Princess Cruises is known as the “best cruise line in Alaska,” and they’re taking that status to a whole new level in 2018 – bringing their largest deployment to The Last Frontier ever. More guests than ever will be able to enjoy Alaska from the comforts of a Princess ship.
In summer 2018, seven Princess ships will sail to Alaska on 130 cruise departures, with over 75 percent of all voyages sailing to Glacier Bay National Park. The cruises will be departing from Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, Anchorage, and even as far south as Los Angeles. Additionally, the line has over 22 cruisetour options so that guests can journey further into Alaska, visiting five custom-built Princess Wilderness Lodges.
New for 2018, Island Princess will feature a full season of calls to Icy Strait Point on every 7-day northbound Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary. Also new, guests who want to cruise roundtrip from LA can choose from two 12-day cruises.
The 2018 May to September Alaska program includes:
Alaska Cruises
With 130 departures, there are tons of options for exploring Alaska, including:
- Voyage of the Glaciers – Princess’ most popular Gulf of Alaska sailings between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage) features two glacier-viewing experiences, with visits to Glacier Bay National Park and either Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. These cruises are offered aboard Island Princess, Coral Princess, Star Princess, and Golden Princess.
- Inside Passage – This lush, and fjord-filled part of Alaska will be feature on 7, 10, and 12-day roundtrip voyages from Seattle, San Francisco, and LA. Ruby and Emerald Princess operate 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle, and all Ruby Princess cruises will visit Glacier Bay National Park. Grand Princess sails out of San Francisco, featuring five cruises visiting Glacier Bay. Two 12-day cruises roundtrip from LA aboard Emerald Princess and Golden Princess will also include Glacier Bay.
CruiseTours
With a cruisetour, land tours are combined with a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers sailing and include the line’s wilderness lodges, exclusive direct-to-the-wilderness rail service, and visits to the top two attractions in Alaska: Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park.
There will be over 22 cruisetours to choose from in 2018, most featuring multiple nights in Wilderness Lodges to experience the grandeur of Denali. Options include:
- Denali Explorer – The most popular option, these itineraries feature multiple nights at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and/or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Most offer rail service between the ship in Whittier and the Denali area in a day, and the opportunity to explore Fairbanks and/or Anchorage.
- On Your Own – An affordable option for independent travelers, these tours offer a flexible way to see Alaska. Tours follow similar routes as Denali Explorer, but don’t include pre-planned excursions, giving guests the option to customize their experience.
- Off the Beaten Path – these itineraries take travelers beyond Denali to sough-after, remote regions such as the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
- Connoisseur – The line’s highest level of service provides an immersive experience. With a professional tour director, most meals included on land and enhanced sightseeing, guests experience the best of the Great Land.
- Heart of the Rockies Plus Rail – This 14-night cruisetour originates in Calgary and includes daylight Silverleaf rail service on the Rocky Mountaineer. The fully-escorted land tour combines with a 7-day northbound Voyage of the Glaciers cruise on Star Princess and Golden Princess and includes most breakfasts and dinners. Accommodations are offered at Fairmont Calgary Palliser Hotel, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and Four Seasons Vancouver.
Club Class Mini-Suites
Summer 2018 Alaska guests have a new stateroom category to choose from: Club Class Mini-Suites. The elevated mini-suite category features perks like Club Class Dining – a reserved dining area with expedited seating and an expanded menu, priority embarkation and disembarkation, complimentary wine, and luxurious bathrobes.
The 2018 Alaska season cruises will be available for booking on December 1, 2016.
