Round trip or One Way on Princess

[cr8tiv1]

Isn't it fun to plan?

 

I have been to Alaska a few times and have done a cruise tour.

 

*. Round Trip Seattle - too much time coming and going.

*. Cruise Tour to Denali was my first introduction to Alaska.  It was just okay.  Train ride was scenic.  Next time, I would like to do the Kenai Peninsula instead.  

*. Now, I cruise just to be on a ship and enjoy the beauty.  

 

One way North or South has many issues with coming and going.  Air Fares will be expensive as well as transportation to airports AND timing of flights.

 

So this is what I would do:  10 days round trip Vancouver.

 

Fly in a few days early (or stay a few days later) and enjoy Vancouver.  It's a wonderful port with so much to see and do.  

Use your first cruise to survey your likes and dislikes.  It will just be a taste of Alaska.  Glacier Bay will be the highlight of the cruise.  

Enjoy whichever voyage you decide on.  You can't go wrong.  There will be another time.  

 

Is the Crown the only one doing this itinerary?  There's nothing wrong with the Crown, but if one of the smaller ships is available, I'd jump ship in a heartbeat.

 

 

[KarenS001]

7 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Isn't it fun to plan?

 

I have been to Alaska a few times and have done a cruise tour.

 

*. Round Trip Seattle - too much time coming and going.

*. Cruise Tour to Denali was my first introduction to Alaska.  It was just okay.  Train ride was scenic.  Next time, I would like to do the Kenai Peninsula instead.  

*. Now, I cruise just to be on a ship and enjoy the beauty.  

 

One way North or South has many issues with coming and going.  Air Fares will be expensive as well as transportation to airports AND timing of flights.

 

So this is what I would do:  10 days round trip Vancouver.

 

Fly in a few days early (or stay a few days later) and enjoy Vancouver.  It's a wonderful port with so much to see and do.  

Use your first cruise to survey your likes and dislikes.  It will just be a taste of Alaska.  Glacier Bay will be the highlight of the cruise.  

Enjoy whichever voyage you decide on.  You can't go wrong.  There will be another time.  

 

Is the Crown the only one doing this itinerary?  There's nothing wrong with the Crown, but if one of the smaller ships is available, I'd jump ship in a heartbeat.

 

 

That is exactly what we’re doing. My family and I will be doing Vancouver before just so we are not tired after the cruise. We might stay 1 more night after the cruise. Yes, the crown is the only one that does this. This is my first time going to alaska so we want to just go and see the ports and which ones are our favorites. Next time we will probably do the one way and explore more of alaska. It seems like everyone that goes to alaska wants to do it again. I am super excited about glacier bay and sitka. Thank You.

[Restless Feet]

The land portion of each of our four Alaska trips have been four or five days and in each case, we did the land first then cruised south.  At the time of all of these trips, we were still working and had significant time constraints. The first trip, 30+ years ago, was selected by our travel advisor and was independent of the cruise line (the cruise line is long defunct). The last three have been Princess cruise tours. There has been discussion about advance scheduling. Two of our three Princess itineraries were booked essentially when the itineraries were released to assure cabin selection. 
 

As another person pointed out, the planning process is fun - enjoy!

[gottagocit]

30 minutes ago, KarenS001 said:

…. Is the cruise that your going on through princess?

No the Scandinavia trip is a land based trip we’re doing on our own and not a cruise. Well technically we are ‘cruising’ across the Baltic Sea on a ferry  in order to visit Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania while we’re in the neighborhood. Lol. 

We are doing a Princess Panama Canal voyage in April. 

[cr8tiv1]

@KarenS001

You will enjoy your time on the Crown Princess.  She has a full wrap around Promenade Deck as well as nice observation areas on the Lido+ decks.  

 

Which cabin category are you thinking about?  If interior, then Plaza midship, behind the Art Gallery or Aloha Deck aft/footsteps away from Aft Pool and outdoor area.

 

Cruise should be fairly comfortable since most of it will be the inside passage or along the coast.

 

Balcony cabins will have different amount of space with some more shaded than others.  It doesn't matter which side of the ship you will be on since it is a round trip.

 

Getting around Vancouver is so simple with the trains.  There are some great free walking tours.  

[KarenS001]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@KarenS001

You will enjoy your time on the Crown Princess.  She has a full wrap around Promenade Deck as well as nice observation areas on the Lido+ decks.  

 

Which cabin category are you thinking about?  If interior, then Plaza midship, behind the Art Gallery or Aloha Deck aft/footsteps away from Aft Pool and outdoor area.

 

Cruise should be fairly comfortable since most of it will be the inside passage or along the coast.

 

Balcony cabins will have different amount of space with some more shaded than others.  It doesn't matter which side of the ship you will be on since it is a round trip.

 

Getting around Vancouver is so simple with the trains.  There are some great free walking tours.  

We got a mini suite but one that has protection on the top. I believe it’s on deck 8.

[Rick&Jeannie]

5 hours ago, KarenS001 said:

 and If i go back i’ll do a one way.

If you are like most people you *will* go back!  We've gone back twice now after the original cruise.  Very likely will go back again!

[waltd]

We have done both.   Really liked the Anchorage to Vancouver the best.    Scenery  up around Anchorage and heading south was beautiful and something we didn't see RT Vancouver or Seattle.

Yes the flights were odd hours but we were on vacation to see the most of Alaska.   

[Tranquility Base]

If you are going to do the return trip; I would recommend the 14 day cruises ex Vancouver.

They are simply the 7 day Nthbound + the 7 day Sthbound sold as  a single cruise.

[Thrak]

10 hours ago, KarenS001 said:

Hello, I’m currently planning an Alaska summer trip but I don’t know if I should do a one way northbound or southbound or should I just do a round trip from Vancouver. Is Anchorage worth it?

 

I vote for a Connieusseur Cruise Tour. Do 4 or 5 or more nights on the land tour and then board the ship for the 7 day southbound cruise. 😎

[Torfamm]

12 hours ago, KarenS001 said:

I have looked at the lodges for holland and princess. I have read some reviews that there is nothing to eat near the area once in Denali. Do you have any experience with this?

Do you mean in the park itself or near the Denali Lodge? We were there for two nights in August. There are a number of places near that lodge. I liked Prospectors Pizzeria and Alehouse and would recommend it. We ate at a restaurant at the lodge the other evening 

[Torfamm]

I would try to do a one-way and add a land tour. My choice for a one way would be southbound to make the trip home shorter and easier.

 

I did a Princess Lodges rail tour that was completely separate from my cruise in August and loved it. There was no bus travel nor were there lots of organized group excursions or planned meals. We could pick the excursions we wanted at each lodge or book something on our own.
 

To me it was the best of all worlds - hotels, train tickets, and transfers arranged, leave luggage outside your door each departure morning and find it in your room at the next destination, but spend each day as you wish. I liked traveling every leg by train much more than doing half by bus on a cruise tour.
 

https://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-rail-tours/learn/

 

i chose this unescorted 6 night tour from Fairbanks to Anchorage and can highly recommend it.

https://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-tours/itinerary-3ts/?from_search_query=dG91clR5cGU9ZXhwbG9yZXImc2VhcmNoT25seT0w#3TS