We just booked this land and sea cruise tour with Princess. This is a once in a lifetime trip in that we got a suite aft balcony with huge balcony.

Itinerary is below and if you all have any tips or tricks or must sees I'd love to hear it. We have tons of time since it's 2 years away.

Tuesday 6/20/28 Arrive Anchorage
Stay at hotel Captain Cook

Wed 6/21
Bus from Anchorage to McKinley (Mt. Mckinley Princess Wilderness Lodge)
Afternoon at Leisure or Excursion McKinley

Thursday 6/22
Bus from Mckinley to Denali Princess Wilderness Lodg
Afternoon at Leisure or Excursion Denali

Friday 6/23 Denail
Natural History Tour 10-2PM
Evening at Leisure

Sat 6/24
Transfer Bus from Denail to Rail Depot
Rail Car to Whittier (Anchorage) cruise port. Arrive 6:30 PM
Cruise leaves 8:30 PM

Sunday 6/25 Hubbard Glacier 3PM-8PM

Monday 6/26
Glacier Bay National Park Scenic Cruising 9:15 AM- 6:15 PM

Tuesday, 6/27
Icy Strait Point 6 AM-7PM

Wed 6/28
Juneau 6:30 AM - 4:15 PM

Thu 6/29
Ketchikan 10AM-5 PM

Fri 6/30 At Sea

Sat 7/01
Vancouver

Fly home

Excellent, I believe that is the exact cruise we took in Oct. Have a great time

Awesome, good job going balcony for Alaska and aft should give you best of both worlds for views.

Leaving on almost the same Itinerary on Friday (08/14/2026).

Booked it 11 months out and still didn't get the room I wanted. Did OK with a Mini-Suite (D316) on the Coral. We wanted the smaller sized ship.

The temps have been OK (50's to high 60's), hopefully not too much rain.

Have a couple of extra days in Vancouver.

Fly in at least a day or so early, at the very least you have time to adjust and deal with any issues should you get separated from your luggage for a period; you're flying in all the way from Florida. Also, give yourself a chance to explore Anchorage and its surroundings on your own rather than being apart of a group, which you'll be subject to for the following two-weeks.
Bring binoculars...a very 'nice to have' as your ship passes through the many fjords and islands.
Besides the Denali excursion (which is painfully short IMO), take advantage of the many other ones being offered; you're on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, make the most of it.

quote:

Ketchikan

Had some TERRIFIC halibut pizza there. Yes, true.

Not sure how you're getting on Hubbard, but we included a helicopter trip up to the surface which was awesome and more isolated than then crowds. Only downside is they are VERY persistent on true weights, and that made some people......sad.

Bring 2 pair of binoculars. On 6/27 your at Icy Strait Point. Try to make it to Hoonah, cool little (very) town. Got a friend there (Paul)that drives a whale watch boat for Hoonah Travel Adventures. It's beautiful up there, hope to go back soon.

Awesome itinerary. We are going next month without the land portion. We are already talking about doing the interior on a separate trip.

Search the forum for "Alaska" and check out the other threads on this same trip. A lot of great information.

Our Princess land and sea started in Vancouver and ended in Fairbanks. We had the best time.

We won’t do a ship next time, but will fly into different destinations and drive. Even so, the land/sea cruise got us a pretty good amount of Alaska on that trip.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Fly in at least a day or so early, at the very least you have time to adjust and deal with any issues should you get separated from your luggage for a period; you're flying in all the way from Florida. Also, give yourself a chance to explore Anchorage and its surroundings on your own rather than being apart of a group, which you'll be subject to for the following two-weeks.
Bring binoculars...a very 'nice to have' as your ship passes through the many fjords and islands.
Besides the Denali excursion (which is painfully short IMO), take advantage of the many other ones being offered; you're on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, make the most of it.

Agreed, and plan a day or two extra in Vancouver, it's a beautiful and clean city, plenty to see and do, great Cuban Cigar store there so you can pick up some nice cigars at very high prices, it's Canada, eh?

Hit Granville Island Public Market, and there are some decent restaurants in the area, brewery etc...

https://granvilleisland.com/public-market

We had lunch at The Vancouver Fish Company, sat outside by the Pirate Ship excursion as it docked... Good food and drink.

Link Vancouver Fish Company

And a nice local craft beer at Granville Island Brewery

Link

Stayed right downtown at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, great place, clean, nice bar downstairs, good breakfast and we found a deal on the rooms online at a big discount. The rooms have floor to ceiling windows, so you have a great view no matter where you are....

Link Sheraton Vancouver

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Fly in at least a day or so early, at the very least you have time to adjust and deal with any issues should you get separated from your luggage for a period; you're flying in all the way from Florida. Also, give yourself a chance to explore Anchorage and its surroundings on your own rather than being apart of a group, which you'll be subject to for the following two-weeks.
Bring binoculars...a very 'nice to have' as your ship passes through the many fjords and islands.
Besides the Denali excursion (which is painfully short IMO), take advantage of the many other ones being offered; you're on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, make the most of it.

We are definitely planning to fly in a day before, although realistically because of the land portion of the tour we are already a day before we go anywhere. The first day is just an overnight in the hotel. We will make final decision based on flight times. I'm pretty risk averse so I'd like to get there early and explore Anchorage anyhow.

We will absolutely bring binoculars. We have tons of planning to do.

On the Denali excursion, that is the one that is included, but my understanding is that we can upgrade that once they open up excursions for booking. I will definitely upgrade that.

You'll be in Anchorage during peak season. The Captain Cook is great - two of the towers have been renovated so hopefully you'll have a fresh room.

The typical places will be busy - if you want to have breakfast at the Snow City cafe it's best to make a reservation. 49th State Brewing and F Street Station will both be busy but you should be able to find a seat at the bar.

Cut some cheese at F Street and eat it and have the Halibut and chips - best in town!

Have fun!

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Had some TERRIFIC halibut pizza there. Yes, true.

You just gave me a dinner idea. Dang that sounds good, and I've got all the fixins.

quote:

Originally posted by furlough:
The typical places will be busy - if you want to have breakfast at the Snow City cafe it's best to make a reservation.

THIS for breakfast, when I can't get in Fire Island Bakery is a nearby and fast, or go to Biscuit Club which is reliable for grab n'go bfast sando.

My favorite and best non-Italian pizza ever, is at Moose's Tooth Pizza in Anchorage. Go early if possible, crowded most of the time but well worth it to get your name in even if you have to wait for a table. Humpy's, Orso and Glacier Brewhouse are solid eateries in downtown, albeit on the tourist trail.

quote:

Originally posted by furlough:
You'll be in Anchorage during peak season. The Captain Cook is great - two of the towers have been renovated so hopefully you'll have a fresh room.

The typical places will be busy - if you want to have breakfast at the Snow City cafe it's best to make a reservation. 49th State Brewing and F Street Station will both be busy but you should be able to find a seat at the bar.

Cut some cheese at F Street and eat it and have the Halibut and chips - best in town!

Have fun!

I hear Snow City is great but I refuse to eat there. Our former mayor is part owner and he made our life a living hell during Covid with the stupid shit that he did.

If you want a great breakfast downtown go to Biscuit Club. And yes that’s all they do is biscuits, about every variation imaginable. I usually get a Heartbreaker; biscuit, gravy, bacon, ham and an egg on top. Nothing fancy, and even downright quirky but some of the best biscuits you’ll ever have. We loved them during Covid they would randomly show up at midnight with trays of biscuits and a vat of gravy for the hospital staff.

https://biscuitclubak.com/

Other places downtown;

49th State has great food, the king crabby grilled cheese rocks, not a fan of their beers there’s better microbrews in Anchorage. Club Paris if you want a steak. Glacier Brew House can be hit or miss, they used to be my go to, really declined during Covid, but have been good the last couple of times I’ve been there. They do feature local fish and meats on their menu. Simon & Seafort’s for seafood but they are part of the Landry’s chain.

Have fun!