princess cruises grand princess Archives - Northern Viking Explorer

August 1, 2025August 1, 2025

Exploring Skagway, Alaska – Day 4 on the Grand Princess Alaska Cruise 🛳️🏔️

Join us on Day 4 of our Grand Princess Alaska Cruise as we explore the charming and historic town of Skagway, Alaska! Our day begins onboard with some relaxing downtime enjoying the quiet pools and hot tubs 🏊‍♂️♨️, a perfect way to unwind before heading ashore. For lunch, we stop at the Salty Dog Grill, savoring tasty meals in a casual setting 🍔🍟.

In the afternoon, we embark on the scenic and narrated Skagway Streetcar Tour 🚋. This tour takes us to iconic sights including the Gold Rush Cemetery ⚰️ and a panoramic lookout point that offers breathtaking views of the town and surrounding landscape 🌄.

After the streetcar tour, we spend time exploring downtown Skagway on foot 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️. We stroll along Broadway, taking in historical landmarks such as the historic train display 🚂, the infamous Red Onion Saloon 🍸, and the informative Visitor Center 🏛️. Along the way, we pause for a delicious snack at Alaskan Fry Bread, where we try their famous Doughboy treat 🍩 — a local favorite.

Next, we embark on a short but rewarding hike to Yakutania Point 🌲, which offers stunning views of the harbor and the cruise ships 🚢. On our way back, we stumble upon a fun Ducky Derby event 🦆🎉, adding a playful touch to our day.

Back onboard, we enjoy a wonderful dinner at Botticelli’s Dining Room 🍽️, followed by an energetic performance of “Sweet Soul Music” 🎶 in the Princess Theater. From start to finish, Day 4 was packed with unforgettable moments on our Alaskan adventure.

Cruise Details:

📍 Ship: Grand Princess
📍 Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
📍 Departure Port: Vancouver, BC, Canada
📍 Itinerary: 7-night Alaska Cruise (round trip from Vancouver)
📍 Port of Call (Day 4): Skagway, Alaska

Watch More Skagway Adventures:

📽️ White Pass Summit Scenic Railway Excursion in Skagway Alaska 🚂
📽️ Hiking to Yakutania Point & Smugglers Cove in Skagway Alaska
📽️ Walking to Lower Reid Falls & Gold Rush Cemetery in Skagway Alaska

Ready to explore Skagway with us? Watch our full Day 4 cruise vlog for all the details and beautiful sights!
Watch Day 4 Video Here 🎥

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow along as we continue our incredible journey through Alaska aboard the Grand Princess.

July 18, 2025July 22, 2025

Grand Princess Obstructed Oceanview Cabin Tour – E224 on Deck 8 (What to Expect)

If you’re planning a cruise on the Grand Princess and considering an Obstructed Oceanview Cabin, you might be wondering exactly what you’re signing up for. We recently returned from a 7-night round-trip Alaska cruise from Vancouver aboard the Grand Princess and stayed in Cabin E224, located on Deck 8. In our latest video, we give you a full walkthrough of the cabin so you can see it for yourself before you book.

🎥 Watch the full cabin tour here:
👉 Grand Princess Obstructed Oceanview Cabin Tour – E224

Our video covers the cabin layout, storage space, bathroom, TV, and most importantly — the window view. While labeled “obstructed,” we were pleasantly surprised by how much ocean we could actually see. This could be a great budget-friendly option if you want some natural light and a glimpse of the sea without paying for a full oceanview or balcony cabin.

We also show the power outlet setup (for those of you bringing tech gear), and talk about the overall condition of the room. The Grand Princess is an older ship, but we found the cabin clean and comfortable for our week-long journey through Alaska.

If you’re on the fence about booking an obstructed cabin, this video will help you decide if it’s the right fit for your cruise. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Alaska cruise tips, cabin tours, and vlogs from our Grand Princess adventure!

🛳️ Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
📍 Ship: Grand Princess
📍 Cabin: E224 – Obstructed Oceanview, Deck 8
📍 Itinerary: 7-night Alaska cruise from Vancouver

Enjoy the tour and happy cruising! 😊

🛒Click Here to Book the Grand Princess with Princess Cruises (Affiliate)

July 15, 2025July 19, 2025

10 Fears and Questions We Had Before Our Grand Princess Alaska Cruise (Answered) 🚢❄️

Planning an Alaska cruise can be exciting, but it also comes with plenty of unknowns, especially if you’re sailing on a ship for the first time. Before we boarded the Grand Princess by Princess Cruises for our 7-night round-trip Alaska cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia, we had quite a few questions and concerns.

We weren’t sure what to expect from an older ship like the Grand Princess. Our cabin was an obstructed Oceanview stateroom (E224) and we didn’t know if we’d be able to see the ocean at all. We had questions about the number of power outlets, the food options outside of the buffet and dining room, whether the pools and hot tubs would be warm enough, and even if we’d be able to get into our cabin early on embarkation day.

There were also rumors online about plumbing issues, and we received an unexpected email from Princess Cruises before our trip offering us the chance to switch sailings in exchange for onboard credit, which definitely raised some concerns about whether the ship was overbooked or if something was wrong with our room.

To help others who might be wondering the same things, we created a video that answers all of these questions based on our own experience aboard the Grand Princess.

🎥 Watch the full video here:
👉 10 Fears & Questions Before Our Grand Princess Alaska Cruise (Answered)

If you’re booked on the Grand Princess or considering an Alaska cruise with Princess, this video offers a first-hand look at what you can expect, from food and entertainment to stateroom details and embarkation tips.

We’ll also be sharing more from this sailing including a full cabin tour, ship tours, daily vlogs, and plenty of cruise tips, so stay tuned for more.

Thanks for reading and happy cruising! ⚓🌲

🛒Click Here to Book the Grand Princess with Princess Cruises (Affiliate)