Let’s get the moaning out of the way. The “Grand Princess”, it may have been at some point, but it isn’t anymore. The ship is very, very tired as are the crew. I like the older boats as they have a bit of charm about them but this one needs a refit, soon.

I had checked it out before booking and it said that in 2019 it had been in dry dock for a “complete overhaul” that doesn’t mean “complete refit”. It didn’t really start well as when we arrived at the port with our bags and labels that we had not attached, as per the instructions, we waited in line only to be told that the stapler they used to attach the labels had broke, 1 stapler for nearly 3000 guests!! When we did get on went out onto the balcony leaned on the handrail and covered my polo shirt in the oil that they spray the ship with, it hadn’t been wiped off, polo shirt ruined. The balcony, table and chairs needed wiped and cleaned, after the steward did it we cleaned it again. There were even parts of the door frame missing.

The crew must be the laziest of any boat we’ve been on, not them all, but most of them. It was as if they were used to getting their tips so didn’t need to try, they didn’t get any tips from us. This isn’t just a moan on here as we took it up with customer services on the ship and with Scotland Cruise Centre when we got back.

Ketchikan, a small town with no roads in or out, everything has to come in by air or sea. It was a lovely place with a nice homely feel. We took a duck tour that was narrated by a local girl that had just left high school so he was able to give us an insight of what life was like growing up.

After the tour we had a walk along the front and found a nice pub to sample some of the local brew. All the ports of call were used by people seeking their fortune going to the Klondike for the gold rush.

Next port was Juno, again a town with no roads in or out. Today we were off the boat early as we had arranged a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier and then whale watching, trying to cram so much in was always going to be busy but it was so worth it.

There were signs planted along the lake side showing where the glacier had been 20, 30 40 years ago, global warming is real!!

A short bus journey and we were on the whale watching boat, before we made it out the harbour one had appeared, no one had a camera ready as they said we wouldn’t see any till further out.

We spent 2 hrs on the water and watched these huge mammals glide through the water effortlessly. Magical.

A quick bite to eat and back onto a mini bus to pick up a sea plane for a flight over the five glaciers.

It was truly one of those days that could never be repeated.

Last stop in Alaska was Skagway, a town that does have road links!! and a border with Canada, that closes each night at 10 pm.

Its a land where after the town there is nothing for hundreds of miles, desolate and beautiful.

Another early start the next day but not to get off the boat. This morning was all about sailing intowards the Tracy Arm glacier. We had been really lucky with the weather, plenty of sunshine and quite warm, today was probably the coldest I’ve ever been, 5 layers was not enough. Standing watching the ice fall off and crash into the water you couldn’t help but think the planets screwed.

Last port was in Victoria, Canada, a really lovely town a 30 min. walk from the port.

An easy stroll takes you past the floating village and their version of “Fishermans Wharf”

As with most things it was over too soon. If anyone is thinking about Alaska, go and do it, it was a trip of a lifetime and one of the few places we both said we would go back to, just not with Princess Cruises.