'Why Alaska should be on everyone's bucket-list'

Humpback whale breaching in Alaska's stunning wilderness.

Humpback whale breaching in Alaska's stunning wilderness.

Princess passenger and avid cruise traveler Roger Halfpenny shares his experience of incredible Alaska – and explains why he thinks it's a must-visit for everyone.

By Roger Halfpenny
Updated July 2020

Tip: Do as many excursions as possible

Denali Wilderness Lodge, Alaska, with stunning river and mountain views.
Denali Wilderness Lodge in Alaska features stunning river and mountain views.

Our holiday to Alaska with Princess was incredible. It included a seven-day cruise on the Inside Passage plus seven days on land staying in Princess Wilderness lodges. I cannot recommend a trip to Alaska with Princess highly enough – it should be on everyone’s bucket list. There were so many highlights so I can't say it enough: do as many excursions as possible. They ensure you see the best of the area and don’t miss anything.

Experience the thrill of the Princess Lumberjack Show entertainment option.
Experience the thrill of the Princess Lumberjack Show entertainment option.

Some of our favorites include the Princess excursion to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan (above). The show was amazing, and we couldn’t believe what the lumberjacks were doing – racing up and down poles, using chainsaws, rolling across logs on the water – all in the rain. In Juneau, we went whale watching and were lucky enough to encounter an entire family of such amazing creatures. It was such a thrill. One day, we took a serene river tour in a four-man dingy and the next day, we set off with another couple looking for wildlife – and spotted an Eagle in a tree not far from us.

Tip: Get out of your comfort zone

Alaskan moose in Denali National Park, Princess Cruises destination.
Alaskan moose roam free in Denali National Park, a Princess Cruises destination.

From our Denali Wilderness Lodge, we opted for a 5 am drive through Denali National Park – it might sound crazy to go on a tour at that time but we saw incredible wildlife like moose up close, things that those who went on later tours in the day did not manage to see.

Another incredible experience we had was a helicopter and husky ride on a glacier. The helicopter ride itself was a thrill, and when we got to the top of the summit, the barking from the Huskies was incredibly loud – they were so excited to see us approach as they knew that meant they were going for a run. The sled included nine dogs (a leader and four pairs behind) with three passengers: two sitting and one standing in the back to steer. All three of us got a chance to steer on a rotation system. We were shown how to stand, how to hold on and how to brake. And the two most important things were to hold on when the instructor waved to go – and to hold on tight. The Huskies took off with such power and, as we were told by our instructor, if you don’t hold on you will go out the back door – and she wasn’t wrong. Exploring the landscape at that speed and from that perspective was incredible. It truly was one of the greatest experiences of my life – one I will never forget.

About the author

Roger Halfpenny, Alaska naturalist and expert smiling at the camera with two thumbs up.
Roger Halfpenny, Alaska naturalist and expert.

Roger Halfpenny

There are certain places that leave a mark on us. Avid cruiser Roger Halfpenny (left) and his wife Christine – from Sutton Coldfield in the Midlands – have been on more than 30 cruises all over the world, but Alaska stands out as a must-see for them. After going on a Princess cruise and land tour in Alaska, Roger was hooked and recommended the destination to everyone. Here, he shares his impressions of the majestic state, as well as a few of his must-dos, based on his firsthand experience of the area.

Star Princess ship sailing by Dewas glacier in Alaska.

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