Princess Denali Lodge and Princess Mt. McKinley Wilderness Lodge -Denali National Park, Alaska - August 2024

It's the first time we took the "land" tour with a cruise line. The three day road trip with Princess took us from Whittier to Denali National Park and back to our final destination, Anchorage. Mary and Kevin left for home when the ship disembarked in Whittier while the six of us continue the adventure in the wild Alaska. Our hotel stays included: Denali Princess Lodge, McKinley Lodge and Captain Cook.

Denali National Park and Preserve: It was a long bus ride from Whittier port to Denali Princess Lodge where we spent the first night.

Scenic drive north from Whittier through Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The other side of tunnel is the Seward Highway. Picture of Portage Glacier and Portage Lake.

Denali National Park.

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge - with Christmas celebration in August.

The main lodge, located only a mile to the entrance to Denali National Park.

Cantwell in the national park.

A short hike in the park.

An early sunset behind our lodge.

On the second day, we took the park bus to go around the loop before leaving Denali Princess Lodge for McKinley Lodge.

Denali NP landscape with its tundra.

Healy - Denali NP

It was raining on and off. The bus stopped for Ptarmigan (quail, Alaska state bird) crossing.


After the rain.

We are rewarded with the clear view of Mount Denali in front of us.

And a moose sighting not too far from the road.

Igloo Hotel, in Big Lake, half way between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Abandoned for more than 40 years.

                                       Alaska Veterans Memorial -  Point up toward Mt. Denali.

Leaving the Denali Lodge, the tour bus took us south toward Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge for our second night. The trip was about two hours and we got to the lodge by mid afternoon. 

Another beautiful Princess lodge situated in Denali State Park.

In front of the lodge.

Enjoying the nice view from the lodge's observation deck.

Mt. Denali from the lodge.

A closeup of Mt. Denali.

Hiking in the lodge property. 

We are pleased with the lodges at Denali Wilderness and Mt. McLinley Wilderness and look forward to our last night at Captain Cook hotel in Anchorage.  

Cruising Glacier Bay and College Fjord, Alaska - August 2024

 Leaving Skaway, the ship cruised the Glacier Bay National Park with stunning view of glaciers and cliffs of Glacier Bay. We had a park ranger came on board to narrate the ship itineray. The last day, we cruised the College Fjord to arrive in Whittier where we disembarked the Sapphire.

Entering Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve.

Reid Glacier.

Reid glacier.

Reid Glacier THEN, September 2013.

Lamplugh Glacier with face is receding.

Margerie Glacier has become stable while Johns Hopkins Glacier is advancing.

Johns Hopkins Glacier THEN, September 2013. Because of the glacier fast advancing, ships are not allowed to go too close to in order to protect the enviroment at the base of the glacier.

Enjoying fresh air on deck.

Viewing glaciers on observation deck.

Entering Chugash Census Area.

Spending most of this day cruising College Fjord with the largest glaciers, Harvard and Yale, at the end of the Fjord.

Harvard Arm/Fjord.

The largest glacier in the Chugach National Forest.


Sunset in Chugach Census Area with Mount Marcus Baker in the background.


Our last night on the Sapphire.


Kevin and his dessert.


Whittier, disembarkation port.

Alaska - August 2024

 It was wonderful that we, the Sib+ could get together for a reunion long overdue!. Nothing better than the eight of us cruising on the Sapphire Princess for seven days with Alaska as our destination. 

We met up on the ship in Vancouver after long flights for all of us: P&T from NC, D&D from Fresno, M&G from LA and M&K from Phoenix.

Vancouver port with the Sapphire on the background.

Taking a stroll in Vancouver waterfront. 

Our "first" dinner on the ship.

Formal night.

Dressing up for the '"first" formal night.

Looking forward to our adventure through Glacier Bay. Before cruising the glaciers, we had three ports of call: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

KETCHIKAN

First port-of-call: Ketchikan

By Ketchikan pier and town.

Strolling the famous "Creek Street" of Ketchikan.

Ketchikan's Totem Pole.

In the Cultural and Totem Heritage Center.

Salmon's spawning area.

JUNEAU

Taking the bus from Juneau downtown to Mendenhall Glacier.

First sight of Mendenhall Glacier.

Mendenhall Glaciers and Waterfall.

Mendenhall Glacier THEN - September 2013.

Mendenhall Waterfall THEN - September 2013.

Mendenhall Glacier and Waterfall (on the far right) -NOW

Whale sculpture - Downtown Juneau.

Waterfront - Juneau downtown.

SKAGWAY

The iconic AB Building in downtown Skagway.

Our ship at the end of Skagway's main street. The little downtown was pretty much the same as it was THEN (Septermber 2013).  But now, there are four ships which came to town instead of only one back in 2013! 

It's a beautiful day to ride the train, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.
The round trip takes about two and half hours.

 

Starting out along Skagway River.

The scenic railroad travels up the Coastal Mountain's White Pass.

Up and up toward the summit.

White Pass.

White Pass - Canadian border.

Fraser - back to Skagway.

Summit Lake in Fraser.