In mid-August, I had the opportunity to travel with Princess Cruise Lines (800-774-6237) to Alaska. It was a truly memorable 12-day journey, four of which were spent touring on land and visiting several of Princess' lodges, while the remainder of the trip took place aboard the luxurious Coral Princess ship.
If you're looking to experience a one-in-a-lifetime experience, book an Alaska cruise aboard Princess Cruise Lines! It's that simple. What will really make your journey memorable, however, are the hundreds of different (optional) land excursions you can participate in when the ship stops at the various ports-of-call. From dog sled rides and ATV tours, to taking a helicopter tour and landing on a glacier, you can experience one exciting activity after the next....Or, when visiting the various ports-of-call, you can shop for unique souvenirs and duty-free merchandise.
When booking your cruise, Princess Cruise Lines will provide you with brochures describing all of your land excursion opportunities. This information is also available online at the Princess Cruise Lines website. It's best to book these excursions as far in advance as possible, as the most popular tours and activities book up quickly. Trust me, you don't want to be shut out.
Keep in mind, some of the land excursions that involve flight (such as helicopter tours or "flight seeing" aboard a small aircraft) could get cancelled due to bad weather, so have a back-up plan in-place. If one tour gets cancelled, you might be able to join a different tour later in the day, or work with the Tour Desk attendant aboard the ship to book a similar adventure during a stop at another port-of-call.
Keep in mind, the optional land excursions are not included in the price of the cruise itself, so plan your travel budget accordingly. Most of the optional tours cost under $100.00 per person, however, some of the more extravagant land excursions, like the helicopter tours, can cost upwards of $400.00 per person, but are well worth it. Whatever you do, don't forget to bring a camera! As you'll see from the slideshow below, the views are spectacular.
Almost everything aboard the ship itself is included, except for spa treatments, items from the gift shops, gambling in the onboard casino, portraits taken by the ship's photographer, and drinks (soda, alcohol, etc.).
Even if you don't consider yourself to be an overly active or adventurous person, there are plenty of exciting and breathtaking activities (both on land and at sea) that you can participate in, regardless of your age or physical abilities. While aboard the ship itself, you can be as relaxed or active as you wish. For example, you can pamper yourself at the spa, play bingo or experience the fun shows presented each evening. (If you only have time to see one show during your cruise, don't miss Dance!) Of course, you can tempt your taste buds in any of the ship's dining rooms, where an amazing selection of mouthwatering and all-you-can-eat meals await.
The seven-day cruise aboard the Coral Princess kicks off in Whittier, and includes stops at Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and ends in Vancouver. Alternate itineraries are available.
To plan and book your cruise, you can work directly with Princess Cruise Lines, a local travel agent, or make your reservations through one of the online travel services. (When traveling, you will need a valid U.S. Passport, so plan accordingly!)
The Coral Princess carries more than 1,970 passengers and has Alaska sailings in May, June, July, August and September 2009. Princess Cruise Lines offers seven, 10 and 14-day cruises, which can be combined with three to eight-night land tours (which include land travel aboard Princess-owned railcars) and accommodations at the various Princess lodges.
A trip to Alaska aboard a Princess ship is ideal for families, honeymooners, couples celebrating an anniversary, and even single travelers. If you'll be traveling with kids or teens, aboard the ship there are a wide range of activities that cater just to them. For adults, there's also a potpourri of activities available - both day and night.
Several different cabin configurations are available to accommodate travelers with varying needs, but if you can afford it, be sure to upgrade to a cabin with a balcony. You'll really enjoy the views of glaciers and snow covered mountains, plus the sunrises and sunsets.
Below is a small sampling of photos from my mid-August trip. While I've cruised numerous times to and around the Caribbean with other cruise lines, this was my first trip to Alaska, and I must say the experience was both memorable and extremely enjoyable. I can't recommend this trip highly enough!
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