Each year Princess cruise passengers vote for their favorite shore excursions and guides in Alaska, choosing the recipients of the line’s annual C.R.U.I.S.E. service awards. This year, Princess has expanded the program to recognize operators who provide land-based excursions to the company’s cruisetour passengers throughout the summer.
The unique awards, which are primarily based upon positive feedback from tour participants, recognize the importance of local excursion companies and guides as an integral part of visitors’ Alaska cruisetour experience. Both tour operators and individual guides are recognized, chosen from among Princess’ extensive line-up of more than 120 land excursion options offered to cruisetour passengers from Princess’ own Alaska wilderness lodges as well as the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks. These land excursions range from a heli-hiking adventure from Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge to river rafting from Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Recipients receive their awards at ceremonies held at the Princess wilderness lodges or in a city location.
“We’re pleased to expand this successful program to our land-based tour operations and recognize their efforts in making vacation experiences special for our customers as they travel through the interior of the state,” said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. “These top tour operators are vital in continuing the Princess experience our passengers expect, even when they are touring the Alaskan wilderness from our lodges.”
Begun in 1999 as part of Princess’ C.R.U.I.S.E. (Courtesy, Respect, Unfailing In Service Excellence) customer service program, the tour operator awards cap off a season-long effort to recognize the role that Alaskan-owned tour partners play in passengers’ cruisetour experiences. Tour Guide of the Year award winners receive $100, a letter of commendation, and a special gift to mark the occasion. Operators of the Land Excursion of the Year receive a plaque and a letter of commendation, an invitation to dinner with company officials and recognition in the next year’s tour brochure.
A full list of winners of the land excursion awards is below.
Princess Cruises and Tours
2007 Alaska Land Excursion C.R.U.I.S.E. Award Winners
Anchorage
Land Excursion of the Year:
Discover McKinley, Rust’s Flying Service
Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge
Land Excursion of the Year:
Wrangell St. Elias Wilderness Adventure,
Prospector Enterprises, Inc.
Tour Guide of the Year:
Ian Dorsey, ATV Trail ride Adventure
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Land Excursion of the Year:
Denali Heli-Hiking Adventure, ERA Helicopters LLC
Tour Guide of the Year:
Matt Payne, Doyon/Aramark JVC
Fairbanks
Land Excursion of the Year:
Arctic Circle Air Adventure, Northern Alaska Tour Company
Tour Guide of the Year:
Earl Hughes, Eldorado Gold Mine
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge
Land Excursion of the Year:
Alaska Husky Spirit, Lorraine Temple
McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
Land Excursion of the Year:
Chulitna River Rafting, Talkeetna River Guides
Tour Guide of the Year:
Yukon, D & S Trailrides
