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BAGGAGE
As your baggage will travel on many different modes of transportation,
we recommend that you choose sturdy cases with functional locks that
have been properly tagged with identification inside and out. It is
important to remember to keep all valuables, medications and documents
on your person- you will want a hand-carried piece of luggage. Hand-carried
baggage should be limited in size to that which will fit under an
airline seat or 9 x 14 x 22 inches maximum.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
Alaska's climate is diverse and can range from sunny temperatures
in the 80's to freezing temperatures at night. The best strategy
is to bring clothes that are suited to layering. This will offer
the greatest flexibility in adapting your clothing to the conditions
of the day.
This average low/high temperature chart will give you an idea of
what to expect.
Dress in Alaska is comfortably casual. Comfortable, supportive
walking shoes are recommended for the often rough and sometimes
slippery terrain. If you intend to hike, light-weight hiking boots
are suggested. The following items should be included:
- Water-repellent coat or jacket
- Collapsible umbrella
- Rain hat
- Lightweight windbreaker
- Sweaters
- Warm scarf, gloves and socks
- Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers
ALTITUDE
Many guests have concerns about the altitude in Alaska. Travel in
Alaska is generally at lower elevations. For example, the train
depot in Denali National Park is 1700 feet. The maximum altitude
in the Denali National Park is 3900 feet.
MEDICAL
Princess requires written notification of medical conditions at
the time the reservation is made. Please forward those details to
Tour Quality at 2815 2nd Avenue, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98121-1299.
Please ensure that you and your doctor have taken into consideration
the itinerary you have chosen. Many of our shorter tours involve
long days of touring and early morning departures. Those with health
problems often do better on longer, slower paced tours. If you have
a medical history of note, it is often helpful to travel with a
history of pertinent medical records.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel protection program.
For your convenience, Princess offers Princess Travel Care and Princess
Travel Care Gold, which provide an attractive combination of protection
and flexibility. Coverage does not begin until payment for the policy
is made and the opportunity for purchase expires at the time final
payment is due.
Medical evacuation is expensive due to the remote location of our
lodges; please ensure that you have protected yourself with coverage
for this potential occurrence.
Should you experience a delay traveling to your destination, your
best course of action is to work directly with the airline involved.
This will be the most current source of information about possibilities
for resolution. Princess acts as an agent only in securing flight
arrangements and cannot intercede on your behalf.
Princess Travel Care and Princess Travel Care Gold protection
is the only compensation Princess offers should you have to cancel
or cut short your Princess vacation.
DISABLE PASSENGERS
Princess requires notification in advance if you choose to travel
with a wheelchair. We will send additional information to help us
determine how best to meet your needs. Many areas require advance
planning to be ready to accommodate wheelchairs and we cannot guarantee
your needs will be met in the absence of this information. Travel
on the Midnight Sun Express is limited to the lower level where
the dining room, disabled access rest room and viewing platform
are located. Lift equipped motorcoaches, disabled access hotel rooms
and seating on the Midnight Sun Express are all limited and need
to be reserved in advance. Some itineraries in the more remote parts
of Alaska require that you fully understand the limitations so that
you can make an educated decision about whether it is right for
you. We have a department designated to assist you in the coordination
of these details so that you might relax and rest assured that we
are ready to provide you with a quality experience. Working together,
Alaska has proved to be a very successful destination for travel
for those who use wheelchairs. If you have special requests or questions
regarding accessibility, please have your travel agent contact the
Tour Quality department at (800) 365-5522.
CURRENCY
Alaska uses United States currency. Traveler's checks issued by
most major banks are widely accepted in Alaska. Visa, MasterCard
and American Express are the predominantly accepted cards in Alaska.
Our British guests should note that Sterling Travelers Checks are
not accepted in Alaska.
MIDNIGHT SUN EXPRESS RAIL
You may travel aboard the Midnight Sun Express on segments between
Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park and Fairbanks. If so,
relax aboard the private rail cars designed for your comfort and
viewing pleasure while friendly attendants look after your requests.
The menu offered in the private restaurant aboard the Midnight Sun
Express includes selections at prices comparable to those at a fine
hotel restaurant. Meals appropriate to the time of day are served.
Entrees are prepared to order on board by professional chefs using
only the freshest ingredients.
Tables generally hold four adults, two facing in each direction.
It is customary to change places about half way through the trip
to allow a different perspective for all. The dining room accepts
about one third of the guests in three different seatings. Meal
times are assigned by your location in the car.
Travel time varies somewhat, but traditionally the schedule calls
for 4 hours between Anchorage and Talkeetna, 4 hours between Talkeetna
and Denali National Park and 4 hours between Denali National Park
and Fairbanks.
SHOPPING
In both Alaska and Canada, you can find many unique gifts and mementos.
We recommend that you carefully retain all shopping receipts and
origination seals to avoid difficulties in clearing customs. Souvenir
ulus, Inupik Eskimo knives, need to be packed with checked baggage.
Otherwise, they will be confiscated at the airport security gate
as they are considered weapons.
TIME ZONES
All Princess destinations in Alaska lie in the Alaska Daylight Time
zone, which is one hour earlier than Pacific Daylight Time.
SMOKING
Princess Alaska Lodges are all smoke-free with the exception of
the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Smoking on board the Midnight
Sun Express Rail cars is limited to the viewing platform and is
not permitted inside the rail cars.
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