sept 11-24 coral princess SB cruisetour

[sunlover65]

We just returned from our Alaska adventure. I won't do a detailed intinerary just some highlights and suggestions for future bookers. First the Coral Princess ship and crew were spectacular great room ( balcony) excellent dining and entertainment was fun. We did late seating dining and found that worked great for viewing and shore excursions no rush to change for dinner more leisurely dining. The glacier viewing was excellent we were very close and they turn the ship so everyone has a great view. The inside passage going to Vancouver was beautiful and a sunny day so a real bonus. We did have rain 10 of the 14 days or heavy clouds. Rainy in Skagway and Juneau...surprise sunny in Ketchikan. Skagway was mostly a shopping and touring the town day we did go to the show at the Eagles club no car rentals late season so we couldn't go to Emerald Lake as planned, Juneau very rainy but we did do the zipline very exciting great boat trip over too toured some of the town there also, Ketchikan the men went fishing with Ken of Northern Lights very nice man and a good trip. Women did the duck boat tour then totem museum, creek street, and the hatchery, not a lot of shore time there. The disappointment for me was the commercialism in all the port towns...jewelry stores by the dozens..very little left of the quaint Alaskan villages you expect to see.:(

next entry land tour.

[sunlover65]

Started in Anchorage with a night at Captain Cooks. Beautiful hotel and enjoyed walking around the city after a long traveling day. Went to Humpies for dinner, good food and a friendly staff. Bus the following day to Mt Mckinley Lodge. Very overcast so scenery viewing wasn't the best but still enjoyed the trip. The tour busses are very nice and comfortable.

Mckinley Princess was beautiful...but no mountain...not for the 2 1/2 day stay. Rained all the first day so we decided to go to Talkeetna the next morning...this was the town I expect to see in Alaska. After touring the town we booked a summit flight with Hudson Air it cleared up enough for a summit trip and that was spectacular. Have to admit coming out of the clouds and seeing the mountain ahead was a little frightening but well worth the trip. Danali the next day but we only had the one night so really weren't able to do much and it rained again all day...snow in the Mountains that night. Problem with the late season booking is many tours aren't available and the staff at the hotels are more anxious to leave the next week then to wait on the guests. Although most were very friendly and the hotels were clean food good and the dinner show was good. Just be prepared for limited service and available tours in a Sept land tour. Next day was the train ride to Fairbanks..nice day then so we enjoyed wonderful views...train is comfortable and not cold as we feared it might be. Fairbanks the Discovery River Boat and Gold rush tour were better then expected. Being a Sunday night our free night in Fairbanks didn't pan out as most places were closed. Rained of course. Next day flight to Anchorage..nicest crew ever on Air Alaska and a good flight then the tour to Whittier..sunny for most of it so a great viewing day and some awesome scenery...Animals...almost none except at the wild life refuge and then some great whale sightings heading to Vancouver. Hope this was a help to anyone planning a cruise. I tend to agree that if possible booking your own land tour would be better. We had no luggage problems at all with Princess, buses, trains ships planes and went very well so if you want to sit back and enjoy the scenery it is a good way to go. I should mention a plus of Sept is no big crowds at any of the ports or hotels so no waiting and had extra room in all the tour buses and trains.

PS I really miss being waited on and clean beds towels etc...hope to cruise again someday.:)

[UMTerp]

Thanks so much for your review! Sorry you had so much rain on your land tour!

 

UMTerp

[FLACRUISER99]

Who was the Naturalist onboard? Is it still Barbara, if so she is the best IMO.

[sunlover65]

Yes Barbara was still there and her enthusiam when we were spotting the whales and dophins the last day was contagious. She really knows Alaska and enjoys narating the cruise. We spent from 9AM to after 5PM on the sundeck watching and listening to her great day.