Princess ships will sail on a total of 85 Gulf of Alaska departures on two different seven-night itineraries. Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess return for another season of "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, while Pacific Princess joins the lineup with alternating seven-night northbound and southbound itineraries, featuring new mid-week departures.

Gulf of Alaska cruises can be combined with one of 22 different land tour options for a complete land/sea cruisetour that includes both of Alaska's most sought-after destinations on virtually every departure - Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park - plus the company's exclusive Direct to the Wilderness rail service to/from Whittier, that gives travelers more time to explore the state's dramatic interior. Princess' 2007 Gulf of Alaska season features a record 78 calls in Glacier Bay, and Princess ships will carry more passengers to this spectacle of ice than any other cruise line.

"We're offering more choice in Alaska than ever before," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "No other line offers such a wide choice of itineraries, departure dates and ship size. And with unique programs such as our Direct to the Wilderness rail, we offer passengers the best way to see the most of Alaska in one visit."

Gulf of Alaska

The 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will be deployed on 35 voyages that depart on Saturdays from Vancouver or Whittier and feature calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord. In addition, the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess will offer 36 departures of the same itinerary, sailing on Mondays.

For the first time, Princess will offer Wednesday departures across the Gulf. The 670-passenger Pacific Princess will offer 14 sailings with port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and College Fjord on southbound routes. On northbound sailings, the passengers will enjoy a new itinerary calling at the same ports and featuring three spectacular glacier viewing opportunities -- cruising through Tracy Arm Fjord, Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord.

Alaska Cruisetours

Gulf of Alaska passengers can choose from a variety of three- to nine-night land packages to create a comprehensive 10- to 16-night land/sea vacation in the heart of "The Great Land." Two popular deluxe escorted tours will feature additional capacity in 2007 due to customer demand.

All Princess Alaska tours offer at least two nights at either of the two Denali-area Princess wilderness lodges, ensuring that travelers enjoy more time among the wilderness and wildlife they came to see. Passengers can travel directly to their Princess lodge from the ship with Princess' exclusive Direct to the Wilderness rail service. This unique service features trains waiting right at the Whittier cruise ship dock to offer passengers the only same-day luxury rail service between the ship and Denali Park.

Princess Rail Cars Cross Hurricane Gulch

 At 265 feet, the highest bridge on the Alaska Railroad

Photo Courtesy of Princess Cruises
 

Princess' Alaska cruisetours include accommodation at the line's five exclusive wilderness lodges, with scenic riverside settings in some of the "Great Land's" most desirable locations. The recently expanded Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge house Denali-area visitors, while the company's Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge are set, respectively, among the dramatic beauty of the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge also offers quality accommodations in the heart of Alaska's interior with views of the Chena River.

Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruisetours for 2007 are available for reservations on May 6, 2006, with special early-booking fares beginning at $649 for a seven-day voyage, and $1,399 for cruisetours.