Worldtraveler 4727

Yes, that is THE excursion I was hoping to book through Princess! It was listed an an option on the website. However, they are currently NOT offering this excursion for our June 2018, 3 day, stay pre-cruise stay at the Princess Kenai Lodge.

And that is where my question comes in...how can I take a cruise through the Kenai Fjords from the Princess Kenai Lodge when Princess is not offering it.

I would love to hear from CC Members how we might then rent a car from the Princess Kenai Lodge to get us to Seward and thus on the Kenai Fjord Cruise from Seward.....

Thanks all ~

Thanks Ron and Linda!

My husband is an avid fisherman. Can you give me a few more specifics?

Were you picked up from the Princess Kenai Lodge?

I see that there are several places listed in Cooper Landing....which outfit did you go with?

Thanks!

Kathy

Yes, The Princess Kenai is part of our land/sea package.

I was thrilled to see that excursions for our Alaska land/sea cruise for next June had opened up, but was very disappointed that the ONLY ONE I wanted to book is not being offered: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise. I called and was told to keep checking the list of excursions--it's unlikely, but other excursions may be added later.

I know these Alaska lodges can be quite remote.

Does anyone know if there are any excursions available from the Princess Kenai Lodge? From the Princess Denali Lodge?

I will also post this on the Alaska site--hoping in one place or another to find some alternatives.

I was thrilled to see that excursions for our Alaska land/sea cruise for next June had opened up, but was very disappointed that the ONLY ONE I wanted to book is not being offered: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise. I called and was told to keep checking the list of excursions--it's unlikely, but other excursions may be added later.

I know these Alaska lodges can be quite remote.

Does anyone know if there are any excursions available from the Princess Kenai Lodge?

I will also post this on the Princess site--hoping in one place or another to find some alternatives.

SJSchell: Just log into your account on the Princess site. Then go and find your cruise that you are already booked for as if you were going to book for the first time. After this first time, when you log in you will see in the left side middle area "See Recently Viewed". Just click on it and it will go right to the cruise in question. Then just go in as if you were going to book. I go in and pick a cabin making sure it is the same category(usually are ones near my actual cabin) and check the price pp. I keep that price handy. Yesterday when I did it there was the price $2499pp showing!!!!(night before it was $2849) Just checking to the point of picking the room to check current pricing does not in any way affect any actual bookings you may have. Then if you see a lower price you IMMEDIATELY call Princess and hold from 1 minute to 40(grin) and ask to rebook your current booking at lower price, MAKING SURE you do not loose any perks that you might have. In saving $700 yesterday if I had to lose my OBC of $100 no problem, but you want to make sure nothing changes if you rebook or if something does that you are ok with it. Then while on the phone, go into your personal profiler and click on "Payments and Credits" and check to make sure new pricing is showing (it is that quick!) and then make sure rep. also emails you new booking confirmation. Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

Pooh

Pooh--Does this procedure work if you have given your booking to a TA? Can you call Princess yourself, or does the TA have to call Princess?

Thanks

Crew News~ Which company was this with??

 

I have taken the bus up and the train down a number of times. I have also taken the train up and the bus back with a stop at Liarsville.

 

IMHO the best Skagway train excursion is a bus to Caribou Crossing where you will catch the train to Lake Bennett for a 45 minute stop, and then the same train back all the way to Skagway. It includes a private dining car with tables and a good lunch. There were only 12 people on the excursion so only 12 people in our car.

 

Is there more to this review? I hope...

So true! We've experienced this at Muster and elsewhere....it makes me crazy...☹️

You must be feeling: "Is there anyone out there reading this??" I can assure you, there are MANY of us, some just love to "lurk" and not get involved, but since I am enjoying your entries so much, I thought I'd add my thanks for your detailed review. I am thoroughly enjoying it and taking notes like mad for next summer on the Coral.

On your enthusiastic recommendation, I have ordered Alaska Cruise Companion by Rachel Cartwright from Amazon where I found that new books are going for $77+ :o:o I bought a used one for $18 something, but I think from my researching various places on where to buy the book (there aren't many places at all), it has gone out of print.:(

Star Princess: Food et al:

I'm enjoying writing this....but am wondering if it's really helping anyone. Speak Up if this is helpful and something I should continue.... If not, that's ok too... I just want to concentrate my time and efforts where it will benefit the most people.

~~~~~

Food: In true ‘breaking of the mold’ fashion, we ate most meals in the Horizon Court. I’m typically NOT a buffet fan… We just prefer MDR…but on this cruise, MDR really didn't 'fit' the schedule we were trying to keep. Now...the only Horizon Court meal that was actually inedible was on the last night… I threw the plate away and went back for a salad. Other than that, the food was ‘ok’ as buffet meals go….and the salad bar was ALWAYS great in true Princess fashion. The other ‘winner’ in the buffet was the fruit selection for breakfast!!! Princess does this better than any other cruise line I’ve been on. On this cruise, there was a LOT of Asian food choices – I assume to appeal to the large percentage of Asian passengers we had on this cruise. J We ate 1-2 meals at the grill…and I got a piece of pizza one day for lunch with a salad from the buffet… We LOVE International Café…but only had 1 meal there… So much of the time we were on the upper decks so buffet/grill/pizza were just more convenient.

 

It SHOULD be mentioned…the oatmeal cookies were not only at the buffet...but ALSO at International Café. That means if one DID happen to be on a lower level, these delectable little goodies were still within easy reach…. You know….if one NEEDED an oatmeal cookie. This is SOOOO ingenious of PCL!!!!!

 

The Trident Grill had Alaskan food several days …sometimes 4-6 pm….and other times 6-10 pm. During those times (posted in Patters) they stopped serving their regular menu items of burgers/dogs and just had seafood items - BBQ salmon is the one I remember as I ordered that one evening. It was served with cole slaw....was very good...

 

When it comes to MDR dining, it was what we have come to expect from Princess Dining rooms. We chose Anytime Dining for this cruise…That was the BEST choice for us - trying to do ‘All Things Alaska'. We realized that the service with AD would be less personalized…but we knew that the "Alaska" schedule would ‘schedule’ us OUT of specific dining times most evenings. We were right. We only made it to MDR 3 times on this cruise... another 'breaking the mold’ for us.

 

Crab legs- DIVINE!! Shrimp Daniele – VERY good!! And I always like the crème brule and mignardises!!! It should be noted that I had read (and printed) off 7-day cruise menus from posters here on CC or the internet…specifically, an Alaskan cruise May 2017. The best I could tell, our cruise menus had all the same items…but not necessarily on the same days…or in the same ‘groupings’. (they were similar...but not always exactly the same...) That has led me to believe that basing any decision of when or where to eat before you get on the ship could lead one down the wrong path….just my ‘take’ on things. I am one of those who goes into hyper-plan mode before a cruise. I like to know everything - including menus. My DH would always say...."They'll GIVE you a menu when you get there...WHY do you have to know what's being served ahead of time??? It's a waste of time!!" NO Folks!! He doesn't understand hyper-plan mode!! hehe (But I don't know that he's going to be able to circumvent this condition either....it's in-grained into me)

 

Lines: I didn’t find the lines to be longer than what you would expect on a ship with 2500 passengers. In Ketchikan, which was a short port day, everyone was getting back on the ship at basically the same time and the lines were long (45 min-1hr) In Juneau, Skagway and of course at embarkation, lines to get back on board weren’t bad at all. Lines in the buffet were never really long…of course, we were there at ‘off-times’ (which I would highly recommend…) but we never waited more than 2-3 min. there. Lines at the Grill when they were doing the seafood could get long…. Of course, lines at the outlet shopping were HORRIBLE…but that’s always the case as they only have one person as cashier…. (never understood that reasoning…)

 

Entertainment: Princess went to great lengths to entertain not only those of us who wanted to do “All Things Alaska” but also those who didn’t… I don’t know anything about the quality of those other performances… I’m sure they were wonderful!

 

That’s the ship…at least all portions I could think of to write about…

Questions? Just ask…if I can, I'll answer…

You will not be disappointed! Email Tatiana (the owner) and request Nadia. She was wonderful!

TJ TRAVEL

I use these Cruise Critic boards and the Trip Advisor boards a great deal, and I feel I must then take the time to write reviews for others to return the favor.

We were a group of 4 adults who booked a private tour with TJ Travel for two days in St Petersburg recently. Nadia was our tour guide, and she did a fabulous job. It was pricey, BUT we did EXACTLY as we wished, no headphones, no being herded in a group, experienced guides, and we chose exactly what we wanted to see.....This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for all of us to St Petersburg. If it is for you, too, don't skimp--consider a small group. TJ Travel did a wonderful job start to finish. They answered emails promptly and had all paperwork in order for us--all travel documents sent via email to be printed at home and then handed over along with your passport to Russian immigration. Do not be afraid of booking this private company. They guarantee getting you back to your ship on time. TJ Travel will give you a wonderful experience--I'm sure the same as the other two large companies (SPB and Alla)--but for a little less money. Compare the three companies and what they offer, and you will find TJ Travel to be a bit better priced for the same tours, including early entrance into the Hermitage. Yes, they are the #3 company listed on Trip Advisor, but as such I think they try harder and are very conscious of their position and thus their requirement to provide excellent service--which they do!

Thanks for your thoughts.

I've done some extensive reading, and so many people love the Connoisseur package with Princess. It's our first trip to Alaska. We are leaning towards giving it a try along with DIY on all excursions, including the land portion. However, I have yet to find if Princess will refund money for the TWT allegedly included in the Connoisseur pkg so I can book the shuttle into Denali for 1/3 the cost.

Anyone have that answer?

a concessionaire manages the buses, the tours AND the shuttles. That is the link I provided earlier. (reservedenali.com)

 

There is also info on the park web site.

https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/visiting-denali.htm

👍🏻 Thanks!

The dates are fixed. They need time to clear the snow and make road repairs.

 

I think you're confused about pricing ....it's the Eielson shuttle that is 1/3 the price of the TWT. (The shuttle $34 is 1/3 the cost of the tour $130, goes a little further into the park, travels the same road, same amt of time, same rest stops)

 

I already provided the link for info on the shuttles and tours, but specifically here's the TWT:

http://www.reservedenali.com/tours-shuttles/the-denali-tour-experience/tundra-wilderness-tour/

 

and here's the Eielson shuttle info:

http://www.reservedenali.com/tours-shuttles/shuttles/eielson-visitor-center/

Thank you! I thought just the cruise ships provided the "tours," and the park just provided the "shuttle." I see the difference now. Thanks for your time and clarification.

Easy to book it yourself. But a better option is the shuttle bus to Eielson Visitor Center. It's 1/3 the cost, goes a little further than the TWT and has a lovely destination ....the Visitor Center has awesome views when the mtn is out, rangers, exhibits, trails, ranger led hike, and a bus dispatcher if you decide to take a later bus back. Also, the shuttle leaves about every 30 minutes so you have more control over when to travel.

You can read about the tours and shuttles on the reservation site:

http://www.reservedenali.com/

 

If you look further down the page you'll find a thread called HELPFUL RESOURCES ... somewhere in there are links to the NP at Denali as well as the Denali newsletter.

 

 

DIY land travel in Alaska is very easy to do. Very few hwys and mostly 2 lanes, so pretty hard to get lost. Having a car allows you to stop for wildlife and other points of interest, gives you access to more lodging options, and gives control over your schedule. If you're reluctant to drive, you can also replicate much of a cruisetour by booking your own seats on the Alaska Railroad and/or the Park Connection Bus and staying at Princess Lodges. MPVinBoynton recently posted a trip report and if you look in the signature you'll also find a Princess cruisetour photojournal from 4-5 yrs ago

Mapleleaves, can you tell me if the TWT ever starts up before June 1, and if the price below is 1/3 of the cost charged by cruise lines? Thanks.

Tour Information

Tundra Wilderness Tour - Full Tour Operation DatesJune 1, 2017 - September 15, 2017Distance63 Miles to Stoney Hill OverlookDuration7-8 HoursRatesAdult* - $130.25

Child - $60.25

As AkStafford said you get great deals on rentals by making a reservation a yr in advance.

When I rent an RV I do so in December for the following summer. For cars I've had great deals with the Enterprise office on Int'l Airport Rd. ie if you rent now for June 2018 their rates start at $30 a day. Rates fluctuate greatly so make a reservation on the best deal you can find now, then check all the sites regularly for any decrease. If you're not 100% sure of the dates, pad a few days to your res. Just ensure there's no cancel fee.

This video is from www.alaska.org and shows you the drive south of anchorage..... typical 2 lane hwy.

http://www.alaska.org/guide/turnagain-arm-drive

 

 

p.s. for land travel the trip advisor web site will be a better resource than cruisecritic.

Thank you for this. The specifics really help a great deal!

So your cruise ends in Whittier. You can rent a car there from Avis, but you'll be looking at a drop off fee when you drop off in Anchorage to fly out. So if you are looking to save money, you can do a bus or train from Whittier to Anchorage and then rent the car there. When to reserve the rental car? As soon as possible! If you are traveling this year, expect to pay a lot for a last minute reservation. If you are traveling next year, reserve this fall (October or November).

What to do on the DIY land trip in Southcentral Alaska? Well, it depends on how much time you have. Four days will let you do a couple of things. 7 days opens up more options. 10 days will really let you see some stuff. Even 14 days would be easy to fill up. And there's lots of lodging other than Princess....

Thank you very much for those specifics. They help a great deal!

Easy to book it yourself. But a better option is the shuttle bus to Eielson Visitor Center. It's 1/3 the cost, goes a little further than the TWT and has a lovely destination ....the Visitor Center has awesome views when the mtn is out, rangers, exhibits, trails, ranger led hike, and a bus dispatcher if you decide to take a later bus back. Also, the shuttle leaves about every 30 minutes so you have more control over when to travel.

You can read about the tours and shuttles on the reservation site:

http://www.reservedenali.com/

 

If you look further down the page you'll find a thread called HELPFUL RESOURCES ... somewhere in there are links to the NP at Denali as well as the Denali newsletter.

 

 

DIY land travel in Alaska is very easy to do. Very few hwys and mostly 2 lanes, so pretty hard to get lost. Having a car allows you to stop for wildlife and other points of interest, gives you access to more lodging options, and gives control over your schedule. If you're reluctant to drive, you can also replicate much of a cruisetour by booking your own seats on the Alaska Railroad and/or the Park Connection Bus and staying at Princess Lodges. MPVinBoynton recently posted a trip report and if you look in the signature you'll also find a Princess cruisetour photojournal from 4-5 yrs ago

INVALUABLE information! Thanks so much for your time and expertise, mapleleaves!

DIY in Alaska is easy to do. The cruise lines like to present that they have exclusive access to experiences but they don't. Anyone can book at room at the Princess Lodges.

A rental car isn't a requirement, but it's a big, big advantage. Would you be renting a car?

Thank you very much for your response. I am so happy to hear DIY is easy to do in Alaska. My research so far had lead me to fear the opposite was true.

We certainly would not be opposed to renting cars. Can you tell me where you think it would be best to do so? How far in advance would a car need to be secured? What advances would there be i.e. would you have some recommendations as to where to drive to?

Thanks in advance!

I don't know if vendors can pick up at the lodges or not .... that notion has been around for yrs.

The lodges that are REALLY isolated are Kenai and Copper River. If you have ideas for activities at those locations, call the vendors and ask if they'll pick you up. Its the only way to know for sure. (Kenai Princess is a good hr away from Seward)

McKinley is also isolated. About an hr from Talkeetna but at least there's a shuttle to take you into town for any activities.

As for excursions at port, most people choose independents because they want a smaller group or a longer tour or a more personalized experience. Read past trip reports to find popular vendors at each port.

 

.

Thank you for your response. I have been very encouraged to look for DIY excursions from port and lodges now--which is our usual way of doing things as we do like the smaller tours and usually the better prices.

If anyone has some good suggestions from the above ports or lodges, I would love to hear about them. We are open to anything but whitewater rafting and kayaking, so bring on your favorites, please.

Does anyone know if the Tundra Wilderness Tour is DIY bookable or if it is "best" to go on a ship excursion?

Thanks in advance!

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to set up DIY excursions from a Princess cruise into their ports of Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway & Anchorage (Whittier) or from ANY of the Princess lodges? We normally set up our own excursions when we cruise and have always been happy with the lower prices and fewer people, but from what I am reading about Alaska, either the Princess lodges are so far into the wilderness that there is no transportation available to get to Kenai Fjords, for example, to do a DIY trip, or I've read that outside vendors are not allowed onto Princess property. (Is that true?)

I have also read that any DIY excursions you might be able to set up are not that different in cost and it isn't worthwhile to try to book DIY excursions. (true?)

I'd appreciate any advice from the Cruise Critic Community who have had Alaskan cruise experiences.

Thanks in advance!

Thank you, Anni---and thanks again to Saur-kraut, too.

I'm sure this thread will help many people.

The train should go to the main station -- Hauptbahnhof or abbreviated Hbf. For stress free easiness I would just get a taxi from there to TXL, it will only take about 20 mins and you won't have to worry about getting to the U/S-bahn with luggage and waiting for a bus.

Thank you, Sauer-kraut, for your input.

To be clear~

For 4 adults:

Taxi from Warnemunde to Rostock

Train from Rostock to Hbf

Taxi to Tegel.

Is that correct? If so, it certainly sounds like a viable option to the $400 ship transfer.

Thank you for your time.

Hi, the train journey from Warnemuende to Berlin is very straightforward. For times and fares please see the Berlin page on my website. From the main train station you can take a taxi, a bus or the s-Bahn train.

The cost of a ticket from Warnemuende to Berlin is 43.70 € pp. If you book right through on the train the price is the same.

For a party of four it would be cheaper to buy a Schoenes-Wochenende-ticket @ 52€ for the whole party together if travelling at the weekend or a Quer-Durch-land ticket @ 68€ for the whole party if travelling on a weekday. You can find more details of these tickets on the Berlin page.

Cost of a taxi is 20-30€, time about 20 mins. The bus fare is around 2-3€.

For four people with luggage I would recommend the taxi.

Please

Note that the prices I have quoted are 2016 and may rise slightly at the end of February. I will update the website when and if that happens.

I really don't know how the cruise lines arrive at their prices, they are a rip-off!

Happy cruising :),

Anni

http://www.travelanni.webs.com

Anni, thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Before I posted my question, I did read through your website on the topic. From your response above and from your website, this is what I have surmised:

From the Warnemunde port, take a taxi or the local S-Bahn to the Rostock train station, and transfer there to another train. (RE train?)

From Rostock take the train to Berlin--but does the train go to main train station in Berlin?? Is there another destination from Rostock because I think the the next step is to take a bus to the airport. Is the bus station in or connected to the main train station?

Do I have this correct?

We are 2 couples who are quite seasoned travelers, and this sounds a bit complicated... I'm sure it's quite straightforward to anyone who has done it even just once. And of course, there is the fear of delays when there are three separate bits of transportation required to get to the airport. I think that is why many people throw up their hands and just sign up for the (I agree, way over-priced) ship transfer.

With a bit of clarification, we might be willing to give the journey from port to airport a go.

We feel pretty comfortable about the info we've garnered getting to the port from Berlin:

Taxi from our hotel to main train station

Take the RE train (is that correct??) to Rockstock

Take the S-Bahn train or taxi to the port

Thank you for any further clarification you can give us.

We appreciate your time and expertise!