Crown Princess to Alaska - R/T from Seattle - 4 June 2016 to 11 June 2016

[journeycollector]

Thanks again for the WONDERFUL review and the fabulous pictures!! It really got us excited for Alaska. :D

 

For warm-weather cruise I would recommend Bermuda. It is GORGEOUS there and most ships stay overnight 2 nights [HAL stays 3!] so you really get a taste of the island rather than just a single day in port. Also, NYC and Boston are both wonderful ports to leave from with numerous things to see pre- and post-cruise. Of course the Mediterranean is wonderful as well and there are so many possibilities there but Bermuda would be less expensive once flights are factored in. Just beware, after your 2nd cruise you will immediately start planning your 3rd...and 4th...and 5th! It never ends HAHA.

 

P.S. - I LOVED the alfredo basket on Princess as well; I got one 5 of the 7 nights we were on the Regal HAHA. It's just so delicious.

 

Thanks for the tip about Bermuda!...it's a good thing my vacation time resets on July 1. :D

[journeycollector]

Thank you for this wonderful trip report and pictures - I loved it all!! :)

 

Thanks so much...my pleasure!

[journeycollector]

What a great review, really getting excited after reading all of this! I see you are a Dale Chihuly fan? Since you want to go to warmer temps next cruise.......IF you ever get to Nassau just stop in the hotel Atlantis casino, they have the "sun and moon Chihuly's" there, 1 million each, on display. We have been fortunate enough to see several exhibits in various cities.

 

Your photography skills are amazing. thank you so much for taking the time to share! Fantastic, upbeat review!

 

Sounds lovely...I'm a sucker for all the Chihuly stuff. Time to add Nassau to my list too!

[journeycollector]

Great photos and great review - I had so much fun following along anticipating our upcoming Alaskan cruise leaving this Saturday!

 

Have a wonderful time! Can I stow away in your luggage? Hah! :)

[journeycollector]

Thank you so much, we are on the Crown to Alaska in 53 days and now after seeing your pictures I just can't wait!!!

 

Have a wonderful time...I thought that 50+ days would take FOREVER, but then it was here! Enjoy!

[Stevi]

Thank you for an awesome review. It will be quite a wait for our cruise, this was a nice peek into what we will experience.

[mapleleaves]

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed photojournal !

I'll link it to the 2016 Trip Report List - it will be a great resource for future travelers.

 

BTW, what did your mom and her BF think of their trip to Alaska? was she a first time cruiser also?

[journeycollector]

Thank you for an awesome review. It will be quite a wait for our cruise, this was a nice peek into what we will experience.

 

Thanks for the kind words! :)

[journeycollector]

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed photojournal !

I'll link it to the 2016 Trip Report List - it will be a great resource for future travelers.

 

BTW, what did your mom and her BF think of their trip to Alaska? was she a first time cruiser also?

 

My mom and her boyfriend loved it too...never have they felt so pampered they said! They said they would definitely do it again, but also wish to go on a warm weather cruise now.

[trystran72]

What an awesome review and your photos are gorgeous! I'm taking this same cruise in a few weeks and I can't wait to do those float planes!! Happy cruising!

[journeycollector]

What an awesome review and your photos are gorgeous! I'm taking this same cruise in a few weeks and I can't wait to do those float planes!! Happy cruising!

 

Thanks so much!...Have an awesome time in Alaska. You will *love* the floatplane tour!

[chubbypiggy]

My friends will be going on the 10-day Princess Alaska cruise in July (RT San Francisco), and they asked me to post on CC to ask if Alaskan King Crabs were served on the cruise. If so, in the buffet or in the dining room?

 

Thank you.

[journeycollector]

My friends will be going on the 10-day Princess Alaska cruise in July (RT San Francisco), and they asked me to post on CC to ask if Alaskan King Crabs were served on the cruise. If so, in the buffet or in the dining room?

 

Thank you.

 

Well, I never saw any, but maybe I just wasn't in the right place at the right time??? One night, they did offer the "Crab Shack" (a $29 upcharge) which did include king crab legs, but we did not go. We ate in the MDR each night except 2 nights when we paid to eat the Crown Grill (and they were not on the menu in there either).

 

We saved the king crab for the ports and headed over to Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau when we docked. Delicious!

[chubbypiggy]

Well, I never saw any, but maybe I just wasn't in the right place at the right time??? One night, they did offer the "Crab Shack" (a $29 upcharge) which did include king crab legs, but we did not go. We ate in the MDR each night except 2 nights when we paid to eat the Crown Grill (and they were not on the menu in there either).

 

We saved the king crab for the ports and headed over to Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau when we docked. Delicious!

 

 

Thank you.

[CMM]

What a nice photo, now giving this excursion serious consideration. Thank you for your review. Question, Are you glad you took the time for the Mendelson Glacier? Wondering if I should cram that in with all the other glacier viewing on the ship, flightseeing etc.

 

[journeycollector]

What a nice photo, now giving this excursion serious consideration. Thank you for your review. Question, Are you glad you took the time for the Mendelson Glacier? Wondering if I should cram that in with all the other glacier viewing on the ship, flightseeing etc.

 

 

Definitely glad we took the time to go to Mendenhall Glacier!...in fact, wish we could have spent more time there. But I'll preface it by saying we like to hike/walk/explore on our own. Others will be fine just viewing the glaciers from the ship.

 

One tip: Spend as little or as much time as you like! When you get to Mendenhall, you can take in the sights of the quick Photo Point Trail in 20 minutes (maybe less if you don'f like to take lots of photos) ;) Otherwise give yourself time to do the longer Nugget Falls Trail too. We unfortunately ran out of time to do that one. Lesson learned!

 

In Juneau, we had time to eat lunch at Tracy's, go on a whale watching excursion, go to Mendenhall, and get some souvenirs...but it was fast paced!

[SCHappilyRetired]

Thank you for your review! Fabulous pictures!! We will be on the Star end of May 2017 with a group. We opted for a balcony this trip. However, we have been in the Riveria aft inside cabins many times in the Carribbean. They are the best value, great location with easy access to buffet and terrace pool area.

[Sequim88]

Great review. Capture the URL for the 1st page and post as a link First Time Cruisers forum - maybe West Coast Home ports too.

 

We bought the 2-pc Columbia jackets for our Alaska cruise and 15 years later they are like new and I wore mine almost every day in the Winter in MN. Good down to 0°F and so flexible - warm/wet then shell only, cold/dry fleece only, cold/wet both!

 

Just moved back to Puget Sound area after 19 years in MN. Your pre-cruise photos have given me an itch to re-visit our favorite haunts like Snoqualmie Falls and Pike Place. You were lucky to have ample time to tourist around. One activity I always suggest for Seattle cruisers if time permits do a R/T walk-on on the Bremerton ferry. Especially if as good weather as you had. Great view of downtown from the water and at mid-Sound there is usually a nice view of Rainier.

 

Planning Alaska out of Seattle next year and mostly considering RCI or maybe return to Holland but now might have to explore Princess too. A dear Aunt of mine and her late-husband were adamant Princess fans.

Edited June 30, 2016 by Sequim88

[journeycollector]

Thank you for your review! Fabulous pictures!! We will be on the Star end of May 2017 with a group. We opted for a balcony this trip. However, we have been in the Riveria aft inside cabins many times in the Carribbean. They are the best value, great location with easy access to buffet and terrace pool area.

 

Thank you!...and actually, proximity to the buffet and terrace pool and I'm all set for the day. :)

[journeycollector]

Great review. Capture the URL for the 1st page and post as a link First Time Cruisers forum - maybe West Coast Home ports too.

 

We bought the 2-pc Columbia jackets for our Alaska cruise and 15 years later they are like new and I wore mine almost every day in the Winter in MN. Good down to 0°F and so flexible - warm/wet then shell only, cold/dry fleece only, cold/wet both!

 

Just moved back to Puget Sound area after 19 years in MN. Your pre-cruise photos have given me an itch to re-visit our favorite haunts like Snoqualmie Falls and Pike Place. You were lucky to have ample time to tourist around. One activity I always suggest for Seattle cruisers if time permits do a R/T walk-on on the Bremerton ferry. Especially if as good weather as you had. Great view of downtown from the water and at mid-Sound there is usually a nice view of Rainier.

 

Planning Alaska out of Seattle next year and mostly considering RCI or maybe return to Holland but now might have to explore Princess too. A dear Aunt of mine and her late-husband were adamant Princess fans.

 

Thanks for the tip on the Bremerton ferry! Will definitely be back since we have family in the Tacoma and Everett areas.

[CMM]

Definitely glad we took the time to go to Mendenhall Glacier!...in fact, wish we could have spent more time there. But I'll preface it by saying we like to hike/walk/explore on our own. Others will be fine just viewing the glaciers from the ship.

 

One tip: Spend as little or as much time as you like! When you get to Mendenhall, you can take in the sights of the quick Photo Point Trail in 20 minutes (maybe less if you don'f like to take lots of photos) ;) Otherwise give yourself time to do the longer Nugget Falls Trail too. We unfortunately ran out of time to do that one. Lesson learned!

 

In Juneau, we had time to eat lunch at Tracy's, go on a whale watching excursion, go to Mendenhall, and get some souvenirs...but it was fast paced!

 

Thank you Journeycollector,

We are sailing on the Star and will be in Juneau from 6:30-4. I see there is a 7am whale watch option. I like to do things at a non spastic pace and don't like to cut it close by any means getting back to the ship, but I would like to see Nugget Falls. And if our flightseeing gets cancelled on our land tour that activity will take priority. So many awesome choices. Reading your experiences is interesting and helpful.

[CMM]

I am planning to buy a new jacket and like what everyone is talking about with the 2 piece columbia ones. When I tried on just the waterproof shells at the store, within seconds I felt like i was in a sauna and had to get them off.

 

Did you guys have the water resistant ones or waterproof. What worked on your trips best?

[mlfrony]

This is one of the best reviews I've ever seen on the boards. Unfortunately, we're not sailing with Princess, but NCL, so that part of the review I didn't need, but I'm sure there will be a lot of people that will find that extremely useful. I wish someone would do something like that for NCL. We're sailing to Alaska in August and I can't wait to see the scenery from your awesome pictures. Thanks for the review....

[journeycollector]

I am planning to buy a new jacket and like what everyone is talking about with the 2 piece columbia ones. When I tried on just the waterproof shells at the store, within seconds I felt like i was in a sauna and had to get them off.

 

Did you guys have the water resistant ones or waterproof. What worked on your trips best?

 

Mine from Columbia is waterproof - I think it's from their "Omni-Tech" line - very breathable and there's a small slit in the armpits to let you cool down easier too. Purchased mine at a Columbia outlet during a xmas sale. Big discount! :)

 

For a time, it was pouring down rain in Ketchikan and I was dry and comfortable! Otherwise, I only really wore the fleece layer underneath when we were out on the deck sailing through Glacier Bay -- it was about 48F/9C that day.

[journeycollector]

This is one of the best reviews I've ever seen on the boards. Unfortunately, we're not sailing with Princess, but NCL, so that part of the review I didn't need, but I'm sure there will be a lot of people that will find that extremely useful. I wish someone would do something like that for NCL. We're sailing to Alaska in August and I can't wait to see the scenery from your awesome pictures. Thanks for the review....

 

THANKS! Best wishes for a great time. Please post some pictures so I can live vicariously. Hah! :)