Coronavirus Travel Advice

As the new decade kicks off, so does a world-wide health concern with Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Public Health Agencies, such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Decease Control and Prevention, have published extensive information on their websites to help educate the public.

(Updated: March 21, 2020)

Most travel is suspended at least through April.  Below are resources to the various travel providers websites as cancellation polices vary.  If you have trips scheduled for later this Spring / Summer, our advice is to wait until your carrier makes an announcement about your itinerary to make any decision.  Most companies are allowing you to wait for as long as 48 hours before departure to cancel.  That gives you time to understand the risks of travel (if it is even possible).
Our state is on lock down until April 7th, and many other states / countries have followed this precautionary measure.  Links below are useful resources to keep informed.

We are getting calls from our guests, concerned about traveling.   Speak to your personal doctors for their advice - they will be familiar with your circumstances.  Also, take precautionary measures, which should be standard practice - washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, staying away from those exhibiting symptoms.  Monitor guidance from world health organizations such as the WHO and CDC.

If you are traveling, or even if you are staying local, it is important to know the facts as they are known at this time. Since this is an evolving story, not all information is known but be assured that top health care professionals are seeking the answers. Of course there are often myths (click for some myth busters) that are circulated, so this blog post will try to disseminate links to the official resources that you can use to expand your knowledge.

Cruise lines are monitoring the situation and have imposed precautionary measures including refusing boarding of individuals presenting with certain symptoms.  The lines have implemented enhanced policies, which are in effect as of 27 February 2020, built upon those which were first implemented on 31 January 2020 and focus on conservative measures, as the situation evolves, to appropriately and effectively screen every guest and crew member on every ship prior to boarding.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City. 

Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.

The following  video is very informative - worth watching.

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public

The World Health Organization has a website dedicated to Novel Coronavirus 2019.  The advice for the public, including those traveling, is very simple - and it is advice that should be followed all the time.

• Wash Your Hands Frequently
• Practice Respiratory Hygiene
• Maintain Social Distancing
• Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose & Mouth
• If you have Fever, Cough & Difficulty Breathing - Seek Medical Help
• Practice General Hygiene when visiting Live Animal Markets, Wet Markets or Animal Product Markets
• Avoid Consumption of Raw or Undercooked Animal Products

Protect Yourself & Others from Getting Sick

Click on Images Below To Enlarge

Additional Resources  

• WHO Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
• Updated WHO recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak
• CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus
• Travelers Returning from High Risk Countries (CDC)
• Mapping The Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (ESRI)
• Coronavirus Resource Center (John Hopkins)
• CDC Global Health - China
• Be Careful Where You Get Your News about Coronavirus (Harvard Medical)
• Ease Your Travel Fears Infographic
• John Hopkins - Coronavirus

Cruise Line Specific Resources

• CLIA Statement on 2019-Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
• Coronavirus Updated Cruise Ship Polices & Cancellations
• COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel (CDC)
• Azamara Cruises Travel Alerts
• Carnival Health & Sailing Update
• Celebrity Cruises Travel Alerts
• Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus Advisories
• Holland America Line Travel Advisories
• Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Alerts
• Princess Cruises Notices & Advisories
• Princess Cruises Health Advisory on Coronavirus
• Royal Caribbean Travel Alerts

Follow Us On

        

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers


Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat 

Princess Alaska Off the Beaten Path & Connoisseur 2012

Princess Cruises Alaska Cruisetour Images 

Courtesy Princess Cruises

If you are interested in this article, also see:

Princess Alaska Denali Explorer 2012
Princess Alaska Deployment 2012 

Time to Explore Alaska by Land and Sea 

A la Carte Princess Alaska Cruisetours 

Princess Cruises Alaska Land Excursion Options 

Princess Family Cruisetours to Alaska Back in 2011

 
Land & Sea Vacations

Off the Beaten Path tours include key benefits of  Denali Explorer itineraries, plus visits to less-frequented regions like Copper River and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, the Kenai Peninsula or Prudhoe Bay above the Arctic Circle.

Cruisetour	Itinerary Highlights†	Tour Number*	2012 Dates
M	13 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge® • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Anchorage	MA6 After Cruise MB6 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8 Island Princess: May 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30 Coral Princess: May 29; Jun 12, 26; Jul 10, 24; Aug 7, 21; Sep 4 Diamond Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Sapphire Princess: May 20; Jun 3, 17; Jul 1, 15, 29; Aug 12, 26; Sep 9
N	14 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour • 2 nights Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Anchorage	NA7 After Cruise NB7 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Coral Princess: May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25 Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8
O	14 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge® • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	OA7 After Cruise OB7 Before Cruise	Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8 Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8
P	15 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 3 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	PA8 After Cruise	Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3
Q	14 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Natural History Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour • 1 night Coldfoot • 1 night Prudhoe Bay • 1 night Anchorage	QA7 After Cruise QB7 Before Cruise	Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18 Island Princess: Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29

Connoisseur deluxe escorted cruisetours represent the highest level of service with a tour director on land and most meals included. They include up to four nights at a combination of both Mt. McKinley and Denali Princess wilderness lodges, with enhanced sightseeing experiences, such as the longer Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park. Plus, there are options to visit the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.

Cruisetour	Itinerary Highlights†	Tour Number*	2012 Dates
R	12 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Anchorage	RA5 After Cruise RB5 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29; Sep 12 Coral Princess: May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Diamond Princess: May 26; Jun 9, 23; Jul 7, 21; Aug 4, 18; Sep 1 Sapphire Princess: May 19; Jun 2, 16, 30; Jul 14, 28; Aug 11, 25; Sep 8 Island Princess: May 25; Jun 8, 22; Jul 6, 20; Aug 3, 17, 31; Sep 14 Coral Princess: May 30; Jun 13, 27; Jul 11, 25; Aug 8, 22; Sep 5 Diamond Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Sapphire Princess: May 21; Jun 4, 18; Jul 2, 16, 30; Aug 13, 27; Sep 10
S	13 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	SA6 After Cruise SB6 Before Cruise	Coral Princess: May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Island Princess: May 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30; Sep 13 Diamond Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Sapphire Princess: May 20; Jun 3, 17; Jul 1, 15, 29; Aug 12, 26; Sep 9
T	15 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 2 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	TA8 After Cruise TB8 Before Cruise	Island Princess: May 23; Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29 Coral Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Diamond Princess: May 25; Jun 8, 22; Jul 6, 20; Aug 3, 17, 31
U	15 Nights • 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise • 3 nights Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge • 1 night Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge • 2 nights Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge • Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park • 2 nights Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge • Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise & Gold Mine Tour	UA8 After Cruise UB8 Before Cruise	Coral Princess: May 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Island Princess: May 22; Jun 5, 19; Jul 3, 17, 31; Aug 14, 28 Coral Princess: May 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 Sapphire Princess: Jun 1, 15, 29; Jul 13, 27; Aug 10, 24; Sep 7

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.
*After Cruise = Land tour after cruise, Before Cruise = Land tour before cruise

Princess Family Cruisetours to Alaska Back in 2011

Direct to the Wilderness Rail Service

  

Princess Cruises

Family Cruisetours 

to Alaska

Return for Second Season

in 2011

Specially Designed Tours Add a Variety of Included Extras Especially for Families

Glacier Bay Junior Ranger Program

Looking for 2012 Season ... see: Princess Alaska Denali Explorer 2012

As the 2010 Alaska cruise season draws to a close this month, we turn our focus on next year's programs.  In this article, we'll take a look at a success offering that Princess Cruises debuted this year which will return in their 2011 Alaska Program.

Princess Cruises is once again offering special Alaska cruisetours designed just for families.  These unique tours incorporate a variety of features not usually included in a cruisetour package, such as the opportunity to learn about dog mushing at the Iditarod Headquarters, pan for gold, take an interactive tour of Denali National Park, and enjoy a fun campfire experience.


The 12-night family cruisetours include a seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise plus a five-night land tour.  The land segment also features such family-friendly extras as daily breakfasts, a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and a dinner theater performance.  At sea, families can also take advantage of Princess’ many onboard programs especially for children, including a special Junior Ranger program in Glacier Bay National Park.


“Alaska is the perfect place for a family vacation,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.  “There are amazing wildlife viewing opportunities, awesome scenery and lots of active adventures.  With this in mind, we wanted to make it easier for family groups to plan the perfect Alaska experience with activities that will appeal to many ages and interests.”

Passengers can choose to sail aboard Diamond Princess or Coral Princess, and the cruisetour land itinerary includes stays at three of Princess’ own wilderness lodges – one night at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and two nights at Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.  The tours are offered on 34 departures with both northbound (#FUN) and southbound (#WOW) itinerary options.

The following special extras are included in the 2011 season tours:

Daily Breakfast – Everyone in the family can start their morning off with the most important meal of the day.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center – Wildlife appeals to all ages, and families will be able to see a variety of animals such as bears, elk, bison, moose, caribou, musk ox, coyotes and eagles with a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  This non-profit organization takes in injured and orphaned animals and gives a permanent home to those that can’t be returned to the wild.

Iditarod Headquarters with Dog Sled Ride – En route to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, family members will enjoy a stop at the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla.  Here travelers can learn about mushing and its importance in Alaskan culture.  The center offers the opportunity to meet sled dogs and see them at work with wheeled cart rides.

Evening Campfire Experience (Mt. McKinley) – An evening campfire near the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is the perfect way for families to end the day, complete with treats such as s’mores and hot chocolate, plus unique Alaska stories and songs.

Music of Denali Dinner Theater (Denali) – This rollicking musical comedy tells the legend of the first expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley, accompanied by a hearty, family-style meal featuring smokehouse ribs and Alaska salmon.

Experience Denali with Alaska Geographic Tour (Denali) – A more intimate tour of Denali National Park, this special excursion includes a variety of interactive experiences, including an enhanced view of the Denali ecosystem and current research taking place.  The narrated bus tour takes guests 15 miles into the park to a beautiful river valley where they embark on a short walk to the historic Savage River Camp, where they can participate in a number of hands-on activities.

Sourdough Expedition Breakfast (Denali) – While fueling up for the day with an Alaskan roadhouse-style breakfast, guests experience an unforgettable journey up Denali through breathtaking images in Laurent Dick's Climb Denali.  Participants have the opportunity to meet this real mountain climber and ask questions about mountain climbing.

Riverboat Cruise and El Dorado Goldmine Tour (Fairbanks) – Families can enjoy traveling on an authentic sternwheeler for a fully-narrated cruise along the Chena River and try their hands at gold panning at the El Dorado Gold Mine, where they will learn about Alaska's gold mining history.

Now is the time to start planning your 2011 Alaska cruisetours.   The Alaska cruise season goes from May through September.   These family cruisetours will fill up fast. 

Princess Cruises Upgrades Fleet

Photos: Credit Princess Cruises

Princess Updates Fleet

Princess® plans to upgrade its fleet with innovative offerings and services, even as other cruise lines are pulling back. This fall, Island Princess® and Diamond Princess® will enter dry-dock and emerge with their
latest exclusive features.

Island Princess will be getting her makeover in Victoria, B.C. in September, and Diamond Princess will be sprucing up in exotic Singapore in October.

Diamond Princess will sparkle with the addition of The Sanctuary, where, you will enjoy more personal space, attentive Serenity Stewards, a variety of refreshing beverages and light snacks, and an opportunity for a soothing massage in a tranquil outdoor environment.

Movies Under the Stars®

And it will be “Lights, Camera, Action!” when Princess trademark feature, Movies Under the Stars®, is installed on both ships. If you haven’t watched a blockbuster movie or sporting event on their dramatic 300-square-foot movie screen, then you’re in for a treat.

Popcorn anyone?

Comfortably seated on poolside loungers, you’ll enjoy this enhanced viewing experience, complete with complimentary popcorn and cozy warm blankets.

Princess Cruises has plans to build 2 new ships, but in the meantime, why not improve the existing fleet with features which will enhance the cruise experience.  Plan on a cruise next year on Diamond or Island Princess to see these changes yourself.