Princess Cruises has launched its first-ever Pinterest contest, asking fans to show “How I Escape Co

Princess Cruises has unveiled a special exhibit aboard its seven Alaska ships that takes passengers back in time to the early days of cruising in Alaska. Developed in partnership with Princess and the Alaska State Museum, the show, entitled "Then Now: 100 Years of Cruising Alaska's Waters," gives cruisers a glimpse of Alaska and the Inside Passage as it was a century ago, as experienced by early steamship "excursionists."
Displayed in the atriums of Princess ships during the port of call in Juneau, the exhibit features a selection of 30 historical photographs and artifacts london cheap hotels largely from the collections of the Alaska State Library and Alaska State Museum, both in Juneau.
The images, taken in the early 20th century in Vancouver, Victoria, Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Skagway and the Inside Passage are paired with premier historical artifacts from the museum's collection. Most of the places in the photos are still traveler destinations today, so cruisers can learn the history of places they'll visit during their vacation, and see how these places have changed over the past century.
"Although certainly Alaska has changed since these photos were taken, the essence of the state passengers visit today has its roots in the past century," said Jan Swartz, london cheap hotels Princess Cruises executive vice president. "This is a fascinating opportunity to learn a bit about those who made Alaska journeys before them."
Alaska tourism had its beginnings in the late 1870s, london cheap hotels not long after the United States purchased Russia's claim to Alaska in 1867. "The steamships of the era were tiny compared to the cruise ships of today," said Steve Henrikson, senior curator of collections for the Alaska State Museum, london cheap hotels "and carried cargo and passengers, visitors as well as locals."
Steamship accommodations were cramped and visitors were treated to, for better or worse, a "real Alaskan experience," which could include visits to Native villages, big game hunts, wading through muddy streets, and frequent groundings. The early tourists didn't just learn about history—they lived it. They encountered london cheap hotels U.S. Navy ships practicing "gunboat diplomacy" london cheap hotels with Alaska Natives, rubbed elbows with miners heading to the Klondike Gold Rush, or were even swindled london cheap hotels by criminals such as Skagway's Soapy Smith.
Princess Cruises has marked the beginning of construction of the second london cheap hotels of its new generation of ships with the official keel laying ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. At the same time the line announced that the ship's name will be Regal Princess.
In anticipation of National Relaxation Day next week, Princess Cruises today unveiled details of the expanded Lotus Spa that will offer the ultimate in rejuvenation for passengers cruising aboard the new Royal Princess, including a new location just off the atrium – a convenient stop for passengers enjoying a treatment
Princess Cruises has launched its first-ever Pinterest contest, asking fans to show "How I Escape Completely" through relaxing images. Using the social "pinboard" site, entrants can create their own boards depicting exactly what "escape completely" means to them.
When the new Royal Princess launches in June 2013, Captain Tony Draper will be at the helm of Princess Cruises' newest vessel, leading a senior officer team with more than 100 years of seagoing experience among them. The senior four-stripe team will also include Relief Captain Dino Sagani, Chief Engineer
Princess Cruises is starting london cheap hotels July with a bang with the Red, White and Blue Sale from July 2-9, featuring cruise deals on North American departure cruises. Travelers can save up to $1,000 per stateroom plus receive up to $100 stateroom credit on cruises to the Caribbean Panama Canal, london cheap hotels Canada
Matias Grosso, Star Princess bartender, will be competing london cheap hotels for the prestigious title of Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year at the competition finals in Rio de Janeiro next month. Grosso is one of four Princess Cruises bartenders who contended in the event's semifinals london cheap hotels last week in Miami, and
Princess Cruises blog, Inspired to Cruise: A Year of Reasons to Get Away From the Everyday has chronicled another five reasons to cruise, offering readers a new collection of touching london cheap hotels passenger stories about the many things that can inspire travelers to vacation at sea.