Alaska Cruise Tour

Jun 30

Visiting Alaska has been our bucket list for many years. This year was the year we finally made that happen. As we started planning, we needed to make some decisions. We knew we wanted to see Alaska by cruising. We have traveled with Princess Cruises many times in the past and have heard that they did Alaska best. So that was the easy part. Our next decision needed to be how we wanted to see Alaska. There are so many options. There is an inside passage, northbound and southbound. We could also add a land tour to our trip. After some discussion we decided it may be the only time we make this trip, so we added the land portion to our cruise. It was the best decision ever! Our only complaint is that we should have added a day or two more to each of the land stay hotels to give a little more time at each.

We started our trip by flying into Vancouver, Canada the day before. This is so important with any cruise. Always fly in a least one day early so the ship doesn’t leave without you. It is so much less stressful and gives you time to adjust and be able to get on board early the next day so you have more time to enjoy the ship. We stayed at a hotel near the airport that offered a free shuttle. We just gave them a call when we landed and they came and picked us up. We were early but our room was ready. The hotel shuttle driver had recommended a restaurant near by that we went to for dinner. The hotel offered free breakfast in the morning so we were able to eat before heading out. We got a ride with Uber to the port and arrived by 10:15 am. We were able to get right through the check in process and right onto the ship. We found our muster station and did a tour of the ship. Found some lunch at the main dining room. Our ship left port at 5 pm with a sail away party on the pool deck. We went under the Lion’s Gate Bridge as we left.

We had nightly reservations in the main dining room, Concerto Dining Room. We had an amazing waiter and jr. waiter so we asked to be seated at the same table all week along with the other couple we were cruising with. The first night in the theater was a vocalist, comedian and just over all amazing performer Sean O’Shea. We then headed over to some other venue for more music and comedy.

Princess Cruises Naturalist Rob Raincock

Sunday was a sea day. There was lots to do on the ship to keep us busy. They offered a few informational and entertaining shows through out the day. Including Andy Pittard and Robert Raincock. Andy shared some of his stories of working on a crab fishing ship in the Bering Sea. Rob shared with us about whales. Rob is employed by Princess as a Naturalist and stays on the ship through out the Alaskan journey. He gives talks through out the week about all things Alaska. Its a great way to enrich your journey. The evening was a formal night and included the production show in the theater and some more great comedy in the Vista Lounge.

The fish ladder where the salmon climb upriver

The view from our aft cabin while in Ketchikan, Alaska

Our first port day was Ketchikan, Alaska, the oldest city in Alaska. Thankfully the rain ended early that day so we could head out to explore. Our first stop was the famous “Welcome to Ketchikan” sign. We walked to the Great Lumberjack Show for the first show of the day. It was a fun and entertaining show. They have a competition between the Alaska and Canadian lumberjacks. I would recommend this. After the show, we choose to do the on your own walking tour around the town. We picked up a walking tour map the the visitors center on the way in. It is free and gives you a great opportunity to see the town. It will take you to the fish ladder. This is where you will see the salmon swimming up stream later in the summer. We were there in May so we didn’t see any. The walking tour will take you by a few museums and totem pole parks. There is a charge to get into them. It will also take you by the Famous Creek Street. It used to be the red light district and it is now all shopping. We did stop at one that has smoked salmon that you can try. It was amazing so of course we took some home with us. This is salmon capital of the world. If you like salmon it is a must do. It is the only place where we found smoked Alaskan salmon that you can try and purchase. Definitely worth a stop. The night was filled with a magic show, more comedy and music.

Sea Lions that we saw on our whale watching tour

Our next port day took us to the state capital, Juneau, Alaska. Here we did a whale watching tour and a trip to Mendenhall Glacier with Juneau Tours and Whale Watching. We booked this in advance and they gave us great directions on where to meet them in port. We rode a bus up to where they took us on a boat to go see the whales. We were lucky enough to see them breach. This was an amazing experience and we are so glad we choose to go. The tour group has some very knowledgeable staff that taught us many things about the whales, their habits and their journey from Hawaii to Alaska each year. The driver also made a stop on the way back to show up where the sea lions live.

Our next stop was Mendenhall Glacier. We walked out to Nugget Falls (just over a mile) and were able to get up close to the Glacier. There is a Visitor Center that has displays and shows you how the glacier is formed and how it calves, as well as, the ecological information on glaciers.

On the way back to the ship we stopped for lunch at the Red Dog Saloon. We tried the duck fart shot while we were there. (We found out later, the ship makes them as well). They had a piano player/comedian there. Saw dust all over the floor and of course a gift shop. It was busy when we got there around 2, but sat upstairs so we didn’t have to wait. In the evening, Iditarod Champion Libby Riddles came in a gave a presentation about how she moved to Alaska and started mushing and her adventures racing the Iditarod. She was the first woman to win the Iditarod race. There were more shows, music and comedians throughout the evening.

We rode in this from the bottom of the mountain to the top where they have the Dog Boot Camp

Our driver Patrick holding one of the puppies. We were all able to hold them.

A view of our ship on our way back from the mushers camp

Our third port was Skagway, Alaska. Here we took a tour with AlaskaX. They picked us up at the port and took us to the bottom of the mountain. There they took us up the mountain in a special truck. We went to the musher’s dog boot camp. The dogs were so excited to see us when we got up there that they were howling and barking. They love to run and they get excited knowing they were going to be able to run. They host about 250 dogs in training over the summer. They have teams of 16 that pull guests around the track. Afterwards they talked about what kind of training goes into training for the Iditarod. We were able to hold the 10 week old puppies and see some new mom with one week puppies.

After puppies we had lunch at the Skagway Brewing Company, and a little shopping in town. I love how they kept the look of the town with all the buildings. We stopped into Klondike Doughboy to try a dough pie. Its pretty much an elephant ear. Back on the ship they had puppies in the Piazza. There is a trainer that brought a couple of his puppies in and told of his experience growing up in dog training and running the Iditarod. There was also a “North to Alaska” show, a fun musical Alaskan style, and an illusionist.

Our next stop was Glacier Bay National Park. On the way into the park we had several rangers come onto the ship for the day as we headed towards the glaciers. They talked from the bridge throughout the day explaining what we were seeing along the way. We didn’t see any whales as many were still making their way there. We did see eagles and sea otters. There were presentations during the day by the park rangers in the theater. We also had an enrichment showing “North to Alaska: The Salmon Way”. This night was another formal night. We went to the production show in the theater called 'Sweet Soul Music’ that included some amazing music. More comedy. Tonight was with the one of our favorites of the week, Joe Larson in the Vista Lounge.

A glacier enrichment presentation by Rob

Our last day on the ship was mostly a sea day. There were lots of “North to Alaska” Enrichment presentations, behind the scenes shows such as a galley tour and dance lessons, karaoke and more. We spent some time playing cards and relaxing. It is a busy cruise for sure. Later in the afternoon we arrived at College Fjords. Our ship Naturalist Rob, came over the speakers from the bridge explaining what we were seeing along the way. They passed out hot chocolate to those on the deck watching. It was so quiet and peaceful and the water was so calm. The evening was some more great shows and music. This cruise has definitely has had amazing talent.

Enjoying some hot chocolate on deck as we viewed the glaciers and wildlife

The view from our aft cabin when we woke up back in port in Wittier, Alaska

The train arriving into port in Wittier, Alaska

Our open view train that we took from the port in Wittier, Alaska to Denali, Alaska

After we disembarked in the morning, we walked across the parking lot where we boarded a double decker open view train car. There was comfortable seating for all 80 of us on the top level. They had bar service available. There was a narrator for each car as well as a dining car area on the lower level where we were able to get breakfast or lunch. The food was very good and made to order. They also offered snacks throughout the day. We arrived in Denali at the only train depot in a National Park later in the day. There we were transferred to buses and taken to Princess Denali Lodge about 10 minutes away for our stay for the evening. We grabbed dinner at one of the many on site restaurants.

Natural History Tour at Denali National Park

Following our Natural History Tour Through Denali National Park, we boarded a tour bus that took us to McKinley Princess Lodge. We were able to get a better view of The Big One Denali from there from their observation deck. They have a tree house on the property that was built for the Discovery Channel Treehouse Masters. It is a steep walk to visit the tree house, but has some amazing views. Bear had been spotted the day before so we kept an eye open. We walked around the complex and on the trails. They have a choice of many restaurants on site as well. Only one gift shop. But a couple big open area to hang out by the fireplace and play cards or chat. They have a bar with 3 firepits outside where you can keep the fire going and share some conversations. We needed to be out of our room by 11 and luggage out by 9. We did some hiking and card playing. There are excursions that you can take including getting a bus ticket to go visit the town of Talkeetna. In the afternoon we took the bus to Anchorage to Hotel Captain Cook. It is a very large and beautiful hotel. We spent the night and headed to the airport early the next morning.

This was definitely a bucket list trip that we really enjoyed and were so blessed to to be able travel with some great friends and have amazing weather.

Dawn Evers

Alaska Cruise Tour

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