Grand Alaska

Grand Alaska aboard Princess begins in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., and ends in Vancouver, Canada.

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey to enter Canada and for embarkation. Click here for more information on the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Patrol website. Passport Cards are not acceptable for air travel between Canada and the USA.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not require a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation. If you are a frequent traveler to Canada from the U.S., you may benefit from the NEXUS program which is a joint initiative between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency that allows pre-screened and approved travelers faster processing at designated highway lanes in high-volume border crossing locations, at certain airports, and at certain marine reporting locations in the Great Lakes and Seattle regions. For further information, you may log on to the Nexus Internet site by clicking here.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of Canada and of the U.S. to determine what travel documentation will be required. A passport is required for embarkation.

The White Pass & Yukon Route train excursion on day 11 from Skagway to British Columbia, Canada is a round trip journey that crosses the border into Canada but does not stop; therefore, there is no presentation of passports on this day.

Anyone with a criminal record (including some misdemeanors such as Driving While Impaired (DWI) charges) may be excluded or removed from Canada, and should contact a Canadian embassy or consulate well in advance of any planned travel to ensure proper travel documentation.

As part of their mandatory check-in process, Princess Cruises requires that all guests provide them with some rudimentary personal information including full legal name, date of birth and email address. For your convenience and to avoid lengthy delays on embarkation day, we are happy to provide the necessary check-in information to Princess Cruises on your behalf. If you have not done so already, we ask that you provide us with these details.

Upon receipt of your mandatory check-in information, Princess Cruises will create a profile for you, and will reach out to you via email, with details on accessing their useful MedallionClass app using your smartphone or other device. Among other critical functions, the MedallionClass app will streamline your experience on board, enabling faster embarkation, access to daily programs, simplified dining reservations and the easy communication of dietary restrictions (if necessary). Although you are traveling on board the ship with Tauck, access to the MedallionClass app is a key part of your experience onboard.

If you do not want your information furnished to Princess Cruises in advance, please contact us as soon as possible at journeypreparationteam@tauck.com. Once again, this mandatory check-in information must be provided to Princess at embarkation, if not provided in advance. Delays on embarkation day can be expected if this information is not provided in advance.

We strongly recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

Note: For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk; a signed liability waiver will be required.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £750.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to Tauck 60 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Customer Protection: Our UK-based agents comply with the bonding requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority and provide full financial protection for the package holidays that we sell in the UK. For flight-based holidays, this is through the Air Travel Organiser's Licence (details of which are available from the UK-based agent with whom you book). When you buy a package holiday that doesn't include a flight, protection of your monies paid to our UK-based agent will be provided by way of a bond.

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

This itinerary is one of the more rigorous domestic itineraries we offer. To enjoy this cruise, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion. The adventurous journey includes several early morning starts, full-day excursions and many different modes of transportation, including airplane, railroad, cruise ship, boat tender, ferry, catamaran, jet boat, river raft and tram car.

There is a significant amount of walking in Denali National Park and other wilderness areas visited during your journey.

The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge has two floors and no elevator. If you have difficulty walking, be sure to advise your Tauck Director at the beginning of the tour so that rooms close to the public areas can be requested when possible.

As this itinerary is designed for those who are interested in a faster-paced, adventure-filled experience, if you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

PLEASE NOTE:  We regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs.  The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

On board Princess, smoking is not permitted in passenger state rooms or balconies. There are clearly marked "Designated Smoking Areas" available on board with a sufficient number of ashtrays which are emptied regularly. Generally, these areas include cigar lounges, a section of the nightclub and casino, as well as a portion of the open decks.

The medical center on the Princess ship is staffed by full-time British-registered doctors and nurses. In addition to daily office hours, they are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency. If you require medical services, charges for those services will be added to your shipboard account, and you will be provided with an itemized account to submit to your insurance company.

The Princess cruise ship is registered in Bermuda. Please check with your insurer to learn if coverage applies outside the United States, or purchase appropriate travel insurance. If you need to bring and use syringes or other medical equipment onboard, we request that you bring a sharps box and that you contact the shipboard medical infirmary for disposal instructions.

No vaccinations are currently required for travel to Alaska . For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. The CDC operates a 24-hour information number at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here.

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

Although the assumption is that Alaska is a land of snow and sub-zero temperatures, the Alaskan climate is actually extremely varied, caused by the state's six different topographic regions. The far north is extremely dry and very cold, with Arctic conditions and temperatures average about -20 °F (-29 °C). Summer temperatures in the lowlands are surprisingly high, averaging in the 60's °F (16° C), and they have been known to reach 90 °F (32 °C), and up. The southeast tends to be fairly moderate, with damp, rainy and sometimes mild conditions, with temperatures in July averaging 56 °F (13 °C), and temperatures in January averaging 30 °F (-1 °C), and the south and central areas tend to be similar, with slightly colder winter temperatures. Western Alaska tends to be rainy, while the Aleutian Islands in winter are damp and rainy, with fog. Heavy snows are common in the north and central regions of the state.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with New Headings who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site.

The weather in Alaska is unpredictable. You will be visiting the warmer, dryer area of the interior and the cooler, wetter rainforest of the southeast coast. We suggest you pack clothing that can be layered for various weather conditions. Slacks, a sweater or fleece, a lightweight jacket and a rain coat are versatile clothes for touring, and comfortable "walking shoes" are a must!

We suggest that you dress for a cruise on the Princess ship the same way you would for any stylish land-based resort. Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants and jogging suits, is the order of the day. We recommend you bring a sweater, a jacket or an all-weather coat for cool evenings, and for shore excursions. Due to unpredictable weather, don't forget a hat or visor and a collapsible umbrella. You'll also want low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck, as well as comfortable walking shoes or sandals to wear while on shore excursions.

There are two designations of evening wear aboard Princess: Smart Casual and Formal.

Smart Casual Evenings:

Passengers dress as they would for a fine restaurant at home

Skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies

Pants and open-neck shirts for men

Formal Evenings: (one)

Evening gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies

Tie and jacket, or suits for men

In the dining room, items such as cutoff tee-shirts, shorts, halter tops, and jeans are not permitted and shoes must be worn at all times. Princess cruises require passengers to use cover-ups over bathing suits when entering the ship's public rooms.

Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available on board the Princess. Valet laundry is available at all hotels on this tour except for the McKinely Princess and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge where you will find coin-operated facilities.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed. No medications are sold on board the cruise ship other than those prescribed and stocked by the ship's physician.

We suggest that you pack the following items your journey:

• Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken in (very important!)
• Rain gear - rain coat and umbrella (very important!)
• Casual daytime wear – slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
• Jacket and tie for men 
• Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• Swimwear
• Gym wear
• Fleece jacket or warm sweatshirt
• Warm hat, gloves and socks 
• Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
• Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm functions (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
• Reusable zipper-lock bags or other waterproof bags
• Daypack for camera equipment
• Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your ship cabin while traveling