Carolina Chuck

Sounds like the same tour. How did you like the Daneli Dinner Theatre show/dinner ?

When we were there the weather was unseasonably warm (actually hot) and it was too warm in the dining hall/theatre to really enjoy it. Food at the show was average at best but the show was entertaining. Would have rather eaten at the King Salmon restaurant. Sea Salt Salmon is to die for!:)

I am assuming that you are doing the same tour that we did in 2013; 2 nights at each location.

Night #1 dinner on your own, not included

Next morning, buffet breakfast with your tour group - included

Lunch - before riverboat cruise - included

Dinner - Wine pairing dinner with group - included (AMAZING)

Second morning - breakfast at hotel - included

Arrive at Denali - lunch on your own

Dinner - dinner theatre - included

Breakfast at hotel - included

Lunch on your own (snack if on wilderness tour included)

Dinner at hotel - included

breakfast at hotel - included

Train ride to Talkeetna/McKinley (food for purchase on train)

Dinner at hotel - included

Next day - breakfast and dinner at hotel included (lunch on own)

Last day - breakfast at hotel included

Train to ship - lunch included

hope this helps

We did the Connoisseur Level tour in 2013. In our opinion it was VERY much worth the difference in price. Special rooms at the Denali Lodge (cooled rooms as it was in the 90s when we got there), air conditioned bus on the Tundra Wilderness Tour, dedicated rail car for our group only. Last but not least an "unannounced" wine pairing dinner on our first night in Fairbanks.

Yes that sounds right. They are only open for the summer months. Also, they need to "allocate" all of the princess tours rooms prior to opening them up to the general public.

Last June/July we did a cruise tour that consisted of a 6 night tour before our cruise and like you we agonized over trying to decide if it was worth the extra money before we booked it. Our opinion after completion, WELL worth the money to us. We got the best of everything, meals, hotel rooms, preferred bus times, rail cars, etc. Our tour was limited to a single bus capacity, approx. 50 persons.

Thanks, Northern Aurora. Do you know if the rental car places have a shuttle that runs to the Princess?

The Princess Lodge has a shuttle that will pick you up or take you to the airport (free of charge). The Princess representative in the airport will call them when you return your car. We rented a car upon arrival (Friday night) and returned it on Sunday afternoon.

We had the same circumstances this past summer. We stayed at the Vancouver Airport Fairmont. Took the first available transfer to the airport and they allowed us to go ahead and check in so we could drop off our luggage. Beautiful and luxurious hotel. Then we took the train back into downtown Vancouver. Hint, you can by a day pass in the 7-11 store on the bottom level of the airport that is good on trains and busses.

We had a 6am flight as well and the bellman took our luggage all the way to the United counter in the airport!

http://runningreindeer.com/

If you have a car, the absolute BEST thing that we did in Fairbanks!

The Fairmont that is in the Vancouver airport is very nice and convenient.

http://www.fairmont.com/vancouver-airport-richmond/

The Fairmont is EXCELLENT but can be a bit on the high end from a price standpoint. If you are using a travel agent for your cruise check with them as they may get you a better price .We stayed there after our cruise leaving early the next morning. It is actually located IN the airport. The bellman took our luggage all the way to the airline check-in counter.

Ketchikan seemed to us to have more shops/stores as well as the best prices and everything is much closer to the ship docks.

We did a thirteen night (plus 2 extras as we arrived in Fairbanks early) and on the day we left Fairbanks for Denali our luggage was separated. We were given tags to mark what was taken to the ship and what went to our next destination. Worked great, at every destination hotel and on the ship our luggage was waiting for us. For the land portion you do need a small carry-on for laptop, night clothes, and personal items (razors, toothbrushes, make-up, etc).

did you book the TWT through Princess? I am booking independently and possibly doing the Wonder Lake Shuttle bus.

Yes we did book through Princess. We did not go all the way to Wonder Lake.

We were there in June of this year (2013) and the bus for the Tundra Wilderness Tour picked us up in front of the Princess Lodge.