Alaska Cruisetour Reviews

I would really like to read some reviews of the cruise tours. Very interested in doing this in the next year or two, but would love to read some reviews. Curious to know what cruise tour is the best option, what lodges you liked and why, how was the food and so forth.

I read one review on the Holland America board and the poster had a great time on the land portion, but it seemed like where they stayed was not the nicest of accommodations. Hoping to hear that the Princess lodges are just as nice as their ships!

Thanks much!

I didn't have time to do a formal review last year, but we loved the Princess cruise tour in terms of the organization, scenery, train, etc. As far as the lodges go, mixed notes as below with some other stuff tossed in:

Fairbanks - honestly it wasn't really a lodge. Princess apparently just bought and rebranded a Best Western or similar for the one we stayed in. It was comfortable, clean, and bland. The food was decent though. Included tours: We really enjoyed the riverboat tour (nowhere near as cheesy as we thought it would be), they do an excellent job of introducing you to Alaska. You have to take the gold mine with a sense of humor and be patient when panning your own gold, once you get the hang of it, it can be fun. If time permits, your driver will take you on a quick stop to the pipeline visitors center, worth a look! Optional tours: Skip the 'North Pole' trip. It's basically a bus run to a giant tacky xmas store. The chinese food was good though.

Denali - Gorgeous lodge, but needs a refurb (they were saying some was being done) for the older buildings. The little mini-suite we had was comfy and nicely themed, but very worn. The main lodge is gorgeous! Food in Denali was just OK, the 'fancy' restaurant was the best (and still fairly reasonable). There is a newer modern section that was more up to date but didn't seem as nicely themed. Included tours: Upgrade your included tour to the Tundra Wilderness Tour - yes, it is 8 hours on a bus but worth every penny if you want to see spectacular views and wildlife (will link pictures below). The included tour only goes about 1/3 as far into the park and features more educational components like speakers from a local native tribe. Optional tours: Didn't do any, all booked that we wanted to try, but we were happy just to wander around the lodge for a while. There is some touristy shopping across the street (good ice cream!)

Talkeetna - Gorgeous lodge, well maintained, clean, modern. Not a lot to do there however other than tours you book, none included. Food was good, but limited options meant some waiting. The attraction here is flight tours to the mountain, and if you get lucky you get a stunning view (on average 20-30% of visitors to AK get one clear view their entire trip). When we were there, the mountain was visible for about 30 mins in the morning...

Travel - When possible, choose an itinerary that uses trains as much as possible. This is the way to see Alaska! The huge domed cars are comfy, food and drink is available, and you meet nice people!

Organization - Princess really shined here - From our arrival at the airport to boarding the ship, everything was handled spectacularly. At your first stop, you will tag some luggage to the ship, some to follow you. Your luggage will be left out the night before or early morning and picked up before you. A shuttle bus will take you to the train depot (you will have assigned seats on the train, see my photos for an example). You will get your room keys for the next lodge on the train, so you can go right to your room where your luggage is waiting (so all you need on the train is a small carry-on for cameras, medicines, etc). You also get your cruise card on the train for your ship when you arrive in Whittier.

Direction - Whatever lodges you choose, I would strongly suggest Tour first. One, the land portion can be fairly physically tiring, but after the tour you will have one or two scenic sea days to relax. Second, thanks to the above mentioned organization, boarding at Whittier is a breeze (the train stops 100 yards from the boat.

Lodging summary: As long you as you have reasonable expectations you'll be fine. These are buildings that are shut down for a large portion of a year in harsh weather, then heavily used, which takes a big toll on them. They won't be up to ship level, but they will be clean and comfy, and the service is great!

Happy to answer any questions you may have..

Photo link:

(note - I just moved over to SmugMug and uploaded these, they are not in order yet, but will be shortly - browse, then come back and browse again!)

Thank you so very much for the fast reply! I would have to agree with you to do the land first and cruise afterwards as it does sound like you are kept pretty busy on the land portion. Your pics are beautiful! What time of year where you there...was in August or Sept?

We were the last cruise out in Sept. Great for crowds and shopping deals (I got a steal on a wood carving I wanted in Ketchikan), etc, but a little lighter on the ocean wildlife than in the summer, we saw a lot more land critters than some tours in the summer. Weather was no problem, coldest day was 60s...

I wouldn't say the land portions are strenuous per se, it depends on what you do, but you are definitely more active overall (hiking around that glacier in Juneau was probably the most actual physically demanding thing we did)

BTW, the pictures are in order now, may make more sense.

Thank you so very much for the fast reply! I would have to agree with you to do the land first and cruise afterwards as it does sound like you are kept pretty busy on the land portion. Your pics are beautiful! What time of year where you there...was in August or Sept?

Your photos are awesome! Was the Mendenhall Glacier excursion through Princess Cruises or did you make your own plans. That ice cave looked amazing. Did they supply you with everything you needed for the excursion (boots, coats etc)?

Also, how far was Creek Street from where the sip docked in Ketchikan? DId you walk there?

TYIA

Creek street is about a 10-15 min walk from the ship. Very easy to find. Just use the map you get on the ship or from the large Alaska coupon brochure/book that is everywhere (it has a bear in the cover). We got our book before boarding the cruise, but they had them at several port stops. Great shops at Fish Creek, glad to hear you are searching them out and the wonderful totem pole that is there. :)

 

Also, how far was Creek Street from where the ship docked in Ketchikan? DId you walk there?

TYIA

Great photo's, thanks for sharing!!!

Looks like you had a fabulous time.

Aloha,

Bev

We booked the Mendenhall Glacier heli-hike via Princess yes. Highly recommended, they give you everything you need. They really wowed us when they realized that one person was more limited in mobility, they sent up an extra guide to just escort her and her daughter on a shorter walk so that the rest could explore further out.

For AK, all of our excursions were booked through Princess.

Side note, the shots from the Yukon are were taken on a van trip called To The Summit. They follow the same general route as the White Pass Railroad, go a little farther and are 1/3 the price. Plus they do detours on request...

Your photos are awesome! Was the Mendenhall Glacier excursion through Princess Cruises or did you make your own plans. That ice cave looked amazing. Did they supply you with everything you needed for the excursion (boots, coats etc)?

 

Also, how far was Creek Street from where the sip docked in Ketchikan? DId you walk there?

TYIA

If I am recalling right, off the dock you head to the right a little bit, past the lumberjack show and across one road, you are pretty much there.

Creek street is about a 10-15 min walk from the ship. Very easy to find. Just use the map you get on the ship or from the large Alaska coupon brochure/book that is everywhere (it has a bear in the cover). We got our book before boarding the cruise, but they had them at several port stops. Great shops at Fish Creek, glad to hear you are searching them out and the wonderful totem pole that is there. :)

I didn't have time to do a formal review last year, but we loved the Princess cruise tour in terms of the organization, scenery, train, etc. As far as the lodges go, mixed notes as below with some other stuff tossed in:

 

Fairbanks - honestly it wasn't really a lodge. Princess apparently just bought and rebranded a Best Western or similar for the one we stayed in. It was comfortable, clean, and bland. The food was decent though. Included tours: We really enjoyed the riverboat tour (nowhere near as cheesy as we thought it would be), they do an excellent job of introducing you to Alaska. You have to take the gold mine with a sense of humor and be patient when panning your own gold, once you get the hang of it, it can be fun. If time permits, your driver will take you on a quick stop to the pipeline visitors center, worth a look! Optional tours: Skip the 'North Pole' trip. It's basically a bus run to a giant tacky xmas store. The chinese food was good though.

 

Denali - Gorgeous lodge, but needs a refurb (they were saying some was being done) for the older buildings. The little mini-suite we had was comfy and nicely themed, but very worn. The main lodge is gorgeous! Food in Denali was just OK, the 'fancy' restaurant was the best (and still fairly reasonable). There is a newer modern section that was more up to date but didn't seem as nicely themed. Included tours: Upgrade your included tour to the Tundra Wilderness Tour - yes, it is 8 hours on a bus but worth every penny if you want to see spectacular views and wildlife (will link pictures below). The included tour only goes about 1/3 as far into the park and features more educational components like speakers from a local native tribe. Optional tours: Didn't do any, all booked that we wanted to try, but we were happy just to wander around the lodge for a while. There is some touristy shopping across the street (good ice cream!)

 

Talkeetna - Gorgeous lodge, well maintained, clean, modern. Not a lot to do there however other than tours you book, none included. Food was good, but limited options meant some waiting. The attraction here is flight tours to the mountain, and if you get lucky you get a stunning view (on average 20-30% of visitors to AK get one clear view their entire trip). When we were there, the mountain was visible for about 30 mins in the morning...

 

Travel - When possible, choose an itinerary that uses trains as much as possible. This is the way to see Alaska! The huge domed cars are comfy, food and drink is available, and you meet nice people!

 

Organization - Princess really shined here - From our arrival at the airport to boarding the ship, everything was handled spectacularly. At your first stop, you will tag some luggage to the ship, some to follow you. Your luggage will be left out the night before or early morning and picked up before you. A shuttle bus will take you to the train depot (you will have assigned seats on the train, see my photos for an example). You will get your room keys for the next lodge on the train, so you can go right to your room where your luggage is waiting (so all you need on the train is a small carry-on for cameras, medicines, etc). You also get your cruise card on the train for your ship when you arrive in Whittier.

 

Direction - Whatever lodges you choose, I would strongly suggest Tour first. One, the land portion can be fairly physically tiring, but after the tour you will have one or two scenic sea days to relax. Second, thanks to the above mentioned organization, boarding at Whittier is a breeze (the train stops 100 yards from the boat.

 

Lodging summary: As long you as you have reasonable expectations you'll be fine. These are buildings that are shut down for a large portion of a year in harsh weather, then heavily used, which takes a big toll on them. They won't be up to ship level, but they will be clean and comfy, and the service is great!

 

Happy to answer any questions you may have..

 

Photo link:

 

(note - I just moved over to SmugMug and uploaded these, they are not in order yet, but will be shortly - browse, then come back and browse again!)

Great review...thanks for posting it. I am keeping it for future reference.