Do I need a Passport?
Yes! A valid passport is required for this trip, not just to board the ship, but especially for our stop in Victoria, BC which is in Canada. They will ask for it upon check-in prior to getting on the ship. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel date. If you don’t have one or need to renew, do it as early as possible — processing times can be several weeks.
What is included in the Cruise Fare?
Your cruise fare includes your cabin, all main dining room meals, buffet, entertainment, and most onboard activities. It does not include specialty (and casual) restaurant dining(most anywhere you have to be seated, except the main dining rooms), alcoholic beverages (available with package purchase), spa services, wifi (available for purchase), casino, shore excursions. Please note: specialty and casual dining is pretty much any restaurant you have to be seated at except for the main dining rooms. Gratuities will be included with the fare, but additional gratuities at the end of the week for exceptional service from specific staff (room steward, dining room, coffee/bar attendants) is ALWAYS appreciated.
Sanitizing stations, why so many???
It all boils down to cleanliness people. You will see hand sanitizer all over the ships public areas simply because there are literally 6000+ people(guests and crew) touching every single surface every single day. Wash your hands when you go into the buffet, sanitize them after getting food, sanitize after touching elevator buttons. Basically, just be clean, and conscious of touching public surfaces, and you should be fine. Jimmy and I have been conscious of it since the first cruise, and we’ve been fine for the most part.
Where do I put my trash and/or dirty dishware from the ship?
You are on vacation!!!! Just put the trash and dirty dishes down somewhere/anywhere, everywhere (sensible), I promise someone will be by in less than 2 minutes to pick it up!!!! The crew is trained in separating the trash from recycling and even the food waste is disposed of and all of this has to be handled by the crew and the crew alone.
What is there for the kids to do?
No worries at all!!! There’s plenty of pools, shows, video games, lounges and activities for the kids. Here’s a full list of things for them to do. Please note: Princess ships do not have water parks and/or slides for the kids, but they do have splash pads, and pools and hot tubs that may come in handy for the colder climate that Alaska tends to have.
“Duck hunting”????? On a Cruise Ship????
“Duck hunting” is a thing on cruise ships!!! People bring ducks specifically to hide (indoor public places, NEVER outdoor), people find them, and can either re-hide them in a different place, OR, keep them to take home. We have a collection sitting on top of our fireplace mantle for the favorites that we’ve found. A lot of the ones we find are just re-hidden. It’s a fun game for kids and adults alike!!!
How do I book shore excursions/Do I HAVE to book shore excursions?
First and foremost, NO, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BOOK shore excursions. You can choose to get off the ship and explore the local town, or you can choose to stay on the ship and explore a (mostly)empty ship. Sometimes, the best deals are available on the ship, while at port. I would NOT recommend buying shore excursions right at the dock from the vendors. If you want to buy shore excursions at port, I would recommend going into town and getting them, vs. right at the dock. SHOULD YOU CHOOSE, you can book excursions directly through Princess Cruises on their website or app before the trip, or through the excursion desk on the ship. We recommend booking in advance — popular excursions like whale watching in Juneau and the White Pass railway in Skagway sell out fast! Or you can use the link found on this website to book through our travel agent at Shore Excursions Group(might be a little cheaper through them). There is no real advantage of Princess vs Shore Excursions Group. The main difference is if booked through Princess, the ship will wait for you to get back from the excursion. They will not wait for you to get back if booked through another company, or if you’re just out shopping. Shore excursions group does offer a return to ship guarantee, make sure you look into how that works.
What packages are available for purchase?
Princess Premier package is going to include most everything available for additional cost, check princess website here for pricing
Princess plus package has limited alcohol, wifi, “casual dining” and coffee drinks for additional cost, check the different packages here.. This is the package we usually get so that we can drink pretty much anything from water to sodas and coffee to alcohol.(Coffee is available 24/7 for free at the international cafe, and also during breakfast hours).
Coffee/sodas package is perfect for those that don’t drink alcohol and don’t want the cost of that package, but do want more to drink than iced tea and water. Coffee is available 24/7 for free at the international cafe, and also during breakfast hours. The coffee package is going to include all premium hand made coffees, mochas, lattes, iced coffees, etc. All info on various packages can be found here.
wifi only is available for purchase. At minimum, we’d recommend the wifi package, just so we can text each other on the ship. Just in case you didn’t know, there’s NO cell phone service at sea.
What is the weather like in Alaska in late June?
Expect temperatures between 50–75°F at most ports. It can be rainy and overcast, especially in Ketchikan and Juneau. Glacier Bay will be the coldest part of the trip. Always bring layers and a waterproof jacket regardless of the forecast — Alaskan weather can change quickly!
Can I use my phone at the ports?
Yes! At US ports (Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan) your regular US plan should work fine. In Victoria, BC you are in Canada so check with your carrier about international rates or a temporary Canada plan (T-Mobile and Verizon have both worked for us in the past with no problem). On the ship, turn off cellular data and use the ship’s wifi to avoid roaming charges.
What is Muster Drill?
Muster Drill is mandatory on the first day of the cruise for every single person regardless of how many cruises you have or have not been on. It is so that you know where to go and how to get off the ship in the event of an emergency. It is simple. Watch a safety video either on your phone or in your stateroom. Once complete, scan your Medallion at your designated muster station — you’ll find your station assignment either in the app or on the card in your stateroom.
Why do I need two sets of luggage tags?
It really boils down to two different transport methods to get on the ship. The first set will be for the airlines’ (checked) luggage. The second set is used on EVERYTHING (carry on and everything) going to your stateroom on the ship with the exception of your backpack and purses.
How much cash do I need to bring?
We typically like to bring $500-600 CASH. We use it to tip various people at the end of the cruise. The excursions people usually get 20-40 IF they don’t try to run a bus into the rear end of a car, lol(actually happened to us in Mexico). We ALWAYS tip at least $100 to our room steward, one of the bartenders, maybe a coffee barista, and ALWAYS the dining room attendants (if we get the same waitstaff).
Why do I want to pay the deposit early?
Pay the deposit early, so you can get the price locked in. If you pay the deposit later, the price might go up, and you’ll be paying the higher price. If you change your mind after the deposit is made, you can always talk to Ralph about how to cancel and get the deposit back (if available).
Who do I contact with questions?
Here’s a full list of FAQ to answer some of those lingering questions. If you have questions about the trip, reach out to Adam or Jim directly. At that point, if we don’t have the answer, we might refer you to our travel agent, Ralph Martinelli with Dream Vacations.
Alaska 2028 