Alaska Tour Jobs » Copper River – Alaska Tour Jobs

Donny – Night Audit & Night Security

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:12:04 +0000

Hello to all!! I would like to take a few minutes and talk about how I got to where I am right now. It is actually by pure accident that I am working for Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. It started in early March, about 3 days before I left to go on a cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines. I had already been on 2 cruises, and I absolutely loved the environment!! I really enjoyed meeting the crew members on board the ship. Everybody had a different story, experience, and background. I felt that I learned so much each time I went.

I was sitting on the internet one night, and I got a wild idea that I should work for a cruise line. So, I did a search for cruise jobs, and www.princessjobs.com was one of the first sites that came up. After clicking on the link, I looked around at the different job openings and lodges they had in Alaska, including Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. I knew I wanted a job thousands and thousands of miles away from home, so I applied and sent my resume in that night.

Honestly, I put it in the back of my mind and I went on my cruise! The Monday after I returned, I had an email from Tracy Smith wondering when she could contact me for an interview. It turns out that she sent me the email the day I left on my cruise! I immediately emailed her back, and after playing phone tag with her for about 3 or 4 days, I finally got in touch with her to have my first interview. I enjoyed the interview process with Tracy; she had such a nice, soft and welcoming voice. It was like talking to someone I had known for years. After my third interview, she offered me the position of Night Auditor, and I gladly (and thankfully) accepted!

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: I’m going from Texas to Alaska for four months….FOUR MONTHS! I honestly thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, and was very nervous. Everyone was so excited for me-my mom, friends, my mom’s friends. So my fear quickly turned into excitement!

When I received my first email from Tracy that was sent to the entire summer staff, I was excited to talk to the people I was going to spend the summer with. It turned out that Alyssa, one of the employees that had just been hired, had started a Copper River Princess MySpace blog so everyone could break the ice even before we left for Alaska. That was one of the best ideas since deodorant! We had so much fun chatting back and forth, and posting bulletins about Alaska! I recommend for anyone who gets hired as a seasonal employee for Princess to create a MySpace page, and get in touch with as many people as possible! I was more excited about meeting my coworkers than I was about coming to Alaska and making money.

The excitement turned to pain when I got out of bed at 3am (Central time) to start my 8 hour trip to Alaska. After I landed in Anchorage, I went to the luggage grab area and finally found a face I recognized…Allyssa!! As well as other fellow coworkers I met from the MySpace blog.

After all the other employees arrived on their flights, we loaded up in the Princess motorcoach to head to the grocery store, Fred Meyers, and then to the Lodge. The drive was absolutely beautiful!!! We saw nearly 10 moose and so many bald eagles!! I sat on the right side of the bus, and had a great view of all the mountains all the way to Copper Center.

When we got to the lodge four hours later, the management staff was standing outside waving us in. Before heading to employee housing to unpack we ate sandwiches in the bar area of the lodge. After unloading the bags, the management staff helped us find our rooms. That is when I met Bonnie, the General Manager. Of course I had no idea who she was when she introduced herself. She asked me what my name was, and when I said Donny, she said, “Oh that will be easy to remember-it rhymes with mine, Bonnie!” Well, being the cheesy guy I am, I thought that was real cool. And I would always remember her name!

We eventually settled into our dorm style rooms, which I found very nice. After 12+ hours of travel time, I could already tell it was going to be worth it. The next day, we started bright and early with training and orientation, including customer service training. To wrap my novel up, all of my expectations have been exceeded! The people here are great and from so many different places. I know this summer is going to be the best decision I have ever made, and I can’t wait to post my next blog entry about how our summer is going!

Naomi – Administrative Assistant

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:10:37 +0000

After working in the high tech field for almost 30 years, I was tired of cubicle living, and was searching for something new and exciting.

Then I went on my first cruise (a Princess Cruise at that), looked around at all the people working there and got thinking how much fun working on a ship might be. After talking with a number of the employees regarding how they came about working there, and how they enjoyed it, I decided to apply. So, when I got home, I went on-line and applied.

About a month later I received a phone call from a manager at the Copper River Princess Lodge asking whether I’d like a job in Alaska. I have to admit; originally it wasn’t what I had had in mind. Caribbean —- Alaska, hmmm! But, I asked her for more information and by the end of our conversation had decided to give it a try.

I quit my job and left for Alaska. I enjoyed my first season so much, I decided on a second. And, after my second season ended I stayed the winter in Glennallen, Alaska, and am now in my third season with Princess.

The people I work with here certainly have a lot to do with what brings me back year after year.

Todd – Food and Beverage Manager

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:08:58 +0000

During the year of 2000 I was working in Bend, Oregon. Hanging out at the local coffee shop, conversing will local friends was one of my pastimes and one day it was mentioned that one of them worked in Alaska for a summer on the Princess train. This really perked my interest as I had always dreamed of some day venturing up to Alaska to explore what it had to offer. My friend had said to watch the papers and look for a Princess Tours ad. When the ad came out I gathered up two friends and headed to Portland for an interview. Shortly thereafter, I was hired as an onboard cook, and so began my Princess Alaska adventure!

The experience was everything that I had imagined, meeting lots of new people and watching Alaska go by from the train windows were a great plus. This was all I needed to fall in love with Princess in Alaska and found myself staying for the winter…which has turned into six years! Princess has been a great company to work for and provides many opportunities for many people. Princess has definitely made my decade!

Tracy – Rooms Division Manager

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:05:15 +0000

I first visited AK after my family moved here from New Jersey. I was planning on spending the whole summer in Alaska, so my mom suggested that I get a job while I was here. She was working on board the Midnight Sun Express, Princess’ luxury rail cars and suggested that I apply there as well. I did, and within a week I was training as the on board tour sales representative. I was selling the optional tours that are offered at Princess’ Wilderness Lodges. It was great. Not only was I working on a train, but I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy the amazing tours that I was selling to our guests while they were visiting Alaska. I was landing on glaciers, flying around Mt. McKinley, rafting, learning about dog sledding and so much more! I couldn’t believe that this was my job.

Well, the season ended and I went back home. I knew it wasn’t going to be for long, though. I soon packed up and moved back to Alaska…in the middle of winter. I enrolled at the local university and knew I was here to stay. The next summer, 1999, I again worked on board the Midnight Sun Express as a tour sales representative. Then, in 2000, I returned as the On Board Manager. Each summer was better than the last. I went hiking, fishing, berry picking and met so many great people. The three seasons working on board the train were awesome. I learned so much, experienced more than I would have ever imagined, and saw more of Alaska than most people dream. I knew I wanted to make my career with Princess, and I soon had the opportunity.

In 2001, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join the Rail Division in a year-round management role. I enjoyed two great years here before I transferred to the Anchorage Division where I worked closely with the cruise ships and logistics of Alaska, moving people and luggage throughout the state. After another two years in Anchorage, I had the opportunity to experience a part of Alaska that I had not yet visited. I joined the team at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. The newest and smallest of Princess’ lodges is located about 3.5 hours northeast of Anchorage. I am now the Rooms Division Manager, overseeing the front desk, tour desk, bellstaff and housekeeping departments of the Lodge’s operations. Each summer is better than the last. I am lucky to enjoy amazing opportunities every day. I’ve caught numerous red salmon, silver salmon and huge king salmon. I’ve visited the old copper mine of Kennicott, situated in Wrangell St.-Elias National Park, the largest national park in the US. I’ve been 4-wheeling next to the Alaska Pipeline and seen the northern lights, all in one summer.

I have been extremely fortunate to live and work in Alaska, and Princess has afforded me to do so. This is the dream vacation for so many, but I am lucky enough to experience it every day all year long.

Sarah – Outfitter

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:02:14 +0000

The Firsts: In my preparations for coming to Alaska for the summer, a friend of mine requested (demanded, really) that I send him photos of every “first” during my journey. Of course, his ideas included first bear, first moose, first moose I teach soccer to (still working on that one). I kept that in mind when I arrived in Copper Center, and snapped the obligatory first moose, first mosquito bite and first game of shuffleboard, but I quickly realized that I’d never be able to capture all of the firsts you experience when you join the company. The first day, overwhelming and exciting and, as most first days are, looong. The first time you realize you’re not homesick, and you’ve gone a whole day without wondering what everyone at home is doing. The first customer you make really happy. The first game night. The first time you stay up until 3am because IT’S STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE. The first moment you realize that you can’t imagine ever having not come to Alaska, and the first plans you make to come back next year.

Ben – Bellstaff

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:53:34 +0000

My journey to Alaska actually began last summer. My parents went on a cruise with Princess and when they returned, they showed me pictures and told me all about it. My interest was piqued, and I was beginning to think about how I could get to visit Alaska. Well, then my parents told me that a lot of college age people will work there just for the summer. I thought that sounded perfect because I wasn’t interested in being there during the winter, and the summer would be long enough for me to get a good taste of Alaska.

I jumped online and started looking around for jobs in Alaska. My first choice was Princess because my parents had a good experience with them, and one of the job positions was luggage handler. That sounded like something I would enjoy, so I applied in August of 2007.

I hoped to hear back by January or February, but I never heard back. I figured it wasn’t going to work out and I forgot about it. Early April I was considering moving out to Seattle after I graduated, when I got a call one afternoon from a lady in Alaska. It took me a minute to figure out why someone was calling me from Alaska. Well, I got a call back the next day for a phone interview. I thought it went pretty well but I couldn’t tell for sure. Then I got another call a couple days later with an official offer for the job.

It was a pretty big decision to make since everything at school was really busy up until graduation and then I only had three days at home before I would have to leave for Alaska. I decided it was worth it. I had wanted to see Alaska and I thought getting paid to do it was a pretty good idea.

After that I was really excited about the job and getting to go to Alaska. I would often ask people what they were planning to do for the summer in hopes that they would ask me the same question in return…because I loved saying that I was going to be working in Alaska for the summer!

The first week here-training overload-made it tough for me to discern quite yet if I would like it here and I was concerned about whether or not I’d get a good roommate. Well, Garrett is about the most easy-going and down to earth person and we get along just fine. So that worked out well.

After the first week of the lodge opening, I loved it. In several of my classes, I was told, “If you find something you like to do, you’ll never work another day in your life.” So far I agree. I consider this a four month paid vacation. This job is fun to me, and going to work is not something I dread.

The thing I love most is being able to interact with the guests. It’s great to hear where people are coming from, where they are going, what they do, etc.

So after one full month of being here, I’m still loving my job, I’m loving the absolutely huge state of Alaska, and all of the fun things that it has to offer, I’m loving the perks of getting to go on tours, and I’m enjoying the people that I get to work with. What more could I ask for?

Christina – Front Desk Clerk

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:53:27 +0000

And the adventure begins again…

Two seasons ago a good friend of mine traveled all the way from our fair state of Florida to the wonderful picturesque state of Alaska. After returning she knew Alaska was a place I needed to see and would fall in love with. I decided to do some research on Alaska jobs. The Princess website was the first one I came across so I submitted my application online just to see what would happen. A few weeks later I had a message on my phone from Tracy Smith of Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. After a few days of phone tag, Tracy and I set up a phone interview. One month later I was signing my contract and booking a flight to Alaska!

The first week of training was exciting and full of new faces. Everyone was getting to know each other as we began our journey into the summer. On the first day of arrivals you could feel the excitement in the air. We all gathered to the front of the lodge to wave in the first coach and we knew the summer was off to a great start.

After the many wonderful adventures I had in Alaska such as riding tandem on a one seated bike from Kennecott to McCarthy because of missing the bus, I knew I would be coming back for more next summer. Here I am.

The Copper River Princess Lodge is a well oiled machine. The management team is better than any other management team I have ever worked for. This has a great deal to do with my return for a second helping of a wonderful Alaska summer.

The other important factor in my return is the land. Alaska is a breath taking place. Every day brings something new. This is truly a land for first experiences you can’t have in any other place in the world.

My friend was right on the nose. I have fallen in love with this great land.