We are back from a Princess Alaska Cruise. Is this really the best cruise line in Alaska? Well, we give you our honest take on this Princess Alaska Cruise review.
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WE JUST RETURNED FROM A PRINCESS ALASKA CRUISE 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Main Dining Room 2:50 Specialty Restaurants 5:00 North to Alaska Enrichment 6:00 Onboard Activities 7:17 Nighttime Entertainment 9:30 Outdoor Decks 11:08 Service 12:45 Staterooms 14:52 Casual Eats 16:40 Bars and Lounges 19:02 Glacier Viewing 19:47 Icy Strait Point 20:42 Juneau 21:34 Ketchikan
PRINCESS CRUISES TO ALASKA Princess Cruises is routinely rated as one of the top cruise lines in Alaska. Several ships in the region offer various itineraries, so we wanted to see if the cruise line holds up to this reputation.
We first sailed with Princess Cruises back in 2021. As the first sailing back from the cruise restart, we were not impressed with the ship's food quality. Happily, the MDR menus and food quality had improved for this Princess Cruises review. We particularly liked the new Alaska offerings, like fresh salmon every night.
While they are an up-charge, the specialty restaurants on Princess Cruises Majestic Princess were also fantastic, especially considering they are a fraction of the cost of competitor offerings. Among them is the new seafood-centric restaurant, The Catch by Rudi. This venue was a perfect fit for our Alaska itinerary.
Although, Princess Cruises does lack a variety of casual eats. Heidi and I are fans of the International Café and the pizza. But, the buffet and other quick service options lack in comparison to other cruise lines like Holland America Line or Carnival Cruise Line.
The same is true when it comes to the bars and lounges. There is not much variety, with many of the venues offering the same menus. Plus, many lack theming. Our favorite go-to bars were the Good Spirits bar with its signature cocktails and the Crown Grill bar for some espresso martinis in the evenings.
The North to Alaska programming is another benefit of taking an Alaska cruise with Princess Cruises. Princess Cruises offers some of the best enrichment at sea, especially in Alaska. These talks are fun and informative, with guest speakers and resident naturalists.
Besides the enrichment though, we were disappointed in the onboard activities and entertainment for this Princess Alaska cruise review. The cruise line hosted events like trivia, game shows, and live music, along with signature productions in the main theater. While we enjoyed the shows in Princess Live, the theater entertainment does not live up to the likes of brands like Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean.
While we can't speak for other Princess Cruises' ships, we can confirm that Majestic Princess offers plenty of outdoor space. There was ample space for glacier viewing and wildlife sightings, along with pools and whirlpools. So, don't forget to pack your bathing suit. Plus, the ship has an indoor solarium and a thermal suite to help you unwind after a long day ashore.
For this Princess Cruises review, we sailed on the Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary. This 7 night one-way trip left Whittier, Alaska bound for Vancouver, BC. Along the way, we stopped at the Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park. The ship also spent a full day in Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as Icy Strait point. This itinerary and time spent in port were some of the biggest draws for us!
With more time in port, visits to Glacier Bay National Park, and the cruise line's extensive Alaska programming, we now realize how Princess Cruises has earned this reputation as best in Alaska. Just don't expect too much in terms of activities or nightly entertainment.
