Alaska is without doubt one of the world’s hottest cruise locations, and it is definitely simple to see why. From its majestic glaciers — a lot of that are considered greatest from the ocean — to its historic frontier cities, nationwide parks, wildlife and outside actions, there actually is one thing for each sort of traveler.
Possibly you simply wish to catch the highlights on a seven-day cruise by means of the Inside Passage — or perhaps you are in search of extra in-depth cruise and land tour combos that take you to spectacular glaciers and nationwide parks. Both manner, Princess Cruises has you coated.
Princess, one of many longest-running firms in Alaska, has extra ships crusing from extra ports than simply about some other operator. The cruise line’s 50-plus years of working in Alaska translate into extra selections and perks for passengers, together with particular nationwide park entry and a broad array of “cruisetours.”
Extra ships from extra ports of name
With the October launch of its latest and most luxurious ship, Star Princess, Princess could have a complete of eight ships — ranging in dimension from 2,000 to 4,300 passengers — crusing in Alaska in 2026. Itineraries embrace round-trip sailings from handy West Coast ports like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver. It additionally gives extra choices from Seattle than most cruise traces (together with weekend departures), and even one-way cruises between Anchorage and Vancouver.
The number of ships means extra diverse worth factors and cabin choices. You possibly can select from finances and solo-friendly inside cabins to a spread of balcony cabins and, lastly, its famed Sanctuary luxurious suites — which embrace perks like limitless drinks and health lessons, precedence eating reservations, a non-public adults-only pool, and unique entry to the Sanctuary Restaurant, Signature Suite Lounge and Sanctuary Membership.
However Princess actually stands out within the breadth of its itineraries and entry. The corporate gives greater than 15 crusing choices starting from seven to twenty nights, and “cruisetours” that go to as much as 5 nationwide parks.
Amongst its shorter seven-day sailings are Inside Passage cruises that cease at Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau with scenic crusing at Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. If you’d like extra glacier time, the road’s one-way journeys between Anchorage and Vancouver additionally cease at Sitka and Icy Strait Level and embrace scenic sailings in Glacier Bay Nationwide Park.
The road gives a bunch of longer itineraries on its cruisetours and sailings lasting as much as 20 days.
Particular entry to Glacier Bay Nationwide Park
Few locations exterior the polar areas let vacationers get so near residing ice as Glacier Bay Nationwide Park. Spanning about 3.3 million acres and containing over 1,000 glaciers, this protected wilderness varieties one of the spectacular stretches of Alaska’s Inside Passage. However not all of the ships crusing in Alaska can enter the park. To guard this pristine bay and its ample wildlife and ecosystems, the Nationwide Park Service restricts entry to 2 ships a day — and people with the longest historical past within the state get precedence within the allowing course of.
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That is why Princess can provide extra sailings within the bay than most different cruise traces. And whereas virtually any cruise to Alaska contains no less than one glacier viewing someplace alongside its route, nothing compares to the daylong sailings by means of the famed Glacier Bay.
The ships spend 9 to 10 hours coasting by means of the waters, permitting passengers ample time to absorb the surroundings from all angles whereas looking forward to bears, whales, harbor porpoises, uncommon birds, sea lions and otters. And naturally, vacationers can see the ice calving from the dynamic tidewater glaciers.
Throughout the daylong glacier viewing, NPS rangers come on board to relate highlights of the crusing and host particular shows and Junior Ranger actions for teenagers.
“Cruisetours” present an in-depth expertise
Along with its quite a few ships, Princess has 5 upscale lodges that take you deeper into Alaska’s wilderness. Since Princess operates each the land and cruise parts, transfers are seamless and embrace choices for coach journeys and glass-domed trains.
Throughout a cruisetour, you’ll be able to rise up shut and private with Denali, fly fish within the Kenai River, take a canine sled journey, go flightseeing or take within the mountain views and search for wildlife from the luxurious consolation of your resort. Princess gives some 30 cruisetours that mix a seven-day Gulf of Alaska cruise with a three- to eight-night land tour together with stays in a number of of the Princess lodges.
Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
This 85-room property opened in 2002 however is the most recent Princess lodge. It sits close to the city of Glennallen, which is residence to loads of tour operators and outfitters, and acts as one of many gateways to Wrangell-St. Elias Park and Protect — the nation’s largest nationwide park. The encircling nature means friends can get pleasure from views of Mount Wrangell, Mount Drum and Mount Blackburn from the lodge’s grounds. Those that wish to get nearer to this nature can guide further excursions by means of the property, resembling salmon fishing, glacier cruising in Prince William Sound, river rafting and coastal kayaking. The lodge additionally gives a number of eating venues, a present store and kid-friendly actions on-site.
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
The most important of Princess’ Alaska wilderness lodges, this 666-room property gives a lot in the way in which of facilities. There are a number of eating choices, whether or not you are searching for a sit-down meal or a fast chunk. There’s additionally a close-by reward store village the place you should purchase any provides you will have forgotten. The lodge is only a mile from the doorway of Denali Nationwide Park, making it the proper jumping-off level for climbing, fly fishing, river rafting, zipling or different nature excursions.
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge
This 86-room property is positioned alongside the Kenai River in Cooper Touchdown and gives scenic views of each river and mountains. Often called a sportsman’s paradise, the Kenai Peninsula is a superb jumping-off level for nature hikes, sportfishing, river rafting, horseback using and sightseeing day cruises to Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park. Vacationers occupied with seeing some museums, meals and wildlife also can guide a day journey to Seward by means of the property. Again on the lodge, friends have entry to a restaurant and lounge, a normal retailer and wood-burning stoves to make the keep additional cozy.
Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
At this Princess lodge, friends can get pleasure from resort conveniences within the wilderness. The property’s grounds span 146 acres inside Denali State Park and are bordered by the Chulitna River. It additionally gives among the most majestic views of Denali (also called Mount McKinley) that you could find. The 460-room lodge options an expansive “Nice Room” with a stone hearth, floor-to-ceiling home windows overlooking the Alaska Vary and a large outside deck. Actions within the surrounding space embrace a float down the Talkeetna River, a horse-drawn wagon journey, river rafting, kayak excursions and naturally, loads of climbing.
Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge
Get a style of city residing in Alaska at this modern resort in Alaska’s second-largest metropolis, Fairbanks. The 328-room lodge is near each the airport and the downtown sights, making it handy for vacationers. Company can eat and drink whereas admiring views of the neighboring Chena River and even guide a cruise down the river on a sternwheeler riverboat. Different actions embrace panning for gold at Gold Dredge 8, using ATVs by means of surrounding forests beneath the midnight solar and taking excursions of city.
