This was a cruise and land tour. We started out in Fairbanks at the Princess Riverside Lodge. The lodge is very close to the airport and the Riverboat Discovery Cruise excursion. Highly recommend the Riverboat Excursion. Lunch is included and was very good. It is about a 5-10 minute drive to anything else from the lodge. It is not easy to walk anywhere from this location. We found the Airlink Shuttle to be a good deal. It cost $3.50 per person or a $10.50 minimum to most downtown locations. The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum is a must see. You do this on your own; it is not an excursion offered by the cruise line. The train to Denali was great. Breakfast was included in the 4-hour ride. The train depot is a short bus ride away from the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. Most of the businesses here don't open until the 3rd week of May. The restaurants and the shops at the lodge were open. Recommend Lynx Pizza and Grizzly Burger. The only bus tour into the park was the Natural History Tour. It was interesting and we did get to see the mountain. We took a bus to Whittier via Anchorage. We had a 2-hour stop for lunch in Anchorage. The bus took about 7 1/2 hours total; the train takes 9 1/2 hours. The Island Princess is a nice ship. We really enjoyed all the open spaces and the views. Princess really knows how to make you comfortable. The beds are like sleeping on a pillow. Staff is exceptional. If you are looking for a relaxing cruise, this is the ship for you. We thought the entertainment and the food was the best.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We embarked at Whittier. It was a short walk inside the building through security and check in. No line; got right on the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We ate most of our meals in the main dining room. We had anytime dining and never had to wait for a table because we always opted to share a table. We enjoyed all the people we met while dining. We did use the buffet, mostly for breakfast. The food in both places was excellent.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
The Island Princess is a comfortable ship without all the flashy activities like roller coasters, climbing walls or ice rinks. There is an indoor pool in the Lotus area which was great for Alaska voyages. There is also an outdoor pool. Lots of outside decks that span the sides of the ship which makes it great for viewing the glaciers if you don't have a balcony cabin. It has a casino, fitness center, spa, art gallery and shops.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
There was a singer/comedian and a magician/comedian on board. Both were very entertaining. The stage shows were amazing.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Princess knows the meaning of service. All staff were friendly and helpful.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We liked this ship because it had a promenade deck where you could walk outside around the ship under cover. It was clean and well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This was our first inside cabin on Princess. We thought we would miss not having a balcony cabin, but we didn't. This ship was built for viewing glaciers and scenery from public spaces. The buffet seating is up front and top with all windows! The bed was so comfortable. The only complaint, which is everyone's, is the size of the shower.
Ship tip
Get out of your cabin and enjoy all the public spaces. The second show in the theater usually has more open seating. Go to the dining room and have a relaxing meal.
Take the tram up Mt. Roberts and enjoy the view. There is a walking loop you can take once you get up on top of the mountain. The path is rocky, and uneven in places so you will need to be physically able to make the trail.
We disembarked in Vancouver. The process to get the bus transfer to the airport was smooth. Many people there to direct you. Lots of traffic in Vancouver. Took about 45 minutes to get to the airport. The bus also waits in a holding area before it can off load passengers. It was about 5 minutes. Also Vancouver airport won't let you check in your bags if it is more than 3 hours until your flight.
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