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Grand Alaska 2018
In Freedom's Footsteps: Philadelphia to Washington, DC 2020
View tripOverview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Private scenic flight to Talkeetna
- jet boat cruise
- Chilkat rafting experience
- scenic rail journey
- all private Tauck shore excursions and 7-night Princess cruise aboard the Coral Princess
- Star Princess or Island Princess; travel with Tauck's private group and a Tauck Director throughout your journey
Short Description
Combine a weeklong Princess cruise through glacier-strewn waterways with a visit to Denali National Park, a rail trip, flightseeing, rafting in a bald eagle reserve, a sled dog experience and much more on this most unforgettable of Alaska tours from Tauck!
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Anchorage
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Hotel Captain Cook. A transfer from Anchorage International Airport to the Hotel Captain Cook is included. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Hotel Captain Cook
PORTOFCALL : Anchorage, Alaska
Day 2 Alaskan traditions & a flight to the wilderness
After a brief tour of Anchorage, a docent from the Anchorage Museum takes you through the museum's exhibit on the First Peoples of Alaska; its hundreds of artifacts were selected from the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution for interpretation with help from Native Alaskan advisers. Head next to Lake Lucille to board a float plane for some serious aerial sightseeing en route to the town of Talkeetna, near the base of Mount McKinley (locally, known as Denali). Continue by coach to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge in Trapper Creek for a two-night stay with views of the spectacular Alaska Range.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Anchorage, Alaska
Day 3 A wilderness homestead in Trapper Creek & a jet boat adventure
A visit to the family homestead of Joanne Porterfield in Trapper Creek this morning offers a window into modern pioneer life; hear about the challenges and rewards of life on the land - trapping, farming, hunting and home schooling - at the family's Alaskan homestead. Next, take a jet boat cruise into untamed wildlands; the views of Mt. McKinley are made richer by the insights of a trained naturalist. Arrive late afternoon back at your lodge and enjoy dinner at your leisure.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Talkeetna, Alaska
Day 4 To Denali & the Iditarod sled dogs of Husky Homestead
Drive today to Denali National Park, one of the world's last unspoiled frontiers; arrive at your lodge near the entrance to the park, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, in time for lunch. This afternoon, visit Husky Homestead to meet former Iditarod champion musher Jeff King and his family... and of course their indomitable Husky sled dogs who live and train there. Enjoy dinner at your choice of restaurants at your lodge tonight.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Denali National Park
Day 5 Explore Denali National Park
Rise early for a "Tundra Wilderness Tour" that takes you deep into Denali National Park through forest and alpine tundra and over high mountain passes. Along the way you may see moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears - and, depending on weather and visibility, awe-inspiring Mount McKinley. Return to your lodge and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure; enjoy dinner on your own tonight.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Denali National Park
Day 6 Across the wilderness to Copper Center & mountain majesty
Depart Denali this morning, traveling through high alpine country with views of Alaska Range peaks to your wilderness lodge in the small town of Copper Center - a gateway to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. At your lodge, relax over a dinner that features Alaskan salmon, a regional favorite.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Copper Center, Alaska
Day 7 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
At remote Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, a morning tour at the Visitor Center introduces its 15,000 square miles of unspoiled wild lands, the largest in the U.S. National Park system. You'll also view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline today, transporting crude oil to the port city of Valdez. Back at your lodge, enjoy time to take advantage of pristine walking trails, or go whitewater rafting or flightseeing (some at additional cost) before dinner.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Day 8 Prince William Sound & embark your cruise
A drive through the Chugach Mountains where plant and wildlife amaze, stops at Worthing Glacier, then continues to Valdez. Sea conditions permitting, cross Prince William Sound by boat to Whittier; keep watch for whales, seals and soaring eagles and enjoy the mountain views. Your Princess ship awaits boarding across the sound and cruising begins.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Whittier, Alaska
Day 9 Hubbard Glacier & a day at sea
A day of scenic cruising heads toward Alaska's Hubbard Glacier, arriving roughly mid-afternoon. Known as the "Galloping Glacier," this is North America's largest tidewater glacier. As you approach the glacier up close, its immensity (40 stories high) and phenomenal blue hues will amaze. You'll have a prime spot to watch for calving icebergs, wildlife and seabirds. Join the ship's Captain for a welcome reception this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Hubbard Glacier, Alaska
Day 10 Cruising through glorious Glacier Bay during a day at sea
Inspiration continues today as you cruise the waters of Glacier Bay, just west of Juneau. Your ship cruises along shorelines and islands completely covered by ice some 200 years ago. By the time naturalist John Muir visited the area in 1879, the ice had retreated some 30 miles to form the bay you're exploring today. Rugged mountains, spruce and hemlock forests, deep fjords, emerald waters and crisp fresh air are the day's companions, possibly along with sea otters, porpoises, seals and bald eagles. Early evening, enjoy the company of your fellow Tauck cruisers at a private cocktail party aboard ship before dinner.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Glacier Bay, Alaska
Day 11 Skagway, rafting through bald eagle country & a vintage rail trip
In historic Skagway, a gateway to the Klondike region, disembark this morning for a tour of the town and then travel by ferry on the Lynn Canal - the deepest, longest fjord in North America - to Haines. Here you'll begin a quiet raft trip* through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the world's largest congregation of bald eagles. Back in Skagway, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure - meeting up for the excitement of this evening's cliff-hanging rail ride up a mountain pass of nearly 3,000 ft. on the narrow gauge White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, before cruising continues.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Skagway, Alaska
Day 12 Private whale watching & more in Juneau
Your ship arrives in Juneau, Alaska's capital city; set on a narrow strip of land between the Coast Mountains and the Gastineau Channel, it's famous for its historic gold mines and mountain and water views. Disembark for sightseeing that includes a stop at the mighty Mendenhall Glacier, just 13 miles from downtown Juneau. While it may appear to be perfectly still, it is on the move, flowing downhill to shape the landscapes encountered along the way. Then spend much of the afternoon aboard an included private whale-watching cruise off Juneau. Reboard your Princess ship late this afternoon, and sail on to Ketchikan.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Juneau, Alaska
Day 13 Experiencing cultural heritage during a day spent in Ketchikan
Dock in Ketchikan, an island town with a boisterous history of timber, gold and fishing. With forested slopes as the backdrop, Ketchikan's waterfront hops with floatplane, fishing boat and ferry activity. The town also has a rich native cultural heritage; learn more about what life was like for Alaska's native peoples a century ago at Saxman Native Village - a showcase of historic totem poles and a clan house. Afterward there's time to enjoy this colorful town on your own, perhaps with a walk along its historic boardwalk and the waterfront promenade.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Ketchikan, Alaska
Day 14 A day spent cruising the Inside Passage
Spend your final day of cruising along the majestic fjords, islands and coves of the famed Inside Passage; it's also a favored spot for bald eagles and sea lions, porpoises and whales - especially humpbacks - who thrive in the cold waters. Join us tonight for a farewell cocktail party before dinner.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Coral, Golden or Star Princess
PORTOFCALL : Inside Passage, Alaska
Day 15 Disembark Vancouver and fly home
Tour ends: Vancouver. Disembark ship in Vancouver. Disembark your Princess ship in Vancouver, British Columbia. Flights should depart after 12:00 noon; a transfer is included from the dock to Vancouver International Airport; you should allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Vancouver, British Columbia
Availability
25 Tauck Travel Reviews & Ratings
Grand Alaska 2018
Still Spellbound by the Grandeur of Alaska
Most Memorable Moment:
Flightseeing, Tundra Wilderness tour (clear Denali, rare wolf sighting and grizzlies in distance), crossing Prince William Sound (sea-otters, orcas, stellar sea-lions, and more), Hubbard Glacier calving, Glacier Bay entire day, Whale Watching out of Juneau, and bald eagles everywhere!
Company Reviews
Nine Tours and Done
5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds.
She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers.
Skip this cruise - not worth it
For dinner every night because the entrees were terrible. You could be the first person at breakfast and everything on the buffet was cold, nothing was hot. there warming trays had tea light candles underneath them.
Wine served at dinner was low quality whicj says something since it was French wine. Tours were poorly
Planned, guides were ok at best. There is no time to shop or eat on land 9 times out 10. We were in Sicily but never got a chance to eat Sicilian food. So disappointed in this ver expensive cruise. The land portions in Malta and Marseiile were better but the tours in Malta were short, limited and subpar. This was our 8th Tauck trip and we have since cancelled our next three. We are not paying Tauck prices for mediocre experiences.
Tauck/Aon terrible travel insurance
Nice trip but not if you are a loyal Tauck Customer like myself
Great if you like 5-star hotels and lots of food
Details
Ship Name
STAR PRINCESS, CORAL PRINCESS
Ship Stats
- Length: 951 ft.
- Tonnage: 108,977 gross tons
- Cruising Speed: 21.5 knots
- Air Conditioned: Yes
- Elevator: Yes
- Total Passenger Capacity: 2,600 lower berths
- Crew Members: 1,100
- Registry: Bermuda+ Crew Nationality: International
- Length: 965 ft.
- Tonnage: 92,000 gross tons
- Cruising Speed: 21.5 knots
- Air Conditioned: Yes
- Elevator: Yes
- Number of Guests: 1,970
- Crew Members: 895
- Registry: Bermuda
- Crew Nationality: International
Ship Description
STAR PRINCESS
Featuring the latest innovations, the elegant Star Princess offers the ultimate in comfort, style and grace, with a host of activities and facilities for guests to enjoy; from her balconies, guests can enjoy sweeping views of Alaska's fabled landscapes. Staterooms are most comfortable homes-away-from-home featuring amenities such as hair dryers, safes, phones, TV, refrigerators and private facilities with showers. Keep fit in the fitness center or one of the four swimming pools and treat yourself to a soothing adventure in the Lotus Spa. Dine in a variety of different restaurants and enjoy your favorite beverage in one of the many bars and lounges, including Vines Wine Bar, Vista Show Lounge, Wheelhouse Bar, Shooter's Bar, and the Explorer's Lounge. Browse in the art gallery or the onboard shops. See Broadway or Las Vegas-style production shows or choose a more intimate nightclub-style show. Try your luck in the Grand Casino or dance the night away at Skywalker's Nightclub. Or enjoy the serenity of The Sanctuary®, the casual street café atmosphere of the Piazza, or the great tasting food offered in the Crown GrillSM, Sabatini's or International Café, followed by a first-run film at Movies Under the Stars®.
CORAL PRINCESS
With 90% of her staterooms offering ocean views – and 700 of them sporting balconies – Coral Princess is tailor-made for viewing Alaska’s glaciers. She and her same-size sister ship, Island Princess, offer the same features and amenities as their larger sibling, Crown Princess. There are four swimming pools to enjoy, as well as a well-equipped fitness center, a nine-hole putting course, a sports court and the Lotus Spa. Expand your horizons by taking part in the ScholarShip@Sea® enrichment program. Court lady luck in the casino, spend the night watching a movie, concert or sporting event outdoors in a plush lounge chair at Movies Under the Stars® and escape completely® in The Sanctuary®, a tranquil haven just for adults. Unique to Coral Princess and her sister ship Island Princess, the Bayou Café and SteakhouseSM features live jazz music and flavorful New Orleans-inspired cuisine. Every day brings new opportunities and new adventures aboard Coral Princess.
Deck & Cabin Plans
STAR PRINCESS
CORAL PRINCESS
Group Size
Small Group - 24 max
Trip ID#:
tauck-AL2018
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