Cruising Alaska - post-cruise and tour options

[cah14522]

We're looking to book our first Alaskan cruise and think we've settled on Princess. We are interested in doing the land tour extension to the cruise on the Island Princess and are looking for advice on the options offered by Princess. They have "on your own" options and other ones that seem to offer excursions coordinated by Princess. I think the lodging is included no matter which one we choose.

 

Any suggestions on this - it will be our first Alaska cruise, and we are doing the one-way northbound option to have the land portion at the end of our cruise. We are looking to cruise in late May (30th) if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance for any advice - while we are experienced Caribbean cruisers, Alaska is all new to us!

[Pierlesscruisers]

We're looking to book our first Alaskan cruise and think we've settled on Princess. We are interested in doing the land tour extension to the cruise on the Island Princess and are looking for advice on the options offered by Princess. They have "on your own" options and other ones that seem to offer excursions coordinated by Princess. I think the lodging is included no matter which one we choose.

 

Any suggestions on this - it will be our first Alaska cruise, and we are doing the one-way northbound option to have the land portion at the end of our cruise. We are looking to cruise in late May (30th) if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance for any advice - while we are experienced Caribbean cruisers, Alaska is all new to us!

 

Well, this is off the subject, but you have chosen well in that you've selected the ship with the finest captain in the fleet, in my wife's and my opinion, Captain Michaelo Tuvo!! He is the most personable captain I've ever seen anywhere, although I am certainly by no means anywhere near what I would consider "experienced" in this field. Do a search for his name in the Princess message threads to see what others have said about him so you won't have just 1 person's opinion to go on. I'd go on a cruise to hell if he were the captain!

 

Hope you have a great cruise and enjoy yourselves to the max!

 

Tom

[Potstech]

Many do the Denali Explorer option that basically provides lodging and transportation between the land locations. If going to the Denali Lodge allow a full day there and take the longer excursion into the park. But decide and sign up soon as there is limited seat g on the bus. Have fun as May is usually a great time to go.

[nukesubsailor]

Land tours, each being a small number of people, sell out quickly. I know from experience that they can fill a group 18 months in advance of the tour start date.

Land tours are more tiring than the cruise so many prefer to take the tour before the cruise.

The best way to get the most out of a trip to Alaska with the least amount stress and work would be to take the longest connoisseur escorted tour that you can afford the time needed and cost. We did the 15 day one in 2014 and we were in a group of 24 people. Our group had a great tour director who took all the hassle out of the trip. Our group rode together in our own motor coach and rail car so we were never crowded. The tour included most meals and some excursions. It included the Tundra Wilderness excursion in Denali park. This excursion takes you deep into the park and takes all day. The included excursions in Fairbanks are great also.

I have been to Alaska 6 times. One was a Princess 3-day land tour and 7 day cruise. One was a 7 day on-our-own land tour in a rented car. One was a Navy assignment on Adak island, two were just cruises with no land tour. The last one was the 15 day connoisseur tour in 2014. And the next one that I just booked is another 15 day connoisseur tour in 2019.

[Potstech]

nucsubsailor, Did a tour on Kodiak in the 70's at the CommSta.

[mexicobob]

We are doing a cruise/tour in June 2018. The land part of the trip into the Denali area sold out well over a year in advance. Book early. Limited places to stay in that neck of the woods.

[Cobber76]

The night before you disembark in Whittier, you will need to have your large suitcase packed, as it will get picked up by your room steward that night. The only bag you are allowed to take with you the next morning will be a small travel bag, containing your essentials for the day. No rolling bags are allowed on the train, as your bag must be able to fit under your seat.

 

You will be told the time you need to leave the ship. The Princess train pulls up directly across from the ship. You essentially walk off the ship and load right into the train. The rail car and seat number has been pre-assigned for each passenger. In our group of four, we were all seated together, facing each other, with a table in between us. Two people faced forward and two people faced backward. There is a tour guide in each car. The dining room and restrooms are on the lower level. You can use cash or credit cards in the dining room.

 

When wildlife was spotted, the train generally slowed down so people could snap photos. They encouraged travelers to yell out when we saw wildlife. On our train trip, we spotted moose, bald eagles and bears. Passengers in our car were very willing to slide over or temporarily vacate their seats so others could take photos.

 

If you happen to have a clear day, pay attention to the northwest. Views of the Denali range can be spotted several times on the trip—especially near Talkeetna.

 

Your main suitcase will meet up with you at your first hotel. When we arrived at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge for our first night, our suitcases were already in our assigned room. The Princess train takes longer than the trucks that hold the luggage, as they take the highway.

 

Princess does a great job of making the transition between cruise ship and land tour as seamless as possible. We were very impressed!

[cah14522]

Many do the Denali Explorer option that basically provides lodging and transportation between the land locations. If going to the Denali Lodge allow a full day there and take the longer excursion into the park. But decide and sign up soon as there is limited seat g on the bus. Have fun as May is usually a great time to go.

 

What is the longer excursion option into Denali that you mentioned? Is that a different land tour option?

[cah14522]

We are doing a cruise/tour in June 2018. The land part of the trip into the Denali area sold out well over a year in advance. Book early. Limited places to stay in that neck of the woods.

 

It sounds as if we might be in trouble then, trying to book for four, for May of this year (2018)? I guess "on our own" might be our only option at this point...and if so, how difficult is it to arrange our own excursions in these three stops post-cruise?

[ERvet]

What is the longer excursion option into Denali that you mentioned? Is that a different land tour option?

 

 

 

There are three tours into Denali that are guided. Basically 4, 8 and 12 hours. You drive in for half the time then back out. You want at least the 8 hour to get as much seen as possible in terms of scenery/wildlife. That said the 12 hour one is often not running in May due to impassable roads higher up.

 

 

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[cah14522]

There are three tours into Denali that are guided. Basically 4, 8 and 12 hours. You drive in for half the time then back out. You want at least the 8 hour to get as much seen as possible in terms of scenery/wildlife. That said the 12 hour one is often not running in May due to impassable roads higher up.

 

 

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Thanks - I didn't see any option to change the duration of the tour into Denali. We are booked now, with the BA3 cruisetour option. The itinerary shows we have the "Natural History Tour" from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm. I would love to change that into a longer / all-day tour of Denali, but did not see that as an option when I booked. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[ERvet]

Thanks - I didn't see any option to change the duration of the tour into Denali. We are booked now, with the BA3 cruisetour option. The itinerary shows we have the "Natural History Tour" from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm. I would love to change that into a longer / all-day tour of Denali, but did not see that as an option when I booked. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

 

 

When i went i booked directly through the park then called Princess and cancelled the included tour. Got the price back applied to cruise cost.

 

 

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[GJCruiser]

Off topic but best way to see Alaska is to rent a car and tour on your own. B&B's and tours are plentiful. We did 10 days last summer, it was great.

[ErLee]

The best way to get the most out of a trip to Alaska with the least amount stress and work would be to take the longest connoisseur escorted tour that you can afford the time needed and cost.

I'm glad to hear your positive feedback about a connoisseur tour, because we just booked a 13 day for June 12, 2019 on Coral Princess, cruise first, then tour. There is a great deal available for that one particular date on the minisuite, and it was too good to pass up! I would have loved to have booked the 15 day, which was available at the same price, but my husband can only take so much time off work!

[laughing husky]

Many do the Denali Explorer option that basically provides lodging and transportation between the land locations. If going to the Denali Lodge allow a full day there and take the longer excursion into the park. But decide and sign up soon as there is limited seat g on the bus. Have fun as May is usually a great time to go.

 

If you want to go into the park in May, be aware, that the road is not usually fully open until the first week of June....dependent on the weather. Usually there is still quite a bit of snow...and it can be chilly. In the Anchorage area, leaves usually do not come out until the 3rd week of June.

[Potstech]

Off topic but best way to see Alaska is to rent a car and tour on your own. B&B's and tours are plentiful. We did 10 days last summer, it was great.

 

You can not drive a car into Denali National Park. Only authorized tour buses are allowed on the road thru the park.