Alaska Denali Princess Cruise Tour Question

[msmoger]

This question is actually for my sister. She is looking to take a Princess Alaska Cruise Tour that includes Denali.

 

My question, is it easy and/or possible to change the Denali Natural History Tour for the Tundra Wilderness Tour? I realize there will be additional cost. Is this something that can be arranged prior to leaving for Anchorage or will it need to be done once she is there? Can her travel agent take care of this?

 

I also know she can book it herself but she will most likely be traveling solo and it would probably be better, given her personality, for her to book it through Princess and just deal with the additional cost.

 

Thanks,

[Budget Queen]

It also depends on the cruise tour, if this is going to be available. Does she have two nights there? Some single night cruise tours, don't have enough time.

 

You can upgrade through your booking agent. Problem is- it will be for a range of time and not a specific time. A specific time can easily be booked direct http://www.reservedenali.com

 

This has to be done in advance.

[msmoger]

It also depends on the cruise tour, if this is going to be available. Does she have two nights there? Some single night cruise tours, don't have enough time.

 

You can upgrade through your booking agent. Problem is- it will be for a range of time and not a specific time. A specific time can easily be booked direct http://www.reservedenali.com

 

This has to be done in advance.

 

She hasn't picked the tour yet, she's still in the preliminary stages. The ones I've been looking at for her arrive at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge in the afternoon, have a full day in Denali the next day and take the train to Whittier the following day. I assume having a full day would allow her to take the longer tour.

[Jersey42]

Years ago when we did this, we had two nights in Denali and it was no problem getting the upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness tour. The tour pretty much lasted all day. We had a great tour guide (who we found out later was featured on a Travel Channel show) and the mountain was in full view. So we stayed out almost two hours longer than planned. No one complained and it is a definite must do if she has the chance.

[nukesubsailor]

This question is actually for my sister. She is looking to take a Princess Alaska Cruise Tour that includes Denali.

 

My question, is it easy and/or possible to change the Denali Natural History Tour for the Tundra Wilderness Tour? I realize there will be additional cost. Is this something that can be arranged prior to leaving for Anchorage or will it need to be done once she is there? Can her travel agent take care of this?

 

I also know she can book it herself but she will most likely be traveling solo and it would probably be better, given her personality, for her to book it through Princess and just deal with the additional cost.

 

Thanks,

 

It is a good choice to opt for the full day tour of Denali. I have done both and Tundra Wilderness tour is much much better. If time available and finances permit, I would very highly recommend booking the Connoisseur Escorted tour that Princess offers. It will give the best Denali has to offer as well as the rest of Alaska. It takes all the hassles out of the travel. The accommodations are good and most meals are included. The tour group will have an escort who will be with you the entire land tour and will educate and entertain you. If you get Jack Curtiss as your escort you will really be a winner.

[DentoAlaska]

We are going this July and I didn't have a problem upgrading to the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Princess credited us the cost of the History tour ($198) and then charged us for the Wilderness Tour ($330). It took awhile for the Tundra tour to show up on the excursion list but once it did I called right away.

 

My only concern is that we have only one night at the Denali Princess Lodge. We are scheduled to arrive at 2:00 and the Tundra tour is from 3:00 pm until 11:00 pm that night. It's going to be a long day! But from everything I've read here it should be worth.

 

Another note...I booked this trip myself through Princess and didn't use a TA. I have had no problem handling everything myself, including price reductions, tour changes and adding additional nights. I have found the customer service reps to be very knowledgeable and helpful.

 

Bottom line is that in my experience it was not an issue making this change.

[hpeabody]

She should try to change her tour, I have done both.

 

One of my very few disappointments with Princess was the train between Denali and Whittier. OMG!!!! It was horrible. Being stuck in a Alaska Railroad dining car (not for meals, just the actual train car used for transportation) for 9 hours. I was facing backwards in the middle on old style naughahyde seats that I kept slipping off of. No view at all, just a train car crammed with folks. A couple years prior I had taken a cruise/tour with HAL and expected the similar fantastic train ride. On HAL it was like being in an uncrowded airplane cabin with a domed glass roof and train attendants to get you drinks, even sign up for Denali tours while on the train. Super comfy and a beautiful ride, with awesome views of the gorgeous scenery. This day I will never forget. Then I did Princess version. I really did not think about it or research it at all before the trip (my error) and was totally blindsided when I found my assigned seat and the realization hit me. It was the most horrible 9 hours I think I ever spent.

 

I would check this out very carefully with Princess, ask many questions about the train accommodations as related to her specific cruise/tour. Ask specifically if it is a Princess glass domed train car. They do or did have them and I imagine still do now. Also have her consider HAL as they are wonderful in Alaska.

 

I won't be doing Princess again in Alaska because of this.

[Loonbeam]

It may just depend on the train you got. We had the same car style the whole trip (admittedly in 09) with 4 seats around a table..

 

She should try to change her tour, I have done both.

 

One of my very few disappointments with Princess was the train between Denali and Whittier. OMG!!!! It was horrible. Being stuck in a Alaska Railroad dining car (not for meals, just the actual train car used for transportation) for 9 hours. I was facing backwards in the middle on old style naughahyde seats that I kept slipping off of. No view at all, just a train car crammed with folks. A couple years prior I had taken a cruise/tour with HAL and expected the similar fantastic train ride. On HAL it was like being in an uncrowded airplane cabin with a domed glass roof and train attendants to get you drinks, even sign up for Denali tours while on the train. Super comfy and a beautiful ride, with awesome views of the gorgeous scenery. This day I will never forget. Then I did Princess version. I really did not think about it or research it at all before the trip (my error) and was totally blindsided when I found my assigned seat and the realization hit me. It was the most horrible 9 hours I think I ever spent.

 

I would check this out very carefully with Princess, ask many questions about the train accommodations as related to her specific cruise/tour. Ask specifically if it is a Princess glass domed train car. They do or did have them and I imagine still do now. Also have her consider HAL as they are wonderful in Alaska.

 

I won't be doing Princess again in Alaska because of this.

[Katies12]

I also have a question about upgrading. Apologize to the OP for hijacking your thread.

I am on the Denali Experience/Star Princess starting Sept. 7th, 2015

When we are in Denali they have us booked for the History Tour, which we do not want to take. I would like to take my Mom on the Kantishna Experience tour, but it is sold out thru the Princess excursion page.

Can I book it independently?

Thanks.

Edited May 11, 2015 by Katies12

[portiemom]

I also have a question about upgrading. Apologize to the OP for hijacking your thread.

I am on the Denali Experience/Star Princess starting Sept. 7th, 2015

When we are in Denali they have us booked for the History Tour, which we do not want to take. I would like to take my Mom on the Kantishna Experience tour, but it is sold out thru the Princess excursion page.

Can I book it independently?

Thanks.

 

We took the KET in July 2012, and I highly recommend it. I booked it through Princess, but it is really not a Princess excursion. Perhaps you could try here: http://www.denaliparkvillage.com/denali-tours/kantishna-experience.aspx

[Katies12]

We took the KET in July 2012, and I highly recommend it. I booked it through Princess, but it is really not a Princess excursion. Perhaps you could try here: http://www.denaliparkvillage.com/denali-tours/kantishna-experience.aspx

 

Thank you, I will look into this.

[Illyria]

Is this something that can be arranged prior to leaving for Anchorage or will it need to be done once she is there?

You definitely don't want to wait until last minute, Tundra Wilderness Tour is pretty much guaranteed to be sold out by then.

[msmoger]

It also depends on the cruise tour, if this is going to be available. Does she have two nights there? Some single night cruise tours, don't have enough time.

 

You can upgrade through your booking agent. Problem is- it will be for a range of time and not a specific time. A specific time can easily be booked direct http://www.reservedenali.com

 

This has to be done in advance.

 

Took your advice and booked directly.

 

Thanks!!