Princess cruise tour questions

[lilmiss]

Hi everyone.

My brother and I are planning a cruise and cruisetour next year.

We ended up with the idea for a cruise tour, because we only have a certain amount of time for this trip and booking an independent trip from germany is not that easy. Plus the comfort of not having to drive the long distances by yourself probably would make it a bit more relaxing.

We like to do the cruise first and then add a 5 day cruisetour HA5 starting from Whittier, going up to Denali, staying 2 days at the Lodge, I would skip the Natural history tour and book a shuttle bus though. Then going to Mc Kinley Lodge for 2 nights and then back to Anchorage for 1 night.

Is that a good choice for our needs ? What do you say ?? Any recommendations ???

Is it worth to spend a bit more money for a cruise tour MA5 and having meals included plus a Tundra Wilderness tour ???

Thx for your help !!

[Budget Queen]

Your questions indicate to me, some uncertainity???

 

Have you researched, what you are going to do with your time at the McKinley Princess?? Do you want your short time tied up here?? Sorry to sound so blunt, but these are questions you need to answer and find out for yourself, WHAT type of touring you wish to experience??

 

I will also state, you don't have an accurate idea of going independent, counter to what you post- actually it could make far better use of your time. These aren't "long distances", if you want to stop in Talkeetna. Very simple to arrange, even from Europe. :)

 

As only an alternative- From Whittier, consider the boat tour of Prince William Sound, your day of arrival. Take the train to Anchorage- overnight. Get a rental car, spend the day sightseeing driving to Denali park. Plenty to stop and see along the way. Denali park- take the shuttle to Eielson, a BIG advantage having a car, as you can pick any timeframe you want, and add any other touring of interest. Plenty to see and do. Do an extra drive to Savage River, take your time, bring your binoculars.

 

Head back to Talkeetna- stop for a meal, flightseeing. Overnight.

 

Next day, drive Hatcher Pass, glacier trek Matanuska glacier, plenty else to consider along the way.

 

Overnight in Anchorage- day to tour Anchorage, fly home.

 

 

Otherwise of your cruisetour choices- I don't find meal options good choices as they are so restrictive. But again, you are going to have to determine what you want?

[lilmiss]

Yes I am a little uncertain and starting to get desperate ; ), since I have to rely on all the info I can get myself from the internet. We have travel agencys here that are specialised on cruises but not on independent land tours.

Since I am in europe I cannot call hotels or agencys in Alaska- a major disadvantage.

The intiniary you posted sounds good, but the booking part scares me because I have to do this on my own, since the travel agencys cannot offer me what I want.

They said that I needed a 4x4 car, which I think we don´t need because we would only drive on highways. Also they had horrible rates for hotels. That made it much more expensive than a cruise tour.

And I guess I am also a little late with booking, hotels in the denali area are already filling up for may !!

Oh and on your questions regarding what we want to do in denali/ mc kinley: we love to be outdoors, we are hikers !!!

[Budget Queen]

Yes I am a little uncertain and starting to get desperate ; ), since I have to rely on all the info I can get myself from the internet. We have travel agencys here that are specialised on cruises but not on independent land tours.

Since I am in europe I cannot call hotels or agencys in Alaska- a major disadvantage.

The intiniary you posted sounds good, but the booking part scares me because I have to do this on my own, since the travel agencys cannot offer me what I want.

They said that I needed a 4x4 car, which I think we don´t need because we would only drive on highways. Also they had horrible rates for hotels. That made it much more expensive than a cruise tour.

And I guess I am also a little late with booking, hotels in the denali area are already filling up for may !!

Oh and on your questions regarding what we want to do in denali/ mc kinley: we love to be outdoors, we are hikers !!!

 

Well, I book everything online and don't call anyone. IF you would like help, this board is full of ACCURATE information. No, you do not need a 4x4 car. I go with a cheap economy car and haven't been stuck anywhere yet. :) Car rentals usually do not require any deposits, why not look, now, and book something- Enterprise in Downtown Anchorage, usually has good rates. At the airport all the majors are there. Including Alamo, Payless, Dollar, Thrifty.

 

http://www.nps.gov/dena is loaded with information. With you being hikers, I would think their hiking would be a great fit for you. Including Discovery hikes http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/discovery-hikes.htm Plenty of trails in the state park too. http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aktrails/explore/index.htm

 

What type of lodging are you interested in?? If clean budget basic, I highly recommend Denali Park Hotel.

 

I am going May 17- mid June, and don't have much booked myself. :) You have time yet to get good bookings. :)

[cruisinalong001]

Do they have a cruisetour that will let you spend only one night at McKinley on the way to Denali, 3 nights in Denali and then your last night in Fairbanks? (return flight from Fairbanks). If you take the train from Denali to Fairbanks, it leaves in the late afternoon which gives you even more time in Denali. Princess will let you customize a cruisetour for, I believe, $75 pp (not sure of the current price-be careful..they will charge you for each time you call for a change.).. I am not sure about HAL.

[Glaciers]

Oh and on your questions regarding what we want to do in denali/ mc kinley: we love to be outdoors, we are hikers !!!

 

A strenuous but very rewarding hike near the entrance of Denali is the Mt Healy Overlook Trail. http://www.nps.gov/dena/photosmultimedia/overlook.htm

[wolfie11]

You don't state when in May you will be travelling but you should be aware that the park is not fully open until around June 1. You can drive yourself into the park until the shuttle buses start up around May 23 (not sure of date in 2011)

 

In addition, you may be better off going independent if you are active, outdoorsy, and like to hike. The average age of passengers on HAL cruise tours is getting younger, but most people will be in their 60's or 70's and some will have mobility issues. These tours have a much greater empahsis on shopping in HAL gift shops than getting out into the Alaska outdoors. They keep walking to a minimum.

 

You can book everything online, and other than the expensive cruise tour hotels, there is always good availability at hotels in Healy near Denail for about half the price of the Glitter Gulch hotels - but also look online on the Aramark site for some pretty good early season hotel deals. It is easy to book a car online as well.

[Budget Queen]

Do they have a cruisetour that will let you spend only one night at McKinley on the way to Denali, 3 nights in Denali and then your last night in Fairbanks? (return flight from Fairbanks). If you take the train from Denali to Fairbanks, it leaves in the late afternoon which gives you even more time in Denali. Princess will let you customize a cruisetour for, I believe, $75 pp (not sure of the current price-be careful..they will charge you for each time you call for a change.).. I am not sure about HAL.

 

No there are NO cruisetours that have 3 nights at Denali Park. Not sure what your "customize" reference is?? BUT, if you care to "customize" then you are going independent, and don't need Princess. There are coupon offers in the purchased coupon books, if you want to stay with Princess, but I see no advantage in doing so??

[Denise&Paul STL]

Budgetqueen, I am considering doing a cruise and your above alternate itinerary to a cruise tour. Are the roads still decent in mid September?

[Budget Queen]

Budgetqueen, I am considering doing a cruise and your above alternate itinerary to a cruise tour. Are the roads still decent in mid September?

 

Absolutely, no issue driving the Alaska highways. BUT be very careful with considering this timeframe. It overall is better to take a northbound cruise, since the weather can drop off significantly in the Inside Passage. BUT, you then become too late for Denali Park going mid Sept. This is a reason, a recommend cruising the first week, then land touring. So as to have full access into Denali. Wonder Lake is very worthwhile to consider. But keep in mind the buses stop mid Sept. The only other option is to get permits for the road lottery, done in July. THEN you will need a rental car, that will allow you gravel roads, which none of the majors do.

 

Be sure to think through this carefully and have everything in place with your priority, BEFORE you get into any bookings.

[Denise&Paul STL]

What about doing the cruisetour through Princess in mid September? It arrives September 17 in Whittier then tours. Will they not be doing the usual tours then if some things close down that early?

[Yukon]

What about doing the cruisetour through Princess in mid September? It arrives September 17 in Whittier then tours.

 

You'll only get the Natural History Tour in Denali (and perhaps even less if we have another early winter), which means that you miss the best part of the park.

[Budget Queen]

What about doing the cruisetour through Princess in mid September? It arrives September 17 in Whittier then tours. Will they not be doing the usual tours then if some things close down that early?

 

Sorry this can be, an over all poor choice. Your cruise week, and the last week of the season following, have the worse portential weather of the season. A significant factor is dusk by 7pm, which means missing out on port time touring, and scenic sailing.

 

As already mentioned by Murray, you are also only going to ge the Natural History tour, and miss out, big time with Denali Park. Especially a couple weeks earlier, getting all the way to Wonder Lake is WELL worth the time.

 

I suggest you look into all the features of Alaska cruising and seasons. Especially if you have touring priorities- then find out about their seasons and availablity. You are smart doing all this BEFORE you get into any booking. Take your time with this decision. Especially - find out the details about cruisetours- most people do not, then find out some negatives they did not realize. Go for as long as you can afford, and avoid the short cruisetours.

[LaurieCM]

Before we went on our Princess cruisetour (exotic explorer- Anchorage, train to Denali (2 nights), Fairbanks, north on the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot, Prudhoe Bay, flight back to Anchorage, and then the cruise) we researched all aspects- there are reviews of all the cruisetours and pictures to see, so that you know all about the accomodations. We loved the whole trip, including the rustic/basic motels up north- no regrets. How could you regret the Brooks Range or seeing herds of wild muskox up close?;)

[Budget Queen]

Before we went on our Princess cruisetour (exotic explorer- Anchorage, train to Denali (2 nights), Fairbanks, north on the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot, Prudhoe Bay, flight back to Anchorage, and then the cruise) we researched all aspects- there are reviews of all the cruisetours and pictures to see, so that you know all about the accomodations. We loved the whole trip, including the rustic/basic motels up north- no regrets. How could you regret the Brooks Range or seeing herds of wild muskox up close?;)

 

There also are alternative independent, tour operators running the Prudhoe Bay tours. I'm booked myself, on one next season. Have only made it to Wiseman (twice) so far. :)