Princess Cruises Announce 2017 Alaska programme

2016-04-14

For those of you looking for an unforgettable Alaskan experience, you will be thrilled to hear that Princess Cruises have put together an amazing programme for 2017. Princess Cruises will be sailing six of its ships on a total of 113 voyages across the breath-taking region of Alaska.

Princess Cruises are offering seven or ten night ‘Inside Passage’ roundtrip cruises from Seattle or San Francisco. If you prefer to set sail from Vancouver or Anchorage, there is a seven night ‘Voyage of the Glaciers’ cruise departing from either ports. Both cruises will include the ‘must see’ ports of Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, as well as taking in the marvellous sights of Glacier Bay, College Fjord and of course the Hubbard Glacier.

To make your cruise even more memorable, the ‘Voyage of the Glaciers’ itinerary offers more than 20 land tour options for you to choose from. These range from a glass-domed train ride through the Canadian Rockies, experiencing places that can only be seen by rail, and two overnight stays in a Princess Wilderness Lodge located within the six million acre Denali National Park which boasts peak towers of 20,320ft high, the highest in North America.

Princess has introduced some great onboard options as part of their ‘North to Alaska’ programme. This is to enable guests to enjoy their Alaskan experience both on and off the ship. One of our favourites has to be ‘Puppies in the Piazza’, which is where handlers bring Alaskan sled dog puppies onboard for guests to meet and learn more about. This also allows people with mobility issues to experience something that they otherwise would not have been able to. If fishing is your thing, then the ‘Cook My Catch’ programme will enable you to have your catch prepared by a chef onboard.

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Grand Princess Heads To San Francisco & Crown Princess Comes To Southampton

2012-05-29

Princess Cruises has announced that the Grand Princess, formally based year-round in Southampton, will be cruising from San Francisco from May 2013.

The California-based cruise line has decided to relocate the recently renovated 2,600 passenger ship to San Francisco from next year. The former flagship will offer year-round cruises to destinations including Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico — combining stunning summer coastlines and winter-sun beaches.

Princess Cruises' Executive Vice President, Jan Swartz, said: "Our Bay Area passengers and travel agents have long been asking for more cruise options from San Francisco, and our new year-round schedule with Grand Princess will now give them a great selection of itinerary."

Grand Princess will offer 10 day Alaska cruises from May until September, before beginning her winter programme of Mexican, California and Hawaiian cruises. The ship underwent a huge overhaul in 2011 and will no doubt prove to be popular in her new home.

Crown Princess will then replace Grand Princess in Southampton from next year. The 3,080 passenger ship sees Princess Cruises increasing the ex-UK capacity by nearly 400 passengers a week. With Crown Princess replacing Grand Princess and the forthcoming Royal Princess set to sail in Europe during 2013, Princess Cruises will have their youngest fleet yet, based here.

UK Director Paul Ludlow said: "We are so pleased with the success of Princess in the UK that we are increasing our capacity on cruises from Southampton with the introduction of Crown Princess.

Following feedback from our partners we are also supporting UK travel agents with some simplifications of our policies to ensure Princess is even easier to book, further enhancing the opportunities that are available through the brand."

Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
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Oceania To Add Alaskan Kids Club

2012-05-14

Oceania Cruises, the adult-orientated high-end club cruising specialists, have unveiled plans to introduce a children's club to their Alaskan programme in 2013.

The cruise line who usually aim their cruises at a more mature audience has decided to follow in the footsteps of their sister line, Regent Seven Seas, who have successfully added a children's programme to their Alaskan itineraries. The Oceania kids' club will take a nature & the environment approach to entertaining the kids, in the hope that grandparents — the cruise line's target audience — will take their grandchildren with them to family-friendly Alaska.

Following the success that Regent Seven Seas have enjoyed since adding a kids' club to their Alaskan programme, Oceania believed that it was time to expand the concept to their less formal ship. Prestige Cruise Holdings Chairman (the company that owns Regent & Oceania), Frank del Rio, said: "One of the good things about having two lines is learning from each other."

More information is not yet available on the new kids' club programme, though the cruise line has emphasised that it will be exclusive to Alaska and won't be featuring elsewhere in Oceania Cruises' portfolio.

Another change to their 2013 Alaska programme is the move from 10-14 itineraries to the more popular 7 night cruises offered by most cruise lines. Oceania's Regatta will sail from Seattle to Vancouver, taking in the stunning Tracy Arm fjord and the, Ketchikan, Sitka and Wrangell. On the change in itineraries de Rio went on to say: "There's a reason why [other cruise lines] aren't doing 10–14 day itineraries. No one wants them!"

Written by Stephen Adam
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Enjoy some adventure on an Alaskan cruise with Royal Caribbean

2010-04-15

Cruise fans looking for the ultimate in adventure in the next year may want to consider heading to Alaska through a trip from Royal Caribbean Cruises.

The liner has announced that it will travel to the location for the 22nd consecutive season and will provide interested parties with 34 voyages to choose from in 2011.

Six of the itinerates will take place on board the Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas ships, with passengers able to combine different transport methods to see all that Alaska has to offer.

Betsy O'Rourke, senior vice president of marketing at Royal Caribbean International, said: "Royal Caribbean's 2011 Alaska cruises and cruisetours offer vacationers a variety of ways to take in Alaska's grandeur, including by ship, motorcoach, train and even plane.

"Multigenerational family vacationers and adventurers of all ages will find opportunities for their own 'Why Not?' moments. Throughout, guests will enjoy the world-renowned Royal treatment delivered by our friendly and engaging staff and crew."

Bookings can already be made, with some of the highlights that can be expected including the chance to spot grizzly bear and caribou in a national park and a tramway excursion 2,300 above the valley of Alyeska.

Adventure can also be experienced by passengers staying on the Radiance of the Seas ship, as it features its own rock climbing wall, alongside a basketball court, shuffleboard and a fitness centre.

Written by Chris Smith

Cruise lovers 'getting more adventurous'

2010-03-04

A new ranking of the world's greatest cruise destinations has placed the North American state of Alaska in the top spot followed by Charles Darwin's favourite place the Galapagos Islands.

Produced by The Cruise Show, the league table has the Arctic in third place, followed by the Antarctic Peninsula, the Black Sea, St Petersburg, Venice, the Mediterranean, the Corinth Canal and the Middle East.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, cruise expert Jane Archer explained that the list highlights changing trends in the cruise sector.

"The fact that these destinations have become so popular is as much of an indication of how cruising has grown in numbers," she said.

"People are getting more adventurous but also you get more people who have cruised and are looking for somewhere away from the traditional places."

She went on to add that holidaymakers want "to find something other than the Caribbean and the Mediterranean".

Eight out of ten cruise lovers prefer ships carrying at least 1,000 passengers, according to a recent report from Carnival Cruises UK.

Princess Cruises launches new Alaska cruise package

2009-12-01

Princess Cruises has announced the launch of a new voyage taking passengers to see the wonders of Alaska.

The company's Alaska Cruisetour gives passengers the opportunity to enjoy a seven-night trip from Vancouver to the town of Whittier in the 49th state of the USA.

From here, Princess customers will then be able to take a train inland to the base of Mount McKinley in the company of local park rangers who will bring them up-to-speed on Alaska's history and nature.

Announcing the launch of the new package, Pieter van der Schee, head of brand marketing at Princess cruises, told Travel Weekly: "Princess' expertise in cruise holidays and land tours in the region has enabled us to put together a fascinating itinerary that will appeal to families of all ages at better value than ever before."

Princess Cruises was established back in the 1960s when the company's founder Stanley McDonald reached a deal to use Alaskan cruise liners for summer tours of Mexico during months when they would normally have lain dormant.

Written by Chris Smith

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Disney Cruise Line to feature Alaskan voyages

2009-09-15

Disney Cruise Line has announced that one of its ships will incorporate Alaskan voyages over a four-month season of seven-night sailings in the summer of 2011.

The company has unveiled a programme of cruises for 2011, revealing voyages that will take in the Mexican Riviera, including the Port of Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

Mediterranean cruises have also been re-introduced, with Disney Magic scheduled to sail from Barcelona through Italy, France and Spain, as well as northern Africa and the island nation of Malta.

Disney Cruise Line president Karl Holz expressed his excitement with the launch, saying an "incredible choice of itineraries" was coming into the market.

He added that these include "vacation options for every family - whether that's outdoor adventure in Alaska, the beauty and culture of Europe, folklore and pageantry of Mexico or tropical fun in the Caribbean".

"The unique advantage of Disney Cruise Line is that we offer a customised ship experience that brings families together," he said.

Written by Chris Smith.

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'No better time' to book an Alaska cruise

2009-04-09

There has never been a better time to go on an Alaskan cruise, it has been claimed.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), holidaymakers currently have a wealth of ports, land options, special offers and itineraries to choose from.

Three Norwegian Cruise Line ships will be sailing to Alaska in the summer, each of which will offer seven-day breaks to the destination.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Cruises will be embarking on its 20th consecutive Alaska season, with a range of different itineraries sailing from San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Seward and Vancouver.

Terry Dale, president and chief executive of the CLIA, commented: "The scope and beauty of Alaska is hard to imagine until you've seen it for yourself and there is no better or easier way to see it than by cruise ship."

Those visiting Alaska this month may be able to catch the Monty Python-based musical Spamalot at the Alaska Centre for the Performing Arts.

Written by Mike Cotgreave

Holland America Line announces new Alaska tours

2008-11-05

Holland America Line has announced plans to add six new express tours to its 2009 Alaska programme.

The new express tours enable passengers to see more of the state by combining a week-long cruise with excursions inland and overnight stays in Talkeetna and Anchorage.

Explaining what the tours entail, Richard D Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programmes at the cruise line, said: "The express tours are for our guests who don't have enough time to do a full CruiseTour but still want to experience Alaska's interior."

He added that the tours offered exceptional value and would give guests a taste of Alaska's vastness and scenic beauty.

Holland America Line has been offering cruises to Alaska for more than 60 years, with a range of exciting itineraries available.

Other destinations served by the cruise line include the Panama Canal, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Written by Fiona Mayers

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Native approach to cruising with Holland America

2008-06-10

Holland America Line is looking to offer its passengers an in depth experience on its 2008 Alaskan cruises by means of Alaskan Travel Guides.

Created in conjunction with the Alaska Native Heritage Centre, the guides will sail onboard Holland America Line vessels this year and will provide passengers with information on their surroundings from local experts.

Holidaymakers will be able to learn about local culture, history and art in addition to flora and fauna from the guides, who will give a number of presentations throughout the cruise on subjects from the gold rush to glaciers.

"Our guests visiting Glacier Bay will enjoy having an Alaska native guide on board the full cruise to provide another perspective on the land they're visiting," Richard D Meadows, executive vice-president of marketing, sales and guest relations, observed.

Travellers wishing to take home an original souvenir can also purchase a piece of artwork from the Alaska Natives during the course of the cruise.

Written by Sarah Blacow

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