Crown Princess to Alaska - R/T from Seattle - 4 June 2016 to 11 June 2016

[journeycollector]

Thank you! We're on a different ship and itinerary but the same ports so I'm really appreciating this. I recognize you because I found you on instagram while you were on the cruise (I've been searching #alaskancruise to see what came up)!

 

(I'm not a stalker, I promise!). Thanks for sharing!

 

Hah...no worries!!! I'm addicted to searching #alaskancruise on Instagram too!

[journeycollector]

Tuesday, June 7 - Skagway

 

We arrived in Skagway around 7am. We had thought about doing the train ride, but I like to stop and take photos. I thought about renting a car, but didn't really want the hassle. Our group split: We decided to book Frontier Excursions Yukon Discovery Tour while my mom and her boyfriend did some sort of 4x4 adventure up a mountain in Haines (evidently involving a ferry ride).

 

We had time to kill before the Yukon Discovery Tour, so we walked around Skagway...cute!

 

It was blustery at first...about 53F/12C when we got off the ship. Then the sun came out and it warmed up to around 63F/17C later in the day.

 

Here are a few shots from Skagway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HRReader]

Thanks for such a fabulous review and gorgeous photos! Can't wait to see the rest!

[journeycollector]

Tuesday, June 7 - Yukon Discovery Tour

 

At around 9am we met our tour guide, John, for Frontier Excursions at the dock. John was personable and gave a great tour filled with history and local trivia. We picked up a couple more people downtown and then we were off. There were 14 of us on board and mini-bus...didn't feel crowded at all.

 

We both loved this excursion. We could relax, take in the sights, and not have to worry about driving. John pulled over at plenty of stops to allow everyone to take photos. He even graciously volunteered to take photos of anyone who wanted them taken!

 

The drive along the Klondike Highway is gorgeous. We stopped at the Welcome to Alaska sign (even though we were leaving--but at that point it wasn't crowded), and stopped at lakes, mountain vistas, waterfalls, the Welcome to Yukon sign, and Caribou Crossing in Carcross where a lunch of BBQ chicken is included in the tour price. We also got to see the dogsled dogs. Then we were off to Emerald Lake, then a quick stop in Carcross, and then made our way back to Skagway. John told us to shout "bear! bear! bear!" or whatever animal we saw so we could pull over. Had three bear sightings, including a mama and her 2 cubs.

 

In total, the tour lasted around 6.5 hours. Beautiful scenery!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[journeycollector]

Tuesday, June 7 - Yukon Discovery Tour cont'd

 

I like photos... #sorrynotsorry -- here are some more Frontier Excursions' Yukon Discovery Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

[journeycollector]

Tuesday, June 7 - Yukon Discovery Tour cont'd

 

Dogsled team

 

Caribou Crossing, Yukon

 

Emerald Lake, Yukon

 

 

Bear cub along the Klondike Highway

 

Mama and her bear cubs

[EndersFoul]

Thanks for this!! We are going on the same cruise next year!

 

Questions- how was the Hampton Inn? Clean? Nice location? Any restaurant recommendations in Seattle?

 

Also, I know you said your mother and boyfriend went to the Red Dog Saloon (I think I read that correctly), how did they like it- was it crowded?

 

So glad you enjoyed your cruise, keep the reviews comin'

[journeycollector]

Tuesday, June 7 - Yukon Discovery Tour - cont'd

 

Last post from the Yukon tour...more gorgeous scenery!

 

 

 

 

 

Ok...taking a break now...will post more later.

[PhillyTravelBug]

AMAZING!!! I am taking my partner in a western Caribbean cruise in September for his 40th and will be putting a deposit for our next cruise to Alaska in 2018. Put that Yukon tour at the top of my list! The photos are amazing. I've always wanted to see Seattle too.

Edited June 17, 2016 by Joeghartman

[mimmy52]

I'm loving your trip report. Your photos are amazing!

[4hends]

just booked the crown today for 7/31! I can't wait to read your reviews.

[jeffbrig]

Loving the photos. We board the Crown tomorrow!

[liptastic]

Thanks for sharing your great photos and posts. Enjoying the thread, thanks Jean.

[journeycollector]

Thanks for such a fabulous review and gorgeous photos! Can't wait to see the rest!

 

Thank you! :)

[journeycollector]

Thanks for this!! We are going on the same cruise next year!

 

Questions- how was the Hampton Inn? Clean? Nice location? Any restaurant recommendations in Seattle?

 

Also, I know you said your mother and boyfriend went to the Red Dog Saloon (I think I read that correctly), how did they like it- was it crowded?

 

So glad you enjoyed your cruise, keep the reviews comin'

 

Oh you will have an awesome time!!! Yes, the Hampton Inn was very clean and in a nice location--about a 10 minute walk to the Space Needle. I booked directly through the Hampton website and we found ourselves upgraded to a suite for no additional charge when we checked in. I'm not even a rewards member, so not sure how that happened?! We liked that it included a breakfast in the morning (usually scrambled eggs, waffles, etc...) so we could save on breakfast $$$.

 

For restaurants, try something along the harbor near the piers around the Seattle Aquarium if you like seafood!

 

My mom & her boyfriend *loved* the Red Dog--it was crowded, but they still found a table, had some Alaskan beers, and enjoyed the entertainment!

[journeycollector]

AMAZING!!! I am taking my partner in a western Caribbean cruise in September for his 40th and will be putting a deposit for our next cruise to Alaska in 2018. Put that Yukon tour at the top of my list! The photos are amazing. I've always wanted to see Seattle too.

 

Thanks! As soon as we got off the ship, we decided a warm weather cruise in next on our list! ;)

[journeycollector]

Tuesday, June 7 - Leaving Skagway

 

OK, time to leave Skagway...

 

 

 

Had a late dinner back on the ship and then attended the 10pm performance of comedian Steve Moris...oh gawd, old "groaner" jokes about Tammy Wynette and Neil Young are not really our thing, although I will say he is a great guitar player. My partner and I actually walked up and left. Doesn't really play to our demographic, but the older people in the audience were howling with laughter. Live and learn.

 

Here is the Princess Patter for Tuesday, June 7:

 

 

 

 

[journeycollector]

Wednesday, June 8 - Cruising to Glacier Bay

 

Today is the day for glaciers! I decided to do something out of the ordinary (for me)--catch the sunrise! Oh, the sun rises at 3:59am, so I got my butt out of bed and headed out on to the decks. Here are a few pics...

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were a few other brave people up and taking pics, then I hit up the Horizon Court when it opened for a quick bite, then went back to our cabin and slept for another hour before the real action was to begin.

[journeycollector]

Wednesday, June 8 - Cruising to Glacier Bay

 

Getting closer to the glaciers...

 

 

Was really cloudy at first, but skies lightened later.

 

First glacier: Reid Glacier

 

Then we spent an hour at Margerie Glacier. The captain turns the boat around so both sides can get good views.

 

 

[journeycollector]

Wednesday, June 8 - Cruising to Glacier Bay

 

This day would have been my dad's 68th birthday, so I spent a lot of time thinking about him. He would have been amazed by the sights even if he didn't enjoy traveling ("I did enough traveling in Vietnam" was his usual response).

 

More from Margerie Glacier:

Tip: We started up on Deck 16 (Sun Deck) for a more "birds-eye" views of the glaciers (get there early!) and then headed down to Deck 7 (Promenade Deck) for a different perspective (they are absolutely massive).

 

 

Saw some calving...you would hear a big crack, almost sounded like thunder. I didn't capture any. I put my camera down for a bit and just took it all in (I know...hard to believe!)

 

Got my pic snapped while at Margerie Glacier:

 

Someone looks cold! Temps were around 48F/9C while cruising through Glacier Bay.

 

Near Margerie Glacier was Grand Pacific Glacier...doesn't look very "glaciery" but the park rangers assured it was.

[journeycollector]

Wednesday, June 8 - Cruising Glacier Bay

 

After Margerie Glacier, it was off to Lamplugh Glacier where we spent another hour. Again, the captain turned the ship around mid-way through so both sides could get good views.

 

Cruising to Lamplugh:

 

Lamplugh Glacier:

 

 

 

Then we spotted Johns Hopkins Glacier:

 

Time to leave:

[Eaglecw]

Great pictures! We were on your cruise, too. We are enjoying reliving the cruise with your review. We did a mini review of this cruise on the Princess forum. Keep those pictures coming.

[journeycollector]

Great pictures! We were on your cruise, too. We are enjoying reliving the cruise with your review. We did a mini review of this cruise on the Princess forum. Keep those pictures coming.

 

Thanks! Hope you all had a fantastic time, too! We're ready to do Alaska again!

[journeycollector]

Let's Talk about Food

 

Food is so subjective. Reading these forums, one person will *LOVE* something, while the next person *HATES* it. Based on comments it seemed I could be eating anything from "gruel you wouldn't even serve to orphans" to "give this ship a Michelin star!"

 

By and large, we all agreed the food ranged from average to excellent on the Crown Princess.

 

What was average? The Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe buffets. This isn't a complaint; it's pretty much what I expected when you try to institutionally serve food to 3,000+ people. We usually ate here for breakfast (I like a quick breakfast). What I can compliment them on was everything was consistent. For breakfast, I usually had some scrambled eggs, a potato hash brown, sausage links, and fruit. Occasionally, we popped in for a late lunch: I had a couple of things here that I really liked: one day they had some tasty lamb skewers; another day it was braised short rib pasta. Yum!

 

The Main Dining Rooms were good. We had Anytime Dining (which we learned was more like "Anytime Dining, but you should really call ahead for a reservation"). The Hazelnut-Crusted Salmon and the Fettuccine with the Parmesan cheese bowl were favorites.

 

We ate twice at the Crown Grill...EXCELLENT! Had a perfect filet mignon (no pictures, I gobbled it up!) the first time and Chilean sea bass the second time we went.

 

Desserts...oh the desserts. I have a major sweet tooth and was never disappointed. From the MDR to the Crown Grill to the International Cafe...even the buffets...I was more than pleased!

 

Above all else, service was excellent...true professionals.

 

"Always Available" MDR menu--this is from Italian night in the MDR.

 

Lobster Cake from the Crown Grill

 

Chilean Sea Bass with Brioche-breaded Prawns

 

I'm a sucker for anything chocolate...this is from the MDR

 

Being treated like a king on the Crown Princess.

[journeycollector]

Wednesday, June 8 - Cruising Glacier Bay

 

Here is the Princess Patter for Wednesday, June 8...