My " wish list" itinerary

[Sumar76]

Saw an ad about another cruise line that does a one time a year, in August, for 32 days up thru the Northwest Passage.

The cruise originates in Anchorage, Alaska and goes north up around Alaska, stopping at Kodiak ( yes where the polar bears are), Dutch Harbor, Nome, cruising North Pacific Ocean, Bering sea, going to Northwest Territories, Canada, cruising through fjords, going to 3 ports in Greenland, and ends up in NYC after stopping in Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston and RI. Phew!

 

I was one of the lucky ones to cruise to Antarctica on the Golden in 2007. I believe it was the only time a larger ship had cruised the area, and it was done by Princess. It was fascinating, very educational and unlike any other cruise I've taken.

I would love, love, love for Princess to have this destination added to their itinerary. It would be exciting ,fascinating,educational and a cruise you would talk about for the rest of your life. Just as I have talked about the Antarctic cruise.

 

This itinerary has just opened up this year, by a very expensive cruise line, only because of global warming. Who knows what the future would bring if it continues. Wouldn't it be phenomenal to see the area that only a small number of cruisers would be able to do? And by our favorite cruise line Princess?

 

If those who are adventurous as I am would write to Princess customer service and inquire about opening up an itinerary in this area, they might just do it.

I've already written to them. Is anyone else interested???

[dreaminofcruisin]

I heard about this on tv:

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/northwest-passage-cruise-crystal-serenity-ice-choked-waters-concerns/

 

It's not really something that a whole bunch of cruise lines should be doing at the same time, nor is it without risk....

 

...but hey! If you have the money and are really adventurous go for it!

 

I would be worried about how a rescue would ever occur should there be some kind of accident / incident on the ship....

 

:eek:

[Lucky TGO]

All I have to say is it sounds great. :) What do you think if the length of the cruise was a little shorter? 32 days is just to long for my wife and I.

Tony

Edited October 5, 2016 by Lucky TGO

[BritinSoCal]

Saw an ad about another cruise line that does a one time a year, in August, for 32 days up thru the Northwest Passage.

The cruise originates in Anchorage, Alaska and goes north up around Alaska, stopping at Kodiak ( yes where the polar bears are), Dutch Harbor, Nome, cruising North Pacific Ocean, Bering sea, going to Northwest Territories, Canada, cruising through fjords, going to 3 ports in Greenland, and ends up in NYC after stopping in Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston and RI. Phew!

 

Sounds like a great cruise but unfortunately one that is only really possible due climate change...

[skynight]

I don't see Princess doing this anytime soon. I also can't envision a big demand as it would be way too cold and costly for most cruise customers. The route seems to be a better fit for one of the smaller expedition vessels.

[DougH]

That is also a dream route for me but unless I win the lottery way out of my budget. I also sailed Antarctica but on the Star Princess in 2009. Princess and most of the other large lines stopped these after 2010 when fuel regulations changed, I'd love to repeat this one.

 

I'd love for a 10-14 day route roundtrip from Whittier/Seward out to the Aleutians and then North visiting some of the smaller Alaska towns but doubt we would ever see it. Even 7 days out to Kodiak, Homer and Aleutians would be nice for a change of scenery.

[R**T]

I'd love for a 10-14 day route roundtrip from Whittier/Seward out to the Aleutians and then North visiting some of the smaller Alaska towns but doubt we would ever see it. Even 7 days out to Kodiak, Homer and Aleutians would be nice for a change of scenery.

 

 

Agree!

[shredie]

A few years ago (2009?) we did a round trip from Seattle on the Pacific Princess, two weeks. We went to several northern ports, Kodiak among them. We also stopped at Sitka and some others not on the usual routes. It was really spectacular. I haven't seen that itinerary repeated for a long time.

[chrysalis]

A few years ago (2009?) we did a round trip from Seattle on the Pacific Princess, two weeks. We went to several northern ports, Kodiak among them. We also stopped at Sitka and some others not on the usual routes. It was really spectacular. I haven't seen that itinerary repeated for a long time.

 

We did the same one, but it left from Vancouver....14 days. The small ships were able to get into some of those smaller ports/towns.

[DougH]

We did the same one, but it left from Vancouver....14 days. The small ships were able to get into some of those smaller ports/towns.

 

I did this in 2010 on the small Royal Princess. Great route, my favorite Captain Justin Lawes and Lorainne Artz was still aboard. Sure wish they would offer this again

[Murphey]

Did you see the price of this little getaway?????

[Thrak]

A few years ago (2009?) we did a round trip from Seattle on the Pacific Princess, two weeks. We went to several northern ports, Kodiak among them. We also stopped at Sitka and some others not on the usual routes. It was really spectacular. I haven't seen that itinerary repeated for a long time.

 

I think my wife would jump on that itinerary like a duck on a June bug. :D

[Murphey]

A few years ago (2009?) we did a round trip from Seattle on the Pacific Princess, two weeks. We went to several northern ports, Kodiak among them. We also stopped at Sitka and some others not on the usual routes. It was really spectacular. I haven't seen that itinerary repeated for a long time.

 

We did this out of Vancouver about 10 years ago on HAL. Yes, it was a super trip.

[JimmyVWine]

I'd love for a 10-14 day route roundtrip from Whittier/Seward out to the Aleutians and then North visiting some of the smaller Alaska towns but doubt we would ever see it. Even 7 days out to Kodiak, Homer and Aleutians would be nice for a change of scenery.

What would be used as the foreign port? Maybe some Russian island? The cruise that shredie describes was R/T out of Seattle, so I assume Victoria was used to comply with the law. But if a ship left out of Whittier, and headed north toward Barrow and/or Prudhoe Bay, it would be "All Alaska, All The Time".

[Timbles]

Saw an ad about another cruise line that does a one time a year, in August, for 32 days up thru the Northwest Passage.

The cruise originates in Anchorage, Alaska and goes north up around Alaska, stopping at Kodiak ( yes where the polar bears are), Dutch Harbor, Nome, cruising North Pacific Ocean, Bering sea, going to Northwest Territories, Canada, cruising through fjords, going to 3 ports in Greenland, and ends up in NYC after stopping in Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston and RI. Phew!

 

 

There are definitely NO polar bears on Kodiak Island.

[lovevacadays]

I saw information on the cruise you reference as well. It looks amazing but oh so costly.:eek:

[Sumar76]

All I have to say is it sounds great. :) What do you think if the length of the cruise was a little shorter? 32 days is just to long for my wife and I.

Tony

 

Yes, I would prefer if it was shorter. Alittle long for me too, but maybe we. An throw out the idea to Princess and see what they come up with.

[Sumar76]

I don't see Princess doing this anytime soon. I also can't envision a big demand as it would be way too cold and costly for most cruise customers. The route seems to be a better fit for one of the smaller expedition vessels.

 

Yes, there is National Geographic, and the smaller expedition ships that do it, but too " blow up crafty" for me.

But Princess did go to Antarctica in 2007..was the largest ship to sail there so they could try one of their smaller ships for this itinerary. There was only one sailing in January for South America, and probably only one sailing in August for this one up north.

Not for anyone who would like warm weather cruising for sure.

[Sumar76]

Saw an ad about another cruise line that does a one time a year, in August, for 32 days up thru the Northwest Passage.

The cruise originates in Anchorage, Alaska and goes north up around Alaska, stopping at Kodiak ( yes where the polar bears are), Dutch Harbor, Nome, cruising North Pacific Ocean, Bering sea, going to Northwest Territories, Canada, cruising through fjords, going to 3 ports in Greenland, and ends up in NYC after stopping in Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston and RI. Phew!

 

 

There are definitely NO polar bears on Kodiak Island.

 

Yes you're right...I know no Polar Bears on Kodiak, Kodiak bear territory.

Shouldn't have put that comment saying they were there.. meant the Polar bears are in the Artic region where the ship would be cruising.

Well, at least I didn't say Penguins! Haha

[Sumar76]

Did you see the price of this little getaway?????

 

Well, where I saw the itinerary for the Northwest Passage explorer was on Crystal. (Enough said). All drinks included.. jackets ..many perks of course for the tune of $20,000 per person. As much as I'd love to do it, I cannot afford anything near that price. THATS why I'd like Princess to fine tune it , less time, less money. And if it's just going to go once a year ( for shorter time) on a smaller ship I Bet they'd have a lot of interest.

All those that cruised to Antarctica at least.

[Sumar76]

I saw information on the cruise you reference as well. It looks amazing but oh so costly.:eek:

 

YES... lets face it, not many could afford to ,Or would want to pay that. But I know Princess could do it for less with the quality we like . Without jackets, haha.

[Sumar76]

I don't see Princess doing this anytime soon. I also can't envision a big demand as it would be way too cold and costly for most cruise customers. The route seems to be a better fit for one of the smaller expedition vessels.

 

You're probably right, but thought I'd try to drum up some interest anyway.

[Working 2 Cruise]

You're probably right, but thought I'd try to drum up some interest anyway.

 

You do realize it's a no way no how proposition don't you? Just because a handful of people can afford it.... doesn't mean it would be profitable for Princess.

 

Good luck!

[Sumar76]

You do realize it's a no way no how proposition don't you? Just because a handful of people can afford it.... doesn't mean it would be profitable for Princess.

 

Good luck!

 

Doesn't hurt to try..you never know! Who ever thought they'd have a ship that part of their itinerary was sailing around Elephant Island for four days?

[JimmyVWine]

You do realize it's a no way no how proposition don't you? Just because a handful of people can afford it.... doesn't mean it would be profitable for Princess.

 

Good luck!

I'm sure that under the "follow the money" mantra, this is probably right. If they think they could make money doing this, then they would already be doing it. That said, as a one-time-a-year, one-ship-only proposition, I could see it being profitable. You take a (smaller) ship that is already in Alaska, such as Island or Coral; you do a repositioning cruise to get it ready for Panama Canal season; and you go from Whittier to Quebec. And from there, you go from Quebec to Fort Lauderdale. It could be booked as one Grand Adventure or two individual legs. The Whittier to Quebec leg could potentially be profitable based on the fact that most of the journey is Sea Days or "Scenic Cruising" days. That means more alcohol sales; more casino revenue; more spa treatments; more Sanctuary revenue. Also, even where the ship stops at a "port of call" (if you want to call them that), there would be no competition from third party vendors, and frankly, nothing really to do for people who just want to get off the ship and wander around. I doubt that there is a Diamonds International or any Tanzanite shops throughout the Northwest Passage. So whatever excursions Princess put together would pretty much be the only option that guests have. So there would be tons of revenue from that source. Throw that in a blender and top it off with the fact that Crystal sold out this year's cruise in 48 hours selling cabins that start at $22k per person (almost $700 per day per person), and I think that it could be feasible. I don't suspect that Princess could match Crystals, prices, but let's look at what Princess charges for a 33 day cruise in August, 2017 that I randomly selected:

• Inside=$5,189
  
• OV=$7,439
  
• Balcony=$8,189
  
• Mini-Suite=$10,689
  
• Suite =$20,289
  

That is for a cruise with 18 Sea Days and 13 ports of call in Hawaii and the South Pacific. At all of those ports of call, many people are not handing any of their money over to Princess. North of the Arctic Circle, all of the money handed over would go to Princess. It is possible that Princess has no interest in the complications that could arise from an iceberg cruise, and it is certainly possible that I have my math all twisted and that this could never make money. But my instincts tell me that if Princess can get the above prices for a 33 day cruise in the South Pacific, once a year it could fill a smaller capacity ship at similar prices with people who are ready to spend all of their money on Princess drinks and excursions. Even if this was only done once every three years it would be intriguing.