Planning an Alaska Cruisetour? Properly, we simply returned from our first land-and-sea journey and realized fairly a bit alongside the way in which. This complete information covers all the things it is advisable to know for a profitable cruisetour, from choosing the proper itinerary to maximizing your expertise. These insider suggestions will assist you navigate the complexities of cruisetours and take advantage of your Alaskan journey. Even when you’re a seasoned cruiser, you won’t totally know what to anticipate in the course of the land portion. That’s why we’re sharing what we want we knew earlier than taking our first Princess Alaska cruisetour.
Earlier than You E book
1. There Are Numerous Cruisetour Choices – Select Properly
Princess Cruises gives over 40 totally different cruisetour combos, all together with three important elements: stays at wilderness lodges, Direct-to-the Wilderness scenic rail service, and a 7-night cruise between Whittier, Alaska and Vancouver, BC.
Nevertheless, a number of variations exist. These embrace route (northbound vs. southbound routes), size (10-17 days in whole), begin/finish factors (Fairbanks vs. Anchorage), variety of lodges visited, which particular lodges you’ll expertise, and even which cruise ship you’ll sail on. So, make sure you overview them fastidiously and select the itinerary that finest aligns to your journey objectives.
Key issues:
- “Denali Explorer” excursions are the most well-liked
- “On Your Personal” choices can be found for unbiased vacationers however embrace much less
- “Connoisseur” excursions are escorted for premium experiences
- “Off the Crushed Path” choices enterprise deeper into the wilderness for distinctive adventures
2. Most Logistics Are Dealt with for You
One of many largest benefits of a Princess cruisetour is the seamless group. With most cruisetours, Princess handles all transportation together with from the airport, between lodges, from lodges to the prepare, and from the prepare to the ship. This consists of motorcoach transfers, baggage dealing with, and coordination between totally different elements of your journey.
When reserving a cruisetour, you’ll be able to merely get pleasure from your self and never have to fret about arranging resort lodging or the way you’ll get from one vacation spot to the following. Princess even coordinates all the things for the included excursions. In case you ebook extra excursions, these are dealt with very similar to shore excursions on a cruise.
3. Decide a Southbound Route
Whereas cruisetours run in each northbound and southbound instructions, we recommend you select a southbound cruisetour (land portion first, then cruise).
The land portion includes appreciable packing/unpacking, early mornings, and fixed motion between places. Getting this extra demanding phase out of the way in which first means you’ll be able to actually chill out as soon as aboard the ship. As seasoned cruisers know, among the best elements of cruising is unpacking as soon as and visiting a number of locations.
4. Use a Journey Advisor
Given all of the transferring elements of cruisetours, itineraries, and logistics, working with an skilled journey advisor who’s aware of Princess Alaska merchandise can save time and guarantee you choose the best choice to your preferences and finances.
Even when you’ve cruised earlier than, we advocate utilizing an advisor as they’ll help with any particular requests, add-ons, and/or wants you could have.
MEI-Journey is our most popular journey associate, and so they’d be pleased that will help you examine your Princess Alaska Cruisetour together with present a free no-obligation quote.
Planning Your Land Portion
5. It’s a Nice Technique to Go to Denali Nationwide Park
Denali Nationwide Park & Protect is over 6 million acres and is residence to North America’s highest peak. And fortunately, each Princess cruisetour consists of time at Denali Nationwide Park. The truth is, Princess introduces extra individuals to this unimaginable vacation spot than another cruise line.
When reserving a Princess cruisetour, you’ll keep at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge that’s simply minutes from the park entrance. To not point out, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, positioned within the state park, gives a number of the finest views of the mountain.
As a Princess visitor, you received’t have to fret about driving from the closest airport, securing lodging, paying entrance charges, or reserving excursions within the park.
6. You’ll Meet Fewer Individuals on Your Precise Schedule Than You Suppose
Whereas we knew there have been a lot of totally different cruisetour choices, one factor that stunned us probably the most was the complexity of all of the transferring elements. At every lodge, visitors are always coming and going. We encountered surprisingly few vacationers following our equivalent itinerary.
Some visitors had been touring in the other way, some had been boarding a distinct cruise ship, some had a distinct sequence of lodges, and a few had fewer days in every lodge.
Regardless of this fixed movement of tourists, Princess manages arrivals and departures easily.
7. Plan for Restricted Time at Every Lodge
Relying on the precise cruisetour you select, you doubtless received’t spend a lot time at every location. Most stays are simply 1-2 nights per lodge. Whereas this may be positive for some individuals, it’s actually not sufficient time to reap the benefits of all the things the resorts and surrounding areas have to supply.
Primarily based on our expertise, we advocate selecting itineraries with not less than two nights at every lodge. We truly would have most popular three nights on the spectacular Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge to totally get pleasure from its facilities and actions. Subsequent time, we’d go for fewer lodges to afford extra time at every one and fewer transfers.
8. Don’t Overschedule Your self
Whereas there’s a lot to see and do, keep away from the temptation of reserving too many excursions. The land portion already includes vital journey time, early mornings, and bodily exercise. So, tempo your self to keep away from exhaustion.
Along with the included excursions, we’d advocate solely reserving one or two extra excursions in order for you any time to expertise the lodges. They’re not simply lodges– they characteristic eating places, actions, hearth pits, mountaineering trails and nature walks, remark decks, and extra.
9. Some Excursions Are Included, Others Value Further
Your cruisetour consists of choose excursions (sometimes in Fairbanks and Denali), however many extra excursions can be found for buy. In Fairbanks, most visitors will expertise the included Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise. Some itineraries additionally embrace a Gold Dredge 8 Tour. In Denali, most visitors will expertise the Pure Historical past Tour; Connoisseur cruisetours get the Tundra Wilderness tour as a substitute.
Standard add-ons embrace flightseeing excursions, ATV adventures, ziplining, jet boating, and extra. Price range accordingly and prioritize primarily based in your pursuits.
Friends may also select to improve their Pure Historical past Tour in Denali Nationwide Park to the Tundra Wilderness tour for someplace round $50 per particular person. We positively advocate doing in order it will get you additional into the park (mile 43 vs. mile 17) and drastically enhance your likelihood of seeing wildlife.
10. Count on Appreciable Journey Distances
Alaska is huge, and the distances between lodges are substantial. You’ll spend vital time on motorcoaches touring between locations throughout your Princess Alaska Cruisetour.
For instance, the journey from Fairbanks to Denali takes about 3 hours by bus, and Denali to Mt. McKinley Lodge is roughly 2 hours. The rail service from McKinley to Whittier is roughly 5.5 hours and the rail service from Denali to Whittier is roughly 9.5 hours.
Be sure you convey leisure, snacks, bottled water, and cozy clothes for these transfers.
Lodge Life and Logistics
11. Lodges Are Not All-Inclusive Like Cruises
Not like cruise ships, meals, espresso, and all different drinks on the Princess wilderness lodges value further. We advocate bringing snacks to your room and finances for meals starting from $15-40 per particular person per entree. Most lodges have a espresso store, an off-the-cuff restaurant, and a sit-down restaurant, with costs similar to what you’d pay on land.
You’ll be able to pre-purchase meal plans for added comfort, and we did see many visitors utilizing these vouchers. The plans differ as to what number of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals are included primarily based on the lenght of the tour. For instance, our cruisetour (IB5) for 2026 consists of 10 meals (5 breakfast, 1 lunch, 4 dinner) and prices $412.
12. WiFi Might Be Spotty
Don’t count on constant web connectivity all through your voyage in inside Alaska. WiFi could also be restricted, sluggish, or unavailable fully. Embrace this digital detox alternative and deal with the pure environment and actions.
Our cell service and lodge WiFi did work fairly properly in Fairbanks and Denali however was spotty at Mt. McKinley. Additional, cell service is usually nonexistent in the course of the transfers through bus and prepare and there’s no WiFi obtainable on both.
13. Test Every Lodge’s Every day Exercise Schedule
These Princess wilderness lodges aren’t only a place to sleep. Each lodge gives quite a lot of facilities and actions. They will embrace naturalist talks, guided walks, wildlife or Northern Lights displays, cultural demonstrations, mountaineering trails, and interactive packages which are included in your keep.
You’ll need to verify every lodge’s day by day exercise schedule, normally displayed within the foyer, for a whole record. Throughout our keep at Mt. McKinley, we attended a presentation by a mountain climber who has scaled Denali a number of occasions in his decades-long profession.
14. Lodge Apparel Is Informal
When you may wish to dress up while you cruise, there’s no have to pack any fancy apparel for the land portion of your cruisetour. The Alaska lodges preserve a relaxed ambiance all through the day, even on the extra upscale eating venues.
Informal, snug apparel is acceptable for outside daytime actions in addition to lodge eating and nighttime actions. We did change most nights for dinner, however that normally simply meant placing on a pair of denims and a nicer shirt.
15. Most Lodges Provide Shuttle Service for a Charge
Between the included excursions and all of the non-compulsory actions, you won’t have a lot free time to discover by yourself. However when you choose to forego the extra organized excursions, most lodges do provide shuttle service.
The Fairbanks Lodge gives a shuttle into downtown for $10, whereas the Mt. McKinley Lodge gives a shuttle to Talkeetna for $10 (roughly 1 hour drive). Equally, the Denali Lodge gives shuttle service to and from the Nationwide Park vistor middle.
16. Make Dinner Reservations Forward of Time
At most lodges, there may be one restaurant that requires reservations. That is King Salmon at Denali Lodge, North Fork at Mt. McKinley Lodge, and The Edgewater at Fairbanks Riverside Lodge. Particularly throughout peak season, it’s advisable to make these reservations forward of time to safe your ultimate time.
What we didn’t know previous to our cruisetour was that you would be able to make these reservations on the OpenTable restaurant reserving platform. As an added tip, Holland America‘s Denali Lodge is true subsequent door so you’ll be able to even make a reservation there when you’d like.
17. Wildlife Is Plentiful However Sightings Aren’t Assured
Whereas Alaska teems with wildlife, animal encounters rely on elements like season, climate, location, and timing. Don’t be upset when you don’t see the “Large 5” (moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears) throughout your go to to the inside of the state.
Some visitors noticed moose and bears in Denali Nationwide Park, some even reported seeing moose alongside the highway throughout transfers. But, we didn’t see any of those “huge 5” except for distant white dots on a hillside. I assume which means a return go to is a should!
18. Solely 30% of Guests Truly See Denali
Identical to recognizing wildlife, catching a glimpse of Denali might be on the high of your agenda. Nevertheless, there’s even much less of an opportunity at checking this one off the record. The mountain is notoriously shy, typically shrouded in clouds. Don’t base your whole journey satisfaction on seeing the height. Benefit from the unimaginable wilderness, fall colours, and total Denali expertise no matter mountain visibility.
19. Shoulder Season Visits Have Execs and Cons
Early and late season cruisetours have their advantages, like cheaper costs and fewer crowds. Late season visits even provide lovely fall colours and an opportunity at seeing the Northern Lights. Nevertheless, visitors can face extra unpredictable climate, together with early snow, which may impression excursions.
Since we had been the final cruisetour of the season, the lodges had been operating out of provides too. Each restaurant had not less than one or two menu objects that had been not obtainable.
Thus, weigh these elements fastidiously when selecting your journey dates.
20. Put together for Numerous Early Mornings
One of many causes we choose cruising to land-based journey is the convenience of visiting a number of locations in a single journey. Appearing as a floating resort (with loads of different advantages), there’s no have to pack and unpack a number of occasions in the course of the journey. Sadly although, that’s not the case with a cruisetour.
Every time we had been departing for a brand new vacation spot, we wanted to position our baggage exterior our room normally between 6:30 and seven AM. This didn’t solely forestall us from “settling in”, it additionally meant a lot of early mornings. Transfers and tour departures will be early too.
21. Southbound Routes Imply Late Ship Boarding
In case you select a southbound cruisetour, you’ll arrive on the ship a lot afterward embarkation day than you normally do (probably not till round 7:30 PM) as a result of 5+ hour prepare journey.
This implies lacking many of the typical embarkation day actions and exploration, together with these early dinner seatings. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to head straight onto the ship and to your cabin when you arrive in Whittier as the whole check-in course of is accomplished on the prepare. Simply keep in mind to finish your muster drill instantly upon boarding.
22. Rail Service Differs From Denali and Mt. McKinley
The most important distinction within the rail service from Denali and Mt. McKinley lodges is the length. The transit to/from Denali is roughly 9.5 hours, whereas it’s solely 5.5 hours to/from Talkeetna (Mt. McKinley space).
The opposite huge distinction although is the prepare itself. Whereas each characteristic enclosed glass-domed vehicles, the Denali switch is a double-decker rail automobile with outside viewing platforms and the Mt. McKinley switch is a single-level rail automobile with no open-air entry. So, set your images and viewing expectations accordingly.
Additional, we’re undecided if that is true of all McKinley rail service, however seats on our prepare had been organized in teams of 4 round a desk. This implies you’ll sit with others AND half the seats might be touring backwards. We all know this isn’t ultimate for these with movement sensitivity.
What to Pack and Tips on how to Put together
23. Know What to Pack and Be Climate-Prepared
Alaska’s climate is unpredictable, with temperature swings as much as 40 levels relying on location, time of 12 months, and time of day. Pack in layers with waterproof outer shells, heat base layers, and cozy mountaineering sneakers. Don’t overlook solar safety and bug spray both.
Important objects:
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Heat fleece or wool layers
- Snug, light-weight sneakers (ideally waterproof)
- Gloves and a hat
- Binoculars for wildlife viewing
- Digicam
- Further energy banks and charging cords for all gadgets
- Sun shades and sunscreen
- Bugspray
- Light-weight, water-resistant daybag
- Informal night put on for lodges
- Refillable water bottle
- Medicines
- Small first-aid equipment
24. Perceive Baggage Tag Techniques
Much like the bags tags that it is advisable to print out for a cruise, Princess makes use of totally different baggage tags in the course of the land portion which are issued while you arrive on the lodges. Take note of the tags and directions.
At your first lodge, you’ll obtain “Be part of Me Onboard” tags. These point out that the bags can go on to your cruise cabin. This could solely embrace objects that you just received’t want till you board the ship, like cocktail clothes, sports activities coats, and the like. “Be part of Me Tonight” tags must be positioned on the rest of your suitcases. This baggage might be left exterior your room the morning of departure and transported individually to your subsequent lodge. Be sure you preserve any necessities in a small carry-on backpack that you just’ll tackle the bus with you.
25. Lodging Are Auto-Assigned
Not like cruises, you can not choose particular room places inside the lodges. In some cases, you don’t actually have a say in your lodge project. For example, Princess companions with Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks for overflow lodging.
When you can specify your most popular mattress configurations, room assignments are automated by the resort. Understand that these lodges will be fairly unfold out so that you may be positioned in a constructing fairly removed from the principle lodge’s amenities. Most lodges do provide on-property shuttle service for visitors although.
26. Lodge Rooms Might Not Be Prepared Upon Arrival
Very similar to different lodges on land, lodge check-in occasions are sometimes 3-4 PM, however cruisetour schedules are set by the cruise line and should have you ever arriving earlier. Be ready for potential delays in room availability and plan actions accordingly. Use this time to discover frequent areas, seize espresso, or take orientation excursions.
With our particular tour schedule, we did have to attend just a little over an hour for our Mt. McKinley room to be prepared. Arriving on the different lodges within the afternoon or night, this wasn’t a difficulty.
27. Lodges Have Water Refill Stations
Inside Alaska is a subarctic local weather that has low precipitation. This implies that you would be able to dehydrate fairly simply. That’s why it’s crucial to drink a lot of water particularly throughout outside, bodily actions even when you don’t really feel heat or thirsty.
Fortunately, you’ll be able to keep hydrated through the use of water refill stations obtainable on the Princess wilderness lodges. This protects cash on bottled water purchases and is environmentally pleasant. So, make sure you pack that refillable water bottle and take it to the principle lodge constructing for refills.
28. Contact Princess for Accessibility Wants
As we’ve already touched upon, the Princess wilderness lodges are distant, and the buildings are sometimes unfold out throughout the property. Because of this your room may very well be a substantial distance from the principle lodge and its facilities. Additional, many lodge buildings are two-stories (or extra) and sometimes don’t have elevator entry.
Thus, if in case you have mobility considerations or require accessible lodging, contact Princess properly prematurely. Raise-equipped motorcoaches, accessible lodge rooms, and different specialised tools are restricted and should be secured earlier than departure. That is the place a journey advisor can turn out to be useful.
29. Laundry Services Are Obtainable for a Charge
That can assist you keep away from overpacking, the Princess lodges have self-service laundry amenities obtainable for an extra value. There are sometimes a number of laundry rooms all through the property, so simply discuss with a resort map to search out the closest location. This may be crucial if it’s excessively wet or muddy throughout your journey.
Nevertheless, we recommend you pack enough clothes for the whole land portion that manner you don’t waste any treasured time. Princess cruise ships even have self-service laundry amenities, so attempt to do laundry on the ship as a substitute. Of observe, the fee is roughly the identical.
Maximizing Your Cruise Expertise
30. All Cruises Comply with the Voyage of the Glaciers Itinerary
Each Princess cruisetour consists of the identical 7-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise, sometimes that includes stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, plus glacier viewing in Glacier Bay Nationwide Park and Hubbard Glacier. This implies the one resolution you’ll need to make relating to the cruise portion is the ship.
In 2026, Princess may have 4 cruise ships providing Alaska cruisetours. We propose you overview the ships’ choices and deck plans to see which can fit your journey occasion finest. It’s vital to notice that not all ships crusing in Alaska provide cruisetours– as an illustration, the brand-new Star Princess will sail roundtrip from Seattle.
31. Know Precisely What’s Included in Your Cruise Fare
In case you’re new to cruising or new to Princess Cruises, it’s vital to know what’s included in the usual cruise fare. It does differ from the land portion.
Your cruise consists of lodging, predominant eating room meals and a buffet open many of the day, most leisure and onboard actions, fundamental drinks, and transportation between ports. Specialty eating, alcoholic drinks, web, gratuities, and shore excursions value further until you buy packages.
32. Don’t Miss the North to Alaska Programming
A part of what makes Princess Cruises a frontrunner in Alaska is its North to Alaska program. Enrichment alternatives embrace displays from Iditarod champions, lumberjacks, storytellers, and cultural consultants sharing genuine Alaska experiences. These talks present priceless insights which are typically lacking on different cruise strains. And the spotlight for a lot of is Puppies within the Piazza in the course of the ship’s go to to Skagway.
Moreover, all Princess ships crusing in Alaska characteristic a naturalist who will give lectures on wildlife, glaciers, and extra. The naturalist will typically narrate scenic cruising as properly, declaring wildlife sightings for all visitors to get pleasure from.
If that’s not sufficient, the North to Alaska program additionally options recent Alaska seafood on the menu, together with regionally sourced components and native beer, wine, and spirits.
33. Go All-Inclusive With Princess Plus or Premier Packages
Whereas visitors can actually have an important Princess Alaska Cruisetour with out paying for onboard extras, Princess does provide the Plus and Premier packages. These packages bundle add-ons to offer a extra all-inclusive expertise.
These extras embrace advantages like WiFi, beverage packages, pay as you go gratuities, specialty eating, and upcharge informal eating credit. The Princess Premier bundle even provides in shore tour credit score, a photograph bundle, and reserved seating within the theater.
In case you had been enthusiastic about buying a beverage bundle and even simply one of many different add-ons, upgrading to the Princess Plus or Princess Premier bundle might be value it. However we at all times advocate crunching the numbers first.
34. Contemplate Upgrading to a Balcony Cabin
Alaska’s scenic cruising by glacier-filled waters, wildlife viewing alternatives, and beautiful landscapes make balcony cabins notably worthwhile. You’ll have personal outside house for images, wildlife watching, and having fun with recent air with out competing for deck house.
Whether or not upgrading to a balcony cabin is value it or not is an ongoing debate amongst cruisers. It’s true that it’s going to value extra and that Princess ships have quite a lot of indoor lounges and outside rail house to soak up the scenic vistas, however if in case you have the flexibility we positively advocate the improve…particularly in Alaska.
35. Obtain and Get Accustomed to the Princess App
The Princess Cruises app is important for a seamless cruise expertise, so be sure to obtain it and familarize your self with it earlier than the cruise. The app lets you navigate the ship, make eating reservations, order drinks to your precise location, talk with journey companions, and entry the day by day schedule.
Even when you don’t buy a WiFi bundle, you’ll be able to nonetheless use the app’s options.
36. Perceive Your Ocean Medallion
The Medallion is Princess Cruises’ wearable system that serves as your key card in the course of the cruise. It’s issued with a lanyard or you should purchase different equipment like belt clips, wristbands, or bracelets. This implies your lifeline on the ship is at all times accessible with out having to fumble round to your room key.
The Medallion allows keyless stateroom entry, is used for scanning on and off the ship, and lets you make purchases with ease. In case you reside within the US and ebook prematurely, it’s mailed to your own home. In any other case, you’ll obtain it at embarkation.
37. Put together Your Cabin With Good Equipment
After we cruise, we’ve some tried-and-true equipment that we at all times convey to maximise house in our cruise cabin. We really useful buying some magnetic hooks and an over-the-door shoe organizer to your journey.
Because the partitions of the cabin are steel, the hooks can be utilized to hold baggage, rain coats, and the like. We truly use the magnets to hold our shoe organizer as properly. We don’t use this for sneakers however reasonably to retailer small objects like toiletries, chargers, and sun shades. This helps to maintain all the things organized and frees up some priceless cupboard space.
38. Make Cruise Eating Reservations Early
Whereas it’s not required, we extremely advocate pre-booking all of your eating reservations earlier than your cruise. Standard eating occasions on the specialty eating places do refill rapidly. In case you overlook to take action, make them instantly upon boarding the ship.
For the principle eating room, you’ll have to determine in order for you conventional eating or versatile eating. With conventional eating, you’ll have a set desk and supper time every night time (early seating or late seating). In case you choose extra flexibility, you’ll be able to dine at totally different occasions every night. Although, making a reservation to your desired time continues to be advisable so that you don’t have to attend while you arrive.
39. Put Your Cellphone in Airplane Mode
Keep away from surprising roaming fees whereas out to sea by conserving your cellphone in airplane mode and counting on the ship’s WiFi when wanted. In case your cell service covers you in Alaska and Canada, you’ll be able to take your cellphone out of airplane mode whereas on land; nonetheless, it received’t work whereas at sea.
In case you overlook, some carriers will ship a “heads up” textual content message informing you of the costs. For example, T-Cell fees $5.99/minute for speak and $0.50/textual content (and no knowledge) whereas on the cruise ship’s cell community.
40. Discover the Ship for Prime Glacier Viewing Spots
Alaska cruises are all about surroundings, so scout the most effective viewing places early in your cruise. Standard spots embrace forward-facing remark lounges, open-air promenade decks, and the pool/solar decks. Many cruise strains additionally open up the bow of the ship throughout glacier-viewing.
Not solely in Alaska, however we at all times advocate taking a while to discover the ship early within the cruise. This may assist you get your bearings, find your favourite venues, and perhaps even discover some hidden gems.
Backside Line
Princess Alaska Cruisetours provide an unparalleled option to expertise the Nice Land’s unimaginable wilderness, combining cruise facilities with genuine lodge experiences and scenic rail journey. By following the following tips, you’ll be prepared for the journey of a lifetime.
Whether or not you’re watching glaciers calve into the ocean, recognizing wildlife in Denali Nationwide Park, or having fun with recent Alaska seafood aboard your ship, a Princess Alaska Cruisetour delivers recollections that can final endlessly. The bottom line is correct preparation, sensible expectations, flexibility, and embracing each the deliberate actions and spontaneous moments that make Alaska actually magical.
After six Alaska cruises, we’re glad we lastly skilled our first cruisetour!
Feedback
Have you ever taken an Alaska land-and-sea journey? Do you could have another suggestions, tips, or useful recommendation so as to add to this record? Drop us an anchor beneath to share your Alaska cruisetour evaluations.
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