15 Day Connoisseur Escorted Alaska Land Tour & Cruise/ Star Princess / May 2016

[caribill]

Because I have not had the experience of a non-connoisseur tour I am at a disadvantage.

 

I hope another CC member can comment.

 

I will say, as you mentioned, most food was taken care of and food is expensive here.

 

You were provided a "guided vacation" in every sense of the word.

 

The rooms were booked in the best locations (you could see that there was a difference in the lodges) as far as views and position within the lodge.

 

That said, if you have any experience traveling on your own - it's fine.

 

I also have no experience with a non-Connoisseur tour, but the cost of food is an important thing to consider.

 

Depending what you order, the cost of food on a non-Connoisseur tour could be equivalent to most or all of the difference in the cost for a Connoisseur tour.

 

Yes, you can read many hints of how to save $$$ while eating on a non-Connoisseur tour, but why spend your vacation denying yourself food you would like to eat instead of ordering what you would like.

 

In my trip report at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1727858 I give an example of where one evening for dinner I had, the items added up to $62.50 not including tip. For two people including tip, this would be almost $144. (And the meal tips are included on the Connoisseur tour.)

Edited June 13, 2016 by caribill

[emmak8]

Yours is one of the best reviews I've read! Thank you for sharing so many details of your trip.

[flip side of fifty]

Since you have been so kind as to share your experiences, I have a few random questions:

1) How crowded were the laundry rooms? Could you put your laundry in a washer, leave, and them come back for it? Or did you need to sit in the laundry room and wait for it to be done?

2) What map did you find to post on the wall to track your route? Where did you get it?

3) How did you feel about the cruise director?

4) Did you do any other ship activities besides the ones mentioned? See any shows? If so, how did you feel about them?

5) Any food items you especially liked? Disliked?

 

Thanks so much for all your help!

 

I do not have emails - but hopefully another CC member will be able to post the Patters.

 

On these questions:

1. At the Fairbanks Lodge there were many Washers and Dryers and I did not have to wait. The door to the laundry room required a room key to get in. I did leave my laundry and return (I guess if someone was that hard up - I'd have bought more).

 

At the Kenai Lodge there was a little building in the mist of our land Tour guest room buildings. You could sit out on a porch while laundry was done or leave it. Because my room was close I left it ( Again I guess if someone was that hard up - I'd have bought more, but these are my fellow Princess Guests surrounding the building so I felt confident about leaving it).

I did no other laundry so hopefully another CC member can help you.

 

2. There are multiple maps out there (I picked up the AAA map, I picked up the Alaska Official State Map, and we were given a map on our land tour) but I can tell you the best in my opinion - and the one I put on the wall was the Rand McNally "easy to read" Alaska State Map. It had a large section on the Inside Passage. I could put that on the wall and trace right where we were and where we were heading. I bought it at a Barnes and Noble bookstore but I 'm sure you could get it other places or on line at: randmcnally.com.

 

3. He was fine - I do not remember his name -but in my opinion the Cruise Director plays a reduced role on an Alaskan Cruise. This is because those sea days are filled with scenic views that are amazing. There are multiple naturalists on board to give educational lectures, there are US Parks Rangers that come aboard to provide commentary while you are sailing.

Then, when you are in port - unlike a Caribbean cruise where a good portion of the ship just stays onboard - in Alaska people were getting off to do excursions.

 

4. We did no shows - sorry. We had a balcony and remember in summer it's light until 10:30 or 11:00 at night so my husband and I would retreat to our balcony, have a glass of wine and watch the scenery.

 

5. I got the seafood or fish option most nights and all were wonderful. There was nothing I didn't like (I gained weight of course!). There was always a salmon choice.

 

Hope this helps!

[blueridgemama]

I know the tip is included for all meals on the connoisseur tour. Did you tip the bus drivers that took you from lodge to lodge or is that also included as part of the connoisseur package? Did you give your land tour guide his/her tip on the last night you were all together?

[barbpretz]

I do not have emails - but hopefully another CC member will be able to post the Patters.

 

On these questions: . . .

 

 

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate such thorough answers to my many questions!

[Thrak]

We have booked a land/cruise tour in 2017 but it is not a connoisseur tour. Other than food on land, what is the difference? Do you think the price difference was worth it? Thanks for your review.

 

 

If you want detailed info on the land portion of a connoisseur cruise tour I suggest reading THIS THREAD.

 

Edit: Oops! I see caribill already posted a link to his thread. I can tell you that I found it quite informative and it convinced me to book the connoisseur tour. :)

Edited June 13, 2016 by Thrak

[flip side of fifty]

I know the tip is included for all meals on the connoisseur tour. Did you tip the bus drivers that took you from lodge to lodge or is that also included as part of the connoisseur package? Did you give your land tour guide his/her tip on the last night you were all together?

 

All tips (including the bus drivers) were included with the exception of your Tour Director. Our Tour Director made sure to mention that when were get new bus drivers.

We gave our TD his tip on the evening before the day that we traveled to the ship.

[flip side of fifty]

I also have no experience with a non-Connoisseur tour, but the cost of food is an important thing to consider.

 

Depending what you order, the cost of food on a non-Connoisseur tour could be equivalent to most or all of the difference in the cost for a Connoisseur tour.

 

Yes, you can read many hints of how to save $$$ while eating on a non-Connoisseur tour, but why spend your vacation denying yourself food you would like to eat instead of ordering what you would like.

 

In my trip report at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1727858 I give an example of where one evening for dinner I had, the items added up to $62.50 not including tip. For two people including tip, this would be almost $144. (And the meal tips are included on the Connoisseur tour.)

 

Just wanted to say that your review was so wonderful - I printed it and reviewed it many times as I was planning our trip. By reading and rereading your detailed review, we made many of our decisions.:D

[Thrak]

All tips (including the bus drivers) were included with the exception of your Tour Director. Our Tour Director made sure to mention that when were get new bus drivers.

We gave our TD his tip on the evening before the day that we traveled to the ship.

 

It's good to know that the bus driver tips are included. It seems like every time one turns around there is someone with their hand out. Whatever happened to just doing a good job for the pay that comes from your employer?

[flip side of fifty]

It's good to know that the bus driver tips are included. It seems like every time one turns around there is someone with their hand out. Whatever happened to just doing a good job for the pay that comes from your employer?

 

There were 2 specific occasions when a comment was made by a driver suggesting that a good job might be rewarded...and just in case we didn't remember, our TD walked down the length of the bus to remind up that tips had been included. I was glad for that reminder, but if you have to suggest ...:( that's when I am less interested in giving you one anyway...

[blueridgemama]

Again, thank you for your very inclusive review and for taking the time to answer questions thoughtfully. Really appreciated:)

[barbpretz]

Did the Star have Baked Alaska on the last cruise night? We were planning to celebrate our anniversary, but we wouldn't want to do it on a night when there already was a special dessert.

[flip side of fifty]

Did the Star have Baked Alaska on the last cruise night? We were planning to celebrate our anniversary, but we wouldn't want to do it on a night when there already was a special dessert.

 

The Star did have Baked Alaska - I am not positive which night it was served, however, I do know it was only once and I think it was the last night.:confused:

 

Anyone else Know???

[kayaker35]

This was an excellent review. So comprehensive. I've got it printed out to read again between now and when we sail on the Star for our 15-day Connoiseur Cruisetour in August. We'll be doing the same itinerary as you.... land first followed by the cruise.... so your review was particularly appropriate.

 

We've done two Alaska cruises, but this will be our first one with the land portion. We'll be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in November, and thought an Alaska cruise would be a great way to do it. We'll be traveling with two other couples. It should be a great time.

 

Thanks again! Now I'm even more excited about our trip.... if that was even possible!

 

Karen

[travelgirl05]

Thanks for sharing this. It was very informative. We are doing this

Connoisseur Escorted - Tour PB8 in late August of 2017. I few changes but overall the same itinerary. So looking forward to it.

[flip side of fifty]

This was an excellent review. So comprehensive. I've got it printed out to read again between now and when we sail on the Star for our 15-day Connoiseur Cruisetour in August. We'll be doing the same itinerary as you.... land first followed by the cruise.... so your review was particularly appropriate.

 

We've done two Alaska cruises, but this will be our first one with the land portion. We'll be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in November, and thought an Alaska cruise would be a great way to do it. We'll be traveling with two other couples. It should be a great time.

 

Thanks again! Now I'm even more excited about our trip.... if that was even possible!

 

Karen

 

Congratulations!:)

[Swice]

We have booked a land/cruise tour in 2017 but it is not a connoisseur tour. Other than food on land, what is the difference? Do you think the price difference was worth it? Thanks for your review.

 

Just back from Coral-- Connoisseur (cruise first/then land tour).

 

Honestly, we did not intend to book an "escorted" tour but we ended up with one because of the number of nights and the specific locations we wanted to visit.

 

I would tell anyone that the "escort" part was really not necessary. Yes, our tour director provided some interesting facts as we drove through certain areas. But as far as the comfort and ease and "need" of being escorted-- there was very little confusion and need for someone to point us in the right direction or tell us what to do. We could have easily figured everything out without using many brain cells.

 

HOWEVER-- after taking the Connoisseur tour-- I would highly recommend it for a couple of reasons:

1. The included meals. I haven't written my full review yet, but I will say that all four of us in our group raved about the food at the land lodges. We thought the food was superior to what we had on the cruise ship!!! It was worth every penny to have a voucher and not have to worry about where to eat or watch the menu prices. As others have stated, the food at the Lodges is grossly expensive ... the prices are criminal. It was such a relief to eliminate the worry about "where" to eat and manage the cost.

2. I hate tipping. I hate having to remember to have "cash" in my wallet for tips. I'm the kind who buys a $1 Iced Tea at McDonald's and puts it on the credit card to get the points. I also hate "stiffing" someone on a tip because I didn't realize I was going to need to tip and wasn't prepared. Very glad to eliminate the tipping question by taking this tour.

[Lady Meer]

Thanks 'flip side of fifty' for your great review. We are taking this same trip in September. You have answered many questions for us and are really looking forward to this adventure.

 

There has been one 'downer' to our booking, though. A couple of months ago Princess UK phoned to say that the Tundra Wilderness Tour (the one we were really looking forward to) "would not be available due to technical reasons". A much shorter (4½ hours) was substituted. DH was livid. Princess has refunded us for the TWT (although it was included in the price) and we have booked a tour with the National Park Service for the whole day. The strange thing is that a poster on our roll call is doing the same tour but hasn't been informed of any change. All very strange :(.

 

Once again, thanks for taking the time to post such a comprehensive review.

 

Brenda

[flip side of fifty]

Thanks 'flip side of fifty' for your great review. We are taking this same trip in September. You have answered many questions for us and are really looking forward to this adventure.

 

There has been one 'downer' to our booking, though. A couple of months ago Princess UK phoned to say that the Tundra Wilderness Tour (the one we were really looking forward to) "would not be available due to technical reasons". A much shorter (4½ hours) was substituted. DH was livid. Princess has refunded us for the TWT (although it was included in the price) and we have booked a tour with the National Park Service for the whole day. The strange thing is that a poster on our roll call is doing the same tour but hasn't been informed of any change. All very strange .

 

Once again, thanks for taking the time to post such a comprehensive review.

 

That is strange.... I wonder if they didn't have "enough for a bus load" or something like that since another cruiser on the roll call is doing it.

 

As long as your National Park Service tour goes to the length of the Princess tour (more like a 8 hour than a 4 hour tour) there is only one road in and one road out - everybody goes on the same road on the same type of bus. Princess uses the same "guides" are National Park Service employees.

 

We went early and didn't have a totally filled bus from our tour. There were several couples that had "upgraded" that were not part of our tour group, but were on our bus, you might even end up like one of them..

 

I am sure it will work out. :)

[flip side of fifty]

Just back from Coral-- Connoisseur (cruise first/then land tour).

 

Honestly, we did not intend to book an "escorted" tour but we ended up with one because of the number of nights and the specific locations we wanted to visit.

 

I would tell anyone that the "escort" part was really not necessary. Yes, our tour director provided some interesting facts as we drove through certain areas. But as far as the comfort and ease and "need" of being escorted-- there was very little confusion and need for someone to point us in the right direction or tell us what to do. We could have easily figured everything out without using many brain cells.

 

HOWEVER-- after taking the Connoisseur tour-- I would highly recommend it for a couple of reasons:

1. The included meals. I haven't written my full review yet, but I will say that all four of us in our group raved about the food at the land lodges. We thought the food was superior to what we had on the cruise ship!!! It was worth every penny to have a voucher and not have to worry about where to eat or watch the menu prices. As others have stated, the food at the Lodges is grossly expensive ... the prices are criminal. It was such a relief to eliminate the worry about "where" to eat and manage the cost.

2. I hate tipping. I hate having to remember to have "cash" in my wallet for tips. I'm the kind who buys a $1 Iced Tea at McDonald's and puts it on the credit card to get the points. I also hate "stiffing" someone on a tip because I didn't realize I was going to need to tip and wasn't prepared. Very glad to eliminate the tipping question by taking this tour.

 

I agree totally - while being part of the "escorted" tour was nice, it certainly was not necessary, but your 2 points in regards to food prices and tipping, made it worth it for us.

[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[Nhsaltshaker]

Lady Meer,

 

 

If you're going after Sept 15, there is not TWT.

 

http://www.denaliparkvillage.com/tours/tundra-wilderness-tour/

Edited July 6, 2016 by Nhsaltshaker

[mringenoldus]

Brenda - I think your are in Denali a day or two before the longer excursion ends on September 15.

 

Swice - Very glad you enjoyed this cruise tour and you make interesting points. Having done the more standard land tour a few times, I concur with your honest assessment of the escorted tour. In all honesty, I could not see myself recommending the additional expense to clients as it gains nothing more than a few meals/gratuities.

 

I also recognize that this package would be appealing to some people - so fortunately Princess offers a variety of land tours to meet personal preference and individual budgets.

[flviking]

Thank you for the great review. We really appreciate the time and care you put in to it. We are planning a similar trip. One question we have is whether there was a restroom on the busses or not? How frequent were the stops? Thanks in advance!