Planning Alaska Land tour and Cruise....need help?

[Preschool2013]

We are planning an Alaska cruise for July 2019.....we would appreciate hearing any experiences and/or advise on what others have experienced. Our hope is to do the land portion first! Some questions that we have are:

1) Best to start our trip in Fairbanks or Anchorage?

2) When looking at the different tours.... is the Connoisseur cruise tour worth the extra cost?

3) Is there a best time to book?

Thanks for any Insight that you can share!

 

[mexicobob]

Last June we did a trip that began in Anchorage.  Really enjoyed doing the land part first.  Incredible, outstanding experience.  Princess really has their act together and provides a first class experience on the land part of the trip.  We did not do the Connoisseur package.  Guess it depends on whether you want everything paid for before you leave.

Highly advise booking everything ASAP.  Some tours are probably already sold out.  Ours sold out over a year in advance.  

Will also recommend aerial tours in Alaska.  Helicopter, seaplanes.  They cost a fortune but so worth it.  Will create memories you will recall on your death bed.  

 

[Teejay20]

I am planning our cruise tour in Sept 2019 and have already noticed that a lot of the land tours are booked out already, I didn't realise that the land tours were able to be booked before the 180 days like the shore tours. Our travel agent recommended booking the cruise as soon as possible as they are very popular. We booked on July. We are starting with the land tour in Fairbanks then cruising to Vancouver. 

[caribill]

Several years ago I did a Connoisseur tour that started in Fairbanks. You can see my report at

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1656270-details-of-the-tour-part-of-a-princess-alaska-cruisetour/

 

[SargassoPirate]

Preschool2013, after three Alaska cruises over the years, we decided that we weren't really seeing Alaska.  A couple of years ago, we booked an August southbound Alaska cruise first and then worked on building our own land tour.  We flew into Anchorage, rented a car, and drove a clockwise route from Anchorage to Fairbanks, down to Valdez, and then back to Anchorage.  We turned in our rental car at the Anchorage airport and caught the Princess transfer to the ship.  Easy Beezy.  

 

We booked our hotels ahead of time, allowing plenty of time at each stop to explore the surrounding areas.  We chatted up the locals whenever possible and followed their recommendations about local sites and sights. If memory serves, we spent two weeks on land prior to the cruise.  

 

One big plus too was we were not traveling with a herd and marching to the tour guide's clock.  If we wanted to sit by a small lake and watch the wildlife and the sunset, we did so. 

[wolfie11]

Make sure you have or can upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali if you want to see bears and other animals.

[voljeep]

6 hours ago, caribill said:

Several years ago I did a Connoisseur tour that started in Fairbanks. You can see my report at

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1656270-details-of-the-tour-part-of-a-princess-alaska-cruisetour/

 

this review is invaluable if planning your first Alaska connoisseur cruise tour ... easy to read and such valuable first hand information ...

[nukesubsailor]

Our connoisseur escorted 15 day cruise tour beginning in Fairbanks in July of 2019 is sold out.  It is the second time we have booked this type of tour and is well worth it.  Prior to our first connoisseur tour we did a Princess 3 day land tour and cruise.  Before that we did a 7 day on-our-own land tour in a rental car. Both left us feeling that we had not gotten the experience we wanted.  Having an tour director with you on the connoisseur tour is great.  All details about getting the best rooms at lodges and nearly all meals as well as transportation on both train and motor coaches are handled for you.  The tour director also teaches you so much about Alaska that you probably wouldn't learn otherwise.

You must book these early as they are becoming ever more popular.

[paylady]

2 hours ago, wolfie11 said:

Make sure you have or can upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali if you want to see bears and other animals.

 

I second this.  Definitely upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

 

As to beginning in Anchorage vs. Fairbanks, I've been to Alaska six times and haven't been tempted to see Fairbanks yet. JMO.

[Sea Hag]

I'm a big fan of the Denali park shuttle, rather than a tour through Princess. You can get way farther into the park on the shuttle, and you can get on and off it as you like, subject to space on individual shuttles. You can book that online in advance. Google "Denali shuttle." There're many posts and lots of information on the shuttle on the Alaska board here.

[Nhsaltshaker]

If you like paying for everything in advance and enjoy having a guide that takes care of your every need, do the Connoisseur Tour.  I've done it twice, starting in Fairbanks.  Fly in the day before and ask to stay at the Princess lodge--- they sometimes overflow to other hotels, requiring re-packing/unpacking.  We rented a car for that day to visit Chena Hot Springs and the Museum as well as purchase necessities we couldn't bring on the plane.  I love Fairbanks, but you can't walk to any stores from the Princess lodge.  We were almost mobbed when we walked into the hotel with liquor. 

 

Getting the land portion out of the way first allows you to relax once on the ship.  No more packing/unpacking.  Shorter plane ride home.  The food at the lodges was 5 stars in 2016.  I had $70 crab legs just about every night!  Both times I met/made great friends.

 

I agree with upgrading to the Tundra Wilderness Tour. 

 

If you're a Do-it-yourselfer and money is tight, this might not be for you.  If you want a once in a lifetime vacation where everything is planned out for you, then do the Con. tour.  I found plenty of time to relax yet many opportunities to explore inland Alaska with Princess's optional land tours.

 

Either way, you will find yourself wanting to go back.  Alaska is beautiful!

[jagoffee]

6 minutes ago, Nhsaltshaker said:

If you like paying for everything in advance and enjoy having a guide that takes care of your every need, do the Connoisseur Tour.  I've done it twice, starting in Fairbanks.  Fly in the day before and ask to stay at the Princess lodge--- they sometimes overflow to other hotels, requiring re-packing/unpacking.  We rented a car for that day to visit Chena Hot Springs and the Museum as well as purchase necessities we couldn't bring on the plane.  I love Fairbanks, but you can't walk to any stores from the Princess lodge.  We were almost mobbed when we walked into the hotel with liquor. 

 

Getting the land portion out of the way first allows you to relax once on the ship.  No more packing/unpacking.  Shorter plane ride home.  The food at the lodges was 5 stars in 2016.  I had $70 crab legs just about every night!  Both times I met/made great friends.

 

I agree with upgrading to the Tundra Wilderness Tour. 

 

If you're a Do-it-yourselfer and money is tight, this might not be for you.  If you want a once in a lifetime vacation where everything is planned out for you, then do the Con. tour.  I found plenty of time to relax yet many opportunities to explore inland Alaska with Princess's optional land tours.

 

Either way, you will find yourself wanting to go back.  Alaska is beautiful!

Where do I find the potential extra excursions that I might consider on the Connoisseur Tour?  Just want to plan a little.  Thank you.

[Nhsaltshaker]

8 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

Where do I find the potential extra excursions that I might consider on the Connoisseur Tour?  Just want to plan a little.  Thank you.

I found them on the Princess site on the Cruise Personalizer. You must be booked first. 

[Cruisen Elf]

We did an Alaskan land tour and cruise combination in September 2016.  When I priced the difference between the regular and connoisseur packages it was around $1000!  The connoisseur package included the dedicated guide and most meals.  We did not need the full time guide, and didn't expect to spend that much on meals, so we opted for the regular package.  Our experience bore out our expectations, and we did not miss the guide or spend $1000 on meals.  So for us, it was the right choice.  Other folks have thoroughly enjoyed their connoisseur tours, so it depends on your preference and budget.

 

We did begin our cruisetour in Fairbanks and enjoyed our time there.  We were able to see the Northern lights, and took the included paddle boat tour that featured dog sleds,  water planes, and lots of great info and scenery.  We did not spend time in Anchorage so I can't comment on it.

 

I would also encourage you to take the Tundra Wilderness Tour rather than the included Natural History Tour.  If it's not available through Princess, you can book it on your own through the National Park Service.  (www.nps.gov)  Princess runs a shuttle bus that will take you to the point you meet the tour.

 

As far as the time of the year - we went in early September and it was OK weather-wise.  But it was rainy some days and that decreased the chances of seeing wildlife at times.  If we go again (definitely an option - Alaska is beautiful!), I would probably go a bit earlier in the season so we could see some of the things we missed.  Hope this helps!

[jagoffee]

19 hours ago, Nhsaltshaker said:

I found them on the Princess site on the Cruise Personalizer. You must be booked first. 

Thanks.  I cannot believe I missed it.  

Is the Tundra tour the only excursion that is included with the Connoisseur package?  Did you book land excursions in advance?

 

[sandjforever]

2 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Thanks.  I cannot believe I missed it.  

Is the Tundra tour the only excursion that is included with the Connoisseur package?  Did you book land excursions in advance?

 

There are several Connoisseur packages.  Some include the Sternwheeler cruise and Gold Dredge.  There is also a brand new one that is including a catamaran cruise to Whittier.  I have been researching for a year and am booking first thing when they go on sale.  Have very brochure mailed to me to compare tours.  We are doing land first then cruise.  You can see all the tours and itineraries if you do a search and select crusietours only.

[Nhsaltshaker]

3 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Thanks.  I cannot believe I missed it.  

Is the Tundra tour the only excursion that is included with the Connoisseur package?  Did you book land excursions in advance?

 

It depends on your tour.  I remembering web-searching each lodge I was at to get ideas on the excursions they offer when I hadn't booked yet, to give me a clue.  Once I was booked they showed up in the Personalizer.

[MsWhatever]

I highly recommend doing the land portion first. There are mornings that your luggage will need to be outside ready for pickup by 7 am. As a woman that meant up by 6 to get ready for the day. We did the cruise first and land second. I was exhausted by the end of it. I sure wished I had had a relaxing cruise to recover on.

[jagoffee]

7 hours ago, Nhsaltshaker said:

It depends on your tour.  I remembering web-searching each lodge I was at to get ideas on the excursions they offer when I hadn't booked yet, to give me a clue.  Once I was booked they showed up in the Personalizer.

Thanks.  I am on the 5 day one starting in Anchorage.  I booked some time ago.  I did not realize that I was suppose to be booking excursions for the land portion of the tour/cruise.  I better get busy as our land portion starts on June 17.

[Mom_of_Al]

I recommend doing the land portion first and starting in Anchorage, if you want more time in Denali. The trips that start in Fairbanks often shortchange you with your time in Denali. I recommend completely opting out of the Denali tours through Princess if they allow that and booking the same exact tour through the national park website --  nps.gov/dena . You will be on the same bus with other people on your cruisetour, but you will save about 20% over what Princess charges you. The biggest savings comes if you have children between the ages of 13-15. Princess charges them the full adult tour fare, but they are half price on Denali's website. Book at least the Tundra Wilderness or longer tour. Do not book the Natural History Tour. It does not go very far into the park, and you spend a great deal of time at the nature center, which you can go to on your own for free. From my experience, Alaska usually goes on sale in February with Princess.

[lstone19]

My wife and I did a Connoisseur tour this year - 6 nights from Fairbanks (two nights Fairbanks, two nights Denali, two nights McKinley Lodge). Since it was a Connoisseur tour, the TWT was included but we upgraded to the Kantishna Experience, the 13+ hour trip that goes the full 92 miles into the park (it's a very different park west of the Eilson Visitor Center (which is already farther than the TWT goes)). Just like as was mentioned by Caribill, our TD has made us a reservation for dinner for when we'd get back but it wasn't late enough (he made it for 8:00, we got to the restaurant at 8:15 by going directly from the bus to the dining room (it would have added 10 to 15 minutes to go back to our room first).

 

Nothing is included day of arrival at Fairbanks as many flights arrive late in the evening. We arrived mid-afternoon so added an optional trip to a salmon bake and show to cover the first night's dinner. So you don't meet the rest of your tour until breakfast the next morning.

 

The only real negative was the train from Talkeetna to Whittier. Now I love a good train ride and it's hard to ruin a good train ride but Princess sure tried. Unfortunately, I found the seating at tables uncomfortable even after the party across from us moved to an empty table - it would have been unbearable with people across from us. I'd much prefer conventional seating with fold-down tray tables. I'm not sure why the Alaska operators (the train we were on used Alaska RR owned cars, not the Princess-owned cars) are so in love with this table seating that from what I've read seems to be standard across all the Alaska operators. And the car host was insufferable talking almost non-stop, much of it about her life story, giving my wife and me little opportunity to talk about what we were seeing out the windows - and it was what was out the windows that we were there to see (and I'll add we previously done an Alaska land tour in 2001 - this was on the land subsidiary of HAL (before they were both under the Carnival umbrella) - and I had much the same complaints which I'll sum up as they think they know best how we want to experience the ride). 

 

[rockdoctor]

IMHO, where you start is personal preference, but the cruise south is more interesting than the cruise north. You will spend more daylight hours with something to see. Killer whales, mountain ranges and more. Enjoy!