SANTA CLARITA — The countdown is on for the official start of Princess Cruises’ 2023 cruise and cruisetour season in Alaska, which this year kicks off on April 29. 

The cruise line has announced that it will be sailing seven ships throughout The Great Land, including its newest ship Discovery Princess along with Royal Princess, Ruby Princess, Majestic Princess, Grand Princess, Crown Princess and Sapphire Princess, with 14 cruise itineraries and 25 land-sea vacations. 

Guests can enjoy cruises from 7-11 days departing from San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Anchorage (Whittier), as well as cruisetours that take them 500 miles into the heart of Alaska, where they can then transfer from ship to train to Denali, all in one day.

Wild for Alaska Seafood

Highlights of the Alaska season include: the following

• Every cruise features at least one glacier-viewing experience – Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Hubbard Glacier, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier or Tracy Arm Fjord. Princess takes more guests to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line.
• Cruises feature the marquee ports of Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway with a “More Ashore” late-night call in Juneau on all northbound Voyage of the Glaciers and seven-day Inside Passage voyages.
• Guests can choose from more than 150 shore excursions, including a lumberjack show, dog sledding on a glacier, the historic White Pass Scenic Railway, flightseeing adventures and wildlife viewing. Exclusive to Princess, ‘Cook My Catch’ offers guests the chance to reel in a fish during a fishing excursion and have chefs cook it for their dinner that night.
• Back by popular demand, the 17-night Princess Connoisseur Cruisetour features 10 nights on land that includes two nights at each of the five Princess Wilderness Lodges and visits five national parks.
• The cruise line’s Direct-to-the Wilderness rail service takes guests from the ship to the Denali-based wilderness lodges for more time to explore the interior of this vast state.
• Every cruisetour itinerary includes Denali National Park, a picturesque six million acres, home to North America’s tallest peak.

New for 2023 is an expanded ‘Wild for Alaska Seafood’ menu that can be enjoyed by all guests sailing with Princess in Alaska this season, as well as a new Garden-to-Table menu for cruisetour guests staying at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Also being introduced this season is an extensive beverage program featuring coffee and hot chocolate-based creations, themed frozen drinks, Alaska wines and flights of Alaska beer, Alaska cocktails, Bloody Marys or Mimosas.

Introduced in 2022, the ‘Wild for Alaska Seafood’ menu was launched in partnership with Pacific Seafood, Alaska Seafood and Alaska Leader Seafood, all of which are committed to environmentally-responsible practices. The program includes a variety of offerings this year, including:

• Keep warm with coffee and hot chocolate-based beverages such as the “Spiced Rum Hot Chocolate,” “Gingerbread Breakfast,” “White Glacier and more.”
• Learn about Alaska beers through hosted tastings, or order beer flights at any point during the cruise.
• Indulge in themed frozen drinks such as the “Ketchikan Strawberry Shortcake,” “Alaskan Polar Bear” and “Juneau Goldbelt Tram.”
• Enjoy flights of Alaska cocktails, including a sampling of beverages made from spirits produced in Alaska.
• Sample various Mimosas or Bloody Marys with tasting flights and on certain days, enjoy a Bloody Mary bar near the main pool.
• Take part in the Alaska Wine Experience that offers the chance to try a diverse selection of wines paired with Alaska salmon.

“Welcoming guests at the start of the Alaska season is always one of the most highly anticipated events of the year because we know they are going to have one of the most memorable travel experiences,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “Each season, we’re passionate about enhancing our programs to offer one of the most destination-focused programs available and for 2023, we’ve crafted some amazing Wild for Alaska Seafood dishes that will leave guests dreaming of coming back.”

For more information go to www.princess.com.