Despite some issues and glitches along the way, we had a wonderful experience. Our group consisted of 9 Family and friends (2 children and 7 adults)who ranged in age from 9 to 59....We also had 2 balcony suites and 2 inside cabins. Our trip began with a very long flight into Anchorage and we were met at the airport by a Princess Rep. Because of such a late arrival, which was not planned (notorious flight delays and plane problems) we were unable to do much touring or site seeing in Anchorage. We did not purchase the land portion of the princess cruise package because of the length of the entire trip. The adults in our group are all professionals and working, so the "extra" land days were not convenient for us. Hopefully we will do that at another juncture. In talking with others on the ship who had been on the "land" portion of the trip, we made the right decision.

Our trip from Anchorage to Whittier was aboard a train and it was very enjoyable. It was not crowded and we could move about very easily, constantly looking for wildlife along the tracks. We spotted several Moose crossings. the rail transfer to the ship was part of the "Hotel Captain Cook & Rail" package. I found it to be a bit expensive, but considering it was rather effortless in the transfer for all of us, I guess you get what you paid for. When we departed the Hotel Captain Cook, the lobby was full of confused and anxious cruise passengers, not really sure who to look for or where to go next. Luckily, our experience was organized and went very smoothly. Upon arriving in Whittier, we off-loaded the train and walked almost immediately into a "check-in" line. There were no lines since our train group was the first to arrive, and the walk through Security and on to the boat took less than 30 minutes in total. Later in the afternoon we overheard other passengers talking about the long check-in lines and subsequent long waits to get through security. So in essence, the higher priced "Hotel/Rail" package was worth it.....enjoyable train ride and early boarding. We were in our staterooms by 12:45 p.m. and at 7:00 we witnessed some passengers still boarding.

The food was "ok" for the most part. Nothing spectacular, with the exception of the Sterling Steak House and any and all of the desserts. The breakfast buffet was ok, but there is not really a great way to jazz up breakfast for the masses. The fruit was great! It was consistent and always fresh. We are "southerners" and we like our "down home" breakfasts...and the omelets were made to order and very good. Lunch was a challenge most days. The International Dining Room was open at lunch for everyone, including those who had selected "Anytime Dining"(which meant us). The menu selection was ok, and the hamburger was very good, but ordering a hamburger on a cruise just doesn't seem right. The evening meals were again...ok. There was a "theme" each evening, and the menu was basically the same in each dining room. The most outstanding meal, outside of the Sterling Steak House, would have to have been the Italian Night in the Vavalde Dining Room. The Waitstaff in that room is EXCEPTIONAL. There were some attitude issues with the waitstaff in the Savoy Dining Room and I would not recommended dining there. The Santa Fe was very nice and cordial, but the staff in the Vavalde went beyond what was required to make you feel welcomed and happy. We did not eat in the Pacific Moon, as it was also criticized for waitstaff problems. There are several short order areas around the ship and our kids loved the pizza and ice cream. Read more