One of the most popular cruise lines in Alaska is @princesscruises. But are they really the best? In this video, we cover the pros and cons of opting for this cruise line when sailing way up north. Let us know in the comments below if you have sailed to Alaska with #princesscruises.
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PROS AND CONS OF PRINCESS CRUISES IN ALASKA 0:00 Introduction 0:50 Pro: Several Different Cruise Ships 2:00 Pro: Unique Itineraries 3:35 Pro: More Time Ashore 4:33 Con: Fewer Onboard Bells and Whistles 6:04 Pro: New Food and Beverage Offerings 8:04 Pro: Best Pizza at Sea 9:05 Con: Lackluster Entry-Level Staterooms 10:22 Pro: MedallionClass Experience 12:02 Pro: North to Alaska Programming 13:25 Pro or Con: A Traditional Cruise Experience 15:27 Con: Limited Casual Dining Options 16:53 Pro: Cruise Fare Options
PRINCESS CRUISES ALASKA REVIEW One of the benefits of selecting Princess Cruises in Alaska is the number of ships that the cruise line has sailing in the region. With 7 ships in Alaska this year, cruisers have plenty of choices. With so many ships, there are also various departure points and itineraries. Cruisers have more flexibility with ships sailing from Vancouver, Seattle, Whittier, and even San Francisco.
Further, cruisers also have a greater selection of unique routes, including one-way sailings and roundtrip sailings. Our Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary included stops at the Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park along with full days in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait Point. This itinerary was certainly a draw for us.
Compared to offerings on other contemporary cruise lines, another pro of Princess Cruises in Alaska is the line's North to Alaska programming. With exclusive guest lecturers and an onboard naturalist, Alaska cruises with Princess feature several opportunities for enrichment.
The dining has been enhanced on Princess Cruises in Alaska this year as well. The new Alaskan-themed menus in the main dining room offer locally sourced menu items. There are also select local wines and spirits available at the onboard bars and lounges. For us, these local touches really enhanced our cruise experience.
However, there are some cons to sailing with Princess Cruises too. If you typically sail on megaships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line, you may be disappointed in the onboard offerings. Princess Cruises does not feature all the bells and whistles of those cruise lines. Further, the entertainment and nightlife fall short when compared to those lines as well.
Another con of the cruise line is that entry-level staterooms on Princess Cruises leave something to be desired. The entry-level cabins typically have smaller sleeping quarters without a seating area, more cramped bathrooms, and even shower curtains! This might make you want to upgrade to a better cabin category, which can increase the overall cost of your Alaska cruise. On the plus side though, the Princess Cruises cabins do boast the most enormous closets we've seen in a standard cabin!
Finally, Princess Cruises does offer some of the most competitive fares in the region. With its new Princess Plus and Premier fare options, cruisers can select a more inclusive cruise experience for a significant discount. So, cruising to Alaska on Princess Cruises might be a good value, making the cruise line a fantastic option for many adventurers.
