Six Princess Cruises’ ships will sail Alaska’s waters next summer offering multiple itinerary options, immersive onboard culinary and cultural experiences, and a variety of “Land & Sea Vacations” for further exploring the state’s vast wilderness.
The line’s signature “Voyage of the Glaciers” itinerary — with its unrivaled glacier-viewing opportunities — will be offered on Coral Princess, Star Princess and Island Princess between Whittier (Anchorage) and Vancouver, B.C.
Cruises through the Inside Passage — with its ever-changing scenery from picturesque shores to quaint coastal towns — will be offered aboard Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess from Seattle and Grand Princess from San Francisco.
While on board, guests will encounter a variety of ways to engage in authentic experiences through the award-winning North to Alaska program. It features the newest Cook My Catch, an exclusive culinary program allowing guests to return from select Princess fishing excursions to have the chef prepare their very own catch of the day.
Also offered in 2017, the crowd-favorite Puppies in the Piazza, where guests can interact with real Alaskan sled dog puppies that are brought on board. On land, guests will hear first-hand tales from mountain climbers who have conquered Denali as they tell the exhilarating stories of their journey in the new Hudson Theater.
In addition, the cruise line’s “Land & Sea Vacations” will offer flexible ways to delve deeper into the fascinating Alaska frontier. Land tours are combined with a seven-day “Voyage of the Glaciers” cruise and include the company’s premier wilderness lodges, exclusive rail service, plus visits to the top two attractions in Alaska – Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park.
All 2017 Alaska cruises and “Land and Sea Vacations” are open for booking.
“Princess continues to offer guests the best of this beautiful state while on land and at sea,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “From wilderness and glaciers to fresh salmon and sled dog puppies, the newest North to Alaska experiences truly delivers on our commitment to ensuring our guests come back new.”
Princess’ 2017 Alaska program includes:
Alaska Cruises With 113 departures from Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver and Whittier — featuring unique ports and destinations — options abound for exploring Alaska in 2017 aboard Princess ships, including:
- Voyage of the Glaciers – Princess’ most popular Gulf of Alaska sailings between Vancouver and Whittier features two glacier-viewing experiences on every voyage, with visits to the UNESCO-listed Glacier Bay National Park plus either Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord.
- Inside Passage –This awe-inspiring part of Alaska, known for its lush scenery and pristine fjords, will be featured on seven- and 10-day roundtrip voyages with the option to visit Glacier Bay on select sailings from Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco.
Alaska Land & Sea Vacations Princess offers guests more than 20 “Land and Sea Vacations” in 2017, most featuring multiple nights at Princess-owned Wilderness Lodges to experience the grandeur of Denali. Guests will once again be able to purchase a pre-paid meal package for the land portion of their vacation in 2017. Options include:
- Denali Explorer – As Princess’ most popular “Land & Sea Vacation,” these itineraries feature multiple nights at the line’s Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and/or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.
- On Your Own – An affordable option for independent-minded travelers, these itineraries offer a flexible way to see the heart of Alaska. Tours follow similar routes as Denali Explorer options but do not include any pre-planned excursions, giving travelers the opportunity to customize their own experience.
- Off the Beaten Path – These itineraries are designed to take travelers beyond Denali to sought-after, remote regions of the state such as the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
- Connoisseur – The line’s highest level of service, these tours provide a truly immersive experience. With a professional tour director, most meals included, and enhanced sightseeing, guests experience the best of the great land.
- Heart of the Rockies Plus Rail – This 14-night cruisetour originates in Calgary and includes daylight Silverleaf rail service on the Rocky Mountaineer. The fully-escorted land tour combines with a seven-day northbound “Voyage of the Glaciers” cruise on Star Princess and includes most breakfasts and dinners.