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Grand Princess Alaskan Cruise Onboard Activities

Because our past cruises were in the far past, we were astonished by the number of activities.  Many of them are educational and fascinating.  Many of them are just plain fun!  There are so many activities onboard that one cannot participate in everything.  

Darn.  Thus, cruising on Princess today is more “What will I miss today?” Rather than, “What is available to do today?”  What follows is what I chose out of the endless possibilities. 

Note: Follow CDC and Princess guidelines when visiting.  Always follow face mask rules when in public.   

Zumba!

Mark Cornish, zumba teacher and performer aboard Princess Cruises

I hear the lyrics “Zumba Changed My Life” in my head...all...the...time.  I suppose it is because our Zumba instructor was the very best I have had thus far.  Mark Cornish, an assistant cruise director/entertainer, enthusiastically guided my Zumba sisters, brothers, and me through 45 minutes of exhilarating dance. 
My Fitbit was very happy, displaying that I burned roughly 400 calories per session.  Zumba really changed my life

Princess Fine Art Program

Besides teaching, which I love, I LOVE learning!  Princess gave me an opportunity to revisit my long-lost memories of an art history class I took in college.  It was one of my very favs.  As opposed to taking an art history class, I didn’t have to worry about studying for an exam. 
I just found a comfortable seat from which I could sit with my specialty coffee and listen to a fascinating, educational lecture while watching pictures fly by on a screen.  Other lectures were about specific artists, which were enlightening.  Some were in the evening, offering me a chance to swap out the cappuccino for a glass of champagne.  Cannot do that in college. 
Free art from Princess
Hint: At the end of each class and action, you’ll receive a piece of art.  Attend all the classes and you’ll receive an additional piece of art.
Performance part of The Klondike Festival on Princess Cruises

The Klondike Festival

Our Klondike Festival adventure began with a lecture provided by Captain Derrick Ray of The Aleutian Ballad, which is one of the ships profiled on the Discovery Channel program "Deadliest Catch”.  
I cannot say that it was the most enlightening lecture of my life. However, I did enjoy learning a bit more about where we were sailing as opposed to where his crew fishes for crab.  Plus, the behind the scene’s video of the show was interesting as well.  
For the most part, it seemed as if his was a pitch for an excursion he is hosting. 
Champion Musher Libby Riddles
Champion Musher Libby Riddles on Princess Cruises
Having heard so many positives about Libby Riddles’ lectures, my hubby and I jumped at the chance to listen to her Iditarod racing story.  For those of you who came in late, Libby is the first woman to win the 1,100-mile sled dog race, in a blizzard at the age of 29.   During her presentation, we learned about her extraordinary life and the dangerous race that propelled her into history.  Her reputation is definitely accurate.  (Please watch the video by DB Kintz)
Rebecca Black holding a future musher onboard the Grand Princess

Puppies in the Piazza

What is better than a cute little puppy?  A bunch of cute little pups who are also future sled dogs.  A group of wiggly puppies are brought on board to be cuddled, kissed, and petted by a group of strangers.  I was one of those strangers who didn’t want to return my little one.  She was so sweet.  I will always cherish the doggie kiss I received on my chin.  One day I really should wash it. 
Note: Watch my video about all the events on this cruise.

Our Onboard Naturalist Seminars—try saying that five times fast

Wow!  Did you know that Princess has real-life professors onboard who instruct and answer questions about what we are seeing and experiencing as we travel?  Yep.  It is true and it is fantastic. 
Our naturalist was Greg Wheeler, Ph.D. an Emeritus Professor of metallic ore deposits—an expert in most things on earth and knowledgeable about our skies.  His entertaining and educational lectures covered the history of how Alaska became what it is today, the wildlife of Alaska (not including fellow passengers), and the indigenous peoples of Alaska. 

His contribution didn’t stop at his lectures.  He was available most all days as he roamed around the ship.  I was with him one day when an excited photographer—in full regalia—approached him excitedly.  Apparently, he followed Greg’s advice on photographing bears on shore while we are on the ship.  His pictures are wonderful. 
Now onto what I really wish I could have to folded into those short 10 days onboard the Grand Princess as she cruised our Pacific waters.

“What national park borders Yellowstone National Park to the south?” 

Trivia!  Darn!  Although trivia is one of my absolute favs while on board, I was simply too busy to attend any of them.  I did hear that my favorite person on the ship—Mark, my Zumba instructor—was hosting them, which makes missing them even worse. 

Dance and Flash Mob Classes

Darn and double darn!  When I hear music I turning into someone entirely different who cannot help but move and cannot help wondering why everyone else is standing still.  Music moves me.  I feel it building from the top of my head, down to my tippy toes.  Thus, I usually dance in grocery store isles.  I am thankful that my hubby just smiles and doesn’t disappear as if he doesn’t know me.  That would be my daughter.  Love embarrassing her.
Our ship offered dance and flash mob dance lessons.  Awesome!  I walked into a dance class as it was ending and was amazed in the degree of proficiency of the dancers by day 4.  And the flash mob dancers??  O.M.Goddess!  My Zumba sister Elizabeth and her mother-in-law took the class.  Check out their moves in this video.

Keeping in Touch

Where are you?  ... was our biggest issue my husband and I had while on the ship.  I went one way and he went the other.  “Where to meet up and when?” was the biggest question on the first day of our cruise.  Not to worry.  Princess Cruises solved that problem in a nifty manner.  Since using the Internet/cellphone incurs extra fees once at sea, Princess offers a free mobile site that offers messaging and a schedule of events.  This is directly from the Princess Cruises website:

Princess@Sea - Our complimentary onboard web service offering quick and convenient access to valuable information directly on your mobile device. Plan your day's events and activities, review the ship's itinerary and port guides, browse restaurant menus, even access your stateroom account! Plus, on select ships Princess@Sea Messenger allows you to send text messages to other guests onboard!”

What are your experiences with Princess Cruises?



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