They really need to spend way more time in Victoria so people can experience Butchart Gardens, High Tea at the Empress Hotel and tour Craigdarroch Castle!
You can only pack so much into a 7 day trip. Sure Victoria is a beautiful city, Butchart Gardens are extensive and magnificent, but the stop is just to satisfy the requirements of the ridiculous and pointless Jones Act.
High tea at Empress Hotel 7:44 7:44 walk the harbor, 7:03 followed by Buchart--- horse cart ride then Buchart Gardens together til late. Fireworks-- orhan music from nearby balconies. Fabulous start.
We've been to Alaska twice on Holland America. I grew up in Saskatchewan (live in Vancouver BC now), and the cold, clean air reminded me of my childhood! We were surprised how the landscape was very much like Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Everyone should have a wonderful time!
❤ Alaska remains my favorite cruise. Year 2000 and we were on a Princess ship the forst week of July. The sum never sets, Don. It just hovers above the horizon. Sitka was charming and made me want to move to Alaska. There was a glacier we walked on after a long hike. It was massive. I wish I remember the name. My mom returned 10 years later and the glacier was mostly gone. Thats when she believed in climate change.
Flying around July 4th might be pricey. And loved Victoria last year. Too bad your group cruise dsnt offer the day in Victoria- so worth it! But Glacier Bay is awesome & Im sure you all will have a great cruise.
We just returned on JUNE 1, 2024, on the Enchanted Princess. We had a lovely time.On May 31, we 2 of our 4 group began feeling I'll. On the 1st, we went to Urgent Care with no result. The next day, Urgent Care again was sent to the hospital.After CT, I was told I have multifocal pneumonia. The bloodwork showed the flu and Co I'd. The other 3 have been diagnosed with Covid. We spent many hours on the casino with way too much smoke circulating. We are guilty of looking for fun on the cruise. I believe the final responsibility is on Princess. Most land casinos no longer allow smoking as it carries diseases. You are a great voice in the cruising community. Please speak out to protect us cruisers.
Glacier Bay Gorgeous! I wouldn’t go to Alaska without seeing it! Did 7 day cruise then 5 day land w Princess. Helicopter landing on glacier fav, White Pass, plane ride to see Denali etc the best!!!
It’s an open market if you think your TA can do better then go with them Don’s group cruises sell out so why would he even consider lowering his prices or better yet you set one up and can charge what ever you choose
@@leslie49 I have done Alaska before in the same week of JULY and prices not that bad. sometimes you book things early enough you can get a pretty good deal.
We are going to be on the repossession cruise from LA on 5/7/25. Six nights 3 ports on the Royal Princess. Love the savings and only having to fly one way.
On Saturday we are on the Royal Princess for 14 days to Alaska. We leave in 4 days for Vancouver. Our first Princess cruise and our first time to Alaska. Stopping at a port at 9pm the night before disembarking seems like a huge waste.
Wish we could make this one. We have done Alaska 2 times and as you said it is beautiful, God's country. We are on the Majestic Junruie 2025 for 20 days in the Mediterasnean. Maybe next time for your group cruise. We enjoy your channel and listen every day and not far from you we live in Arnprior. Hopefully we will meet one day. Keep up the good work.
Don We are looking forward to going on alaska cruise in July 5 2025 this will be our first group cruise and to meet you we all ready send you our information to you Maybe Tony will go And I can meet him to love both your channel
The cruise line pays for the port and the only reason they stop there is to make it an " international cruise" which keeps them from having to abide by all US rules and wage requirements for the crew! Without the Canada stop it would be a domestic USA cruise .which as I mentioned not advantageous to the cruise lines! They must get in there no matter the time or how short the stay!
If they had ships there for 8 hours they could not get as many in..... The port taxes are the same if they stop for 2 hours or 8.... With having the short slots in the eve they get more taxes.
Wish I could do Alaska again but can not for health reasons! Last went to Alaska back in 82 on the original Island Princess. It was an Alaska repositioning cruise from Vancouver - Ketchikan - Juneau - Skagway - Glacier Bay - Sitka - Vancouver - Seattle - San Francisco - Los Angeles. I was also booked on one out of San Francisco on the original Royal Princess in 86 after my Mediterranean Mid East cruise on that ship was cancelled (Achilles Laurro Incident) but I ended up having to cancel that as well. Never got another chance which I always regretted!
Loved our cruise to Alaska in 2018 & would like to join you, But traveling over the 4th of July is a big No No for many reasons. Also the stop in Victoria is just a legality & a waste of time & my money. Will wait for the next one.
don, I checked the Princess website and could not find this particular cruise. Can you please put a link in your comments? I am going to take my first cruise and would like to do it with a group. Yours sounds like a great way to start!
On the Princess website: 1. Plan a cruise (across the top of the website) 2. Find cruises from the Plan a Cruise dropdown menu 3. Select the following filters: a. Click on the picture of Alaska b. Date and Length: 6 to 8 day, and July 2025 c. Start/End Port: Seattle, Washington d. Ship: Royal Princess e. Click on "View 1 Results" shown below "Your Selections"
We are doing that ourselves in a couple of weeks! Not through Princess, but basically the same thing. Flying into Fairbanks, visiting North Pole, riding the train through Denali down to Anchorage, and then to Whittier the next day. Boarding the Grand Princess to Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Vancouver. We are really looking forward to it!
@@trbstang In September we're doing the Grand Princess southbound after having taken the Koningsdam northbound and doing the land portion through the gold country to Fairbanks. We've previously done the Whittier to Fairbanks and the reverse in previous years and it's wonderfrul.
Trying to decide if I want to save up for an Alaska cruise or a land vacation to the UK. It will take me about 3 years, so I have a little time to decide.
Hi Don, Chris and Val from Melbourne, Australia. In response to your vlog about P&O Australia, we have booked a cruise 11th June, 2025 . We have received an e-mail from P&O Australia confirming our cruise will be unimpacted by the merge with Carnival. The ships will be renamed. "Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will be taken out of service for 2 weeks in March 2025 to undergo technology and system upgrades, and when they return they will be rebranded and sail as part of the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet. Post -Intergration, the Carnival year round fleet in Australia will include Carnival Splendor, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, as well as Carnival Luminosa which will sail from Brisbane seasonally, all the ships will feature Carnivals popular Hub App onboard technology to enhance the cruise experience, and POA guests will be invited to participate in the Carnival Loyalty Programme, among other benefits. Looking forward to your response. Chris and Val.
Don always princess and why Alaska Boring” snow , ice, cold, and fish, go on other ships there are so many wonderful ships out there you could have a great time on show people a variety of ships not always Princess you get all the perks and fame from those ships and you get to play your game again ! I would never go to Alaska when there are nice warm places to go!
Iv done Alaska, it was nice, no regrets, really enjoyed the cruise, but I don't feel it's worth the hype, and it's definitely NOT an itinerary I would repeat. We went during the mudnight sun and that was probably the best oart of the cruise. I live in British Columbia and I see all these things and MORE daily. The big difference being the culture and lifestyle, and I like them both equally but fir different reasons.
Don first of all the Seahawks don’t play in July and second it’s the holiday where air fares are very high but of course you don’t care because you have plenty of money . How many times are you going to a cold , rainy, foggy destination!
They really need to spend way more time in Victoria so people can experience Butchart Gardens, High Tea at the Empress Hotel and tour Craigdarroch Castle!
You can only pack so much into a 7 day trip. Sure Victoria is a beautiful city, Butchart Gardens are extensive and magnificent, but the stop is just to satisfy the requirements of the ridiculous and pointless Jones Act.
High tea at Empress Hotel 7:44 7:44 walk the harbor, 7:03 followed by Buchart--- horse cart ride then Buchart Gardens together til late. Fireworks-- orhan music from nearby balconies.
Fabulous start.
Alaska is definitely a bucket list cruise for me.
We are still waiting to hear from Don and team too! My husband and I are still interested in going.
We've been to Alaska twice on Holland America. I grew up in Saskatchewan (live in Vancouver BC now), and the cold, clean air reminded me of my childhood! We were surprised how the landscape was very much like Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Everyone should have a wonderful time!
Do a group cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship, and I might seriously think about it.
I found it. I will email you on Monday!!
❤ Alaska remains my favorite cruise. Year 2000 and we were on a Princess ship the forst week of July. The sum never sets, Don. It just hovers above the horizon. Sitka was charming and made me want to move to Alaska. There was a glacier we walked on after a long hike. It was massive. I wish I remember the name. My mom returned 10 years later and the glacier was mostly gone. Thats when she believed in climate change.
Umm, the Seahawks won't be playing in July. The Mariners may be home, though
Was going to say this 🤣🤣🤣
Perhaps he meant the actual birds; the osprey.
Love the Royal Princess. I was on her for a Caribbean cruise out of Fort Lauderdale a bunch of years ago. Beautiful ship!
Yes sound like a fun cruise all ways wanted to do one of your Group cruises and I Love to do Alaska again. Will be in touch, THANK YOU.
Flying around July 4th might be pricey. And loved Victoria last year. Too bad your group cruise dsnt offer the day in Victoria- so worth it! But Glacier Bay is awesome & Im sure you all will have a great cruise.
We will warm the ship for you as we will be on Royal Princess for our second Alaska cruise May 31, 2025, for my husband’s birthday.
Oh my goodness, that's exactly the itinerary that I want to experience!
July 5 th, that’s a holiday weekend for many people , flights may be really crazy
We just returned on JUNE 1, 2024, on the Enchanted Princess. We had a lovely time.On May 31, we 2 of our 4 group began feeling I'll. On the 1st, we went to Urgent Care with no result. The next day, Urgent Care again was sent to the hospital.After CT, I was told I have multifocal pneumonia. The bloodwork showed the flu and Co I'd. The other 3 have been diagnosed with Covid. We spent many hours on the casino with way too much smoke circulating. We are guilty of looking for fun on the cruise.
I believe the final responsibility is on Princess. Most land casinos no longer allow smoking as it carries diseases. You are a great voice in the cruising community. Please speak out to protect us cruisers.
Cigarette smoke doesn't carry disease. It will cause worsening of symptoms of lung disease and can cause cancer
Thank you for sharing this important story! Don sugar coats this stuff.
Don't go in the casino and there won't be smoke? Or go with a different cruise line that doesn't allow indoor smoking?
Glacier Bay Gorgeous! I wouldn’t go to Alaska without seeing it!
Did 7 day cruise then 5 day land w Princess. Helicopter landing on glacier fav, White Pass, plane ride to see Denali etc the best!!!
Been there twice and my favorite cruise
Going to Alaska is on my bucket list, maybe someday.
Sounds amazing. I will have to think about it. Thanks.
Hey i'm in that group photo up top doing Jazz hands for Tony and might be in the next one too. Had a Great time
Maybe it's different in Canada, but in the U.S., most TA's offer pricing below brochure rates. You need to work on your pricing!
Don is a schill for the cruise companies….this price reflects why he is able to be on a cruise every three weeks.
It’s an open market if you think your TA can do better then go with them Don’s group cruises sell out so why would he even consider lowering his prices or better yet you set one up and can charge what ever you choose
Sounds like a great idea, will try and talk the wife into it ⚓️
This sounds like a great cruise. We've cruised Alaska 3 times. It's our favorite
That was a huge group looks like everyone had a blast.
It was amazing
Won’t flights and hotels cost even more because it’s right around the American holiday of Independence Day?
Wish I could go. I’m doing my first cruise ever to Norway in May 2, 2025. But I’ll keep in mind all the ports on this cruise. Sounds awesome.
Sounds like my wife and I will have to do this group cruise Don!!
What a wonderful groups cruise. There will be plenty of things for people to do.
Skagway...rent a car and take the beautiful drive to Whitehorse. Fantastic!
Love Alaska!!! So much to do there, and such stunning scenery!!! Your group cruise sounds like a great trip🎉
The Royal Princess is my favorite ship! Jus took her Yokohama to Anchorage north Pacific crossing...it snowed of the pool deck!!!
That’s a great experience!!!
An evening ride in Victoria on the Horse Drawn Carriages is great! The Parliament Building has a great lighting display.
Going to try to join this group cruise
July 5th , perfect timing!!! Would love to go to Alaska next summer!!!
If you don’t mind paying extra for flights and hotels because it’s around the American holiday, Independence Day.
@@leslie49 I have done Alaska before in the same week of JULY and prices not that bad. sometimes you book things early enough you can get a pretty good deal.
Sounds exciting. I am already booked for Alaska in May 2025
We just got back from alaska on the spirit. We saw tons of whales and mendenhall falls was awesome.
The cruise sounds awesome!
I love the royal princess! beautiful ship! Love princess cruises
We already booked our Alaskan cruise next year.
Loved the Deadliest Catch Ballard Boat tour
Ship looks beautiful
I think that it is great that you are going back to Alaska on a group cruise
We are going to be on the repossession cruise from LA on 5/7/25. Six nights 3 ports on the Royal Princess. Love the savings and only having to fly one way.
Alaska is amazing and beautiful. 💕
On Saturday we are on the Royal Princess for 14 days to Alaska. We leave in 4 days for Vancouver. Our first Princess cruise and our first time to Alaska. Stopping at a port at 9pm the night before disembarking seems like a huge waste.
In Ketchikan do a flightseeing tour of the Misty Fjords. It is fantastic! I’ve done it twice.
Love the lenghty stops and great great time of year.
Majestic princess ❤️
Going on the Ruby to Alaska next year!
Wow the cruise group looks awesome 🎉
Wish we could make this one. We have done Alaska 2 times and as you said it is beautiful, God's country. We are on the Majestic Junruie 2025 for 20 days in the Mediterasnean. Maybe next time for your group cruise. We enjoy your channel and listen every day and not far from you we live in Arnprior. Hopefully we will meet one day. Keep up the good work.
Sounds nice but wish you would do an Alaska group cruise out of Vancouver; It is easy to fly into as well and a beautiful port to sail from.
Don
We are looking forward to going on alaska cruise in July
5 2025 this will be our first group cruise and to meet you we all ready send you our information to you
Maybe Tony will go
And I can meet him to love both your channel
That’s a shame that the cruise doesn’t spend more time in Victoria. It is such a beautiful place, especially Butchart Gardens.
Waiting for group European cruise❤
Just FYI, you can't catch a Seahawks game in July. However, Seattle does have an amazing 4th of July fireworks show....
Mendenhall Glacier has a nice canoe trip up to near the glacier then a snack on the bank.
Wow wished I knew sooner, already booked May 2025 on Konningsdam.
Dang it! We are already booked for Alaska in June 2025. One of these times we will be able to make one of your group cruises!!!
If I ran Victoria, I would refuse ships that didn’t arrive at noon or before and stay for 8 hours
The cruise line pays for the port and the only reason they stop there is to make it an " international cruise" which keeps them from having to abide by all US rules and wage requirements for the crew!
Without the Canada stop it would be a domestic USA cruise .which as I mentioned not advantageous to the cruise lines!
They must get in there no matter the time or how short the stay!
If they had ships there for 8 hours they could not get as many in..... The port taxes are the same if they stop for 2 hours or 8.... With having the short slots in the eve they get more taxes.
I am looking forward to doing an Alaska cruise some day, but am nervous that towns are reducing cruise-based tourism.
Wish I could do Alaska again but can not for health reasons! Last went to Alaska back in 82 on the original Island Princess. It was an Alaska repositioning cruise from Vancouver - Ketchikan - Juneau - Skagway - Glacier Bay - Sitka - Vancouver - Seattle - San Francisco - Los Angeles. I was also booked on one out of San Francisco on the original Royal Princess in 86 after my Mediterranean Mid East cruise on that ship was cancelled (Achilles Laurro Incident) but I ended up having to cancel that as well. Never got another chance which I always regretted!
That sounds like an amazing cruise.
Loved our cruise to Alaska in 2018 & would like to join you, But traveling over the 4th of July is a big No No for many reasons. Also the stop in Victoria is just a legality & a waste of time & my money. Will wait for the next one.
Always great info
We would love to go with you. Thinking about it
don, I checked the Princess website and could not find this particular cruise. Can you please put a link in your comments? I am going to take my first cruise and would like to do it with a group. Yours sounds like a great way to start!
On the Princess website:
1. Plan a cruise (across the top of the website)
2. Find cruises from the Plan a Cruise dropdown menu
3. Select the following filters:
a. Click on the picture of Alaska
b. Date and Length: 6 to 8 day, and July 2025
c. Start/End Port: Seattle, Washington
d. Ship: Royal Princess
e. Click on "View 1 Results" shown below "Your Selections"
Keep up the good work!
Do you ever do the Princess Land and Sea tour that starts in Fairbanks, then into Denali and then by glass top train to the ship in Whittier?
We are doing that ourselves in a couple of weeks! Not through Princess, but basically the same thing. Flying into Fairbanks, visiting North Pole, riding the train through Denali down to Anchorage, and then to Whittier the next day. Boarding the Grand Princess to Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Vancouver. We are really looking forward to it!
@@trbstang In September we're doing the Grand Princess southbound after having taken the Koningsdam northbound and doing the land portion through the gold country to Fairbanks. We've previously done the Whittier to Fairbanks and the reverse in previous years and it's wonderfrul.
Did you sending out emai to people who want to alaska with your group cant wait to meet you we sent our email last sunday😊😊
You may have done this already, have you thought of a land tour/cruise in Alaska?
Trying to decide if I want to save up for an Alaska cruise or a land vacation to the UK. It will take me about 3 years, so I have a little time to decide.
I’d definitely do Alaska, uk can be done at anytime (we’re still waiting on summer weather here in uk in June)
Fourth of July, Independence day week, in US , will be rough traveling and expensive!
SEA to SEA is easy travel!!
Decided not to go...hope those that do enjoy the ' party ' and safe travels to all...
This is HUGE!
I just got back from Alaska and would go back in a minute
Hopefully your group will not come down with Covid like the last cruise.
Sure wished I could collect the money on time. That would be so wonderful
Hi Don,
Chris and Val from Melbourne, Australia. In response to your vlog about P&O Australia, we have booked a cruise 11th June, 2025 . We have received an e-mail from P&O Australia confirming our cruise will be unimpacted by the merge with Carnival. The ships will be renamed.
"Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will be taken out of service for 2 weeks in March 2025 to undergo technology and system upgrades, and when they return they will be rebranded and sail as part of the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet. Post -Intergration, the Carnival year round fleet in Australia will include Carnival Splendor, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, as well as Carnival Luminosa which will sail from Brisbane seasonally, all the ships will feature Carnivals popular Hub App onboard technology to enhance the cruise experience, and POA guests will be invited to participate in the Carnival Loyalty Programme, among other benefits.
Looking forward to your response.
Chris and Val.
I would love to go. I'll check it out
One of these days I will be able to take him to Alaska, cruise or a group cruise with you.
How's the weather in Alaska in July?
I can't wait until some of these new Alaska ports are offered more often.
Don always princess and why Alaska Boring” snow , ice, cold, and fish, go on other ships there are so many wonderful ships out there you could have a great time on show people a variety of ships not always Princess you get all the perks and fame from those ships and you get to play your game again ! I would never go to Alaska when there are nice warm places to go!
Wonderful!!
Can we do all our booking etc from here ( Australia) and still be part of your group...thanks...
You need at least a 10 day... 7 days not long enough...
Sounds wonderful. Wish I could make it work for us.
would this trip be go for someone who uses a scooter to get around ? can walk short distances
Will adding flights be available
Iv done Alaska, it was nice, no regrets, really enjoyed the cruise, but I don't feel it's worth the hype, and it's definitely NOT an itinerary I would repeat. We went during the mudnight sun and that was probably the best oart of the cruise. I live in British Columbia and I see all these things and MORE daily. The big difference being the culture and lifestyle, and I like them both equally but fir different reasons.
Don first of all the Seahawks don’t play in July and second it’s the holiday where air fares are very high but of course you don’t care because you have plenty of money . How many times are you going to a cold , rainy, foggy destination!
sounds like a fun trip
sounds great. maybe someday when we retire from work in 30+ years
Did the Deadliest catch last year. It was great!!
Sounds like fun
I would love to go to Alaska.
It sounds nice but not on Princess. Plus being near an American holiday is a double no.
Are you till sending email about the cruise to alaska we send you all the information that you want that was two week ago Peggy and ron finger
Sounds great but I’m not a cold person so if it’s cold out I’m having a problem.