Princess Alaska Cruisetours
FAQ: Cruise Answer Place
There's nothing else like it in the world, an Alaska cruisetour with Princess Cruises. From the incredible glaciers and charming Inside Passage towns of your voyage, to stays in dramatic Princess wilderness lodges at Denali National Park and beyond, it's certain to be the land-and-sea adventure you've always dreamed of. We look forward to welcoming you and being your host in the Great Land.
Note: The information below was accurate at time of publishing. However, things could change, so please visit www.princess.com for the latest up-to-date information. This information is provided for reference purposes only is subject to change without notice. Always re-confirm this information directly with the cruise line, prior to making any third-party reservations, such as airfare, shore excursions etc. and always before firming up your travel plans.
Flight Guidelines
Land Tour First, Then Cruise
| Arrival Locations | Suggested Flight Arrival Time |
|---|---|
| Anchorage | No later than 11 p.m. first night of cruisetour. |
| Fairbanks | Arrive at any time first night of cruisetour. |
| Seattle | Arrive at any time first night of cruisetour. Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the first night of your cruisetour in Seattle. |
Note: Please be aware that your hotel room may not be available until 3 p.m. on the day of your arrival.
| Departure Locations | Suggested Flight Departure Time |
|---|---|
| Vancouver Pier to Vancouver Airport | No earlier than 11 a.m. domestic/12:30 p.m. International on disembarkation day. |
| Vancouver Pier to Seattle Airport |
No earlier
than 4 p.m.
disembarkation
day. Transfer time: 5 hours. |
Cruise First, Then Land Tour
| Arrival Locations | Suggested Flight Arrival Time |
|---|---|
| Seattle for Vancouver Sailing |
No later
than 10 a.m.
embarkation
day. Transfer time: 5 hours. |
| Vancouver | No later than 2 p.m. embarkation day. |
| Departure Locations | Suggested Flight Departure Time |
|---|---|
| Anchorage | Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the last day of your cruisetour to determine departure time. |
| Fairbanks | Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the last day of your cruisetour to determine departure time. |
| Seattle | Refer to your detailed cruisetour itinerary (found in the Cruise Personalizer®) for information on the last day of your cruisetour to determine departure time. |
US & Canada only 800-545-0008
Outside US & Canada 661-284-4410
Within Australia 13 24 88
Special Needs/Access
Lift-equipped motorcoaches, accessible hotel rooms and seating on trains are limited and need to be secured in advance. Should you need a wheelchair, it is imperative that you bring your own or make arrangements for one to be provided.
You can pre-reserve a wheelchair and have it and other medical equipment delivered on land by contacting Special Needs at Sea at 800-513-4515 (outside the US 954-585-0575) or by visiting specialneedsatsea.com.
Alternatively, you can contact CareVacations at 877-478-7827 or cruiseshipassist.com. For any special accessibility requests, please put your request in writing and fax it to the Princess Access Office at 661-284-4408 at least 30 days prior to your travel.
Or if you have questions about the program in general, please call the Princess Access Office at 661-284-4521.
On Land in Alaska
There are important differences between the cruise and land portions of your cruisetour. Please read the following section to better understand those differences.
Time Zones
All Princess
destinations in
Alaska lie in the
Alaska Daylight Time
zone, which is one
hour earlier than
Pacific Standard
Time. Seattle,
Washington is on
Pacific Standard
Time, as is Canada's
British Columbia and
Yukon Territories.
Currency/Banking
Information
On your Alaska
cruisetour, you will
enter both the US
and Canada. All land
expenses incurred in
Alaska are in US
currency (USD). Any
expenses you may
incur in Vancouver,
B.C., Canada, will
be in Canadian
currency (CAD).
Cash Expenses
Unlike cruising,
cashless travel does
not apply on land.
Make sure to have
cash and/or a credit
card and valid ID on
hand. Additional
expenses will
include and are not
limited to: meals at
your lodge and
elsewhere, room
incidentals, shuttle
services, laundry,
non pre-purchased
optional land
excursions and gift
shop purchases. If
you wish to charge
meals, drinks or
phone calls to your
hotel room, stop by
the front desk upon
arrival at your
destination to
establish credit.
Meals/Dining
All meals
onboard our
railcars, at our
wilderness lodges
and at other hotels
are at your own
expense unless
otherwise specified
in the daily tour
itinerary. Visit the
Cruise Personalizer
for your detailed
itinerary. The
following is a
low-to-high range of
what you can expect
to pay (in US
dollars) for meals
in Alaska:
| Meals in Alaska | Range |
|---|---|
| Breakfast entrée | $9 - $14 |
| Appetizer | $6 - $16 |
| Soup & Sandwich | $9 - $14 |
| Deluxe Hamburger | $10 - $13 |
| Salmon dinner | $26 - $37 |
| Steak dinner | $26 - $33 |
| Dessert | $4 - $10 |
Note: Price ranges are approximate and subject to change. Princess will make every effort to meet your special requests for low-sodium, low-fat, low sugar and vegetarian diets. Ask to see the Food and Beverage manager or Hotel Services Manager at your lodge or hotel to communicate your needs.
Tipping
Gratuities are
not included during
the land portion of
your cruisetour.
Gratuities are a
personal matter and
an expression of
appreciation for
genuine, personal
service provided by
knowledgeable and
creative
professionals. Below
are suggested ranges
(in US dollars) to
assist you in
determining what
gratuity amount is
appropriate. Please
extend any
gratuities on an
individual basis,
not as a group.
| Service | Gratuity |
|---|---|
| Meals | Average 15% gratuity for server |
| Driver Guides, Train Staff and Land Excursion Guide |
$2 (half-day
of service
per person) $4 (full-day of service per person) |
| Escorted Tour Director | $5 - $7 (per person, per day) |
Electricity
Information
The US operates on a
110-volt system, and
uses a plug with two
flat parallel
prongs. Most US
electrical outlets
will have a third
round, ground hole.
A two-prong plug
will still work in a
three-hole outlet.
If you are traveling
from outside the US,
you may need a plug
adapter and/or
voltage converter
for electronic
devices.
Cell Phone
Coverage
Given the areas
through which you
will be traveling,
wireless reception
may be limited or in
some cases,
non-existent. Please
take this into
consideration prior
to your departure so
that your family and
friends are aware.
Contact your cell
phone carrier to
determine
limitations and
services that exist
in Alaska and
Canada.
Traveling with
Children
While traveling in
Alaska with infants
or children, it is
prohibited for the
operator of a motor
vehicle to transport
any person under the
age of 16 if they
are not secured in
that vehicle using a
safety device
approved by the US
Department of
Transportation.
Alaska law requires
that infants and
children under the
age five be secured
in the appropriate
car seat, booster
seat or other child
restraint system.
Children and teens
five to 16 years of
age must be secured
using a safety
device which is
appropriate for that
person. It is
imperative that you
bring any device,
beyond a seat belt,
that you deem
necessary to
properly secure your
child. Some land or
shore excursions
utilize smaller
vehicles and will
require you and your
child to be secured
while traveling.
This includes tours
into Denali National
Park.
Climate
Cruisetours cover a
broad range of
destinations with an
equally wide variety
of weather
possibilities, so we
suggest you bring
clothes that are
suited to layering.
This will offer the
greatest flexibility
in adapting your
clothing to the
conditions of the
day.
This average low/high temperature chart will give you an idea of what to expect:
Average Low/High Temperatures (degrees Fahrenheit)
| Destination | May | June | July | August | September |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Alaska/British Columbia: Mild summers, frequent rain | 46/54 | 54/62 | 58/66 | 56/64 | 48/55 |
| Interior Alaska/Interior Canada: Sometimes hot/dry in summer | 48/70 | 55/70 | 61/90 | 56/80 | 45/60 |
|
Prudhoe Bay: Summers are mild and cool |
34/42 | 46/54 | 50/65 | 49/57 | 42/49 |
Altitude
Many guests have
concerns about the
altitude encountered
during their
journeys. The
following chart
shows the maximum
elevations you will
encounter on your
cruisetour:
| Location | Highest Altitude |
|---|---|
| Denali National Park |
3,900 ft.
(Tundra
Wilderness
Tour) 2,800 ft. (Natural History Tour) |
| Copper River cruisetours | 4,068 ft. (to and from Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge) |
| Arctic Explorer cruisetours | 3,900 ft. (Atigun Pass) |
| Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge | 1,040 ft. |
| Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge | 1,600 ft. |
| Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge | 920 ft. (Turnagain Pass) |
| Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge | 720 ft. |
| Anchorage | 101 ft. |
| Fairbanks | 440 ft. |
Insects
Take measures to
avoid being bitten
by insects and wear
light colored,
loose-fitting
clothing that covers
your arms and legs.
Regularly apply an
insect repellent.
Wildlife
Encounters
You may encounter
some of Alaska's
abundant wildlife
while ashore. We
strongly suggest you
keep a good distance
from wildlife to
avoid danger, and
never attempt to
touch or feed any of
the animals you may
see from the ship or
while ashore.
Optional Land Excursions
Princess is pleased to offer you the ability to pre-purchase your city-based land excursions for the land portion of your cruisetour. Included in the Cruise Personalizer® is a list of land excursion options customized to best fit your itinerary with detailed information about each excursion. Not all tours are available on every cruisetour itinerary. Order your land excursions by calling Princess at 800-426-0442 before the closing date listed on your option form. Your credit card will be charged at time of booking for all confirmed reservations. Confirmed pre-booked excursions can be viewed in your detailed itinerary in the Cruise Personalizer®. Print the Travel Summary as proof of purchase for your personal records. You will receive information on confirmed pre-booked land excursions with your Welcome Envelope upon arrival at each location. Land Excursion bookings can be pre-purchased up to five (5) days prior to departure and cancellations for pre-purchased land excursions must also be made 5 days prior to the departure date of your first cruise day or first land segment of your cruise tour.
Children
Provided that
children are
accompanied by a
parent or legal
guardian, there is
typically no minimum
age required on most
excursions.
Children's prices
are available for
most tours; in most
cases there is no
charge for children
under the age of
two, provided they
do not occupy a
seat. Individuals
under 18 may be
required to provide
parental written
consent if attending
the tour alone. For
tours involving
travel by van,
children under the
age of five or who
weigh less than 40
lbs. must be seated
in a child safety
seat. (Federal Law
does not require
child safety in
motorcoaches).
On helicopter and
flightseeing tours,
children 24 months
of age and older are
required to have
their own seat.
Children under 24
months of age are
considered lap
infants and may ride
free of charge if
the tour operator
can accommodate
them.
Clothing
Given Alaska's
fluctuating climate,
we strongly suggest
you dress in layers
and wear
comfortable,
low-heeled walking
shoes or sturdier
shoes for activities
such as hiking. You
might want to bring
a fold-up umbrella
and a light jacket
in your carry-on.
Bringing sunglasses
on your excursion is
highly recommended.
Conditions
In selling tickets
(including coupons
or vouchers) or
otherwise promoting
or making
arrangements for
excursions - whether
for air, land or
local water
transportation;
tours; sports or any
other recreational
activities; shore
accommodations or
meals or for any
service, facility or
activity other than
onboard Princess
ships - Princess
acts only as agent
for the independent
tour operator
supplying such
excursions or
services.
Participation by a
passenger on
excursions is
conditioned upon
such passenger's
acceptance of the
terms and conditions
set forth in the
Passage Contract,
the excursion ticket
and, depending on
the activity, other
documents which,
among other things,
expressly release
Princess from any
liability for such
participation.
Participation may
also be subject to
the independent tour
operators' own terms
and conditions.
Excursion
Departure Times
Departure times
for each tour will
be listed on the
Cruise Personalizer.
These have been
published according
to information from
our agents, but are
subject to change.
Passengers are
requested to report
to the specified
departure location
approximately 10 -
15 minutes prior to
the time designated
on your ticket.
Excursions with
Limited
Participation
Excursions may
be purchased in
advance of your
departure on a
first-come,
first-served basis.
Many excursions have
limited
participation and
reservations will be
processed in the
order received. When
excursions are fully
subscribed,
additional requests
will be placed on a
waiting list in the
order received.
Fishing
Guidelines
- Conditions and
seasonality
Fish runs are
dependent on
spawning seasons,
weather, river
levels, commercial
fishing pressure,
and numerous other
variables. Your
fishing location
and/or destination
could change
depending on these
conditions and state
regulations at the
time of your visit.
Please remember you
have purchased an
opportunity to catch
fish, not a
guarantee to do so.
Water conditions
vary. Rivers fed by
glacier water appear
gray due to the high
silt content and
rivers fed by lake
water are clear. The
Copper River section
features fishing
tours on both
glacier fed (the
Klutina) and clear
water (the Gulkana)
rivers. Kenai offers
clear water fishing
on the upper and
lower Kenai River.
Seasonality of
species varies with
each river as is
mentioned in the
tour descriptions.
- Regulations
If the Alaska
Department of Fish
and Game determines
that there are not
enough salmon
entering the river
to sustain an
adequate
regeneration
population, the
fishing season may
be cut back, catch
limits decreased, or
other similar
regulatory rules
implemented. In
order to conserve
salmon and other
species, current
regulations require
you to stop fishing
once you have
retained the maximum
limit by law.
Information on
Alaska's current
regulations can also
be found online at
www.adfg.state.ak.us.
If your tour is not
designated as catch
and release, your
catch can be
processed and
shipped home for an
additional charge.
In most cases, this
service can be
arranged through the
fishing guide or the
tour company. Due to
Alaskan law, the
lodges are not
allowed to process
and/or cook any
sport caught salmon.
Because of its
perishable nature
and US Customs
regulations, your
catch may not be
sent outside of the
United States in
most cases.
- Licensing
Fishing licenses are
not included in the
excursion pricing
listed within the
brochure. Fishing
licenses will be
handled locally. We
will assist you with
arranging a fishing
license, either
through the guide
service, or at the
lodge location.
Prices for a license
will vary depending
on the number of
days you choose to
fish. A one day
non-resident sport
fishing license is
$20. King Salmon
require an
additional $10
stamp. Go to
www.adfg.state.ak.us
for more details on
pricing. Children
under 16 do not need
a fishing license.
Flightseeing
Excursions
Due to weight
and balance
limitations of small
aircraft, as well as
for your own safety
and comfort,
flightseeing
operators require
Princess to provide
the individual
weights of all our
passengers. As a
result, prior to
your flightseeing
excursion, lodge
personnel will be
requesting this
information from you
so that we can
provide it to the
flightseeing
operator in a timely
manner. Helicopters
may carry up to 6
passengers depending
on combined group
weight and carry-on
items are limited to
a camera that can be
carried on your lap.
Please note, the
flight length and
amount of time spent
on the glacier,
shown in the
duration section of
each tour, are
approximate and may
vary due to weather
conditions.
Personal
Possessions
Personal
articles should
remain at all times
under the
passenger's custody
and control. Be
careful that you do
not leave your
possessions
unattended at any
time in the vehicle
or coach in which
you are traveling,
unless instructed
otherwise. For most
flightseeing tours
you will be asked to
leave behind all
carry-on's and our
operators have been
instructed to secure
these for you while
you are on tour.
Prices
The prices for
the excursions are
in US dollars and
subject to change
without notice. All
quotations made
include conveyance
according to the
itinerary and, where
applicable, meals,
refreshments,
guides, and entrance
fees, unless
otherwise stated.
Children, other than
infants in arms,
will be charged full
fare unless noted
otherwise.
Refunds
In the event of
any excursion being
canceled for reasons
beyond our control,
a full refund will
be made. No refunds
can be made on any
ticket, coupon or
voucher unless
notice of
cancellation is
given before the
closing date
indicated on the
booking form for the
excursions involved.
Land Excursions that
are pre-purchased
and need to be
refunded will be
refunded by our
Corporate Office
using the same
credit card you used
to book your
excursions. These
refunds will
typically be
reflected on your
credit card
statement between 7
- 10 business days.
Should any excursion
have to be abandoned
through force
majeure or
difficulties en
route, the best
possible refund will
be arranged
according to the
circumstances.
Service
Princess is
dedicated to
providing the best
tour experience
possible for our
guests and we work
with a number of
companies to provide
a diverse and
entertaining tour
product for you to
choose from.
Each season
excursions that
surpass expectations
and individual
guides who provide
excellent service
are presented
awards. You
can assist us with
recognizing
outstanding tours
and guides by simply
completing the short
service recognition
form available at
the sales desks at
each sales location.
If you experience a
problem while on
tour, we ask that
you immediately
contact one of our
local managers so
that we can work to
resolve it while you
enjoy the rest of
your vacation.
Smoking
We have a no
smoking policy while
our guests are on
transportation tours
of any kind or in an
enclosed
environment.
Tipping
Tipping is a
discretionary
matter. However, it
is customary, if one
is pleased with the
tour, to tip the
tour guide.
Transportation
The standards of
transport vary
considerably
throughout the
state.
Air-conditioned
coaches are not
available in many
areas. Passengers
wishing to travel
with friends should
all leave together,
as this will help
the Tour Staff to
allocate them space
in the same vehicle.
For the comfort of
all passengers,
smoking is
prohibited aboard
the sightseeing
vehicles.
Wheelchairs
For guests using
wheelchairs, we
recommend reserving
the accessible
sightseeing tours as
designated. Some
tours not designated
as suitable for
wheelchairs may be
adaptable to your
unique circumstances
depending on your
abilities. If a
particular tour is
of special interest,
please inquire as to
what limitations
exist to see if they
apply to you.
Wheelchairs are not
provided by our Tour
Suppliers.
Wildlife guarantee
We cannot guarantee
that you will see
wildlife. Our Tour
Suppliers make every
effort to fulfill a
tour's description;
however, weather,
time of season and
other factors beyond
our control can
affect wildlife
sightings and scenic
views.
Withdrawal of Tours
The Tour Operator
reserves the right
to withdraw any
excursion through
lack of demand and
to make any
alterations that
they may deem
advisable for the
comfort of the
passengers, bearing
in mind the
convenience and best
interest of each
group.
Denali National Park Tours
Most Princess Alaska cruisetours include an exciting tour through the park; however, Princess offers the flexibility to choose your preferred experience from four unique tour options. Select the appropriate Denali National Park tour experience for you.
To change the Denali Park tour on an existing Alaska cruisetour booking, please have your Travel Agent call Princess. If you didn't use a Travel Agent to book your cruisetour call a Princess Representative at 1-800-426-0442. The price difference will be applied to the booking. Don't wait; availability is limited. Space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Not all requests can be accommodated. Changes must be made 14 days prior to departure.
Note: No tour operator, including Princess, is authorized to use their own motorcoach inside the park boundary. Sightseeing tours inside of Denali National Park use school buses. Children under 5 years and/or 40 pounds are required to be in a child safety device (car seat) to ride on buses. Passengers must bring their own child safety device.
What to Bring
Clothing Suggestions
Alaska is very
casual both in the
evenings, as well as
the day. Casual,
active sportswear is
the best option, as
you will likely be
enjoying tours and
activities outdoors.
You'll want
comfortable clothes
and good walking
shoes, and the
ability to be
layered for
everything from
sunny afternoons to
chilly nights. As
the weather can be
unpredictable, a
warm jacket is
advisable.
Here is a brief listing of suggested items:
Daytime
- Water repellent coat or jacket
- Rain hat
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers
- Lightweight windbreaker
- Sweaters
- Pants or shorts
Evening
- Warm coat (temperatures can get lower in the evening)
- Same attire as worn during the day - casual
Other Recommended Items
- Cameras
- Binoculars
- Travel alarm clock
- Insect repellent
- Car seat for those traveling with children
- US National Parks pass (not required)
- Collapsible umbrella
- Sunglasses
Luggage
All Princess cruisetours include our hassle-free luggage handling service every step of the way. During the land portion of your vacation, we'll take care of transporting your luggage from one location to the next.
Important luggage reminders:
-
Essential medicines, travel documents, valuables and breakables should be hand carried in your possession at all times.
-
All Alaska luggage tags will be distributed by Princess Representatives in Alaska.
-
Luggage fees imposed by airlines are the responsibility of each guest. Please check with each carrier prior to departure for specific guidelines.
-
Many domestic airline carriers now impose baggage fees for one or more bags and bags weighing over 50 lbs., so check with your carrier regarding weight restrictions.
-
Princess will make every effort to assist you in safeguarding your belongings. But remember, you are responsible for your things at all times. Princess is not responsible for money, jewelry, cameras, binoculars, documents or any other articles you retain in your personal control.
-
All luggage should have a sturdy personal identification tag that will not be lost or damaged in the course of typical airport and trucked luggage handling.
-
On journeys including air travel, luggage will be subject to a considerable amount of handling and we would recommend that your luggage be of sturdy construction.
-
Princess recommends that your travel protection is adequate enough to cover any possible loss or damage which may occur. Any loss or damage caused by Princess or an airline must be reported immediately to the responsible party.
-
For passengers traveling on a roundtrip Vancouver, B.C. cruisetour, a roundtrip Seattle cruisetour or who have purchased "Seattle Air Advantage", please refer to your detailed itinerary found in the Cruise Personalizer® for additional details regarding luggage.
Packing for your
Land Tour
Cruisetours involve
many modes of
transportation
including
motorcoaches, trains
and sightseeing
vehicles so make
sure you take only
the things you need
to ensure comfort
for you and your
fellow travelers.
There are different
types of bags to
consider for the
land portion of your
cruisetour.
Hand-Carry Tote/Backpack
-
You'll want this bag with you every step of the way, so include only the essentials.
-
Items to pack in this bag include travel documents, photo ID, important medication, toiletries, camera, and any extra layers of clothing such as jackets or hats.
-
Your hand-carry tote bag should be a size that is comfortable to carry and should be able to be stowed under your seat. We recommend soft-sided tote bags or backpacks no larger than 17" x 14" x 4" with a zip enclosure.
-
Wheeled carry on cases that are used to carry-on luggage on airlines are too large and are not suitable as hand-carried luggage on motorcoaches and trains.
"Join Me Tonight"
Luggage
You are allowed one
piece of "Join Me
Tonight" baggage per
person on the land
portion of your
cruisetour. You will
simply pack one bag
and place luggage
where instructed.
Our handlers will
pick it up and
deliver it to your
room at the next
overnight location
on your land tour.
-
This bag will be transported separately from you and will not be accessible during transit.
-
Items to put in this bag include clothing, sleepwear, nonessential toiletries, extra shoes and anything else you might need at your hotel but do not need access to during the day.
"Join Me Onboard" Luggage (for guests who cruise after their land tour)
-
Passengers who cruise after their land tour should pack a separate bag for items they will not need on land.
-
This bag is perfect for the items you may need on your cruise but will not need on your land tour, such as formal wear, dress shoes, or dinner jackets. On the land portion of your cruisetour, the dress code is always casual so there is no need for any formal wear.
-
All luggage is delivered to the first destination on your land itinerary. Upon departure from that city, the "Join Me Onboard" tagged bags will be securely stored until they are delivered to your stateroom onboard.
"Join Me in Fairbanks/Anchorage" Luggage (for guests who cruise prior to their land tour)
-
Passengers who cruise prior to their land tour should pack all the items they used on their cruise and will not need on land in this piece of luggage. After disembarkation from the ship, these bags will be inaccessible until delivered upon your arrival in the final destination of your itinerary.
-
Please identify your chosen pieces of luggage (excluding the one "Join Me Tonight" bag) with the "Join Me" tags based on your final destination.
Transportation
- Government-issued photo identification and boarding information are required prior to embarkation.
- Storage space is limited; we request that your hand-carried bag not exceed the size of a standard tote.
- Smoking is limited to the viewing platform or outdoor vestibules.
- Please do not bring food for consumption onboard.
| Rail | Rail Segments | Duration | Car Type | Food Service | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali Express | Between Whittier and Denali (for service to/from Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge) | Approx. 9.5hrs^^ | Double-decker glass domed luxury rail cars | Dining is available onboard the train^ |
*Princess
Rail Guides
provide
narration en
route *Gift Shop onboard *Open-air viewing platform |
| McKinley Express | Between Whittier and Talkeetna (for service to/from Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge) | Approx. 5.5hrs^^ | Single-level glass domed cars | Dining is available onboard the train^ |
*Princess
Rail Guides
provide
narration en
route *Club car onboard |
| Princess Rail Service |
Between
Anchorage
and
Talkeetna Between Talkeetna and Denali Between Denali and Fairbanks |
Approx. 4hrs^^ | Double-decker glass domed luxury rail cars | Dining is available onboard the train^ |
*Princess
Rail Guides
provide
narration en
route *Gift Shop onboard *Open-air viewing platform |
^Expect to pay
prices similar to a
hotel restaurant. If
meals are included
or pre-purchased
they will be
specified in your
itinerary in the
Cruise Personalizer®.
^^Travel time is an
estimate and varies.
Motorcoach Transportation
-
Princess provides trained and knowledgeable drivers for your motorcoach travels.
-
Motorcoach segments between all points tend to be shorter in duration than rail.
-
Seating aboard the coaches is not assigned, but guests may be asked to rotate throughout each day to allow everyone access to the forward seats.
-
Ample stops are made for photo and rest breaks.
-
Coaches are equipped with restrooms.
-
All sightseeing tours inside Denali National Park are operated by the National Park Service concessionaire. No tour operator, including Princess, is authorized to use their own motorcoach inside the park boundary. Sightseeing tours inside of Denali National Park use school buses.
Accommodations
Hotel Stays
-
Princess utilized both Princess-owned-and-operated lodges as well as independent 3rd party hotels and your cruisetour could include overnight stays at either.
-
You will be assigned a hotel prior to travel. This information will be available in the Cruise Personalizer® 21 days prior to departure and a notification will be sent to your travel agent.
-
Hotels are selected for their location, amenities, staff services or historical significance. In larger cities you will find more modern full-service hotels with televisions and telephones in each room and a choice of restaurants. In smaller cities and in the more remote locations, the hotels, though comfortable, are more rustic and the services are limited.
-
Air conditioning is not available at most hotels.
-
In Prudhoe Bay and Coldfoot, accommodations are of modular constructions and, though clean and warm, are of a basic nature.
-
We communicate the bed configuration requested, but bed types are limited and room assignments are at the discretion of the management of each hotel. As a guideline, accommodations for two guests sharing the same room usually consist of one double/queen bed, two twin beds or a double/queen bed with a fold-out couch. Accommodations for the three guest are one double/queen bed with a fold-out couch or rollaway. Accommodations for four guests are two double/queen beds.
-
Smoking is prohibited in the hotel rooms, dining venues and common areas at Princess-owned properties. For other Alaska accommodations, we communicate the smoking or non-smoking preferences, but due to availability, these room types are not guaranteed.
-
Some Alaska hotels do not have elevators. If you have special requests or concerns regarding accessibility, or if you would like to request disabled or easy access hotel rooms, refer to the Special Needs/Access section for instructions and contact information.
-
Check-in time for Anchorage and Fairbanks hotels is typically 3 p.m., while check-out is no later than 11 a.m. If you have charged items of a personal nature to your room, please settle your account at least one hour before departure time.
Shopping
Each
Princess wilderness
lodge features a
gift shop where you
can purchase
sundries as well as
gifts and souvenirs.
For those that
purchase items at
the gift shop but
don't have room in
their luggage,
Princess offers our
"Ship Shop" program.
For your
convenience, we
offer shipping for
your purchases from
any of our gift shop
locations. A small
handling fee will
apply in addition to
the actual shipping
costs, based on
local post office
rates.







