ones each night.

 

2. It takes almost a full day to get from point A to point B. Relax and enjoy the ride!

 

3. Food is more costly than down in the other regions of the US. It costs a lot more for them to get the ingredients up there. Don't whine about it, have a glass of wine instead.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[Host Jazzbeau]

Food is more costly than down in the other regions of the US. It costs a lot more for them to get the ingredients up there. Don't whine about it, have a glass of wine instead.

 

Or better yet, have a glass of Alaska-brewed beer. ;)

[RNGALNG]

Indeed!!

[shipfriend_max]

Hi,

 

we are also considering Alaska for 2015, and if the prices are OK, we also would book princess, or at least consider them.

I assume that the Voyage of the Glacier cruises from Whittier to vancouver will be offered again be ISLAND/CORAL/CROWN PRINCESS.

Would you recommend CORAL/ISLAND or CROWN? And why?

 

Help would be appreciated, thank you! :)

[caribill]

Hi,

 

we are also considering Alaska for 2015, and if the prices are OK, we also would book princess, or at least consider them.

I assume that the Voyage of the Glacier cruises from Whittier to vancouver will be offered again be ISLAND/CORAL/CROWN PRINCESS.

Would you recommend CORAL/ISLAND or CROWN? And why?

 

Help would be appreciated, thank you! :)

 

Assuming the same itinerary, I would recommend the Coral/Island as they have about 1000 less passengers than the Crown (which is also a great ship to be on). They also have a covered pool which the Crown does not have.

[thinfool]

Thank you for all the detail. If we rent a car and do it on our own can we stay in Denali and still ride the train? Do wilderness tour...?

 

The wilderness tour is great....just sign up for it http://www.reservedenali.com.

 

The train is not all that great....a slow, drawn out ride on the rails thru a 'tree tunnel' for miles and miles, broken occasionally by open country vistas. You can see more from the highway in your car.

 

The best part of the train ride was along Turnagain Arm (we were northbound out of Whittier) where we saw lots of Beluga whales feeding on salmon in the chocolate, mud laden waters of the tidal flats. (in mid-August) This was before we got to Anchorage. Otherwise my opinion of the train ride was slow, tedious and boring.

[Budget Queen]

I highly recommend you head to your library and find some Alaska travel books. The more you know the better you will be able to figure out "what' you are reading when you look at different options.

 

I do not agree with some of what is "recommended" above, due to some of it, not having a lot of experience traveling there, and knowing other, perhaps seperior options. There are numerous choices to make, make the best choices depending on why you are going there. :)

 

You will find a lot of raves about Alaska it is spectacular. But the more you know the better your choice will be. Do not rush into reservations until you have your entire itinerary figured out. Go for as long as you can afford and take your time. Rework and rework your itinerary. The fine tuning is of benefit.

 

There is a some Denali notations above. Some of it not too clear. For wildlife and scenery it is all about getting INTO the park. http://www.nps.gov/dena some people don't care, but then why go there. There is a reference to Princess having the "best" cruise tours. In my opinion, couldn't be farther from the truth compared to what is overall available. Kantishna- is referenced which is excellent for overnights. I highly recommend the Skyline Lodge. :) This is not a day trip area in my opinion.

 

The min. distance I recommend is Eielson, which none of the cruise tours go to. All entry is via basic buses. Most do have separate seats, but vinyl. The Denali TOUR buses- which are the Natural History and Tundra Wilderness, included with cruise tours ( some do allow the option to purchase the high cost Kantishan day trip, again, not recommended by me). The Natural History, which Princess mostly includes- does NOT get into the park. So, a major decision needs to be made, the priority for this location. The bargain- is if you can break away from the group travel and go on your own, Princess refunds the Denali tours. Be certain to take a close look at the different buses and distances available.

 

for meals budget 50% more than you would at home.

 

Read through several trip reports. Then you can determine what your style of travel might be, to narrow down your selections. Good luck.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Budget Queen

[peety3]

My minimal experience in shopping for a cruisetour was simple:

 

Day of cruise departure leads to which ship. (At most you'll have a choice between two ships.)

 

Day of cruise departure leads to a select subset of cruisetour options.

 

Choice of cruisetour somewhat dictates the day of cruise departure and therefore the ship.

 

So...you'll probably have to weigh the options and go with one primary factor and then a secondary factor.

[New York Nana]

We are traveling to Alaska in June of 2015. Can't book quite this early but gathering information.

 

We would like to do Denali 1st then cruise.

 

Recommendations on which Princess Ship and Cruisetour!

 

Thank you!

We did the SB cruise-tour (5 day tour/7 day cruise) in June 2011 on the Island Princess (and going back this coming June 2014!). I still have my review and Princess Patters available if you are interested. I also have the Patters and maps for each of the Princess lodges. I'd be happy to send them to you. Just email me at beh614@gmail.com and put "Alaska" in the subject. Never too soon to plan!

[msmoger]

I love Princess cruises and I have no doubt that their Alaska cruise tours are among the best. However, unless you have a specific reason why you can't do the land portion on your own (i.e. mobility issue, etc.), I highly recommend renting a car and exploring Alaska. You won't be disappointed. It's very easy to navigate and gives you so many more options to see what you want, when you want and for how long you want.

 

Spend lots of time on the CC Alaska Board and do lots of research. If you do decide on a DIY land portion I HIGHLY recommend picking up "The Milepost Alaska Travel Planner" (http://www.milepost.com/ - also available through Amazon). It's an excellent source of information when you're driving in Alaska.

 

Whatever you decide, you're going to love Alaska, It's incredibly beautiful.

[shipfriend_max]

Assuming the same itinerary, I would recommend the Coral/Island as they have about 1000 less passengers than the Crown (which is also a great ship to be on). They also have a covered pool which the Crown does not have.

 

Thank you. :)

We know both CROWN and EMERALD PRINCESS and we really loved her observation platform on the roof of Skywalkers Lounge - I think that's great for Alaska.

But many people recommend CORAL/ISLAND... I'd prefer them also due to the size.