Wilderness Exploration Cruise & Crab Feast - Island Princess Excursion $149
What we read versus what we got with added rain & an aborted bus trip home did NOT dim the AWESOME time we had here!
From the Princess website:
"Upon arriving at the lodge, you'll board an enclosed tour boat and cruise the George Inlet waterway (then)... you'll return to the George Inlet Lodge for a not-to-be-missed meal."
First up, let me say again we did LOVE this excursion - EXCEPT for the fact that we had to eat the crab at 8:30 in the morning. But hey, we're from Maryland - we can eat crab ANYTIME!
When we booked the excursion, it did say a boat trip followed with a crab feast....when we got the actual excursion ticket & it said crab first, I don't think we really believed it (I know, silly right?) I guess we could have cancelled it on Embarkation day - but we didn't. I guess we shouldn't have had breakfast that day, either! DUH! I think the Princess marketing materials should say this more clearly.
I also think that for the early shift, the George Inlet folks could offer a more brunchy starter than a green salad with an Asian ginger sesame dressing. Maybe a fresh fruit parfait or a smoked salmon platter on the table to share with bagels, chopped eggs, capers, & onion? Or how about a cheesy bacon quiche? Maybe offer a Mimosa to purchase instead of Wine or Beer along with sodas and iced tea? Keep the cheesecake (no one ate it that I saw!) we were all stuffed with the amazingly succulent wonderfully fresh delicious Dungeness crab.
Mmmmmmm Really. Quite. Amazing.
So yeah, timing aside, the crab feast was delicious and the super cute Austie who lead the feast was lots of fun, high energy, & and very entertaining.
The Wilderness Exploration Cruise part was AMAZEBALLS! Our cruise tour young naturalist Kiki was super smart and engaging while Capt. Gil the Eagle Whisperer delivered a once in a lifetime Bald Eagle fetch experience!
We saw an eagle perched on a branch on the shoreline - Capt. Gil stopped the boat, produced a raw fish, & held it in the air as he whistled and called for "Lucy" and sure enough - that huge bald eagle flew towards the boat, circled it, and as he threw the fish in the water she plunged just feet in front of us & grabbed that fish! WOW!!!!!! I got pictures, I just wish I had gotten a video of this - it was magical!
Ketchican & Juneau Excursion NOTE: If you should happen go to Ketchican or Juneau on a cruise ship on the 4th of July DO NOT choose an excursion that leaves the ship by bus. With an early 1:30 departure and the city of Ketchikan & Juneau shutting down the ONLY ROAD BACK TO THE SHIP for a parade, you're best served just walking around town. Not likely to happen, but I just had to mention it. We had to walk....a long long way, in the rain, it was not cool. Of course, finally getting back on the boat & drinking champagne while eating chocolate dipped strawberries on our balcony watching the parade go by and hundreds of others board the ship - PRICELESS! ;-)