Princess and Holland-America port talks?

Our first cruise to Alaska was on Princess several years ago and as I remember they did the same as Royal and Celebrity, lots of talk about shopping. I do know from our one cruise on Holland that they do pass out more written information about the ports than other cruise lines. But our Holland cruise was in the Caribbean.

In truth I rarely pay much attention to those talks and do my research about ports and what to see right online (just do a Google search for each port and look for travel information). Or, I go to cruise critic (www.cruisecritic.com) and look at the information they have posted about ports. You can also visit our Facebook page for photos of Alaska ports: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.37283811...

We just did a cruise-tour of Alaska in June 2012 and I used these web sites as resources; more information than the cruise lines will give you and not slanted to places where they get a cut of the take from ship's passengers.

Juneau Alaska: http://www.traveljuneau.com/

Ketchikan: http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/

Anchorage: http://www.anchorage.net/

Sitka: http://www.sitka.org/

Skagway: http://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Communiti...

Denali: http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

Talkeetna: http://www.alaskatravel.com/talkeetna/?gclid=CNLK2...

I have cruised with Holland, Norwegian & Princess & do cruise tours 4 times ayear to Alaska. I have found if you just type in each port of call it will cover more than the port talks. They also included weather.

As for best time of year that will depend on you. May & Sept. have the lowest fares. Also less children.

I prefer May. Still see all the Wildlife, Snow on the Mountains etc. It has been 45 degrees in Ketchikan & 8 days later 80 in Fairbanks.

You can also ask the cruise line to send you an excursion booklet which allow you to see what is a choice you will not have to make when you book.

Enjoy.

3 HAL cruises to Alaska*. The port (and history, etc) talks can be hit or miss, but some were very good (like when they bring on a Native American from the area, or a wilderness ranger).

Port and local area (what to do, etc) info is seen more and more on the ship's TV in your room.

Also pick your cruise on the path to and from Alaska and the ports (and glaciers!) you want. {Inside Passage - which means between Vancouver Island and the mainland, has the smoothest waters, scenery on both sides, and a better chance to see whales; but our cruise that included Sitka went on the ocean side of Vancouver Island.}

You have your choice of port of departure (Vancouver, B.C. Canada or Seattle, Washington, USA) and that in part determines the ship's course north and back.

* while all have some ports in common, each has some stuff unique in its itinerary.

Bon voyage !

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It really depends on who is giving the talk and what they enjoy. If you get someone into history, they will talk more about that. If the person is into shopping, that's what they will focus on. Get a good guide book for best information about ports.

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if you want local lore and history go with a SMALL cruise line/ship.. and a river cruise is even better.