New Alaska Shore Excursions on 2008 Princess Cruises
January 11, 2008
Princess Cruises is introducing 37 new shore excursions available on its 2008 Alaska cruises for a total of 224. New tours include an opportunity to go behind the scenes on a commercial fishing vessel featured on TV’s “Deadliest Catch,” a zip-line tour for families, a walking tour with a Skagway “madam,” an opportunity to learn the art of glassblowing, and an Alaskan chef’s table. The new “Private Whale Watch & Custom Juneau Tour” includes the opportunity for a private whale encounter and to experience Juneau by land and sea in a group of up to 10 people. The day features a covered jet boat excursion and a shore tour with a personal guide who will customize visits to whichever Juneau attractions the group wishes. In Ketchikan, the “Alaskan Chef’s Table” features a five-course tasting menu with fresh Alaska seafood, served in a private club dining room overlooking the harbor.
The “Bear Creek Zip-Line Course” is an eco-adventure for families with kids age 5 and up. The course includes four dual cable zip-lines, a suspension bridge, a Tarzan-style rainforest swing and a speedy mountain slide. The “Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour” teaches participants about the life of Alaska’s commercial fisherman with and opportunity to sail aboard a vessel featured on the Discovery Channel program “Deadliest Catch.” The vessel has been modified with seating for passengers to observe skilled fishermen bring a variety of sea life to the surface for observation before releasing them back to the wild. In Skagway, the “Ghosts & Goodtime Girls Walking Tour” lets passengers step back in time and learn about the town’s rich history. One of the lavishly costumed madams of the Red Onion Saloon guides passengers through the streets and alleys of Skagway past gold rush-era buildings and the once-infamous red light district. The tour ends at the famed Red Onion Saloon, where participants will be able to explore the rooms of this former brothel, and maybe catch a glimpse of Lydia, the resident ghost.
New for 2008, the Tahitian Princess will sail on a 14-day Connoisseur itinerary featuring a number of calls not usually included on most Alaskan cruises, including Kodiak, Valdez and Seward, with a variety of new tour options in each. Together these new ports introduce more than 20 new excursion options, including, in Kodiak, the “Russian Heritage Tour” that explores the influence of Russia and the Alutiiq people. Highlights include a tour of cannery row, a visit to the Russian Orthodox Seminary (one of only three in the U.S.), and a Russian tea featuring borscht, Russian tea cakes and pirozhkis. All Alaska Adventures Ashore are currently available for pre-reservation. Passengers who are already booked on an Alaska cruise can reserve their tours by logging on the Cruise Personalizer on www.princess.com. The new excursions are offered as part of Princess’ 2008 Alaska season, featuring eight ships sailing on 136 departures. In addition to Tahitian Princess’ new itinerary, Princess offers Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruise-tours plus round-trip Inside Passage sailings from Seattle and San Francisco.