If you enjoy the outdoor, and you want to view an untouched frontier, Alaska is a must see. I would recommend a land tour prior to a cruise, and you will get the best of both worlds. In this scenario, expect to spend some money. Take your time when off the ship to eat local, drink local, and enjoy by taking in the local vibe, as you should do on every vacation. You'll have to pack for all types of weather. We encountered 80 degrees (F), 30 degrees (F), and rain. It was worth us packing our hiking boots. All in all, this is one vacation you will enjoy and talk about for years to come.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation could have been better. The process took too long. With over 20 cruises under my belt, this was the longest time it has ever taken, in part because most people did not have their documents ready. In this time of covid, there are different procedures to board, and many people did not complete their pre-board documents on the Princess website or the app.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We had Club Class, so getting to our table was a pleasure, never a wait. We dined at the Crowne Steakhouse, a specialty restaurant. That dinner was incredibly good. Highly recommended.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We utilized the gym, except on the days we had an early excursion. We participated in some trivia games, went to watch one Art auction, and spent one night in the casino. All enjoyable.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We attended 5 the Princess theater 5 of the 7 nights, and enjoyed the entertainment. These are Broadway quality shows, with Broadway quality performers.
Children's Programs
We did not travel with children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We had excellent service in the dining room, and throughout the ship. We often were checked upon for refills, and additional food items. Waiter recommendations were spot on. Within the second day, our regular waiters knew our preferences. They also knew our names, but that, I'm sure, is due to the Medallion technology.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We never saw anything onboard the ship that would give us the thought of uncleanliness. The rails on the plaza stairs were constantly being wiped down, I'm sure for both the cleanliness appearance and the sanitization for the prevention of germs.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This mini-suite is perfect for us. It provides more than enough room for for the two of us, and the balcony, in my opinion, is a must if going to Alaska for glacier viewing. Our cabin steward keep the cabin clean, and performed twice daily maintenance, including evening turn down service. Everything within our cabin worked and we experienced no problems.
Ship tip
Read your daily provided Princess Patter to learn of all the activities, and plan your day accordingly.
We did not stay after docking in this port, and went immediately to the airport. Van couver airport is the worst airport to travel out of, poorly designed and you can expect to be in long lines and get frustrated. Plan for an extra hour or two to get through to your gate.
With Princess, everything went well. The delay we experienced was due to the Canadian authorities, unsure if they are short staffed or just not in any hurry. We did experience that Princess did not off load one of our pieces of luggage with the color group, and we had to wait until the end when all the final pieces of luggage were brought out.
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