Close to the National Park
by bumpychick about Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
This hotel/lodge is part of the Princess Cruise company. We stayed here for one night as part of our Alaskan land tour. The standard of the accomodation was good, we stayed in the newly built 'Canyon Station' wing.
The lodge is very large and covers a big area of land; it is almost like a resort. There are various dining choices, we went to Subway across the road for lunch! The main road runs very close by the front of the lodge, but isn't very busy and we weren't disturbed by noise.
Poor weather spoilt our experience - not the lodge's fault! Lovely views behind the lodge and quite a lot to do if you are only staying a night or two. Very close to Denali National Park.
Great place for visiting Denali!
by oRi_5 about Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
My husband and I stayed at the Denali Princess Lodge as part of our honeymoon trip. We booked through Princess as part of their cruisetour package. Everything worked like clockwork with Princess and they got us to the lodge, gave us our room, took our luggage, etc. The next morning we had a Teklanika Bus tour booked at 5.30am (its an early wake up but this is the best time to see all the animals!!). The bus picked us up from in front of the hotel and took us to the park where we saw loads of wildlife and had an amazing experience!
The hotel itself was very good. The rooms are more like cabins. Depending which room you have there's a bit of a walk from your room to the reception area. Although they do have a kind of buggy service available to pick you up and take you to the reception if you need help. In the lobby there is free internet access on 2 computers as well as a souvenir shop.
Across the road there are a few (maybe 15?) shops - souvenir shops, excursion shops and some food shops as well as a small mini market. Other than that....there's absolutely nothing there! If you don't have excursions booked, or your car to go out and explore - then there's nothing else to do.....unless you want to just sit outside and relax in the hot tubs!! ;) Overall its a lovely place....very romantic and relaxing and if you have nice weather its nice to take a walk around the hotel grounds, enjoy the views of the Nenana river....or perhaps go river rafting on it!
Can't comment about food as we didn't have any there! We just bought food from the mini market or Subway across the road. Fantastic views! Nice hot tubs! Very close to the Park entrance.
Your In The Alaska Wilderness, Not A Resort Like The Four Seasons
by TripAdvisor Member patti121564
I have been in the travel business for over 15 years and after reading the comments on the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge , I can not understand why some people leave the comforts of home when all they do is complain.
The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge was a wonderful experinece to capture the Alasks wildlife - isn't that why we go to Alaska? Just like clients who go to the Caribbean or Mexico and come back complaining about the poverty and so on.....do they not realize they were in a 3rd world country. What do they expect?
Travel is all about experiencing the cultures of the world. Please take your complaining and the "ugly american" comments and do the world a favor and simply stay home!
Thumbs UP for Denali Princess
by TripAdvisor Member tmh7710
After reading several reviews, you would think that this hotel was horrendous. However, after spending multiple days in various hotels and campsites throughout all of Alaska, we were pleasantly surprised by our stay. Unfortunately, it appears that many of these reviewers are from cruises who have completely unrealistic expectations. First and foremost, THERE are NO hotels inside Denali National Park. If you are looking for luxury and pampering, stay at the Park Plaza in Boston. If you are looking to see Moose outside your window, camp INSIDE Denali National Park. I highly recommend the Savage River Campground. If you are looking for a nice hotel with a beautiful lodge and a nice room for some R&R after exploring the beauty and splendor that Alaska has to offer, stay at the Denali Princeness. This property really has everything that we were looking for, several restaurants and a nice place to relax.
The rooms are standard, but again, if you want Luxury, stay on the boat. If you want to really enjoy Alaska, get out there, see the Salmon spawn, watch the Grizzlies (hopefully from afar), and see the beauty and serenity of Denali. Then, when you want somewhere warm and comfortable, return to the Denali Princeness where you will be happy. If you have unrealistic expectations like most of the posters, then you will be disappointed.
Denalii Princess
by rakeshk about Denali Princess
The service is good but book in advance during summer as it is very popular with tourists and gets filled up. The hotel is very close to the Denali National Park entrance. Its a nice hotel with log exterior. The view of the park from the hotel is beautiful. There is also a stream that runs close to the hotel. The restaurant in the hotel offers good food.
Station Crossing at Denali Princess was excellent
by TripAdvisor Member Jennyx
Stayed in Denali Princess, May 2007, for two nights as part of Princess cruise/land tour. Stayed in the new building called Station Crossing which is about 2 years old. (There is an older part of the complex which has its own lodge and motel type rooms i.e outside walkways. Must admit these rooms did not look nearly as nice as the ones in Station Crossing, so if booking into this complex make sure you are in Station Crossing). We struck it lucky by getting a room overlooking the river and Park itself. Room was very comfortable, clean and nicely decorated with good bathroom facilities. Sound proofing was not so good, doors slamming etc. However inconsiderate, noisy patrons made it worse. The building is set up high above the river canyon with some attractive patio and eating areas. We ate at the King Salmon restaurant on both evenings and enjoyed the food. Lodge is some 2 miles to main visitor center in Park - well within walking distance for those who like some exercise. Area around lodge is not particularly attractive - small shops, restaurants strung along the main highway. There IS only one main highway in this region however, hence any hotels, restaurants are immediately alongside the road. However, once in the Park the scenery is spectacular. Don't know that the Lodge would be everybody's cup of tea as it does cater for the cruising fraternity.
Forum Posts
Alaska Cruise in September/Vancouver, B.C.
by halfdozmom
We are taking a cruise to Alaska in Sept. on Princess Cruise Line. This is our first cruise ever. Can you give us ideas of port tours to take, places to eat, etc. Here is the itinerary:
Land tour:
Fairbanks
Arrive in Fairbanks and check into your hotel for a 2-night stay.
2 Fairbanks
Sightseeing today includes a visit to the El Dorado Gold Mine and a Riverboat Cruise on an authentic sternwheeler. The evening is yours to spend at your own pace.
3 Fairbanks/Denali
Enjoy a scenic motorcoach journey to Denali National Park and the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. The afternoon is at your leisure.
4 Denali
This morning, you'll travel deep into Denali National Park on a Tundra Wilderness Tour. Relax at the lodge this evening.
5 Denali/Whittier
Board the Denali Express and travel by luxury rail to Whittier and your awaiting ship. Embark and sail this evening.
Cruise:
1 Anchorage (Whittier),
2 College Fjord, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)
3 Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)
4 Skagway, Alaska
5 Juneau, Alaska
6 Ketchikan, Alaska
8 Vancouver, British Columbia
We would love any hints, tips, etc. on places to eat, Shore Excursions, etc.
Thanks so much!!!
RE: Alaska Cruise in September/Vancouver, B.C.
by donato1899
Why don't you take a look at the cruisecritic.com messgae boards. They are very active and have tons of specific advice and tips on Alaska, the ports and excursions.
RE: Alaska Cruise in September/Vancouver, B.C.
by TheTravelSlut
I've done two Alaska cruises the past 2 summers (Holland America & Regent) and either started or ended in Vancouver BC and my travel pages reflect much of what I did.
You are in for a real treat.
RE: RE: Alaska Cruise in September/Vancouver, B.C.
by Matyas
And as the weather concerns..it can be pretty rainy during that time!!!! Cant u go in June or July maybe?
Re: Alaska Cruise in September/Vancouver, B.C.
by bumpychick
We did almost exactly the same trip in August. If you have the time, arrange your own shore excursions as the prices in the princess booklet are really marked up. It's easy to see the sites of Ketchikan on foot, bus tours aren't necessary. Try to go husky sledging on a glacier; expensive but amazing! You do need to have something planned in Skagway and Juneau, otherwise it's a bit boring, and too cold to hang out by the pool on the ship!
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Denali Princess deck
deck at Denali Princess
