7 Night Voyage Of The Glaciers Northbound (Vancouver To Anchorage)
Sail date: May 19, 2018
Ship:
Golden Princess
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: A519
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Review summary
This review doesn't ask about Glacier Bay or College Fjord, perhaps because they are considered days at sea. They are both stunning in their beauty. I enjoyed College Fjord a little more, perhaps because it was a clear day while our trip through Glacier Bay was overcast. Spend the extra money to get a balcony room if you are taking an Alaska Cruise - if you don't you will wish you did. You can enjoy the scenery with lots of room and unobstructed views, and if you get cold you can go inside. We saw pictures of the ship's decks, and they were so full of people it looked like pictures of the Titanic leaving port
Embarkation
3 out of 5
It took about an hour and a half, and we were there early. I can only imagine how painful it would be had it been busy.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
I would give this a higher mark except for the drinks aspect. We aren't big drinkers, so didn't purchase alcohol or soda packages There wasn't good access to water on the ship unless you bring your own bottle and fill it in your sink (or go to the restaurant every time you need a drink). We found ourselves dehydrated and getting headaches. You would think for the cost of the cruise, Princess could make access to water a much bigger priority. We didn't eat at the restauarant - only the buffet. The food was good and there was a large selection. The fruits, vegetables, and salads were very fresh and delicious. Our only complaints were some of the prepared dishes were cold, and most of the desserts weren't very good. We loved the cobblers and cookies!
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
The only reason for a medium score is most activities on the ship didn't interest. The only thing we did was go to the fitness center. The equipment was in great shape, but it was small and constantly packed. It was frustrating trying to stretch or workout. I can't blame Princess for the narcissism of the passengers, but it was a pretty self-centered crowd.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everybody was extremely friendly and helpful. Finding a place to eat could be a challenge. We tried to adjust our eating to times that weren't busy and were never successful.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin was bigger than expected. The closet was fairly large with plenty of hangars, and there was lots of shelving and drawers to store clothes.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Ship tip
No matter what we did on the ship, it seems like they try to get you to spend money. I expected this from other cruises I have taken and this one was no different
We didn't do an excursion. This is a short stay. It's hard to do much because of the short amount of time you're there, and we didn't want to do much in general because of the weather. This is the rainiest stop of the cruise
We took a whale watching trip which was fantastic. Auk bay, Herbert Glacier, and Favorite Channel were beautiful. The tour crew was informative and fun. We took the first excrusion of the day which was a good choice - we were back by noon which gave us time to go up Mt Roberts Tram - a must do. We didn' t take any of the hikes, so we still had time for shopping/dining when we came down.
The best part of the cruise. Skagway is awesome. We did not do an excursion. We had a great time walking around town and going through gold rush museums. If you don't stop and get a doughboy you are missing out (basically a funnel cake with cinnamon sugar). Fireweed taffy is incredible. Dinner was at Skagway Fish Co by the small boat harbor. A little pricy but well worth it!
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