Excellent cruise to Alaska

Item: Island Princess
Rating: 3.8
Author: TillECornhusker

Island Princess Cruise Review to Alaska - Gulf of Alaska

TillECornhusker

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 41

Overall rating:

3.8 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Voyage Of The Glaciers Southbound (Anchorage To Vancouver)

Sail date: May 29, 2019

Ship: Island Princess

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

I would sail on the Island Princess again. Excursion staff, food service staff, and cabin staff were amazingly good. Desk staff left a great deal to be desired. Not a great value, dollar for dollar; won't book balcony TBA again. Have had larger inside cabins. Marginalization of smokers still a sore spot; excuse of "worldwide trend" threadbare at best.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

There is just no getting around the cattle call aspect of boarding; however, being able to go directly to the stateroom is much better than being herded to the Lido deck, as on other lines.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Magnificent! These people are doing things I haven't seen in decades. Example: île flottante. What a treat! A simple dish done perfectly. Service staff was flawless. One sour note; food poisoning from mussels kinda ruined one of our nights.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Fitness center was small and windowless. Casino was cramped.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Very professional. Excellent theater.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Never a fault.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

I think that the continued persecution and marginalization of smokers is dumb.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Tiny; much tinier than one expected with a balcony room. The balcony space was significantly larger than expected; but not all that useful on an Alaska trip.

Ship tip

Eat in the dining rooms.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska

3 out of 5

Didn't see much of Anchorage/Whittier; arrived there by Princess train from Denali.

Thumbs Up 0

Cruise Hubbard Glacier

4 out of 5

Not really a port call; view of glaciers was impressive

Thumbs Up 0

Cruise Glacier Bay

4 out of 5

Not really a port call; view of glaciers was impressive

Thumbs Up 2

Skagway, Alaska

4 out of 5

Extraordinarily friendly folks. Bus trip was fun

Thumbs Up 2

Juneau, Alaska

4 out of 5

Whale watching was fun.

Thumbs Up 0

Ketchikan, Alaska

2 out of 5

Walking tour was very interesting; getting around Ketchikan by bus shuttle is a bad joke. Was given incorrect information by Princess desk staff regarding postal service. Cab ride was inconvenient and expensive.

Thumbs Up 1

Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia

4 out of 5

No excursion; stayed for two days; will return. San Francisco with Canadian money.

Thumbs Up 3