You were very lucky to see those sights!! 1. Note: This does not include the Denali National Park entrance fee which is $15 USD. They make all the same bathroom and wildlife-viewing stops as a tour bus. . Personally, I agree with you 100% - we have never had any interest in doing any of the tour buses. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Dates: May 15 - September 14, 2023. Spend time on a short hike, visiting with a National Park Service Ranger, or exploring the exhibits during your stay. Thank you for this information. Often sporting a whale-patterned necktie, Rob Raincock, the ship's naturalist, was arguably one of the ships most recognizable and appreciated crew members during our sailing. Aramark 2023 Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture3000 C St, STE 101Anchorage, Alaska 99503. The park offers excellent chances for seeing wildlife, including moose, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112686850', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruises came to Alaska, it really opened up Alaska to this group of tourists, elders that are no longer active adventurers, and theyre ok to pay more, and be more comfortable. Due to Park Service regulations, school buses are used. The MedallionClass ships use touchless technologies in the form of a small, quarter-sized customizable Medallion and an app to enhance and personalize individual experiences and health protocols. AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS WITHOUT A PARK TOUR: Glimpse the epic sweep of Denali National Park on this guided tour that travels 30 miles into Denali National Park and Preserve. Turns out she was friendly and we had a nice time chatting! Travel 63 miles into the park to the Toklat River rest area as it offers a wonderful diversity for visitors. Has anyone done both - compare? I get seasick and would absolutely want to die on a tender ride but I get the Transderm Scop patch (little round band-aid looking thing I wear behind my ear with time release Scopolamine) and I become impervious to seasickness. We did the Connoisseur land tour/cruise combo from Princess back in August. The schedule each day variesdepending on demand, so there is no fixed, daily schedule. Please check your departure time in advance of your tour day. Our cruise holidays are ATOL protected (No. Learn more about entrance fees and passes. If you have the Natural History Tour included in your cruise tour and would like to upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness Tour, please call Princess at 1-800-774-6237 (subject to availability). Discover Kantishnas fascinating history and role in the formation of Interior Alaska. I was right near the front of the line because I prefer a window seat behind the driver the second row back. Due to Park Service regulations, school buses are used. The No.1 place where Britons want to celebrate St Patrick's . This tour offers wonderful diversity for visitors. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge The perfect home base for exploring Denali National Park. By theminnow, January 9, 2019 in Alaska. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is the perfect base camp for exploring Denali National Park.The name ''Denali'' means ''The Great One'' in the native Athabascan language. Wildlife in Denali is very spread out. Learn more about entrance fees and passes. There are plenty of other great views from the road, toothis is just a smattering of good spots! Alaska's arctic tundra is found in Alaska's interior toward its northern or western coast. We are certainly going to the Visitor's center and the wilderness center, but was hoping to do more. Denali National Park is home to many types of wildlife including caribou, moose, wolves, Dall sheep, bald eagles, and the mighty grizzly bears. ALERTS IN EFFECT: Please read for the latest information. The park road isn't paved after mile 15. Alternatively, you may use, Denali National Park and Preserve Hotels and Places to Stay, https://www.reservedenali.com/tours-transits/the-denali-tour-experience/tour-information/, https://www.reservedenali.com/tours-transits/the-denali-tour-experience/#dnht, Denali National Park and Preserve Travel Forum, Denali National Park and Preserve Tourism, Denali National Park and Preserve Vacation Rentals, Denali National Park and Preserve Vacation Packages, Flights to Denali National Park and Preserve, Denali National Park and Preserve Restaurants, Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve, Denali National Park and Preserve Travel Guide. Take home awe-inspiring photographs of Alaska to impress your friends and family in this exclusive, private, small-group photography adventure! At some 24,500 square kilometers (or 6 million acres) including the surrounding preserve, it is the third-largest national park in the United States, after two other Alaska parks: Wrangell-St. Elias and the Gates of the Arctic. These bears are solitary creatures that hunt, fish and forage on their own. Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour, upgrade now? Several interpretive stops enhance the experience, with an hour of time spent exploring off the bus. Descriptions of each tour are below. I've been through some very rough seas and once we went through the edge of a tropical storm where all outer decks were sealed off and many of the "iron stomach" crowd decided to go lie down in their cabins. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge at 3:30 a.m. after receiving a call that the northern lights were dancing across the sky. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Contact the bus company with questions about tour bus schedules. Guests who shop with participating merchants receive a 7% shipboard credit on purchases, which can be used on their current cruise or carried over to future sailings. Let us introduce you to Denali National Park - up close! Call Princess and use the excursion option. Find out about the local native culture and their stories at Primrose Ridge. Bring a camera and binoculars. our group wants to take the train from Telkeetna to Denali. Departure times are staggered and will be assigned in Denali. If you wont have a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The Tundra Wilderness Tour is the premier tour of Denali National Park and Preserve! GUEST UPDATES: Please read for the latest updates on closures impacting our operations. Site content may not be reproduced without express written permission. 907 683-9532 I would not take the NHT since my interests are scenery and wildlife. Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is the perfect base camp for exploring Denali National Park. 2020, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Leave it to Princess to offer excursions for all types of adventurers. With an estimated 30,000 making Alaska their home, bald eagles can be seen year-round. Natural History tour vs Tundra Wilderness tour - Alaska - Cruise Critic Community. Ours was easy TA just canceled the shorter tour and we received the credit when we paid our final payment. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The one that interests me is the 6 day Princess Copper River tour which starts in Anchorage and circles through Denali, Copper River, Valdez to Whittier. AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS WITHOUT A PARK TOUR: Experience the rich diversity of Denali National Park from stunning scenery and abundant wildlife to historical sites and interpretive centers on this popular Natural History Tour. (Theres no firm timeframe yet on when the road will be passable again.) I am going blind and am checking off my bucket list. Bowler Lady, June 26, 2022 in Princess Cruises. The main drawbacks of the TWT (besides not being allowed off to hike like the shuttles do, which isn't a concern of yours) are first: that you can book only AM or PM and don't find out until about 48 hours in advance what starting time you've been assigned. Since unlimited greens fees, golf balls, club rentals and a power golf cart are included, you can relax and take in the . However, if those issues aren't a concern to you, being picked up and dropped off at your hotel is certainly handy. As a solo traveler, no one was sitting beside meat first. Posted. The reason we don't want to do shuttle bus is due to age/mobility. For guests sailing for the first time since the pandemic, consistently masked crew members were a notable change, but otherwise our cruise along Alaskas Inside Passage was reminiscent of life prior to COVID-19. When I took the TWT many years ago as part of a cruise tour, there was a handful of independent travelers waiting to board the bus next to ours. (Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge opened briefly, but was forced to close in June due to staffing shortages. Surprisingly fast, strong and imposing, moose are also well-adapted to the snow with wide feet and warm coats. You'll receive an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate. Thank you so much, Debbie San Diego, CA. Learn more about the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The buses do not have restrooms; however, rest stops are made approximately every 90 minutes. More information to help you plan your day in Denali. Travel to the Murie Cabin near the East Fork River (Mile 43) to experience where Adolf Murie lived while conducting his famous research inside what was then known as Mount McKinley National Park! This extraordinary evening fly-fishing expedition takes you to the area's streams where you will learn the basics of fly-casting while enjoying this tranquil place and the magnificent wilderness views surrounding it. This narrated wilderness hike covers more ground than a walking tour, and offers time to explore the glacier topology, and sub-arctic ecology in depth. Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience rafting on the glacially fed Nenana River. I had steak and lobster for dinner at the Bayou Cafe (Coral Princess). Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction. This comfortable, comprehensive and fully narrated, 6- to 6.5-hour excursion takes you 43 miles into the Park's unspoiled wilderness, for up-close views of Mt. Knowing how helpful everyone is on this forum, I knew I would also get excellent advice here. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Every effort will be made to reserve your tour at the time requested, but please note that due to National Park Service bus limitations, you may be moved to a different time slot. But we didn't do it until we got there. tundra marsh, and permafrost so the ground can be totally frozen in some areas and a crafty fox that enjoys stealing balls. We did the upgrade less than two weeks ago. They live, hunt and raise their pups in small packs, and their howls can often be heard echoing throughout the land. Ive never been on one, but there must be windows to look out, just like on the preferred by many shuttles. I will be interested in how you like the tour after your vacation. It may look silly but I don't have to look at it and it allows me to cruise. Would love any insight you could provide. 5 - 5 1/2 hours, depending on weather and road conditions. #17. Report inappropriate content gdavis1994 Santa Rosa Beach. Play a round of golf in the Midnight Sun, or rise above it on a thrilling flightseeing tour. Hike in the backcountry, hoot and holler at the Music of Denali Dinner Theatre, or visit an Iditarod champion's dog kennel and hold the puppies! DO IT, DO IT, DO IT! Terms of Service apply. Of course, by then, the lightning was behind us. Agents at the Denali Bus Depot can answer any final questions you have about your trip. In the evening, enjoy the "Music of Denali" dinner show.