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An Alaskan Adventure aboard the Princess Iceland

On a late summer day, I took my journey seaward of Valdez, Alaska. During the trip I was able to to see the fire weed, bright red and in full bloom along the highway's edge. According to the locals would come in the winter soon, ending the short summer Alaska enjoys. My morning had entered the port of Valdez and began I was prepared, Princess Cruise Line brand of justice to a new ship, Iceland Princess.

When the "princess coach in the Port of Seaward I could see the Iceland Princess standing tall and smooth. I could not help but think about how incredible this ultra-modern cruise ship is. It is powered by a gas turbine and has a passenger capacity of 1.970. The ship stands at 204 feet high and 964 feet long. She is the sister of the new Princess Cruise Lines' Coral Princess. This sister is 92 000 tonnes, no trailer, as it has many features of their own. I would be on board a southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver, BC

When I boarded the ship and started exploring, I was overwhelmed by that vessel space and layout. In what has been described as "design-Twist, which offers two full decks of Iceland Princess public spaces, compared to the traditional single-promenade deck. I found the ship's four-storey Atrium to be alive with sophisticated colors and lighting. You would find a visit to a string quartet playing "Yesterday" by the Beatles, and next to you piano music from the Crooners Lounge would like to be entertained.

If the space in the ship's public spaces were not big enough for my cabin was in a class is as well. I had a mini-suite with a private balcony. This was a treat like no other. The mini-suites with private balcony with two twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed . Come The balcony was so big, you want to invite all of your home about. It also has two TV's Incase you wanted to see both the baseball and football game during driving Glacier Bay. Let us not forget the refrigerator, bathroom with tub and shower, all wrapped up in 323 square feet including terrace. To say this was wonderful would be a huge understatement.

Our ship was scheduled to depart from the port of Seward at 10 clock, a lot later than I had done before. However, I was getting used to the very long days of summer sunlight Alaska provided. While in Fairbanks days before, the sun would set at 23.30 clock and change to clock 03.30. Well, as we were farther south in Seward it would obscure for sailing, but still a much longer day than I was used on the west coast of Florida.

It was dinnertime onboard and we had a traditional meal for our chosen one-week cruise. One thing I've learned, Princess Cruises views as a form of entertainment Dining room. Food preparation and presentation is taken very seriously. Here you will find only the best quality food items. In addition, lead the men and women, the ballet of the Buffets monitor, afternoon tea and formal dining room, it's like a Broadway show.

We have for traditional food, but Princess Cruises, which they Personal Choice Dining call. Only Princess offers this innovative concept for the restaurants, allowing guests to dine how, when and with whom they want. Passengers can either a restaurant style option that they have the same flexibility in land-based facilities and of the traditional cruise dining experience with an assigned dining time found were allowed to wait at table and personnel – No other cruise line offers both options.

Personal Choice Dining is also, it is your choice to eat whenever you want. This means you have the opportunity to eat in a 24-hour restaurant. This is not a "Denny's of the Sea," is this great Selection of foods cooked "a la" Minuet "to provide only the freshest food to its guests on board. You will also find freshly made Pizza served by the slice served poolside at Princess Pizza pizzeria. Many shipping lines have added specialty restaurants onboard. Princess hold, with their food-loving philosophy, offers more opportunities than any other cruise line. The Iceland Princess offers two such specialty restaurants. The first is the Bayou Cafe ', where passengers can enjoy traditional Cajun and Creole influenced food and live jazz in the first New Orleans-themed restaurant at sea, with a look and feel directly from the French Quarter. You will be a menu of dining options such as peel-and-eat shrimp, alligator ribs to be found, and gumbos call jambalaya, not to the obligatory band of exotic cocktails. Cover ($ includes complimentary Hurricane cocktail. Next is Sabatini's, with dining with Italian and seafood specialties and other traditional Favorites with flair in an authentic trattoria-like environment served. Some cruisers feel that the specialty restaurants are not worth the extra fee or do not want to pay anything "extra", while on a cruise. It is my experience that the price is worth and most of the fee goes directly been on staff in tips. So please do not pass up on these specialty restaurants, as they really are special.

When my first day at sea came, I was really impressed with all the activities to be experienced onboard. The Lotus Spa offered a wide range of treatments and massages at some great prizes. The spa was very beautifully decorated, and had an attentive staff. My companion, who has said many times crossed, the staff was first class and the treatment wonderful. As I investigated further the ship, I found that the Internet-cafe, which is located in the atrium, was great. They had even enjoy a coffee table with set-up and cream, so you in the vicinity. I really enjoyed this very touching. The cafe has a wonderful leather chairs and flat panel monitors that made reading email or surfing the web fun. The only drawback links go to do from time to time by his in Alaska.

A program I found that the most surprising was on board, Princess' new grants @ Sea enrichment programs. The program was the beginning of 2003 and the Iceland Princess is started until the second ship to offer the program. She followed her sister ship Coral Princess offers classes in its state-the-art, multi-purpose Universe Lounge. During my trip I was given to a cooking demonstration by the Cruise Line Corporate Executive Chef Alfredo Marzi. It was just watching "Emeril Live" and other great cooking shows. This included smell-a-vision because you are right there to smell the fresh in the public Garlic, wine and spices. I really enjoyed it and I have never seen a cooking show as before. It was instructive and entertaining with a state-of-the-art presentation. Everyone had a perfect view due to the large TV screen and the great layout of the Universe Lounge. Later in the week I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by Princess Cruise Lines' Fleet Commodore Moulin (ret given). I could learn about his life at sea, how it all started up to his retirement. It was fascinating and I was quickly convinced that I really preferred these types of programs on a cruise. I was not a great player who did not attend this bingo or even the art auction onboard. Thus, among these offers is wonderful. I was even more surprised when I found out how much was more available. You can choose from about 20 courses per voyage (six Select a day at sea) of four core subject areas – Culinary Arts, Visual / Creative Arts, photography and computer technology. Italian cuisine, handmade ceramics, digital Travel photography, web design, succession planning, and watercolor techniques are just some of the courses offered. All courses are free and can enjoy as many passengers as they want. If you want your on-board training, you can still smaller classes on board for a $ 10 fee.

As you may have with all this entertainment, enrichment and food on board, you guessed it might not want to get off the ship. Being on board the Iceland Princess was like staying in a luxury resort. I know many other Cruise ships are for this but Princess Cruises offers it today in the Iceland Princess aims. Their days are filled with food, entertainment, ports of call and personal Decisions.

As the ship pulled Iceland Princess in Vancouver and under the Lion's Gate Bridge, I looked back and knew I had seen something special. Since I had never been to Alaska, this trip was a journey like no other. I found Alaska really a "Wilderness Wonderland" and with a ship like the Iceland Princess than your platform for the discovery is a must for this cruise addict to do.

Explore, Dream, Discover

About the Author

John Shallo is the editor and web publisher of
Cruise Addicts
.

Click here for SLIDESHOW of photo’s from this voyage:

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/photogallery/main.php?g2_view=slideshow.Slideshow&g2_itemId=1535

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