Princess Alaska Cruises - Your Experiences Please
 

I am looking for any and all comments on Princess Alaska Cruises. Did you enjoy it? Would you recommend it for a first-time cruiser? I am very interested in what ship and cabin class people have stayed in and whether they were happy with their stateroom. <BR>Thanks for all responses.

We just returned from a Holland America Alaskan cruise/tour. I am pretty sure Princess offers the same type trips. We chose to take a three night cruise, stopping for a daytime at Juneau and then get off permanently at Skagway, a very picturesque town. We then headed inland for eight days. I am sure we missed quite a bit by not doing the full Inland Passage cruise, but I am not sorry as the on land tour was just fabulous. Holland America has their own hotels throughout the tour, except for Anchorage, where our tour ended...I believe Princess also has their own hotels. The bus/train/boat tours were wonderful and I am glad we got to see so many miles of beautiful scenery and interesting places. The trip into Denali and the "school" bus tour of the wilderness and wildlife of Denali National Park was fun and we did see some wildlife. The twelve hour train trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage, broken with the one night stop in Denali, was just heavenly. Every thing on our tour was first class and I am sure Princess would be the same. We chose no extra shore excursions, float plane or helicopter tours, as our tour into the Yukon and on up to Fairbanks and down to Anchorage made for very full, long days and we didn't need anymore than what was included on our tour.

Someone, anyone out there with experiences to share? I know someone has to have taken a Princess Alaska cruise. I am eagerly awaiting your response. Thanks.

Michelle, <BR> <BR>Our family took its first cruise on Princess to Alaska in 1996. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience - so much so that we have been on two cruises since. I would definitely recommend as a first time cruise. Ship (the Regal) was great. We stayed in a category E outside cabin. There were 3 of us but we still had plenty of room for both storage and people. Land excursions were varied and well planned. Enjoy your cruise!

Hi Michelle, we just returned tuesday night from Vancouver after a 7 day southbound Cruise of the Glaciers aboard the Dawn Princess. It was our 1st cruise and it turned out great. I never felt that I would enjoy cruising as we have visited many Caribbean islands on our own and we would not like to jump from island to island. <BR>Alaska is different- Beautiful scenery, etc. The staterooms are not huge but certainly adequate. We booked a guaranteed BB and were upgraded to a BA. It was on the Riviera Deck(12) with a balcony. A balcony on Alaska is a must. I would recommend an inside passage cruise as I was disappointed with College Fyord. Just make sure you see Glacier Bay it is beautiful. <BR>In Juneau do the Pilot's Choice Helicopter tour - expensive but worth every cent. <BR>If you have any specific questions, email me.

Hi Michelle - I was on the Sea Princess <BR>in May - her first ever cruise to Alaska and it was worth every penny I <BR>spent on it.It was my first cruise in <BR>over 8 years (my first being on Carnival <BR>in 1991 which was so bad it turned me off of cruising - but that's another story). I had an inside cabin (Category <BR>M) on Plaza deck. I wasn't in the cabin <BR>except to change clothes and sleep so it didn't bother me not to have a window <BR>or a balcony. A balcony would be nice <BR>when you are in Glacier Bay and College <BR>Fjord so you don't have to stand outside <BR>at the railing to get a good view of the <BR>scenery. But I have to disagree with <BR>Bert - I thought College Fjord was nicer <BR>than Glacier Bay - but that could be <BR>because it was windy, raining and 35 degrees when we were in glacier bay and <BR>50 and sunshine in College Fjord! This <BR>cruise is really worth it. You will not <BR>be disappointed.

Thanks for the question, Michelle. My husband and I are going on the Dawn Princess in Sept cruising from Anchorage to Vancouver. We booked a guaranteed minimum category DD - outside deluxe. Agent said we will probably be upgraded. I was glad to see that the responses to your question were very positive. We were open about which cruise line, and several agents we talked to said Princess is the best in Alaska, and Royal Carribean in the Carribean. I think Alaska will be great no matter what! When are you going to go? My brother-in-law has cruised Alaska 4 times in 8 years (twice on Princess)....must be good!!