Pushka Posted October 26, 2015 #1 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Just received advice we wont receive any refund for May next year. Will be curious to see if this is an Australian Princess issue or International. I've cancelled it anyway as there are other excursions I want to do - like fly- fishing! seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskanb Posted October 26, 2015 #2 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Just received advice we wont receive any refund for May next year. Will be curious to see if this is an Australian Princess issue or International. I've cancelled it anyway as there are other excursions I want to do - like fly- fishing! seriously. I've not heard from Princess---- yet! I'll look at our bill to make sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potstech Posted October 27, 2015 #3 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) Then Princess may get into some trouble as they have advertised this excursion by just paying an uphrade fee. If they do not allow that then all who have made reservations with that mentioned to them they are in trouble. They need to stop automatically including the shorter excursion forcing people to take it. This could get real interesting. Who id you get this advice from? Edited October 27, 2015 by Potstech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #4 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Just received advice we wont receive any refund for May next year. Will be curious to see if this is an Australian Princess issue or International. I've cancelled it anyway as there are other excursions I want to do - like fly- fishing! seriously. If there are no refunds- why would you cancel? There isn't any "fly fishing" at Denali. Who did you get this notice from? Direct from Princess? This will be a hot topic, which I, frankly, have been expecting them to discontinue. They have been the only cruiseline to refund for years. I hope- current booked visitors will be able to report current information, to keep information accurate on this board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 27, 2015 Author #5 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) Then Princess may get into some trouble as they have advertised this excursion by just paying an uphrade fee. If they do not allow that then all who have made reservations with that mentioned to them they are in trouble. They need to stop automatically including the shorter excursion forcing people to take it. This could get real interesting. Who id you get this advice from? Directly in an email from Princess. I have little interest in this tour as pretty much everyone here says it doesn't get into National Park far enough to be of any value. So I looked at the other excursions on offer (including Tundra) but the National Park one gets back too late to do another tour (Princess) tour I really want to do. And the Tundra one appears as Sold Out on the Princess site. There is fly fishing offered at Denali according to Princess. Edited October 27, 2015 by Pushka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEtue Posted October 27, 2015 #6 Share Posted October 27, 2015 If it is an upgrade - if you opt out is it really a refund? Sounds like it is automatically added? Never done a cruise tour so I have no idea what is itemized on the cruise line invoice..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #7 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Then Princess may get into some trouble as they have advertised this excursion by just paying an uphrade fee. If they do not allow that then all who have made reservations with that mentioned to them they are in trouble. They need to stop automatically including the shorter excursion forcing people to take it. This could get real interesting. Who id you get this advice from? Upgrading and refunds are two different things. Several cruise lines allow people to upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness tour- a few also the kantishna tour. ONLY I'm certain this has not changed. Princess previously- totally- refunded the tours- so then people could go on the cheap SHUTTLE buses. A whole different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #8 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Directly in an email from Princess. I have little interest in this tour as pretty much everyone here says it doesn't get into National Park far enough to be of any value. So I looked at the other excursions on offer (including Tundra) but the National Park one gets back too late to do another tour (Princess) tour I really want to do. And the Tundra one appears as Sold Out on the Princess site. There is fly fishing offered at Denali according to Princess. The fishing is extremely poor at Denali, probably the worse place to consider- with all the excellent fishing elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 27, 2015 Author #9 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) I'd agree with you there Budget Queen but the Tundra upgrade isn't even bookable through Princess. Re the Fishing - there just doesnt seem to be space with all the other things I've booked to squeeze it in anywhere? The only other chance for space is possibly Ketchikan but really want to do the Aleutian trip. Edited October 27, 2015 by Pushka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEtue Posted October 27, 2015 #10 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Have you considered booking a shuttle bus tour independently? If you are staying the Denali Princess you can easily do that. http://www.reservedenali.com/shuttles.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted October 27, 2015 #11 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I would want to speak to a real person and confirm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 27, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) Is fly fishing really that bad here Budget Queen? It isn't cheap - but thought it would be a good experience? Have you considered booking a shuttle bus tour independently? If you are staying the Denali Princess you can easily do that. http://www.reservedenali.com/shuttles.aspx Sure I can do that but it doesn't take away that Princess are no longer refunding - or even allowing the option to upgrade - from a tour which isn't well received. From the email I received from the Princess - (poor spelling/grammar[emoji15]) Edited October 27, 2015 by Pushka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #13 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I'd agree with you there Budget Queen but the Tundra upgrade isn't even bookable through Princess. Re the Fishing - there just doesnt seem to be space with all the other things I've booked to squeeze it in anywhere? The only other chance for space is possibly Ketchikan but really want to do the Aleutian trip. One,- major point- Denali reservations aren't even available yet. So, I'll speculate that the Tundra Wilderness tour is going to open up next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #14 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) Is fly fishing really that bad here Budget Queen? It isn't cheap - but thought it would be a good experience? Sure I can do that but it doesn't take away that Princess are no longer refunding - or even allowing the option to upgrade - from a tour which isn't well received. From the email I received from the Princess - (poor spelling/grammar[emoji15]) I don't make information up and I keep my information factual. :) Compared to all the other Alaska areas- and the superb fishing there is there- YES, Denali is a poor choice to consider. IF you want to fish- and don't have time inside passage- aren't you going to be at the McKinley Princess? Fishing is much better out of Talkeetna. Edited October 27, 2015 by Budget Queen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 27, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks Budget Queen. Looking at a TAT glacier landing but will check out timings. Why does Alaska offer so - too? - many things on my bucket list. First world problem I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserny Posted October 27, 2015 #16 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) I'm not sure about refunds but I called and upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness Tour for May 2016 around 2 weeks ago. The upgrade is reflected in my cruise personalizer so I know it was done. Edited October 27, 2015 by cruiserny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKStafford Posted October 27, 2015 #17 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Fishing at Denali: Depends on where they take you... My brother-in-law fishes any chance he gets. I've seen him catch fish at Otto Lake just outside of Healy and he's done fishing along the first 20 miles of the Denali Highway and caught fish. It won't be like salmon fishing at the Russian River type fishing, where the action is hot and you're hauling in big sockeye; but it's still fishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #18 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Fishing at Denali:Depends on where they take you... My brother-in-law fishes any chance he gets. I've seen him catch fish at Otto Lake just outside of Healy and he's done fishing along the first 20 miles of the Denali Highway and caught fish. It won't be like salmon fishing at the Russian River type fishing, where the action is hot and you're hauling in big sockeye; but it's still fishing. I guess I'm just cautious- and will speculate that a Princess contracted tour-isn't going to transport people to the Denali Highway. It's going to be a basic trip at best in my opinion. With fishing being far superior elsewhere. These tours are costly going through the cruise line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleaves Posted October 27, 2015 #19 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) There are 2 fishing guides listed under the Denali Chamber of Commerce. http://www.a1cms.com/_dcc/activities/ I know nothing about fishing, but normally there are peak periods for successful fishing, depending on the location. I would suggest emailing both vendors and ask them for the peak period (without disclosing your travel date at the end of May). That's an expensive trip if you're not going to be successful. The hours of Denali Fly Fishing match the hours of the Princess excursion so this is probably your vendor: http://www.denaliflyfishing.com/the-trips/ The other vendor: http://www.fishdenali.com/ As for the Denali bus tour, the reservations don't open until December. At that time you could easily purchase a shuttle bus ticket to Toklat for $30. Toklat is the same end-point as the Tundra Wilderness Tour but $100 cheaper. http://www.reservedenali.com/play/shuttle-buses/toklat.aspx Edited October 27, 2015 by mapleleaves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 27, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) I'm not sure about refunds but I called and upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness Tour for May 2016 around 2 weeks ago. The upgrade is reflected in my cruise personalizer so I know it was done. Well that is disappointing service for Australians then. I shall pass that on. Thankyou for doing that research Mapleleaves. I will make discrete enquiries. :p Surprisingly because of the good $ exchange rate given by Princess its actually cheaper to book it through them than direct with the vendor! Edited October 27, 2015 by Pushka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrizBear Posted October 27, 2015 #21 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Will your trip take you to Fairbanks? We went fly fishing there with Alaska Fishing and Raft Adventures. Found them on trip advisor. They picked up and dropped us off. Took us to a remote spot on the Chena. We fished on a raft and caught Arctic Grayling all day long. It was catch and release. We fished the end of June. It was one of our best days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 27, 2015 Author #22 Share Posted October 27, 2015 No unfortunately, just Talkeetna (1 night) Copper River (2) and Denali (2). All of which will be fabulous of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #23 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I'm not sure about refunds but I called and upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness Tour for May 2016 around 2 weeks ago. The upgrade is reflected in my cruise personalizer so I know it was done. Especially in May- for other's- booking the shuttle bus to Toklat is less than $30, which is less than the Princess upgrades. For general information- what did Princess charge you? If it is confirmed that they are NOT refunding their tours, more people may choose to "upgrade" rather than consider the shuttle buses because of making some inaccurate assumptions. The ideal place to go is Eielson which is only $35. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted October 27, 2015 #24 Share Posted October 27, 2015 No unfortunately, just Talkeetna (1 night) Copper River (2) and Denali (2). All of which will be fabulous of course. Are you there in season for Copper River Salmon? Some of the best of the best. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushka Posted October 28, 2015 Author #25 Share Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) Are you there in season for Copper River Salmon? Some of the best of the best. :) Will check that out then - sounds like a good option. Didn't have plans for Copper River. I will call our Princess in Australia and see what is reality versus their convenience. They dont have the expertise that US consultants have though. Great pickup Budget Queen re Copper River: Edited October 28, 2015 by Pushka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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