Today, I’ll be talking about cruising to Alaska with Princess Cruises, my absolute favorite cruise line. I love their service, ships, itineraries, and in my opinion, some of the best food at sea. (Especially their pizza–it is SO good!). Princess cruises offers a variety of itineraries, beginning at 4 days all the way up to a 14 day Grand Adventure. They also offer land tours before or after a south- or north-bound (one way) cruise, they even have their own Wilderness Lodges…and a TREEHOUSE! I’ll talk about their land options in a later post!
Alaska cruises are your ticket to adventure amidst the Great Land’s glaciers, wildlife and national parks. Voyage through the untamed beauty from the comfort of Princess Cruises’ world-class ships, exclusive rail service and Princess Wilderness Lodges near national parks. Choose from a variety of Alaska cruise and cruisetour itineraries and connect with loved ones, locals and Alaska’s wilderness with Princess®.
Imagine experiencing the Great Land with the #1 cruise line in Alaska. Colossal mountains that touch the sky, ancient rivers of ice that crawl toward the ocean changing the landscape and majestic animals that call the north home.
Each year, Princess Cruises hosts more guests in Alaska than any other cruise line. They have perfected this experience to show you this amazing destination in its greatest and purest form.
I’ve cruised to Alaska twice, and honestly cannot wait to return to our 49th state.
Alaska vacations are a great option for families and multi-generational groups because there are age-appropriate activities for all. Many of Princess’ staterooms accommodate third & fourth guests, who sail at a lower rate.
NORTH TO ALASKA
On a Princess Cruise Alaska vacation, their North to Alaska program brings local personalities, culture, and cuisine on board and ashore to immerse their guests in all things Alaska.
Fresh Alaska Seafood —
- Cook My Catch — guests can reel in a fish during the day while on a Princess fishing excursion and enjoy it for dinner that day!
- Princess has partnered with some of the best local dives in Alaska to provide true Alaska favorites on board including Crab Cakes from “Tracy’s King Crab Shack” in Juneau, Fish Tacos from the “Alaska Fish House” in Ketchikan and Seafood Chowder from “Bonanza Bar & Grill” in Skagway.
- Princess Cruises offers a dedicated Alaska cuisine themed night in the main dining rooms.
- Crown Grill and Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse will also offer a regional Alaska cuisine menu on select evenings.
Meet Local Alaskans —
There are many opportunities and cruise activities for all interests from cuddling sled-dog puppies to hearing tales from lumberjacks, mountain climbers & Deadliest Catch fisherman.
- Loggerheads — Guests will be treated to an exciting demonstration on board that reveals the life and adventures of your host, an actual Alaskan Lumberjack, and will include an authentic axe-throwing competition with select guests.
- Deadliest Catch — From the popular Discovery Channel program, Deadliest Catch, Captain David Lethin and his shipmates from the Aleutian Bllad relate their true-life adventures and experiences in the Bering Sea in pursuit of crab.
- Capturing the Last Frontier — Find out what it takes to capture some of the best photos the Great Land has to offer, from the very photographers who took them! Award winning photographers Carl Johnson and Daryl Pederson share their Alaska photography experiences as well as offer tips and tricks on how you can snap your own frameable Alaska photos.
- Libby Riddles — Meet renowned dog musher Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the grueling 1,100-mile Iditarod sled dog race. She comes aboard in Juneau to share tales of her historic triumph, answer questions and even sign autographs.
- Nick Jans — New York Times best-selling author and renowned storyteller Nick Jans comes aboard to tell his compelling, emotional story of Romeo, the wolf, and the effect he had on the people of Juneau, as told in his book, A Wolf Called Romeo.
- Meet the Mountain Climber– Hear first-hand from climbers who have conquered Denali, as they tell the exhilarating stories of their journey and present thrilling photos in the Hudson Theater in the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.
*entertainment is always subject to change
Unique Alaska Experiences —
From the Klondike Festival to interactive youth programs, Princess Cruises’ North to Alaska activities aim to enrich.
- Alaska Explorers Youth Program — In partnership with the Glacier Bay National Park Rangers and the Discovery Channel, kids and teens can explore their adventurous side with activities such as their Jr. Ranger Program, totem pole decorating, and the Deadliest Catch Crab Sort Challenge. They can even earn their own Junior Ranger Badge!
- Mt. Mckinley Princess Treehouse — You can experience Princess Cruises’ treehouse, as seen on Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters! Gain a whole new perspective of Denali, the Great One, from the perch of a custom-built treehouse at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Sampling rare tree-inspired foods at Sappy Hour and testing their Great Land knowledge at Trivia in the Treehouse.
- Puppies in the Piazza — Some of Skagway’s newest sled dogs come aboard! You can snap a picture with the puppies and meet their dog handlers who will be training them for a life of dog mushing.
- Northern Lights Planetarium — Guests can step inside a planetarium in the Princess Theater for a front row seat to the region’s colorful light display. “The Northern Lights” presentation introduces guests to the beauty and wonder of Aura Borealis. This program is designed for adults, kids & families.
- Klondike Festival — Guests can celebrate the spirit of the the Alaska Gold Rush with the thrill and excitement of a real Klondike Festival. Fun for the whole family, the festival includes gold nugget arts & crafts projects, harmonica music and a fun Can-Can dance class.
- Discovery at SEA — Discovery at SEA & Princess partner to create an industry-first escape room experience, driven by a powerful gaming engine. With hundreds of outcomes, this immersive interactive experience puts team’s creative thinking skills to the test. Work together and watch the room come to life. It’s an adventure the whole family will enjoy.
*entertainment is subject to change.
DISCOVERY AT SEA — Princess Cruises has teamed up with Discovery Communications to bring their guests Discovery at SEA — exciting programs that bring the wonders of the world to life. Alaska cruises will feature content from Discovery Channel and Animal Planet shows such as Gold Rush!, and Panning for Gold. Episodes of Deadliest Catch and Klondike mini-series will be featured.
Depending upon your chosen itinerary, these are some of the ports you may visit during your Alaskan Cruise:
JUNEAU
Marvel at the soaring peaks that tower over Juneau, Alaska’s capital city. You’ll wander through fields of wildflowers that accent its hillsides during summer, and glide over mist-veiled mountains and massive glaciers via helicopter. Thrill-seekers will enjoy a ride on the Mt. Roberts Tramway.
SKAGWAY
In Skagway, you’ll get an authentic feel for life in the 19th Century as you wander freely through this charismatic Gold Rush-era town. You can even peek into the colorful buildings that frame narrow streets and toast the day with a brew at a local bar. Don’t miss the Skagway White Pass Scenic Railway here!
KETCHIKAN
You can get in on the action in Ketchikan by fishing like a real pioneer in the salmon capital of the world, or wander along quaint Creek Street.
ICY STRAIT POINT
In Icy Strait Point, you can indulge on freshly caught crab and halibut as you become acquainted with the northern way of life. You can transfer up Hoonah Mountain and take the thrilling ZipRider experience back down over the forest. Out here, nature roams freely You just may catch a brown bear trundling along the Spasski River Valley.
SITKA
You can appreciate the natural beauty in Sitka as you explore the waterfront town. Sitka has a fascinating history with both Russian and Native Alaskan influences. Witness the Russian architecture of St. Michael’s Cathedral, and marvel at the totem poles that are found throughout the city.
GLACIERS!!
Glaciers feel alive. They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of “white thunder” — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below. On an Alaska cruise, let Princess Cruises show you Glacier Bay National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier.
Alaska’s glaciers have shaped the surrounding landscapes for millions of years. Mountains, valleys and fjords all come from the slow march these monuments make every day. Today, the glaciers of the Great Land — once only accessible to the adventurous few — are ready for you to explore. With over 50 years of experience cruising to Alaska, Princess Cruises is the best way to see these unique wonders. All Princess Alaska cruises include at least one glacier-viewing experience.
HUBBARD GLACIER
Hubbard Glacier’s immense beauty and blue hues are enchanting. The largest tidewater glacier in North America, it stretches a massive 76 miles long, 6 miles wide and 1,200 feet deep. The towering surface really impresses, dwarfing even the uppermost decks of the ship. Hubbard Glacier is an unforgettable sight. Alaska’s largest tidewater glacier rises hundreds of feet from the ocean floor and towers above the waves, radiating a brilliant blue in the daylight. Thanks to its exceptional movement speed — for a massive river of ice — the face of this Alaska glacier calves at an incredible rate, providing a breathtaking show for the lucky onlookers. Hubbard Glacier is actively calving — a Once-In-A-Lifetime experience!
GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
Known as Alaska’s crown jewel, Glacier Bay National Park is otherworldly in its beauty and breadth. Princess Cruises takes more guests to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line. You can take in the awe-inspiring scenery of the park, the highlight of Princess’ “Voyage of the Glaciers” cruise. This preserve boasts some of the world’s most spectacular tidewater glaciers. Not surprisingly, Glacier Bay National Park is part of a 25-Million acre UNESCO World Heritage Site. Princess Cruises is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park.
ENDICOTT ARM & DAWES GLACIER
As you pass through the narrow waterway of Endicott Arm, you’ll feel as though you’re entering another realm. You might find yourself gripping the railing of the ship out of sheer amazement at rushing waterfalls and towering glaciers. The best part? It all leads up to the grand finale of the Dawes Glacier, a sight you’ll simply have to see to beleive! Revel in the walls of ice that stretch stories above the waterline, or delight in the cliffsides that are decorated with forests and wildlife.
COLLEGE FJORD
Located in Prince William Sound, the spectacular College Fjord and its 16 glaciers are named after prestigious Eastern Colleges such as Harvard and Bryn Mawr by the professors who first laid eyes upon their majesty. You may even catch a glimpse of a 40-ton humpback whale feeding!
MENDENHALL GLACIER
Tucked in the coastal mountains around Juneau, this nearly 14-mile-long glacier cuts through the landscape and ends in a freshwater lake. Mendenhall is the best of Alaska’s ecosystems. It’s home to wildlife, and its rivers are brimming with salmon and trout. Not to mention, its forests burst from every inch of terrain, creating a true wonderland of nature.
This is just a small list of things you can do, see or experience on an Alaska Cruise with Princess. There are plenty of more things in Alaska to experience! Do you have any questions, or are you ready to begin planning your Alaska Adventure? Message me and let’s get a cabin reserved for you.
Cleared For Take-Off! 