ml1986

We did an excursion through Princess at each port in June 2015, and every single one was excellent!

In Ketchikan, we did a Coastal Wildlife Cruise. We got on a high speed boat with about 8 other passengers and two guides, who had a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife in the area. The cruise takes you through the inlets around the area with the goal of viewing wildlife. Immediately leaving the port we ran into a pod of orcas! We saw many eagles, seals and deer. We were looking for bears, but June wasn't quite bear season so we weren't successful in that regard. In all, it was very fun and we saw some beautiful scenery, waterfalls and animals.

In Juneau, we did the Best of Juneau excursion and it was fantastic! We boarded a bus that first took us to Mendenhall glacier. The bus driver gave some great knowledge and stories along the way. We had a short time to view the glacier and the visitor center. Some people were able to make the hike all the way to the waterfall and back--we didn't try it because we were worried about time. We then headed to get on a whale watching boat. The scenery as we headed out of Juneau to whale watch was just incredible--snow capped mountains all around. We saw a large number of humpback whales and fin whales and even some baby whales! The boat driver spent a good amount of time at each whale sighting and turned the boat so everyone could have a view. The boat then took us to this little island that has a very nice lodge on it for a salmon bake. We had this whole beautiful island and beach to our self for lunch and the food was really good. We even had some time after we got back from this tour to do some shopping and we went up the Mount Roberts tram. We did a short hike and enjoyed the view from the top- definitely worth it!

In Skagway, we decided to do the Chilkoot Lake Kayak experience. First, we boarded a ferry to Haines. It was a very scenic and enjoyable ride, and the town of Haines is gorgeous! I was glad we didn't miss it. We then got into a van with a group of about 6 people and headed to Chilkoot lake for an afternoon of kayaking with our guide. The kayaks were large and easy to use. We had this entire beautiful glacier lake to ourselves. It had the bluest water and was surrounded by snow capped mountains. There were eagles everywhere. It was awesome. We then got a quick tour of Haines and stopped for a picnic lunch.

In Victoria, we did the Butterfly and Butchart Garden tour. Both places were really neat. My only qualm was since the amount of time is port is so short, this tour was rushed. You are just taken to both places and able to explore them on your own. Butchart gardens is huge, so it was difficult to see everything. But, I thought it was worth going there to see all the flowers and landscaping.

With the exception of Victoria, even after taking these tours, we had time to explore the ports and do some shopping to see what the towns offered. I would highly recommend any of these tours!

Hello, I went to Kauai in January (not a cruise- though we are doing the cruise in November too). We saw both Waimea and the Na Pali Coast from multiple viewpoints. Both are amazing, but I have to say that the Na Pali coast is breathtaking and unlike anything I've ever seen. If I had to choose just one, it'd be that.

I saw the coast from an outlook a bit past Waimea Canyon (called Kalalau Outlook)- it is stunning, but only a brief view and can be covered by mist and fog. We had to drive up there a second day because the view was not visible the first time. I also did a hike on the other side of the island on the first part of the Kalalau trail and was able to see some of the coast from the hike-it is about 4 miles roundtrip down to the beach that Lost was filmed on. The hike is beautiful, but it is a moderate hike and for someone who wants to be a little more active. I don't know if I would attempt it considering the limited time Princess has in this port and the distance between the port and the hike.

The absolute best thing I did on the entire trip was take a raft trip along the Na Pali coast from the South shore. You get to see the entire Na Pali coastline for hours (not to mention dolphins and sea turtles)- and by sea or by air is really the only way to truly see and appreciate this coastline. In fact, I loved it so much that we are doing a similar rafting trip through Princess in November called the Na Pali Cruise & Snorkel. If you're up for a little fun and adventure, that is definitely the way to go!

No matter what you choose, you won't be disappointed :)

Hello! I recently had this same issue. The fare dropped by $100pp after the final payment date and it stated that this new price was for new bookings only. The original customer service rep I spoke told me there was nothing they would do, but I spoke to a manager and they offered to upgrade my cabin for me. Certainly it's worth the 5 minute phone call. :)

Another note is that just before the final payment date, the price dropped by $300 and they adjusted that for me no problem. It is always a good idea to keep checking for lower fares!

Hello,

I plan to book a snorkel excursion (not through the cruise line) in Poipu through Kauai Z Tours while we are in Kauai. The excursion starts at 12 and ends at 3. The princess cruise ship departs at 5 pm (so likely need to be back on ship by 4:30). Will this be enough time to return the rental car to Lihue (about 25 minutes from Poipu) and get back to the ship in Nawiliwaili?

Thanks for the advice!