Princess Says Committed To Opening Three Mainland Alaska Lodges This Summer

February 5th, 2021

One Day After Canada Nixes U.S. Cruise Ships
Princess Says It's Opening Alaskan Hotels

Here's A Welcome Surprise...
Princess Lodges In Denali, Fairbanks & Cooper Landing Will Be Open This Year Holland America Says

The news from the cruise lines right now is good for Mainland Alaska – including the Princess-dependent roadside tourism locations of Denali, Cooper Landing and Fairbanks. 

On February 4th, Holland America announced that lodges in these three places would all be open this summer. (Princess did not mention its other hotels.)

Travelers will come to Alaska by air.

Cruise Critic wrote in early February that Holland America said:

"Despite the potential impact to our Alaska sailings, we are committed to operating one of our two Denali lodges, the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Kenai Princess Lodge this summer to support land vacations in Alaska's magnificent interior. We will continue to maintain a focus now on what we can do to support our fellow Alaska businesses, the thousands of people who rely on the tourism industry, and the regions in which we operate."

It's Not Canada's Fault ...It's Grover Cleveland's 

In 1886, the U.S. government made a law saying that foreign ships can't go from one U.S. port to another without stopping in between at a "distant foreign port." Although we think of the big cruise lines as "American" they are not. Holland America/Princess cruise ships fly the flags of foreign countries. The name of the country is stenciled on the back of the ship.

To comply with America's laws, these "foreign" cruise ships must stop in the only foreign ports available – in Canada – when they travel between the U.S. West Coast and Alaska.

The law was put in place when Grover Cleveland was president, 135 years ago.
Southeast Alaska could be seriously affected by Grover Cleveland. 

However, there is a possibility that Alaskan Dream Cruises and Un-Cruise Adventures, which are both flagged from the United States, and are not required, by U.S. law, to stop in Canada will be able to cruise this summer.

Anchorage & Fairbanks Airports Say
They're Ready To Rock

Nonstop destinations offered at Anchorage Airport are nearly back to pre-Covid levels with scheduled inbound seat capacity forecast to be up more than 750,000 seats, an increase of 117% versus last summer.

Fairbanks Airport is forecast to be up 62,500 seats, a 126% increase over 2020.

"Alaska is more than just a cruise destination,” said Airport Director Jim Szczesniak. “For this summer, Alaska is forecast to be one of the most popular destinations in the U.S...

"Anchorage, and our sister airport at Fairbanks provide access to the wonders of Alaska.”

--February 6th Anchorage Airport Press Release