Rare fpsphil Posted May 16 #1 Share Posted May 16 This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from fpsphil! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page. When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" fpsphil was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. Wasn’t going to do a live from for this cruise with the land portion and needing a full escape but with all the hub hub about the propulsion issues though I might as well. This is our first (and my first) land tour and one way Alaska cruise and have been looking forward to this since the Crown Princess Alaska debacle that we were in almost 2 years ago to the day. While I may have little faith when it comes to some corporate decisions from Princess I think the Sapphire (full disclosure it’s our favorite ship in the fleet) will provide us a good journey southbound despite the incoming cruise issues. We flew into Fairbanks Wednesday early AM and spent the day in downtown and hanging out at the lodge. The season is just barely starting up here so a lot of places including Pioneer park were still shut until next weekend. Princess Fairbanks Riverside has been great so far and have had 0 complaints so far. Off to the river boat this morning then down to Denali. Will post more as internet allows during the land portion but once we are onboard will be providing updates on the new steakhouse concept and anything else that seems different or changed from many previous cruises onboard the Sapphire. 10 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyA Posted May 16 #2 Share Posted May 16 Thanks for the live! Looking forward to hearing about "what's new" on the Sapphire. Have an amazing trip! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Paula_MacFan Posted May 16 #3 Share Posted May 16 37 minutes ago, fpsphil said: Princess Fairbanks Riverside has been great so far and have had 0 complaints so far. Thank you so much for doing this! We fly to Fairbanks next Friday for our land tour before boarding Sapphire. I look forward to any reports you have! I'm glad to hear the Princess Fairbanks Riverside is great for you. We are staying there 3 nights over Memorial Day weekend. Could you tell me if they still have the local shuttle service? If so, where does it go and how much? I've read old reports that it takes you downtown and some shopping venues, but those were mostly pre-pandemic. Thanks again! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 16 Author #4 Share Posted May 16 17 minutes ago, Paula_MacFan said: Thank you so much for doing this! We fly to Fairbanks next Friday for our land tour before boarding Sapphire. I look forward to any reports you have! I'm glad to hear the Princess Fairbanks Riverside is great for you. We are staying there 3 nights over Memorial Day weekend. Could you tell me if they still have the local shuttle service? If so, where does it go and how much? I've read old reports that it takes you downtown and some shopping venues, but those were mostly pre-pandemic. Thanks again! Shuttle was 10 dollars to the cultural center downtown and the holland America hotel, ran about every hour. We ended up just getting an Uber. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Auntiejo Posted May 16 #5 Share Posted May 16 Thanks for doing this live! We sail on Sapphire in a few weeks. Hoping for no mishaps during your voyage and that all issues will be resolved as Princess is stating. I'll be following along! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arizonaperson Posted May 16 #6 Share Posted May 16 @fpsphil looking forward to your Live reporting once onboard and anyone else as well. Nice photos in Fairbanks. Happy cruising and land tour. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 17 Author #7 Share Posted May 17 Made it to Denali. Today we are doing the natural history tour before heading down to McKinley Resort for tonight. Riverboat was great yesterday, really a good experience. Here are couple pics. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snpcruiser Posted May 18 #8 Share Posted May 18 We will be on Sapphire southbound July 13th and look forward to hearing more about your trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 18 Author #9 Share Posted May 18 Been absolutely stunning here at Mt. McKinley lodge yesterday and today. Can’t ask for better weather. We are off to the train to Whittier this afternoon. Super excited to be boarding tonight! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted May 18 #10 Share Posted May 18 We are doing the same in June and are really looking forward to it. Your pictures are amazing and Alaska is always spectacular. We were on the Crown in 2022 last sailing before she went into dry dock, no missed ports and arrived on time to all ports IIRC. Best part was not having to get off the ship until noonish on departure day. This will be our first time on the Sapphire, love spending time in Skywalkers and Vines. Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meldal Posted May 18 #11 Share Posted May 18 I am looking forward to your posts. Great photos!!!! Enjoy the cruise!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 19 Author #12 Share Posted May 19 Train and boarding. Was an amazing train ride down to Whittier today. Weather was absolutely perfect until we got closer to the ship. Clear/scattered skies all the way down. We were on one of the smaller older trains but still enjoyed it. Really happy with the land tour other than chaos at the Chalet resort in Denali. Boarding was super easy today. They brought port staff onboard in Anchorage to do our passports and give out medallions to those who didn’t have them yet. This was nice since we were the last train/group to join the ship boarding around 7:00 Great dinner in Santa Fe tonight as we sailed out. Ship and staff have been great and currently are doing 19 knots leaving Prince William Sound. Expecting 50knot winds tonight so captain gave us a heads-up it might be a bit choppy. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare dickinson Posted May 19 #13 Share Posted May 19 Thanks for your report. What is the Chalet resort in Denali and what was the chaos? Enjoy the rest of your trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted May 19 #14 Share Posted May 19 6 hours ago, dickinson said: Thanks for your report. What is the Chalet resort in Denali and what was the chaos? Enjoy the rest of your trip! Wondering the same thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arizonaperson Posted May 19 #15 Share Posted May 19 @fpsphil very nice photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 19 Author #16 Share Posted May 19 3 hours ago, Sprocket said: Wondering the same thing. Felt very disorganized there. We got moved from the wilderness lodge to the Chalet and we were already having some issues with our schedules and packet not lining up with the others we are traveling with. Trying to find a person that could do the Princess logistics at the chalet was impossible until the morning of our departure. Also dinner in the steakhouse took almost 3 hours for mediocre food at best. Just felt disorganized, may have been early season growing pains but Fairbanks and Mt McKinley lodges were night and day difference 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 19 Author #17 Share Posted May 19 Picking up pilot for Hubbard Glacier at 3:30. A bit behind schedule due to sea and wind. Not mechanical or ship related. Snow is expected in Glacier Bay tomorrow so that will be interesting 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted May 19 #18 Share Posted May 19 21 minutes ago, fpsphil said: Felt very disorganized there. We got moved from the wilderness lodge to the Chalet and we were already having some issues with our schedules and packet not lining up with the others we are traveling with. Trying to find a person that could do the Princess logistics at the chalet was impossible until the morning of our departure. Also dinner in the steakhouse took almost 3 hours for mediocre food at best. Just felt disorganized, may have been early season growing pains but Fairbanks and Mt McKinley lodges were night and day difference Where did you receive the packet? At the hotel in Fairbanks? We did have transfers but cancelled them as we don't need them otherwise we would have picked them up at the airport. We didn't book the meal plan so I am hoping we won't have any issues with the restaurants at the lodges. Good to know about the Chalet, hope they don't move us. But one of the couples on our cruise I met in March so we should be able to compare information the first day. Really enjoying your posts and pictures, we are just over a month now until we fly out. Literally can't wait...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 19 Author #19 Share Posted May 19 29 minutes ago, Sprocket said: Where did you receive the packet? At the hotel in Fairbanks? We did have transfers but cancelled them as we don't need them otherwise we would have picked them up at the airport. We didn't book the meal plan so I am hoping we won't have any issues with the restaurants at the lodges. Good to know about the Chalet, hope they don't move us. But one of the couples on our cruise I met in March so we should be able to compare information the first day. Really enjoying your posts and pictures, we are just over a month now until we fly out. Literally can't wait...... We got packets each night. Fairbanks they have a booth at the airport next to baggage claim, chalet was when the bus arrived and when departing the chalet they gave us packets for McKinley upon boarding the bus. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprocket Posted May 19 #20 Share Posted May 19 1 hour ago, fpsphil said: We got packets each night. Fairbanks they have a booth at the airport next to baggage claim, chalet was when the bus arrived and when departing the chalet they gave us packets for McKinley upon boarding the bus. Thank you. And the train, sorry I do all the booking, planning, etc and hubby basically shows up.lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveller94 Posted May 20 #21 Share Posted May 20 Thanks for your live! We get on Saturday, so I’m happy to be getting first hand infomation. You said snow is expected tomorrow. Do you advise winter coats/clothes? Any other packing recommendations? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 20 Author #22 Share Posted May 20 Hubbard Glacier: Weather was cold and rainy but we were able to get super super close. Happy we didn’t spend the extra money for the excursion that went even closer. We ended up probably less than 2 miles from the face 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fpsphil Posted May 20 Author #23 Share Posted May 20 Glacier Bay Patters 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSKB Posted May 20 #24 Share Posted May 20 Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Next month will be my 3rd Alaska cruise, but first time on Princess. I especially love the pics of the Patter. Thank you again and enjoy your cruise!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derfman60 Posted May 20 #25 Share Posted May 20 Thanks for sharing the daily schedule. Curious - I am not seeing any Stretch Lab times - do you know what time this is available? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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