Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers - Diamond Princess

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Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers - Diamond Princess

This review covers the 7-night Voyage of the Glaciers on the Diamond Princess. You get more glacier highligts on this itinerary - Inside Passage, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord and College Fjord with its 16 tidewater glaciers. Check out this cool Alaska Glacier Cruise!

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Itinerary - Southbound Voyage of the Glaciers.

Saturday, Day 1 Boarding in Whittier

Sunday, Day 2 - Yakutat Bay & Hubbard Glacier cruising (Formal Night)

Monday, Day3 - Glacier Bay Cruising

Tuesday, Day 4 - Skagway

Wednesday, Day 5 - Juneau (Formal Night)

Thursday, Day 6 - Ketckikan

Friday, Day 7 - Cruising

Saturday, Vancouver & disembark

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Click on photos to enlarge them.

Voyage of the Glaciers, Alaska Cruising, Diamond Princess. Cruise Review and Photos./

Our cruise reviews are detailed. We are cruise specialists, so we look for as much helpful information as we can find in preparing reviews. There is so much to do and see on an Alaska cruise! The review is divided into sections so you can jump to those areas of interest. There are also 10 specific tips included in our review.

This was a fun cruise on the Diamond Princess. Most days were rainy and/or foggy - which can be expected in Alaska. In spite of weather issues, the ship, the food and the service were all great and we enjoyed our cruise. This was our 8th cruise, our 2nd cruise on Princess and our 2nd cruise to Alaska. We booked a category I (Inside Cabin). Last summer, we sailed on the Norwegian Pearl to Alaska in a Balcony cabin and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had never cruised anywhere from an Inside Cabin. Our cruise clients sometimes want to save money and the inside category is typically the lowest price available. This cruise proved that an Inside Cabin is a great option, even in Alaska, if you want to save money and still have a great cruise.

The Diamond Princess is positioned in Alaska from mid-May to mid-September. She is scheduled for 7-day northbound and southbound cruises covering the 2200 nautical miles between Vancouver, British Columbia and Whittier, Alaska. Her Alaska cruise itinerary is the Voyage of the Glaciers which provides the most glacier visits available on a 7-day cruise. Glacier cruising includes the standard Inside Passage plus extra glacier viewing opportunities. Extra glacier visits include Hubbard Glacier, the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska, College Fjord in Prince William Sound with its 16 tidewater glaciers and Tracy Arm Fjord cruising southeast of Juneau. On the day we visited Hubbard Glacier, the fog was low and heavy and we were not able to see the glacier. That will give us an excuse to book this itinerary on a future cruise. Ports visited included Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

The Diamond Princess is in the Jewel class. She will accommodate 2,670 passengers. She has 740 balcony staterooms and includes an entire deck of mini-suites. She is 116,000 gross tons and is 952 feet long. There are 7 restaurants/dining rooms, plenty of bars/lounges, 5 pools, the Lotus Spa, a gym/fitness area, a jogging track, shuffleboard, the Princess Theater, the Skywalker's nightclub and observation lounge, a Casino, a chapel, an art gallery, a 24-hour Internet Cafe with wireless access, a library and the kids and teen centers.

Onboard Activities include swimming, hot tubs, basketball, jogging tracks, exercise equipment, spa treatments, a beauty salon, shuffleboard, lectures, art exhibits and classes, art gallery and auctions, ScholarShip@Sea classes, a 24-hour Internet Café, and the library. The boutiques in the Center Court area include duty-free shops for designer clothing and gifts. The onboard entertainment includes song and dance performances in the Princess Theater, lounge acts, live music, feature-length movies, casino games, night clubs and dance floors. Kids have the fun zone, the splash pool and the teen center where they can hang out, play video games, foosball and board games, watch movies, make their own arts and crafts, listen to music, participate in kids' karaoke, pizza parties and pajama nights. On the Alaska itinerary, kids also get special classes and activities related to the Alaskan parks and culture. The kids, parents and grandparents we spoke to on the Diamond Princess were all very happy with the children's activities.

Should you cruise from an Inside Cabin? We still love our balcony and we have already booked an aft-view balcony for our next sailing, but if you do cruise from an Inside Cabin, just look at all these exterior and window optons you have in the public areas on the Diamond Princess. Here is Janean on the Promenade Deck (deck 7). Also shown are the padded steamer chairs available on this deck.

Here are some views of the Skywalker's Night Club on Deck 17. This was one of our favorite hangouts on the cruise. Surprisingly, there are usually great seats available day and night during the cruise. You can get spectacular views, sheltered from the weather in this great lookout which is 150 feet above the sea.

Another favorite hangout for use was the Wakeview Bar. The instructions for how to find this "secret" hidden gem on deck 6 of the Diamond Princess are outlined in the Ship/Dining/Entertainment section of this report. There were so few people in this quiet corner that Dan nicknamed the Wakeview Bar his own recreation room.

Here are a few more options for great public viewing areas. The photo on the left is the Internet Cafe - of all places! Want a great see - check out the Internet Cafe! The photo on the right shows the aft of the ship. There are four tiered-levels on the aft of the ship with great options.

Want another reason about why this cruise was great? The service! Here, Dan is pictured with one of our favorite servers. This is Rico from the Philippines. Rico was quick to serve, always smiling and a great example of the customer service commitment on the Diamond Princess. We were thrilled with the service we received onboard, with one minor exception - Dawn from England. Fortunately, she was the only bumpy crew member we found on this cruise. We outline our interaction with Dawn in the Disembarkation section - at least she added an element of interest to our report.

Anchorage & Ground Transfers, Diamond Princess.

We arrived a day before the cruise, which we always recommend with longer flight itineraries. The extra day could help you make the cruise if any flight issues arise. We stayed at the Captain Hook Hotel on 5th Avenue in Anchorage. Princess also has a land-based office in this hotel. This is a great downtown location as a base for a stay in Anchorage.

The Captain Cook hotel has a great maritime theme with paintings, carvings and other artwork and items of interest about Captain Cook.

It is a great way to set a sailing tone for your cruise. The hotel offers a 4-page self-guided walking tour. We read the document and hit the highlights of the hotel tour on our own. Our rate for one night was $191.00 plus tax. Here is their website: http://captaincook.com/

Janean was thrilled to meet up with her sister and nieces who live near Anchorage. Pictured here with Janean are her sister Linda Peters and Janean's nieces Angie and Chaynah.

Here are Janean's great-niece Ainsleigh and great-nephew Killian. We had a fun visit with Janean's family in Anchorage. Gary and Linda Peters own ProComm Alaska. They stay REALLY busy taking care of Alaska's two-way radio users. We spent the morning together at the Anchorage Saturday market and then took the Alaskan Leopard Comedy Tour shuttle from Anchorage to the Whittier cruise terminal.

TIP 1: Fly to Anchorage a day or 2 early. For any cruise it is always safest to arrive a day early so you know you'll make the cruise. Plus there is plenty to do and see in and around Anchorage. The cruise lines offer add on packages which are great. Consider adding a land package of 2-7 nights to your cruise. If you don't have the extra time or money, plan to stay at least one night in Anchorage before or after your cruise.

Ground Transfers.Before our cruise, we stayed overnight in Anchorage. We spent the morning at the Anchorage Saturday market which is a fun local shopping bazaar held every Saturday in the summer months. We then took the Alaskan Leopard Comedy Tour shuttle from Anchorage to the Whittier cruise terminal. This comedy-version of the tour costs $39 per person plus tax & gratuity. Our total cost was $93.60 for 2 adults. The shuttle has four pickup locations in Anchorage: the Captain Cook Hotel, the Sheraton Hotel, the University Center Mall and the Millennium Hotel. The pickup times range from 1:15 PM to 2:00 PM. You arrive at the Whittier pier at 4:45 PM with plenty of time to board.

This tour comes complete with a video-version of comedic narration covering Anchorage and Whittier highlights and history. Here is the inside of the bus - complete with Alaska cabin interior!

Dan snapped this photo of a Mountain Goat on our way to Whittier.

The trip from Anchorage to Whittier is beautiful with opportunities to see Mountain Goats, Whales, Eagles and more.

On the trip, you get visits to the Potter Marsh Waterfowl Refuge, Turnagain Arm, admission plus a 1-hour visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Valley, Portage Lake, Bear Valley and the trip through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.

Here is a bear at the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center.

In our 1-hour visit we saw bears, bison, moose, caribou, elk, deer, wolves, eagles, owls and a porcupine.

There is a shorter version available that is a direct shuttle from Anchorage to Whittier. The shorter trip leaves Anchorage at 8:00 AM and arrives at the Whittier pier at 9:45 AM. Both versions of this shuttle also run in reverse order for those who end their cruise at Whittier. The longer version costs more, but they will give you information about the area which you might otherwise miss. Now that we have done the tour, on our next ground transfer, we will opt for the less-expensive direct transfer which gets you to the ship or to Anchorage more quickly.

TIP 2: If you need ground transfers between the Whittier Cruise Terminal and Anchorage, make your own reservations directly with the Alaskan Leopard Company. They offer a direct transfer for $19 per person or the transfer plus the comedy tour for $39 per person. Here is their website if you want to book a ground transfer between Anchorage and Whittier: http://alaskanleopard.com/Tours/index.htm

Boarding & Cabin, Diamond Princess.

Whittier Cruise Terminal.

Whittier is 62 miles and about 2 hours away from Anchorage. If you count residents and in-town services only, Whittier is a tiny town of about 400 residents. But the port and railroad location makes Whittier a hub for cruise ships and cargo.

Port Whittier.Pictured is the Diamond Princess at dock in Whittier. Whittier is located on the western edge of Prince William Sound in south central Alaska. Whittier was established during world war two as a military supply port.

Whittier's economy is comprised mainly of shipping and port related jobs, fishing and tourism. We have heard that Anchorage is adding more docking space to its harbor. Anchorage would be a much more convenient cruise port if the docking space becomes available for cruise ships.

Whittier is 62 road miles southeast of Anchorage. The bay and surrounding mountains with waterfalls and wildlife are beautiful.

You should plan on at least 2 hours to make the trip from Anchorage to Whittier. The town is separated from the highways by the 2.5 mile long Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The tunnel is shared by alternating one-way car/truck/bus and railroad traffic.

Accommodations in Whittier are very limited. Local residents strongly encouraged us to stay in an Anchorage hotel rather than in Whittier. Activities are very limited in Whittier, but you can find day tours for kayaking, fishing and glacier cruises.

Whittier is a 2-hour drive from Anchorage. The only rental car agency in Whittier is Avis. If you drive, allow additional time and expense to get through the tunnel. The Alaska Railroad offers service between Whittier and Anchorage. Please see our Anchorage section for ground transportation options. We arrived at the dock at about 4:30 PM. When we arrived, there was no line for boarding - we zoomed right to the ship.

Cabin. We booked a Category I, Inside Cabin on this cruise. We had two objectives: 1) We have never cruised with an Inside Cabin and we wanted to try it ourselves and 2) We paid one-third the cost of a balcony cabin. We had a double bed. The mirrors facing each other make the room feel larger than it is. There was adequate space for our clothing in the closets and drawers. The bathroom is small and just includes a shower.

Our cabin number was B335 on the Baja Deck - Deck 11. This was our test-drive of the inside category. Our cruise clients sometimes want to save money and an inside cabin is typically the lowest price available on a cruise ship.

Our cabin attendant was VickiLyn from the Philippines. VickiLyn was always smiling and laughing with us. She remembered our names and did a wonderful job at taking care of us. She was quick and stealthy at cleaning our cabin when we stepped out. As you can see VickiLyn's smile is contagious. She brought us an egg-crate mattress cover and extra pillows. She was one of the many crew members who made our cruise special.

No balcony? No problem. Look at these photos to see some of your public viewing options onboard the Diamond Princess.

On this particular cruise, the inside cabin was one-third the cost of a balcony cabin. Alaska is a wonderful cruise with a balcony because there is so much to see.

We are happy to report that the Alaska cruise is also a wonderful experience if you want to save money and book an inside cabin.

Yes, we missed having our own private balcony. But we were thrilled with all the public window seats and outside rail options through out the Diamond Princess. And we found that we slept better because there was less noise, less light and less motion for an inside berth.

We have added photos here to show you several of the many options you have to get a view in publich ares.

Cabin Choices. There are 9 general cabin categories on the Diamond Princess ranging from the 1,329 square-foot Grand Suite with a whirlpool corner tub, sitting room, dining room and huge balcony to the 168 square-foot Interior cabin with the basic comforts. In between are these choices: Suite With Balcony (525-706 square feet); Family Suite (2 interconnecting staterooms sharing a living room, sleeps up to 6); Mini-Suite With Balcony (354 square feet and includes a bathtub); Oceanview With Balcony (237-307 square feet); Deluxe Oceanview (200 square feet); Oceanview (183-194 square feet); Oceanview Obstructed (same as Oceanview with obstructed views).

Tip 3: Inside Balcony Option. We always prefer a Balcony Cabin or higher category. There is nothing nicer than watching the sea go by from your own private balcony. But if cost is an issue and if the balcony cabin option is 2 times or more costly than an Inside Cabin, then save your money and book the Inside Cabin. If you book and Inside Cabin, public seating and viewing options around the ship will be much more important during your cruise. Before you leave, look at the ship maps and find public areas you can use. On day one of your cruise, tour the entire ship and look for seats and rails that have great viewing for your cruise. You can use those public options and brag to your friends about how much money you saved on your cruise!

Our inside cabin was cozy and comfortable. The inside location makes the room more quiet and dark than other cabin locations. There is also less motion near the interior of the ship - not that motion was an issue on this cruise.

We were outside so much that the inside cabin wasn't an issue. For our 7-night cruise, it worked nicely. We still prefer a balcony cabin, but when the price is double or higher, we like the inside cabin option.

Ship/Dining/Entertainment, Diamond Princess

Diamond Princess.

This is a large ship with a small-ship feel. The public areas can be crowded at times, but there are plenty of places to "escape completely" and hide from the crowds. Here is the Diamond Princess deck-by-deck, top-to-bottom, fore-to-aft overview:

Deck 17 - Sky Deck. This is a partial deck. The forward deck is a viewing area and sun deck. It can be windy while sailing, but the forward views are spectacular from this vantage point, which fully encircles the forward nose of the ship. Here is a photo of Glacier Bay from the forward Sky Deck.

All the way back on the opposite end, the aft deck features the Skywalker's Night Club and observation lounge suspended 150 feet above the water. Aft views from the top of deck 17 are wonderful. Janean took this photo of Dan from that vantage point.

Tip 4: The Skywalker's Night Club was one of our favorite hangouts for great viewing while sheltered from the weather. The sky-high dance club has panoramic views from the top of the ship and overlooks the aft pool. The nightclub features a synchronized sound and light system. This spectacular viewing area was surprisingly NOT crowded - both day and night. We really enjoyed the views and available seats here.

Deck 16 - Sports Deck. The forward deck is named Center Court and includes a jogging track, basketball court and sun deck. Aft is the Oasis Bar with shuffleboard, checker/chess tables, hot tubs and great aft views mostly sheltered from the wind. We parked ourselves in this area a few times for glacier and whale viewing. The clanking of the shuffle board pucks was a little disruptive while we were close to glaciers listening for the creaks and groans of the breaking ice.

Deck 15 - Sun Deck. The forward deck is the Lotus Spa area with the fitness center gym, aerobics area, lap pool, saunas, massage and beauty parlor. We purchased the Thermal package for $130 for both of us on day one and really enjoyed this package during our cruise. You can warm your bones and relax in the secluded saunas and heated tile therapy beds. The Trade Winds bar is just aft of the Lotus Spa area. Midship is The Conservatory with good options for seating near windows with a view.

Deck 15 Aft is dedicated to the kids with the Youth Center, Teen Center and Splash Pool areas. The kids' activities include arts and crafts, board games, karaoke, video games, movies and more. Kids programs are split into 3 age groups - the Princess Pelicans (3-7), the Shockwaves (8-12) and Remix (13-17). Parents, kids and grandparents on our cruise all spoke very highly of the kids' activities on this cruise.

Deck 14 - Lido Deck. This is the highest deck with passenger cabins all in the forward section. Mid-ship are the 2-main pool areas - Neptune's Reef & Pool and Calypso Reef & Pool. In the Neptune section you will find Prego pizza, the Trident Grill, the Mermaid's Bar and the Sundaes station. You can sneak to the Trident Grill at breakfast and find an omelet station at breakfast or burger for lunch.

The only issue we had was the total absence of a drink station (other than bar drinks) in the pool areas. There is coffee, tea and juice at breakfast, but no drinks later in the day. You have to walk back into the buffet area to get your water, coffee or iced tea. Juice is not self-dispensed in any public eating areas. You have to request juice from a server. The Calypso bar is located near the Calypso pool. There are also a total of 4 hot tubs in those 2 sections.

Deck 14 aft is the Horizon Court buffet, the Sterling Steakhouse and the Outrigger bar. In good weather, there are great seats and wake views from the Horizon Terrace all the way aft in the Outrigger bar area.

In good weather, the Outrigger bar is a great hangout. Due to cold and rain, this area was not always inviting on our cruise. You will have access to five tiered levels from deck 17 down to deck 12 in this well-designed public area on the aft of the ship. The full area includes 3 hot tubs, an adults-only pool and panoramic wake views from the stern of the ship.

Deck 13 - Doesn't exist - at least we couldn't find it!

Deck 12 - Aloha Deck. Most of this deck is dedicated to passenger cabins. Aft is the Terrace Pool with swimming, showers, whirlpool, deck with chaise lounges and panoramic wake views.

Deck 11 - Baja Deck. This deck is all passenger cabins.

Deck 10 - Caribe Deck. This deck is all passenger cabins.

Deck 9 - Dolphin Deck. This deck is all passenger cabins.

Deck 8 - Emerald Deck. This deck is mostly passenger cabins. All the way forward is the upper section of the Promenade Deck walking area on the exterior of the ship. Lifeboat stations are also located on this deck. Near the aft interior of the ship is the self-service Laundromat.

Deck 7 - Promenade Deck. The forward section includes a stairway up to deck 8 for the walking area around the exterior of the ship. The promenade deck features the exterior walking path that encircles the entire ship - mostly on deck 7 - you go up to deck 8 on the most forward of the ship and then back down to complete your trip around the ship. One full lap around the ship is about 4 tenths of a mile - 3 laps is about 1.25 miles. The Promenade deck includes padded steamer chairs and great open air views of the seas and it is still covered for protection from wind and rain.

Tip 5: The Promenade Deck - deck 7 is a great area to sneak to for whale and glacier viewing if the rails on the top deck get overcrowded. When viewing glaciers or wildlife, the crowds scramble to the top of the ship and crowd the rails. You can calmly make your way to the deck 7 viewing areas and get a better view. The aft rail also has great wake views - it is well worth looking for this spot!

The forward promenade section hosts the upper level of the Princess Theatre where the main shows are held. Just aft of the theatre are the Wheelhouse Bar, a parlor-style lounge with plush sofas, hardwoods and great views to the sea over the promenade deck through large windows. Tucked away on the starboard side is the Hearts & Minds Wedding Chapel. Next is the Promenade Gallery with the glass elevators surrounded by the Crooner's bar (specializing in martinis) and shopping at the Facets and Essence boutiques.

Mid-ship is the Explorer's Lounge. Just aft on the port side are the Internet Café (with 29 computers and coffee/pastries nearby) and Sabatini's Restaurant. On the starboard side is the photo gallery.

Full-aft is Club Fusion with the secret spiral staircase to one of our favorites - the Wake View Bar on deck 6.

Deck 6 - Fiesta Deck. This deck is the "lobby" deck with the primary public areas of the ship. This deck joins with decks 5 and 7 to create the core community zones on the Diamond Princess.

The forward section is the lower part of the Princess Theatre. Just aft of the theatre is the Churchill Lounge with its pub atmosphere - authentic leather chairs and warm, rich woods. Pictured here are our friends we met on this cruise. Seated are Warren and Nancy Landry from Lousiana and standing are Tom and Kathy from Casper, Wyoming. Warren became Dan's fishing buddy and it was great to meet Tom and Kathy from Wyoming on the cruise!

Next on Deck 6 is the Grand Casino and Video Arcade. The casino includes slots, video poker and tables featuring roulette, blackjack, poker and other games. Mid-ship you will find 4-glass elevators with great panoramic views as you move up or down to the deck of your choice.

The next area is the Passenger Service front desk (with very long lines starting 2 nights before the cruise ended). We were a little disappointed with the lines and the service at the front desk. These should be the best customer-facing employees. On the Diamond Princess, the front desk staff was mediocre, at best. Next are the glass elevators and the shopping boutiques named Calypso Cove and Meridian Bay. Just aft of the front desk lobby are 2 dining rooms - the Pacific Moon (flexible hours throughout the day with international dining options) and the Santa Fe (modern décor and international cuisine).

Aft is the International Dining Room (which can only be reached from deck 7 above - walk aft on deck 7 and take the stairs or elevator one floor down to find the International Dining Room). If you prefer the traditional dining experience, the International Dining Room is your place with a wide-variety of menus offered each day of the cruise and the same table, dining partners and waiter each night on your cruise. This is a great tradition if you are in a more formal mood. This photo shows Janean in our private Wake View recreation room. No other cruisers found this place!

Full-aft is the secluded Wake View Bar with its dark wood paneling, secluded spiral staircase and cozy porthole views of the wake.

Tip 6: Make sure you find the Wake View bar - it is only accessible from deck 7 via the spiral staircase going down from the floor of Club Fusion. Quite often we were the only passengers seated in the bar. If you want to "escape completely", you will be glad you found it!

Deck 5 - Plaza Deck. The forward section is passenger cabins and an interior self-service Laundromat. Just forward of the glass elevators is the Princess Fine Arts Gallery and the Internet Cafe. Mid-ship is the Grand Plaza area with spiral staircases up to decks 6 and 7, The Grand Plaza includes the Shore Excursions Desk, the Captain's Circle Desk, the Library, the Writing Room, the Future Cruise Sales Desk and the Lobby Bar. Just aft of the Grand Plaza, still mid-ship are 2 dining rooms named Savoy ("classy-yet-casual" 24-hour dining) and Vivaldi (hearty meals, flexible hours). The aft section of deck 5 is not accessible to ship passengers.

Deck 4 - Gala Deck. Mid-ship on this deck is the Medical Center where you can get free motion sickness medication, if needed. Hopefully, you won't need to visit this deck, but Janean can assure you that they are handy when seas are high and Dan knows they are a great resource if you happen upon some unknown virus while at sea. Decks 3 and below are not open to the public.

Dining

Dining options onboard. Princess calls your dining options Personal Choice Dining. You can choose traditional, anytime, specialty or casual dining. For anytime and specialty dining, reservations are suggested, or you can just show up at restaurant and ask to be seated. If it is busy, you can get a pager and wait 30-45 minutes before you are seated. We never had to wait for a seat more than a few minutes. If the venue looked too crowded, we just moved to another location for our meal.

Traditional dining is fixed seating in the International Dining Room with early seating at 6:15 PM and late seating at 8:15 PM.

Anytime Dining is available every evening between 5:30 and 10:00 PM in 4 venues: Pacific Moon Dining Room, Santa Fe Dining Room, Savoy Dining Room and Vivaldi Dining Room. Savoy. The Horizon Court is available 24 hours per day. After 11 pm, only a small section is opened and they call this area the Horizon Court Bistro and late night buffet.

Specialty dining is available from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, requires payment of an extra cover charge and is available at Sabatini's Italian restaurant ($20 per person) and the Sterling Steakhouse ($15 per person). If you have a balcony you can also pay $100 for the Ultimate Balcony Dining delivered and served on your balcony.

Casual Dining is widely available at most times. You can pretty much grab a meal whenever you want at the casual dining venues: The Horizon Court 24-hour buffet, Prego Pizzeria, Trident Grill (burgers & hot dogs), the Wine bar, the Patisserie, Sundaes ice cream bar, Afternoon tea and 24-hour room service are also served on every Princess cruise. Ice cream is free at the sundae bar Lines can get long. A malt will set you back $2. We're not used to paying extra for a malt, but the price was low anyway.

Tip 7: The Horizon Court buffet area can be VERY crowded during breakfast and lunch. We saw several disputes between passengers trying to find or save seats in the Horizon Court area. To escape the crowds and seat-battles, you do have a good alternative. For breakfast and lunch, you can go to the International Dining Room - this is a great place to get away from the chaos if it is hectic during breakfast or lunch.

Other Horizon Court Options. You can also plan and order room service any time. If you do get stuck in Horizon Court with a plate of food and no seat, there are usually more seats open toward the aft of the ship. If the weather permits, there are outside open-air seats at the very aft end of Horizon Court in the Horizon Terrace area. Princess crew members will also help you find a seat (and they had to referee several unpleasant seat disputes). On a few days, Princess also opened the Savoy dining room and served a Pub Lunch. For full cruises, with rainy weather, like ours, it would be nice if Princess opened more dining venues during lunch times. Until then, our suggestion is to escape completely and avoid the stressful Horizon Court areas during lunch on non-port days.

Room service options for breakfast include yogurt, pastries, bread, fruit, cereal, muesli, coffee and juice. For other times you can get deli sandwiches, salads, soup, burgers and some desserts. Canapés are available for a charge (or at no charge on formal nights for Princess Elite status frequent cruisers).

Dress.

The written dress code is typically more restrictive than what is enforced on cruise ships. That said, the dress code policy sometimes does get enforced in venues on some ships. It can be frustrating and embarrassing if it happens to you. Here is the formal summary of the Princess dress code onboard.

You should dress for a cruise with Princess the same way you would for any stylish land-based resort. Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants and jogging suits, is the order of the day both at sea and ashore in hotter climates. For dining, there are two dress codes: Smart Casual and Formal. There are 2 Formal nights on the 7-night Alaska sailing. The other 5 nights are Smart Casual. Smart Casual attire includes skirts, dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies and pants, open-neck shirts for men. Formal attire for Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining venues includes evening gown, cocktail dress, or elegant pant suit for women and tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket and slacks for men. Inappropriate dinner wear such as pool or beach attire, shorts, ball caps and casual jeans (with fraying and/or holes) are not permitted in the dining rooms. Shoes must be worn. Please be sure to bring proper clothing for visits to religious sites. You'll also want low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck, as well as comfortable walking shoes or sandals to wear.

Dan was able to wear Dockers and a sport coat (no tie) for the formal events on this cruise. There were others who pushed the dress code further and had no issues on our cruise. We did see several tuxedos on men and very elegant evening dresses on women on the 2 formal nights.

Afternoon tea is served on the Diamond Princess in the Pacific Moon dining room. You will find sandwiches, pastries, warm scones with cream and tea. You will get white glove service with multiple servers offering these afternoon treats in a sophisticated English tradition.

There are typically 2 formal nights on the 7-night cruises. That held true for this cruise. Our formal nights were the second night and the fifth night (Sunday and Wednesday). Lobster was served on the second formal night. .

Beer, Wine, Spirits and Tobacco onboard.

Princess requests that you do not bring alcoholic beverages onboard (other than wine or champagne). If discovered, alcohol from the shore will be collected at the gangway and returned to your cabin on the last day of the cruise. You can bring one bottle of wine (or champagne) per person. If your wine is brought to the dining room, a $15 corkage fee is charged. Princess prefers that your bottle be 750 ml or smaller, but 1.5 liter magnums are acceptable. Wine in a box is not encouraged. You can consume your wine in your cabin for no corkage fee, but it may not be brought into any public lounge for consumption.

This cruise offered "power hour". Many drinks (both beer and cocktails are only $2.99 after 8 pm all the way until they close - which is around 2 am, we think. Sorry, there is no power hour for wine. Some of you will save lots of money on the power hour deal. You know who you are!

There are a few wine tasting events, a wine and sushi event and a few martini mixing/tasting events. Smoking is not allowed in the dining rooms, any food service area, or in the show lounges and theaters. Smoking is permitted in staterooms, stateroom balconies, and designated areas, including the Churchill Lounge where cigars are puffed in style.

Entertainment

You can look at Daily Princess Patter news flyer delivered each night and decide what to do the next day.

The main attraction on any Alaskan cruise is the great outdoors - glaciers, whales, pristine coastline with waterfalls, sea lions, otters, bears, eagles and more. The weather in Alaska is typically cool and rainy during the summer cruising season. So expect some rainy, cold days and dress so you can get out and watch the natural beauty every day - from the decks and balconies when you can and from the great interior views when weather dictates. On this cruise, we had cold and rain on 4 or 5 days of the cruise. We still enjoyed it completely. Princess provides onboard naturalists and national park representatives who present information and videos about Alaska's amazing natural resources and beauty.

If the stage shows allowed photos, we would share. But they don't allow photos. We were a little disappointed with the stage shows on the Diamond Princess. The entertainers are great professionals at singing and dancing. The productions as a whole were dated and disjointed. We couldn't help comparing the Diamond Princess Stage shows to those on Norwegian Cruise Line. NCL shows are true Broadway-Caliber productions. We didn't find that to be the case with the stage shows on this cruise, although they are worth seeing just for the singing and dancing. The Diamond Princess Orchestra and performance piano player are spectacular.

Other entertainment onboard included a hypnotist, a comedian, a piano player, a string quartet, jazz musicians, Ball Room, All-request, Disco and Latin music and dance nights, music with the Princess Orchestra, trivia challenges, Princess Pop Star, Newlywed game shows, a Crew Show, the Captain's Champagne party, bingo, karaoke and DJ music. We really wanted to see the comedy show and the hypnotist, but due to limited seating, we were not able to attend those shows. You will need to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of show times for the shows in the smaller venues to assure a seat. It would be nice if Princess could find larger venues or schedule repeat performances so more passengers can enjoy these shows. Fellow passengers said Comedian Kevin Jordan was really good. There are also dance classes and ScholarShip@Sea programs available onboard.

We particularly enjoyed the cooking show hosted by Executive Chef Amedeo Scarin and Maitre d'hôtel Jacques Ghennai. It really is a cooking demonstration, but the show is also one of the better comedy routines we have seen. They jabbed and jousted with each other in a very entertaining presentation that completely filled the Princess Theatre and brought roars of laughter and applause.

The galley tour that followed was not as exciting, but we're glad we attended the "Your Excellent Dining Experience" with these two witty and veteran culinary personalities.

Hubbard Glacier Cruising, Diamond Princess

Day 2. This is a relaxing day of cruising - the perfect way to begin your cruise. Unfortunately for us, on this cruise the fog hid the glacier from our viewing. Due to fog and rain, there wasn't much for us to see on this part of the cruise. Still, it was perfectly relaxing onboard the ship this sailing day!

This leg is featured on the Connoisseur Voyage and on the Voyage of the Glaciers. Yakutat Bay is south of Whittier. It is 18 miles wide and extends southwest from Disenchantment Bay to the Gulf of Alaska. Hubbard Glacier is the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska - it is 76 miles long. The cliff face is over six miles wide and is a very active calving glacier making an exciting experience for visitors. It is situated at the head of Yakutat Bay in Southeast Alaska.

Sadly for us, the fog obscured our viewing of the glacier on the day we cruised by. Alaska's glaciers date to the last ice-age. Glaciers are rivers of ice flowing slowly to the sea - massive, always moving, and very powerful.

This chunk of ice looked like a whale. The glaciers flow from Alaska's mountains and fjords and typically end at the sea. When the glacial chunks separate from the main glacier at the sea, they drop off into the water with thundering cracks and crashes. Some of the chunks that fall are as large as apartment buildings.

The breaking up and falling into the sea is called glacier calving. Some of Alaska's glaciers release massive glacial chunks several times an hour. Witnessing the size and sound of glacier calving is a highlight on an Alaska cruise. It is an event you will appreciate once you experience the force and sound first-hand.

The calm and serenity in the bays around the glacier are misleading. In better weather, all eyes and ears aboard ship are attentive in the silence. You will hear occasional deep groans and cracking while near the glaciers. If you are patient (and lucky) you will actually see, hear and feel the glacier calving as an up-close witness.

Even with fog and rain - typical Alaska weather, this Princess Voyage of the Glaciers maximizes your odds to become a first-hand witness to glacier calving. On this day at Hubbard Glacier, it just didn't work for us on this cruise. Oh well, we just moved inside the ship and steered toward sunnier weather.

Glacier Bay Cruising, Diamond Princess.

Day 3. Glacier Bay Cruising. We had a gorgeous, sunny day of cruising in Glacier Bay. Spanning 3.3 million acres, Glacier Bay National Park is a network of inlets that channel ice flows and water to the sea. The bay is filled with whales, sea lions, otters and puffins. Along the coast you can spot eagles, bears and other wildlife.

Just before noon a National Forest boat with rangers came aside the Diamond Princess. Our ship did not stop, we slowed and the rangers climbed a rope ladder to board. Once aboard, they take over the narration on the ship's speakers. As we cruised up Glacier Bay, the narration was helpful and informative. They present maps, informational flyers and a slide show. They have another special program just for the kids. They mingle with passengers to answer questions and share information about Alaska's natural wonders. The scenery in Glacier Bay is spectacular. We spotted numerous pods of whales, seals and a few otters. On this day of our cruise, the weather was perfect. Our first up-close glaciers were the combined Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers in the Tarr Inlet. These are the largest glaciers for viewing - as high as 250 feet at the base. We arrived around mid-afternoon and we were the only cruise ship in the area. We heard and saw some small calving of the glacier, but nothing large fell while we were there. The captain maneuvers the ship so that the each side of the ship has a view of the glacier for about 30-45 minutes. We started on the top decks and later moved to the promenade deck for our glacier viewing. There were many more open spaces on deck 7 than on the upper decks for viewing. Shhhh! Keep it a secret! Dress warmly so you can stay outside as long as possible. We sailed past several other glaciers. This was a spectacular day of sunny cruising!

TIP 8: There are great views of whales, glaciers and scenery on this cruise. Announcements are often made about where a whale has been spotted. Crowds fill up the rails for viewing quickly when these announcements are made, the crowds all run to the upper decks. When it gets crowded above, calmly make your way down to the promenade deck on level 7. Your view may even be better and there will be fewer people on deck 7.

Here are some of the views that greeted us as we sailed into Glacier Bay. What a relaxing, tranquil day to be on a cruise ship!

When you get close to the glaciers, you hope to see and hear the thundering crashes of the glaciers calving. We saw quite a few big splashes this round.

We spotted numerous pods of whales and lots of sea lions. See if you can find the sea lion with a fish in his mouth. Hint: The seagulls are trying to steal a tidbit.

Of course, the highlights of Glacier Bay and of any Alaskan Cruise are the Glaciers. Here are the photos to prove we did see glaciers in Glacier Bay this cruise.

Here is another great photo from our friend Warren Landry. You will see lots of whale flukes when you cruise Alaska, but getting a photo like this is rare!

As we sailed out of Glacier Bay, the whales seemed to surround the ship and spouted their farewells as you can only see in Alaska. Here is a shot with multiple humpback whales sending us off for the day.

Skagway, Diamond Princess

Skagway.Day 4 - 7 am to 8:30 pm. We opted to kick back and walk around the town for this full day in port. It was a fun and relaxing way to spend the day in Skagway. We visited almost every shop in town and found many unique gifts, local artwork and crafts and native art and gift items.

Where else can you shop and meet the creator of your gift item? Janean loved this unique jade necklace. The clasp is a one-of-a-kind original and is very functional - large and securable from the front - no fumbling with the tiny hardware.

We were very pleased to find the artist who created this necklace in the store. Here is Janean with her new necklace and Jeanie Wendell-Vogel who created this piece.

On a previous cruise we took the White Pass Summit Excursion via rail. That train ride is a hallmark Skagway shore excursion. The train ride is 2.5 to 3.5 hours. There are later departure times that are usually less crowded. You will see waterfalls, mountains, gorges, tunnels, trestles and historical sites. To save about $10 per person, book directly with the White Pass & Yukon Route (WPYR), at this web address: http://www.wpyr.com/index.html

For the train ride, arrive at the depot 15 minutes before departure. The walk from the dock is 5-20 minutes depending upon where your ship is docked. It is a 40-mile round-trip ride in old-fashioned parlor cars. Sit on the left side of the car going up the hill. Sit in the last row for easy access to the exterior viewing platform while you chug up the mountain. On the way up, the best views are on the left. This reverses for the trip back. The rail operators ask you to trade seats with those across the aisle for the trip back giving everyone a chance to see the views. For more photos and information, see our NCL Pearl & Skagway review here: http://danandjanean.com/Pearl.html#Section9

Skagway is a fun little town. We have had great weather and great fun on our 2 port calls in Skagway!

Juneau, Diamond Princess

Juneau.

Day 5 - 6:30 am to 4 pm. This was a tough weather day in Juneau - especially for Dan's fishing trip. We had high winds, rain and cold weather. Janean chose better than Dan for her port day. She had a pedicure on the ship and then stayed close to the pier for some light shopping on a very bad weather day. Dan opted for a 6-hour fishing charter with Alaska Trophy Fishing. Dan ignored the weather. He always wants to fish. His attitude is "just get me on the water and let's fish!" That didn't work so well in Juneau.

Alaska Trophy Fishing specializes in fishing trips out of Juneau and offers 4, 6 and 8 hour fishing charters. They also offer a 2.5 hour whale watching excursion. They cater to cruise ship passengers and will make sure you get back to your ship on time. Dan saved about $50 by booking the 6-hour charter directly with Alaska Trophy Fishing. He booked the combo package chasing both salmon and halibut.

Dan was the solo fisher on the Sea Wolf with Captain John Seeley and his wife Laura. The weather gods conspired against us on this trip to Juneau. It was windy, cold and raining. John and Laura were happy to take this crazy little halibut chaiser out and a nasty day at sea. They did all they could, but due to the weather fishing was nearly impossible.

Captain Seeley worked every possible option, but we just couldn't keep our lines in the water on this day of fishing. The winds and the waves were just not right for fishing.

Captain Seeley takes pride in delivering halibut to the boat. He asked Dan to return when the weather is more cooperative and offered a fuel-only cost on the return trip - he even offered a hide-a-bed to get us back for another shot at the halibut.

Dan hopes to take Captain John up on his offer. He is sure that if weather permits, there is no on better crew to help you get the fish into the boat. On a very tough day, Captain Seeley really did all he could to get us into fishable waters, but Poseidon ruled the day. Watch for a future report from the Sea Wolf with Captain John Seeley - we are confident he will deliver.

When you fish, you always want to CATCH, but it is called fishing for a reason! It is very possible to catch huge halibut and even have 2 or more fish hooked at the same time on the boat. But if it is slow, you are still likely to get a great view of humpback and orca whales or bears and other wildlife onshore. You could also get great views of the Mendenhall Glacier.

Cruise ships start sailing Alaska with great deals in May. The first spawning king salmon just happen to arrive at the same time. The spawn is followed by large chum, pink, silver and feeder king salmon. In June, Juneau's fishing offers limits of 4 king salmon per day. Bottom fishing is excellent all summer for halibut and rockfish.

Alaska Trophy Fishing offers personal service and great prices. They hope to give you a fishing experience that you can brag about to your buddies back home. Their fishing vessels are handicapped accessible and are comfortable. The fishing charter includes beverages, food (lunch on full day and snacks on 1/2 Day), rain gear and tackle. They will also help you arrange for processing and shipping of your fish. Princess and most other cruise lines do not allow you to bring your fish onboard after a fishing excursion.

We have 2 suggestions after this trip - first, check the weather reports for your travel dates. Rain and cold are OK, but high winds and high seas will make the fishing difficult. Second, ask for Captain John Seeley. If he is available, he'll find your fish for you. Alaska Trophy Fishing has a fish calendar on their website to help you plan your dates according to your fishing expectations.

Chinook (King) Salmon start running in May and run through June. They are mature salmon returning to spawn. They average 20-25 lbs. and arrive in large numbers. Around June 10, the daily catch limit on these fish is raised to 4 per person, with no annual limit. The feeder Chinook salmon arrive in late June and can stay through the end of August. They are not spawning - they are immature fish following baitfish and other salmon to the inside passage. They remain in the area as long as feed is available. These salmon aren't as numerous as mature spawning salmon and average less than 18 pounds. The largest king salmon can be 60 pounds - and even larger.

Chum (Dog), Coho (Silver), and Pink (Humpy) Salmon all arrive in big numbers for great fishing in June through August. Chum (June through mid-July) and Coho (July through August) can reach weights over 20 pounds. Pinks (mid-June through early-August) reach weights up to 10 pounds. Sockeyes (Red) Salmon are rare in the Juneau waters. All four of these types of salmon have a daily catch limit of 6 fish per person.

Rockfish and Halibut are plentiful throughout the season. Rockfish can weigh up to 25 pounds. Halibut vary from 20 pounds up to 200 pounds or more. The daily catch limit is 1 halibut and 5 rockfish per person.

You can book directly with Alaska Trophy Fishing at their website or email address:

Website www.alaskatrophyfishing.com

Email: catchfish@alaskatrophyfishing.com

If fishing isn't your idea of fun and if this is your first trip to Juneau, you will want to see the Mendenhall Glacier. In 2009, we took the Juneau Mendenhall Glacier tour. We booked directly with Kally Flynn at Juneau tours. Our cost was $27 each for the 2.5 hour excursion. This is the only glacier in the world that you can drive to. Kally Flynn with Juneau tours was very helpful and very informative about the tour they offer even before we left home. The exact tour time is set at check-in on the dock. All tours pick up in parking lot left of the Mt. Roberts Tramway. There is a row of booths at the Mt Roberts Tramway. This is where you will check in with the dock receipt that you print out upon purchase of your tour. The tour starts at historic downtown Juneau. You see the Governor Mansion, the Alaska state Capitol and the famous Red Dog Saloon. You will drive past the Gastineau Wildlife Refuge to Mendenhall Glacier. You have 45 minutes to explore the Mendenhall Glacier Park. There is an optional $3 entrance fee to visitor center. We finished with stop on Douglas Island for panoramic view of Juneau & the cruise ships - photo opportunities. At the end of the tour, our driver dropped us in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, centrally located between all the cruise ships. You can book this tour here: http://www.juneautours.org/index.html

And wouldn't you know it?? As the Diamond Princess sailed out of Juneau, the skies cleared and the winds died down. Oh well, we will be back for a better weather day!

Ketchikan, Diamond Princess.

Ketchikan. Day 6 - 10 am to 6 pm. The weather in Ketchikan was perfect. Once again, Janean chose better than Dan for onshore activities. She booked The Chef's Table excursion at the Alaska Fish House Restaurant. Her class was absolutely fantastic. Janean chose this class with the theory that Dan would catch the fish and she would learn new ways to cook it. If we relied on Dan's fishing in Alaska, we would have starved. Fortunately, starvation is impossible on a cruise ship! Pictured below are 2 of the 4 ships that docked in Ketchikan on July 1 - the Golden Princess (right) and the Holland America Rotterdam (left). The Diamond Princess and the Holland America Zuiderdam docked behind these 2 ships.

We sailed into Ketchikan on a bright, sunny day which was a welcome relief on this cruise. We have made port stops in Ketchikan twice now and both times, the weather has been sunny and warm. Pictured here is the lighthouse we passed just as we arrived in Ketchikan.

We also sailed past the Ketchikan airport. You have to fly or sail to Ketchikan. Alaskan Air serves the town. Surprisingly, Ketchikan is just a 90 minute flight from Seattle.

The Chef's Table Alaskan cooking class at the Alaska Fish House. Janean highly recommends this excursion for anyone who wants to escape the cruise port tourist shopping areas. She booked the class on the Princess Cruise Personalizer before we left home. She had a wonderful time and learned several new seafood recipes. The group gathered at the pier and took a short 15-minute walk to the Alaska Fish House restaurant which is owned and operated by Deby Slagle.

Pictured here with Janean is Arun who is Assistant Food and Beverage Manager on the Diamond Princess. Arun also attended this shore excursion. There were about 20 passengers from the four ships docked in Ketchikan that day. The event is presented by Claire, our host and Chef Kelli. We also had a server bringing us each dish at the time it was presented. Chef Kelli was raised in the Eastern U.S. and he calls himself a real "foodie". He admits to being a Food Network and Cook Book addict. A self-taught Chef, he does not lack from experience or talent. Host Claire shared stories of the area and anecdotes about his Scandinavian family that he married into. He is very charming. He moved to Alaska to help clean up after the Valdez oil spill. He found and married a gal with Scandinavian roots and confesses that he "married Alaska first". One or two at a time, our server placed each of the 11 dishes in front of us. While being served, Claire shared the history of Ketchikan and the commercial and tribal fishing traditions of the area. After the appetizer-size dishes were served, Chef Kelli came out and discussed the recipes, what inspired him, possible substitutions and some all around great cooking tips. When we first arrived, we were all given a small cookbook with the recipes for each dish prepared. It was very helpful to be able to follow the recipe while tasting them and learning about them from Chef Kelli.

The Alaska Fish House restaurant is an easy 15-minute walk from the ship at the end of Main Street in Ketchikan. You can dine on fresh Alaskan seafood within sight of the fishing boats in Ketchikan. Their menu features alder-grilled salmon, halibut & chips, prawns, crab, and their famous two-king chowder. If you are like Dan and want the fresh fish, but couldn't catch them, they also sell and ship the same fresh Alaskan Seafood featured on their menu. You can order during your visit or you can order online at their website: www.alaskafishhouse.com

Ketchikan salmon fishing charter. Dan had a beautiful day on the water fishing in Ketchikan - he just didn't do any catching. In Juneau, the rough seas, wind and rain made it tough to fish. In Ketchikan, the sun was shining, the King Salmon were jumping, but not a single fish made it to the boat. Ketchikan is known as the Salmon capital of the world, but Dan is not so sure! Still, his boat ride was beautiful. Dan reserved a 4-hour fishing charter directly with Ketchikan Charter Boats Inc (KCBI).

KCBI specializes in cruise ship fishing charters for individual passengers. Most fishing charters require at least 4 passengers. If you don't have a group to join, KCBI will put you with a group for your Ketchikan fishing. Dan joined a group of 3 other fishermen - Warren Landry from Louisiana and a couple from Texas. We were grouped together in the KCBI office in Ketchikan. They are easy walking distance to/from the ships. They will also meet you at the ship and bring you directly to the office. They offer group discounts and accept walk-ins on the day of the cruise. The charters can be 4, 6 or 8 hours. This cruise itinerary would have allowed a maximum of 6 hours. Dan wanted to fish for 6 hours, but the only group available was 4 hours. For the 4-hour charter, the KCBI price is $165 plus the $20 fishing license and a $10 King Salmon tag. That price was $35 less than the shore excursion price on the ship.

All you have to do is book and show up - or maybe just show up! The KCBI charter includes all fishing gear, tackle and bait, non-alcoholic beverages and raingear. Here is Dan working the camera. That was the only real gear he needed on the fishing boat. If the fish don't bite, you will at least have great scenery and wildlife photo opportunities.

Onboard the fishing boat, Dan met Warren Landry from Lousiana. On his last trip to Ketchikan, Warren snapped this incredible series of photos of an eagle snatching his meal. Shot one - the eagle swoops.

Shot 2 for the two talons locked on the fish - no doubt this is how you "catch".

Shot 3 just to show off, here is the close-up with the eagle and his catch. Thanks Warren for these great photos!

Captain Nick didn't find the fish for us, but he found us multiple shots of eagles. Here is a shot that Dan snapped of an eagle coming in to retrieve a sardine tossed out by Captain Nick.

We also spotted this family of eagles on the shoreline. There were 2 adults and 3 younger eagles hanging out in the trees on the shoreline. They were watching the salmon jump. We were watching the eagles and the jumping salmon. If you click on the photo, you will see the larger image and you should be able to spot the adult and 3 younger eagles.

If your luck is better than ours, KCBI can arrange fish processing and shipping for you. Most cruise lines do not allow you to bring your fish onboard. You are safe booking directly with KCBI because they know the cruise ship itineraries and will get you back on-time. The odds are also good that you will be on a boat with passengers from the ship who booked with the cruise line at the higher price. (If that is the case, just smile and nod when they tell you how much they paid). KCBI offers a full refund for a valid emergency or due to inclement weather (at skipper's discretion). You can book directly with Carla at KCBI at their website or email address:

KCBI Website: http://www.ketchikancharterboats.com/ KCBI email: info@ketchikancharterboats.com

Before you board, you fill out the paperwork and pay for your fishing license and King Salmon tag. Our group of 4 joined Captain Nick Hashagen on his boat named Chaisin' Tail. Nick has a reputation for bringing fish into the boat. He worked his heart out and the fish were jumping all around us, but we didn't bring a single fish into our boat. We only had 2 hits and 1 hook-up all day. Nick is a proud captain and he did everything he could to get us a fish. He even burned extra fuel and spent nearly an extra hour of "chaisin' tail" for us, but time expired and we returned to the ship without a single fish. It was a little frustrating for us and very frustrating for Captain Nick. Most of the boats around us brought in 1-4 fish that day. When we returned to the ship, we heard about another group that landed 15 King Salmon that same afternoon. We did have a great boat ride and were able to take pictures of eagles and other scenes in the Ketchikan area, but that is not what we came to do.

Tip 9: Fishing Alaska from a Cruise Ship. After 2 unsuccessful days of fishing charters in Alaska from the cruise ship, Dan isn't sure about a fishing excursion from a cruise ship. If you will be happy with a boat ride, then book the fishing charter, ride the boat and count any catches as a bonus. The weather can be a factor, so if you can wait until a day or two before your landing in the port, that would be best. Even with good weather, there seems to be too little time and too much pressure to try and catch fish on the limited hours you have from the cruise ship. If you want to fish Alaska, Dan suggests a land-based fishing trip with plenty of time for better odds of success. Use you shore excursions from the cruise ship for something more predictable.

Here is another great photo contributed by Warren Landry. He calls this one "Do you know this gull"? After seeing Warren's photos, Dan has decided he needs to upgrade his own camera and photography skills. Look at those eyes - what an amazing shot!

After fishing from the cruise ship, Dan is eating crow with his fishing buddies back home who have fished in Alaskan waters. He is the only one who has been skunked in Alaskan waters. According to Dan, it has to be the cruise ship fishing charters and not him! He plans to fish Alaska again, but probably not on a cruise ship itinerary. Janean says she is going to drag him to a cooking class or a pedicure on the next excursion. Stay tuned for our next Alaskan cruise report - we'll see!

In 2009, for about the same price as a 4-hour fishing charter, we took a Float Plane and Crab Feast excursion in Ketchikan. On this excursion, your catch is guaranteed! From our cruise ship, we rode a van to the George Inlet Lodge. We passed and learned about totem poles, the Ketchikan fish hatchery, and the coast guard station in Ketchikan. At the lodge, you are treated to smoked salmon and all the crab you can eat. Beer, wine and soft drinks are provided. Afterward, you get a short amount of time to walk around the lodge and visit the gift shop. We spotted an eagle outside the lodge. We also saw a salmon jump in the water by the dock - it is less frustrating to see them jump when you are not fishing for them! The highlight of this trip is a short 30 minute flight on a De Havilland Beaver float plane. Our plane picked us up at the dock by the lodge. The planes will accommodate up to 6 passengers. Four of our group left on the first plane and other five of us left on the next plane. Dan was thrilled when the pilot offered him the copilot seat. You will fly over the lodge, the amazing scenery, mountain top lakes and bays. Janean spotted a few mountain goats from the plane. You also fly over Ketchikan and the cruise ship docks. Ketchikan is all revealed below, along with panoramic views of the Tongass National Forest. After thirty minutes of spectacular scenery we landed in Ketchikan and were shuttled back to the ship.

Disembarkation & Vancouver B.C., Diamond Princess

Vancouver B.C. is a beautiful city with a great cruise port. For U.S. Citizens, Vancouver is much less convenient than Seattle. Apologies to our Canadian neighbors, but we wish the cruise lines would offer more Alaska cruises from Seattle rather than Vancouver. For U.S. citizens, this would eliminate the need for passports, multiple passes through immigration, multiple trips through customs forms and questionnaires and more costly flights to Vancouver.

Canadian Port Immigrations/Customs. If you take a round-trip cruise from Vancouver, B.C. you will have 3 immigrations/customs lines to get through - one when you arrive in Canada, one when you disembark at Vancouver, and one when you renter the U.S. For one-way cruises to or from Vancouver, you will have at least 2 immigrations/customs lines to get through. For U.S. residents who cruise exclusively to and from U.S. ports to Alaska (like Seattle and Whittier), there will not be any lines for immigrations or customs.

For us, Seattle is a much simpler and stress-free way to begin or end your Alaska cruise.

When we disembarked at Vancouver, B.C. we had to go through Canadian immigration/customs to disembark. Within a few hours, the then had to turn around and pass through U.S. immigrations/customs toting our own bags to re-enter the U.S. We had a 5 hour wait at the U.S./Canada border to get through Customs and Immigration.

The 5-hour wait at immigrations was an unpleasant end to our cruise vacation. It took us 8 hours to get from Vancouver to Seattle. The delay also caused us to miss our flight home from Seattle. The airfare change fees and extra night in Seattle were an unplanned cost and reinforced our commitment to use Seattle rather than Vancouver, B.C. whenever possible.

TIP 10: For U.S. residents, we recommend Alaska cruise itineraries that start and end exclusively in U.S. ports. You might have to pay more for a cruise to or from Seattle versus Vancouver or Victoria, B.C. but you will very likely make up the cost difference in lower airfare costs. Plus you will avoid the hassle of passports, long immigration and customs lines and forms and hauling your luggage through 2 border crossings. If you choose to cruise to or from a Canadian port then pay the higher airfare from a Canadian airport and avoid the ground transfer back to the U.S. Between Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle, your best ground transportation option is a bus ride of 5-8 hours or more with a lengthy, unpredictable wait at the border crossing. It will require an extra day of headaches and lines - not a good way to start or end your cruise vacation.

Disembarkation.

Getting off the Diamond Princess in Vancouver was smooth with the exception of Princess Representative Dawn (from England) in the Elite and Suite passenger waiting area at the Wheel House bar. All crew members on our cruise were very friendly and helpful. Dawn was the exception. Surprisingly she is assigned to assist Elite and Suite-level passengers at disembarkation. We opted to walk off the ship with our own bags. We had a simple question about how much time we might expect to get through immigration. Rather than answer our question, Dawn repeatedly asked what color our luggage tags were. We didn't use the Princess luggage tags - we carried our own bags off the ship. Dawn asked 6 times what color our luggage tags were. Dan answered light blue 2 each time, but apparently Dawn was not listening or couldn't remember between her demeaning comments and questions. She wanted to know if we had informed anyone at the front desk that we would be carrying our luggage off the ship. We had not. Dawn made it very clear with a jeering snicker and abrasive tone "that is a problem". We have carried our own bags off many cruises and never had a problem. Even with numerous past-cruises under our belts, Dawn's lecture made us nervous. As it turned out on this disembarkation, there was no problem looming for us. It is too bad there are people like Dawn dealing with passengers on cruise ships. We have heard about them and we run into them sometimes. We know they deal with thousands of passengers each week, but there is no reason for them to treat us as children or to chastise us for breaking some policy rule. They should do all they can to reassure and help their guests - like most of the crew on every ship chooses to do. Dawn chose to lecture and caused unneeded stress and trepidation about our "problem". We hope Princess will move her to a position where she doesn't deal with passengers. She didn't help. She did the opposite at the end of a great cruise. The simple answer to our question - it will typically take you 15-45 minutes to get through immigration at the Vancouver, B.C. cruise terminal. If you disembark early, the lines are longer. If you leave around 10 am or later, the lines will be shorter.

Our flight option home from Seattle was half the price of our flight option from Vancouver, B.C. We booked our ground transfer from the Vancouver cruise terminal to the Seattle SeaTac airport and thought we would save money. The shuttle price was $54 each including taxes. The shuttle runs round-trip from the Vancouver Canada Place Pier to SeaTac airport. It makes several stops and by their published itinerary, takes about 5 hours to make the trip. Unfortunately for us, this trip was an 8-hour painful bus ride. We left the cruise terminal at 10:45 am and arrived at the SeaTac airport at 6:35 pm and we missed our flight home. If you are a U.S. resident, we highly recommend choosing an Alaska itinerary that sails to and from U.S. ports only. If you sail from a Canadian port, book your airport in Canada, not the U.S. This shuttle between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. is your best ground transfer option, but it was a long, stressful experience for us. If time is a complete non-issue and you want to save money, then this is a good option to get between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. You can call Quick Shuttle at 1-800-665-2122 or visit their website here: http://www.quickcoach.com

10 Tips, Diamond Princess Voyage of the Glaciers

Ok, so you just want the 10 Tips for the Diamond Princess Voyage of the Glaciers cruise between Whittier, Alaska and Vancouver, B.C. Here you go!

10 Tips