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

Cruising Alaska

If you have only cruised in tropical destinations, I'd like to suggest widing your horizons to the Last Frontier, Alaska. What images come to mind when you think of Alaska? You probably think of Eskimos, cold days, glaciers, snow and ice. Quite a contrast to the palm trees and sandy beaches of the Caribben you are probalby thinking.

Yes, depending on when you go to Alaska you may experience some chilly temperatures. You'll definitely be able to see glaciers, since they've been around for thousands of years. Even with global warming, they won't completely melt for some time, I'm sure.

If I told you that you could also experience 70-80 degree days, would you be surprised? Cruising season goes from May to September. During the summer months, it wouldn't be surprising to have warm days like that.

The Inside Passage is Alaska's biggest cruise destination, but popular cruises also visit Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. Many passengers choose to extend their time in Alaska before or after the cruise. I highly suggest that because the cruise ships can only go to certain destinations. You want to go to Fairbanks to experience the all night twilight or if you are extremely lucky, the Northern Lights.

Denali and Mount McKinley are probably the second biggest Alaskan destination, but those can only be reached by land - usually by train. While in Denali on our first visit to Alaska, we experienced a light snow shower, saw a mama bear with her baby cub, saw several sheep and other wildlife. We stayed overnight in Denali and had a marvelous time.

While cruising the inside passage, we saw Hubbard Glacier calving, ice floating in the water, eagles feeding just off the ships port side, whales, seals and other wildlife. The great thing about Alaska is no two days will be exactly the same. You never know what Mother Nature has in store for you to see.

There are many options when doing a cruise / cruisetour in Alaska. Because of the complexity of these options, I strongly encourage you to work with a professional cruise specialist. Because of the short cruising season, you will want to plan early. For best cabins and options, I'd suggest booking a year in advance. If your budget of vacation and money will allow it, I'd suggest getting a balcony cabin and extending your stay so that you can really experience Alaska.

In a future article, I'll tell you more about our first trip to Alaska. We did a pre-cruise tour of the Canadian Rockies, a 7 night Inside Passage cruise, and a post-cruise tour that included Fairbanks, Denali, and Anchorage. We are going back to Alaska this year for our National Conference, so I'll be writing you about that trip also. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact me.

Definitely put Alaska on your list of cruises to do beyond the Caribbean. Write me when you get back to tell me if you are glad that you did. My husband didn't want to go, but after we went, he can't stop talking about it, even years after the cruise.