Crown Princess to Alaska - R/T from Seattle - 4 June 2016 to 11 June 2016

[journeycollector]

Thursday, June 9 - Ketchikan

Sailing from Glacier Bay, we docked at Ketchikan sometime before 7am. It was a "short" day in port...too bad because we loved Ketchikan and would have liked to have stayed longer.

 

I had booked the Island Wings floatplane sightseeing tour over Misty Fjords for the 4 of us. After that, we split up and walked around town.

 

Here we are getting into Ketchikan...

 

See the little red shack near the water? That's where Island Wings is located. We could have jumped off the aft and swam there! Probably not recommended.

 

 

 

 

 

[journeycollector]

Thursday, June 9 - Island Wings/Misty Fjords

 

After getting off the ship, we made our way to the Misty Fjords van and in a few minutes were ready to take off!

 

Michelle, the pilot/owner, was excellent! This was hands-down our favorite excursion. My mom's boyfriend had especially high praise ("this made the whole trip").

 

Here's the plane...right next to the Crown Princess!

 

Taking off right next to the Crown Princess!

 

Beautiful scenery...

 

 

 

Coming in for a landing on Nooya Lake:

 

I thought the plane ride might be bumpy, but with the weather cooperating and Michelle's steady hands, I need not worry! In fact, I hadn't even realized we had landed on the lake...it was so smooth!

[journeycollector]

Thursday, June 9 - Island Wings/Misty Fjords (cont'd)

 

Michelle landed the plane on Nooya Lake and we got to get out and stretch our legs for a bit.

 

Michelle's also quite the shutterbug--offering to snap pics of us. Thanks!

 

 

 

Mom, her boyfriend, and Michelle in the middle

 

Beautiful Nooya Lake

 

 

Then we took off, flew over more beautiful scenery in Misty Fjords and then returned to Ketchikan. The total tour time was 2 hours.

 

[journeycollector]

Thursday, June 9 - Walking around Ketchikan

 

After returning from the floatplane sightseeing tour, we had some time to walk around Ketchikan. And that's exactly when it starting pouring rain. We had been lucky up to this point--just the occasional drizzle. But this was more of a soaking rain. Thankfully, it only lasted about 20 minutes--returning to just off/on drizzle.

 

Get some salmon!

 

Thank you, Columbia waterproof rain jacket...you are AWESOME!

 

Dolly's House

 

Creek Street

 

Totem

 

All that rain = pretty flowers!

 

Sadly, all aboard was 12:45pm. We got back on around 12:20.

[journeycollector]

Thursday, June 9 - Leaving Ketchikan

 

Now it was off to Victoria BC. The sunshine came out so we actually laid out on some deck chairs for awhile...quite nice after a bit of rain in Ketchikan.

 

 

 

Here's the Princess Patter for Thursday, June 9:

 

 

 

 

Later that evening we went to the Princess Theater to see the "Magic to Do" musical. We liked it...lots of great songs from Wicked, Pocahontas, and more.

[journeycollector]

Friday, June 10 - On to Victoria BC

 

Because "all aboard" at Ketchikan was at 12:45pm on Thursday and we wouldn't dock at Victoria until around 7pm on Friday, it basically felt like a sea day.

 

That's ok...after getting up early the past couple of days, this gave us the chance to sleep in.

 

We attended the culinary demo in the Princess Theater and then took the galley tour. Really interesting! And now I think I can make the Princess Parmesan cheese "basket" on my own. We'll see.

 

The executive chef and maitre d'--a comedy duo for sure.

 

Galley tour

 

 

 

 

[journeycollector]

Friday, June 10 - On to Victoria BC

 

I saw that Princess was offering a quick Internet package: 15 minutes for $8.99. I decided to go ahead and get it so I could get us checked in for our Southwest Airlines flight. Wow...slow, but it managed to get the job done.

 

After lunch, we happened upon an ice carving demo. Fun! Then in the afternoon we attended the finals of "Voice of the Ocean." I went in thinking it would be (somewhat) awful karaoke, but I was really impressed...I was sailing with some really talented passengers!

 

Here's the Princess Patter for Friday, June 10:

 

 

 

 

Ice Carving demo:

 

Approaching Victoria BC:

[journeycollector]

Friday, June 10 - Victoria BC

 

We loved Victoria...it's a cute and charming town! Again, wish we had more time there. This was the only port where we had booked a Princess excursion--and it was just the shuttle bus that would take us to downtown and back to the ship for $9.99.

 

I thought about doing the excursion to Butchart Gardens, but with the short time in port, we wanted to explore the city instead.

 

It was starting to warm back up as we headed south. It was around 61F/16C.

 

Coming into port.

 

 

O Canada!...or something like that.

 

 

The shuttle bus ride was around 8 minutes and we got a little bit of local history. It dropped us off on the side of The Empress Hotel:

 

Then we walked around the hotel and the over to the BC Parliament buildings:

[journeycollector]

Friday, June 10 - Victoria BC

 

We continued our walk around the BC Parliament buildings.

 

Totem

 

Then along the Inner Harbour

 

 

By this time, it was after 8:15 and we were hungry! We headed down Government Street looking at gift shops and pubs. We got to Bastion Square and notice the pedestrian plaza and decided to check it out. We made our way down to Wharf Street were we found The Docks restaurant. Great decision! Excellent and friendly wait staff and great food: We both had the special: Fresh wild caught salmon with lobster mashed potatoes. Yum!

 

Then we retraced our way back down Government Street. The BC Parliament building was all lit up, so we stopped to take some photos.

 

 

We caught the shuttle back to the ship and were on-board just after 11pm.

 

OMG...then it was time to pack! I literally HAD TO SIT on my suitcase to get it to close. Too many souvenirs!!!

[journeycollector]

Saturday, June 11 - Seattle Disembarkation

 

We got up early and got breakfast in Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe.

 

We decided to do the Express Walk Off since we didn't mind hauling our own luggage. Originally when I booked the flight it was for 11:30am...yikes. Princess generally doesn't recommend booking a flight out of Seattle before 11:30am. Luckily, about a month before the trip, we got an email saying the flight was changed to 12:10...I was breathing easier then.

 

We got to our disembarkation area (the Wheelhouse bar) a couple of minutes before 7:45am (the time we were supposed the be there). Then we waited and waited. It was a bit of a zoo and lacked the usual Princess coordination we had seen all week. Finally at 8:15, they called the next group. We found out our group had been called *before* the time we were supposed to be there. Oh well.

 

So we walked off the ship and got through the cruise terminal pretty quickly. Then it was outside to catch a cab to Sea-Tac airport. Our cab driver was a bit of an amateur historian. He also was an extra on 15 episodes of Northern Exposure--which filmed outside of Seattle. Hah!

 

Traffic was not bad at all. The lines at the airport: another story. It took 30 minutes just to make it through the Southwest Airlines line to get our boarding passes printed and our luggage dropped off. Then it was another 30 minutes to get through TSA. Then add about another 10 minutes to get to our gate. Total time from airport curbside to gate: 1 hr. 10 minutes.

 

Luckily, we had a bit of time to kill before the flight. We boarded and then it was non-stop back to Milwaukee.

 

Still gathering my thoughts on the cruise and Princess and will post some thoughts here. Bottom line: We're cruise converts now! :D

[dolfndreams]

Thanks for the great review. Your pictures are stunning.

 

Leaving in a month or so and your review definitely has me excited to see this beautiful place.

[mimmy52]

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. I really enjoyed it and wish I was going back. Maybe some day. I also wish I had a better camera and was a better photographer because your photos are some of the best I've seen.

[renaissancewoman101]

Loved reading your review. I was on the Crown Princess last year in early Sept for their Alaskan cruise. I miss it and hope to do another one maybe next year.

[Bimmie Girl]

great review! We are sailing the Island Princess in Aug. and looking for a camera that take pictures like these!!!! what camera did you take these with? they are fantastic!!!

[journeycollector]

Thanks for the great review. Your pictures are stunning.

 

Leaving in a month or so and your review definitely has me excited to see this beautiful place.

 

Thank you! I'm already "scheming" on how to get back to Alaska! :)

[journeycollector]

Thank you for taking the time to do a review. I really enjoyed it and wish I was going back. Maybe some day. I also wish I had a better camera and was a better photographer because your photos are some of the best I've seen.

 

Thanks for the kind comment! I took over 1,700 photos...so these are just the "good" ones. :D I actually give all the credit to Mother Nature...I just push the button.

[journeycollector]

great review! We are sailing the Island Princess in Aug. and looking for a camera that take pictures like these!!!! what camera did you take these with? they are fantastic!!!

 

I have an Olympus Pen E-PL1 (I think they're up to version E-PL7 by now!) that was purchased in 2010. It has a lot of manual stuff you can do, but I generally just leave it in automatic "point and shoot" mode. I also had my trusty iPhone for some of the pics.

[journeycollector]

Concluding thoughts on Crown Princess to Alaska

 

TL;DR: We loved it! As first-timers to both cruising and to Alaska, it was AWESOME. We’re cruising converts now. Let’s go somewhere warm next!

 

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Embarkation: Easy. Line always kept moving. Room was ready when we got there.

 

Stateroom: Inside cabin, Riviera 724. Great location — aft of the ship. Just a few steps and we were at the Terrace pool and bar which was rarely crowded. The room was situated immediately below Cafe Caribe—only the occasional minor noise, but nothing that ever caused us to lose sleep. The room itself was more than adequate for the two of us. Hey, I only managed to hit my head on the closed-up bunk beds only once! I thought I might feel claustrophobic, but no worries. Shower: holy water pressure, Batman! Loved it.

 

Service: Exceptional. I’m not one who usually goes for being “pampered,” but I felt like a king (or a prince since this is Princess Cruises?). Joseph, our steward, was helpful and always seemed to be around…but never hovered. Wait staff was amiable and professional. Top notch all around.

 

Food: Ranged from average to excellent. Two great meals in the Crown Grill (loved the filet mignon!) and had good food in the MDR (hello salmon! And I’m still having dreams about you, Fettuccine Alfredo!). Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe was standard buffet food, pretty much what I expected (how ‘bout some berries in the morning, please?). And what’s with the nickel and dime charge for gelato at the International Cafe? It’s good, but not worth paying extra. We did Anytime Dining because we didn't want to stick to a rigid schedule. Well, we learned it really should be called "Anytime Dining but reservations highly encouraged!" So, we decided what time we wanted eat dinner in the morning and made a quick call to the Dine line for reservations.

 

Facilities: Loved all the open areas, walking around the Promenade Deck, Skywalkers Lounge, Terrace pool area. The piazza is beautiful. Most of the time, the ship never felt crowded (and that’s good because I’m not a “crowds” person). Some issues finding seating in Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe at peak times (mainly from people taking up tables who weren't actually eating).

 

Onboard Activities: Alaska is so port-intensive, we were sometimes too tired. But we did go to several performances (“Magic to Do” musical and 70’s music show) and liked them. Tried our hand at trivia…fun, but wow we felt dumb! Did the “treasure hunt” as a first timer…I won something! Went to one of the naturalist presentations about Alaska and a photo presentation on Alaska…both good! Saw one of the comedy performances by Steve Moris—not really our thing; we’re not his demographic…but he’s a good guitar player. Attended the culinary demo and galley tour…fascinating. Watched the finale of “Voice of the Ocean”—some talented passengers on board!

 

Disembarkation: bit of zoo, but I guess that’s usual? We did Express Walk Off and would do it again.

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Ports…

 

Juneau: ate at Tracy’s King Crab Shack…loved it! Did Harv & Marv whale watching…good time. Went to Mendenhall Glacier: would have like to have spent more time there.

 

Skagway: walked around town. Did Frontier Excursion’s Yukon Discovery Tour (about 6.5 hrs)—awesome scenery and didn’t have to do any of the driving!

 

Glacier Bay scenic cruising: one word: AMAZING! Remember to get a good spot out on one the high decks then go down to the Promenade Deck to get a change in perspective.

 

Ketchikan: wish we had more time here. Did Island Wings floatplane sightseeing over Misty Fjords—an experience I’ll never forget.

 

Victoria BC: again, wish we had more time here. Lovely city. Walked around downtown. Great meal and friendly service at a restaurant called “The Docks.”

 

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What I learned as a first-time cruiser is that it’s all about options. Don’t like formal night? Don’t have to do it (just stay out of the MDR). Hungry at 11pm? No problem: Go to the International Cafe. Want to learn something?: Go listen to the naturalist talk. Want to party? Go to the late night DJ. There really is something for everyone.

 

So, we’re hooked! Doesn't mean we’ll be cruising multiple times a year, but as soon as we got off the ship, we both agreed: Let’s go somewhere warm next! So, if you have suggestions, let me know!

 

If you have questions about my trip, don't hesitate to ask.

 

Also: I'm guilty of being photo-happy (lock me up!). Here's my full album of the Alaskan cruise: https://www.flickr.com/photos/38117207@N03/albums/72157667103896693

 

Lastly, some pics of the Crown Princess...

 

Leaving Seattle

 

The beautiful piazza:

 

 

Get a good spot for glacier viewing!

 

 

Come back new? Yes!

[MsLMG]

Thank you so much! I remember thinking Alaska was too beautiful for words when we were there. Your review really did it justice.

 

 

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[Bostonjetset]

Thanks again for the WONDERFUL review and the fabulous pictures!! It really got us excited for Alaska. :D

 

For warm-weather cruise I would recommend Bermuda. It is GORGEOUS there and most ships stay overnight 2 nights [HAL stays 3!] so you really get a taste of the island rather than just a single day in port. Also, NYC and Boston are both wonderful ports to leave from with numerous things to see pre- and post-cruise. Of course the Mediterranean is wonderful as well and there are so many possibilities there but Bermuda would be less expensive once flights are factored in. Just beware, after your 2nd cruise you will immediately start planning your 3rd...and 4th...and 5th! It never ends HAHA.

 

P.S. - I LOVED the alfredo basket on Princess as well; I got one 5 of the 7 nights we were on the Regal HAHA. It's just so delicious.

[shawnk1963]

Thank you for this wonderful trip report and pictures - I loved it all!! :)

[Bimmie Girl]

What a great review, really getting excited after reading all of this! I see you are a Dale Chihuly fan? Since you want to go to warmer temps next cruise.......IF you ever get to Nassau just stop in the hotel Atlantis casino, they have the "sun and moon Chihuly's" there, 1 million each, on display. We have been fortunate enough to see several exhibits in various cities.

 

Your photography skills are amazing. thank you so much for taking the time to share! Fantastic, upbeat review!

[lmkucala]

Great photos and great review - I had so much fun following along anticipating our upcoming Alaskan cruise leaving this Saturday!

[calclubceci]

Thank you so much, we are on the Crown to Alaska in 53 days and now after seeing your pictures I just can't wait!!!

[journeycollector]

Thank you so much! I remember thinking Alaska was too beautiful for words when we were there. Your review really did it justice.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Aww...thanks for the kind words! :)