Princess Cruises announce 2009 Alaska Cruise Schedules

In 2009 Alaska will celebrate it’s 50^th Anniversary of statehood. Princess Cruises are celebrating this with a total of 130 Alaska sailings with cruise itineraries to the best the state has to offer, including the truly breathtaking Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.

Throughout the May to September Season Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess will be travelling on Princess Cruises signature Gulf of Alaska sailings. Golden Princess, Star Princess and Sea Princess will be sailing the Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco, while Pacific Princess takes the lines small ship experience on a 14 day Connoisseur voyage to some of the state’s less visited ports.

Princess Cruises own wilderness lodges will be featured, with Direct to the Wilderness rail travel combined with sailings through the state’s dramatic glacier rimmed Gulf Coast. All cruises will include at least two nights stay in the Denali area. Denali National Park encompasses six million acres and is home to Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak soaring an unbelievable 20,320 feet into the sky. The park hosts an array of wildlife - from moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears to gray wolves and red foxes. Located only one mile from the Park's entrance, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is the premium riverside accommodation in the area.

Princess will also be taking more passengers then any other line to the wonders of Glacier Bay. The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. This diverse land and seascape hosts a mosaic of plant communities and a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife and presents many opportunities for adventuring and learning about this unique and powerful place.