Princess Kicks Off 2018 Alaska Cruising Season

Princess Cruises has officially kicked off the start to their 2018 cruising season in Alaska. This summer, the line has seven ships sailing the region, including the newly enhanced Golden Princess. Guests will be able to experience the newly designed space and menu at Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, kids will enjoy the Camp Discovery youth center, and guests can kick back and relax with a Princess favorite: Movies Under the Stars.

While onboard all ships sailing in Alaska this year, guests will be able to engage in unique experiences through the North to Alaska program, featuring Princess’ favorite “Cook My Catch,” a culinary program that allows guests to return from select fishing excursions to have the chef prepare their own catch of the day. Also offered is Puppies in the Piazza, where real Alaska sled dog puppies are brought onboard in Skagway for travelers to interact with.

New Features and Updates

Those venturing into Alaska on a cruisetour visiting Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge will be some of the first to visit its newest addition, a treehouse built by Pete Nelson from Animal Planet’s show “Treehouse Masters.” The treehouse will open its doors to guests for activities including a historic walking tour and a meeting with a local Birch tree sap harvester for Sappy Hour, a look into the process of harvesting the natural product of the boreal forests.

In addition, Princess Cruises will debut a new dining venue at their Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Rod & Reel. The restaurant renovation is the latest enhancement to the lodge, and will offer new menu items for both lunch and dinner.

Cruises

With 130 departures from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Whittier, there are lots of options for exploring Alaska this year, including:

Voyage of the Glaciers – the most popular Gulf of Alaska sailings between Vancouver and Whittier offered by Princess feature two glacier-viewing experiences on every voyage, with visits to Glacier Bay National Park plus either Hubbard Glacier of College Fjord. These cruises are offered on Island Princess, Coral Princess, Star Princess, and Golden Princess.

Inside Passage – This part of Alaska is known for its lush scenery and pristine fjords, and will be featured on 7, 10, and 12-day roundtrip voyages from Seattle, San Francisco, and for the first time, Los Angeles. Ruby and Emerald Princess sail seven-day itineraries round-trip from Seattle, with all Ruby Princess cruises visiting Glacier Bay National Park. Grand Princess sails out of San Francisco, featuring five departures visiting Glacier Bay. Two 12-day cruises roundtrip from Los Angeles aboard Emerald and Golden Princess will also include Glacier Bay.

Cruisetours

Princess cruisetours combine a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with a land tour, including the line’s wilderness lodges, rail service, and visits to the top two attractions in Alaska: Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park.

In 2018 there are over 22 cruisetour options, most featuring multiple nights at Princess’ own wilderness lodges. Choices include:

• Denali Explorer: The most popular option, these itineraries feature multiple nights at the Denali lodge and/or Mt. McKinley lodge. Most offer Princess exclusive Direct-t0-the-Wilderness rail service between the ship in Whittier and the Denali area all in one day, plus the opportunity to explore Fairbanks and/or Anchorage.
• On Your Own – An affordable option for independent-minded travelers, these itineraries offer a flexible way to see Alaska. Tours follow similar routes as Denali Explorer options, but don’t include any pre-planned excursions, giving guests the chance to customize their experience.
• Off the Beaten Path – These itineraries are designed to take travelers beyond Denali to sought-after, remote regions of the state like the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
• Connoisseur – The line’s highest level of service, these cruisetours provide an immersive experience complete with a professional tour director, most meals included on land, and enhanced sightseeing.

For more information on the treehouse at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, click here.