Princess Cruises has promised that all guests sailing with it this summer to Alaska are guaranteed to see the Aurora Borealis, or ‘Northern Lights’.
Princess’ new immersive Voyage to the Stars experience is part of the cruise line’s award-winning North to Alaska with Princess programme, set to debut for the upcoming 2024 cruise and cruisetour season.
This year Princess guests will step inside a planetarium in the Princess Theatre for a front row seat to the “Northern Lights” presentation showcasing the beauty and wonder of this phenomenon, featuring live imagery, designed to engage adults and kids alike.
“Each season in Alaska we strive to deliver enriching experiences for our guests to feel immersed in the beauty and local culture of this spectacular destination,” said Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer of Princess Cruises. “After receiving our highest guest satisfaction ranking ever last season, we knew we wanted to design elevated programming to further connect our guests to all of the wonders of the 49th state for our 55th anniversary season.”
The 2024 season promises to be the biggest and best ever for Princess with 158 departures on 14 unique itineraries with 17 destinations, including five glacier viewing experiences on seven stunning ships.
The cruise line’s 55th anniversary season also features 91 visits to Glacier Bay National Park, taking more guests through this scenic cruising experience than any other cruise line, including the “Voyage of the Glaciers” itineraries between Anchorage (Whittier) and Vancouver, B.C., and Inside Passage voyages roundtrip from Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver, B.C.
The award-winning North to Alaska by Princess programme is exclusive to the cruise line and designed by experts to showcase local storytellers, cultural experiences, the flavours of Alaska and more. Additional North to Alaska by Princess offerings for the 2024 season include:
Onboard Princess Ships
Cook My Catch comes to The Catch by Rudi
Guests sailing to Alaska aboard Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess can enjoy their very own catch of the day after a day of fishing on special Princess shore excursions in the new specialty seafood restaurant, The Catch by Rudi. The first Princess restaurant primarily devoted to seafood offers a completely fresh take on seafood with contemporary interpretations of classic dishes, international fusion influences, highly creative presentations, and an engaging dining experience.
Crabshack
This fan favourite returns to Alaska in all its shell-cracking glory with casual seafood options not to be missed. The four-course meal features a range of seafood favourites, including popcorn shrimp, clam chowder, even an Alaska-inspired steamer pot full of crab legs, shrimp, clams, and mussels. Guests will find this pop-up dining event in the World Fresh Marketplace on all seven ships sailing in Alaska in 2024.
Salmon Cooking Demonstration
Embark on a culinary adventure onboard with a new Salmon Cooking Demonstration, an exclusive experience on the last sea day of the cruise, that celebrates the richness of Alaska cuisine. Expert chefs showcase the art of preparing and cooking salmon, a staple in the region and a delicacy known for its flavour and versatility.
Pendleton: A Partnership Highlighting American Craftsmanship
Celebrating the 55th anniversary sailing to Alaska, Princess has partnered with Pendleton, an iconic lifestyle brand that has been based in the Pacific Northwest for over 100 years. Popular Pendleton blankets, flannels, coats, graphic tees and more will be available for purchase onboard (and at the Princess Wilderness Lodges). Specially designed for Princess, a commemorative limited edition “Alaska, The Great Land” blanket will be available for $299.
Shore Excursions
Princess has added 13 new shore excursions to the already abundant line-up ashore to bring Alaska to life in an engaging, immersive, sometimes delectable, and always memorable way. New shore excursions for the 2024 season include:
Juneau
- Juneau Highlights: Glacier Gardens & Whale Park
- Treadwell: Living History Walk of Alaska’s Lost Mine
Ketchikan
- Crab Feast at George Inlet Lodge
- Exclusive Flightseeing & Taste of Alaska
Skagway
- White Pass Steam Train to Bennett Lake (offered on Friday & Sunday calls only)
Haines
- Port Chilkoot Distillery Tour & Tastings
- Stories of Haines E-Bike Tour
- Stories of Haines E-Moped Tour
Sitka
- Metal Torching Alaska Art Class
- Advanced Mountain Bike Adventure
- Guide’s Choice Hike
- Marine Expedition & Wildlife Quest
- WaveRunner Island Exploration
On Land at Princess Wilderness Lodges
Alaska Adventure Quest: Geocaching Expedition
Guests will embark on a thrilling Alaska adventure like never before with a new Geocaching Expedition programme at each of the five Princess Wilderness Lodges throughout Alaska. The programme offers a unique blend of outdoor exploration and teamwork, making it the perfect adventure for families, friends, and solo explorers alike. Guests can use their mobile phone as a GPS device or grab a map from the front desk at their lodge and follow clues and coordinates to find hidden caches strategically placed throughout the lodge properties.
