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Why Go?
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 Mid-sized ship summers in Alaska, winters in Central America
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Golf opportunities onboard and ashore
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Swim-against-the-current pool with retractable glass dome
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Educational lectures pegged to region
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Two alternative restaurants: Sabatini's and Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse
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Itineraries and Ports of Call: Alaska • Cruise to Nowhere • Panama Canal & Central America
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Island Princess Review
After an intense three-day pre-cruise land tour in Alaska that included a plane, a train and a handful of motorcoaches, Island Princess looked like eye candy when we first spied her at the cruise terminal in Whittier.
Here was our refuge, our refueling station. We had cruised with Princess once before -- on Coral Princess, Island Princess's sister ship (her twin sister, as it turns out). The two ships are identical -- right down to the restaurants, the entertainment venues, the layout and decor. Immediately, we felt at home.
That's not to say Island Princess doesn't deliver some pleasant surprises. The public space is sleek, and even though she launched in 2003, there's no hint of wear and tear. Service was very good, particularly in the dining room. And the entertainment was top rate. But the thing that really stood out during our seven-night cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage was the quality of life onboard. Island Princess does a remarkable job of creating a quintessential Alaska experience that's highlighted by a lecture series featuring a state naturalist, National Park Service "ranger talks" and a presentation by the first woman to win the Iditarod. There's even a Princess travel guide and map that allow passengers to detect their navigational positions while referencing tales, points of interest and photos of the route.
Editor's note: During Island Princess' Central America season, the educational focus shifts to the Panama Canal.
And what's not to love about the private Alaskan Balcony Brunch, which includes Alaskan king crab quiche, smoked Copper River salmon, fresh fruit, homemade pastries and chilled champagne? Or waiters distributing hot toddies on deck? Or, of all things, a reindeer chili and rockfish chowder cook-off? And where better to enjoy Baked Alaska than in Alaska?
Read Complete Island Princess Review
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Princess Ships: Caribbean Princess • Coral Princess • Crown Princess • Dawn Princess • Diamond Princess • Emerald Princess • Golden Princess • Grand Princess • Island Princess • Ocean Princess • Pacific Princess • Royal Princess • Ruby Princess • Sapphire Princess • Sea Princess • Star Princess • Sun Princess
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