By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Princess Cruises is to mark 50 years of sailing to Alaska in 2019 by offering more itineraries and bringing its biggest ship, Royal Princess, to the region for the first time.
Seven Princess Cruises ships will sail in Alaska during Royal Princess’s inaugural season. In total, 76% of all voyages will sail to Glacier Bay National Park and guests will also be able to choose from over 23 ‘cruisetours’ while visiting Princess Wilderness Lodges and Denali National Park.
The 2019 programme also features the first full season of a treehouse experience at the Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge built by Pete Nelson of Animal Planet's Treehouse Masters.
“Our upcoming 2019 Alaska season marks our 50th year taking guests to this bucket-list destination, that for most is a life-changing experience offering breath-taking scenery and awe-inspiring moments,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “In 1969, Princess Italia was our first ship to bring 525 passengers to Alaska. In 2019, we will mark another milestone by bringing Royal Princess, our largest ship ever deployed to this region, with more than 3,500 guests.”
Highlights of the May to September 2019 Alaska programme include seven-day ‘Voyage of the Glaciers’ itineraries on Coral Princess, Royal Princess, Golden Princess and Island Princess. Taking guests from Vancouver, Canada to Whittier in Alaska, the itinerary will also feature two glacier-viewing experiences – one at the UNESCO-listed Glacier Bay National Park and the second at either Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord.
Princess will also offer 7-, 10- and 12-day ‘Inside Passage’ roundtrip voyages from the US ports of Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Coral Princess, Island Princess and Golden Princess will all offer four seven-day ‘Inside Passage’ voyages too.
Ruby Princess will sail seven-day itineraries to Glacier Bay, while Star Princess will visit Tracy Arm Fjord. Grand Princess will sail a 10-day roundtrip from San Francisco, while Royal Princess, Ruby Princess and Star Princess will each sail a 12-day ‘Roundtrip Los Angeles’ cruise from Vancouver. Golden Princess will also sail two four-day Alaska Samplers, while Island Princess will sail a five-day Alaska Sampler.
While onboard Princess Cruises ships, guests can experience the North to Alaska culinary programme, which features ‘Cook My Catch’ that allows guests to return from select fishing excursions to have the chef prepare their own catch of the day.
‘Puppies in the Piazza’ is also offered and will allow guests to interact with Alaskan sled dog puppies brought onboard.