First Copper River Salmon Arrives at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Princess Guests Enjoy Fresh Alaska Salmon Hours After Being Caught
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 18, 2015)
– A buzz of excitement surrounded the kitchen of King Salmon Restaurant at Denali Princess
Wilderness Lodge Friday, when a
helicopter carrying the season’s first catch of wild Copper River king salmon
touched down right outside the lodge. This special event helped kick off the
2015 Alaska season and guests from around the world were delighted to enjoy
this local favorite, served fresh just hours after being caught.
The 2015 Copper River king salmon
fishing season opened May 14 at 7 a.m. in Cordova, Alaska, and after a long day
on the water fishermen could still be seen bringing in their catch late into
the night. Local processor Copper River Seafoods prepared its first shipment of
fish to be flown on an Alaska Airlines jet to Anchorage, where it was loaded
onboard an Era Aviation helicopter. The chopper flew to a helipad near the
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, to deliver the fish to the restaurant for
preparation by Chef Jeff Elliott.
“Fresh, wild seafood remains one of
the top draws for Princess guests visiting Alaska and salmon is an important
part of the Alaska lifestyle, both culturally and as a dietary staple,” said
Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “The opening day of the Copper River
salmon season is a very exciting time for our guests staying at the Denali Princess
Wilderness Lodge who have the
opportunity to participate in a true Alaska tradition.”
A camera crew followed the fish from
the moment nets pulled them up in Cordova and captured the full journey to
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, along with the salmon’s preparation at King
Salmon Restaurant. To view the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kICqLkuREtw.
The first-catch shipment of Copper
River salmon is a prestigious and highly anticipated annual ritual in which
Alaska Airlines flies more than 20,000 pounds of the season’s “first fish” to
Seattle and Anchorage. For the last three years, the Denali Princess Wilderness
Lodge has received part of the catch and served fresh king salmon to lodge
guests on arrival.
Copper River king salmon, identified
by the meat’s deep red hue and a melt-in-your mouth texture, is a highly
coveted fish by chefs and salmon lovers alike thanks to its exceptional flavor
and high nutritious value. Also known as Chinook, the king salmon travel 300
miles from the Pacific Ocean along the waters of the Copper River to reach
their spawning grounds near Cordova.
Princess Cruises Alaska season features seven ships offering seven-day itineraries
cruising from the ports of Vancouver, Whittier and Seattle; and 10-day sailings
from San Francisco. Princess offers a variety of Land and Sea
Vacations that combine land travel with an
Alaska cruise for a complete land and sea experience. All Land and Sea
Vacations include a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers sailing with a visit to
Glacier Bay National Park plus up to four nights in the Denali National Park
area at Princess’ own wilderness lodges.
Voted the Best Cruise Line in Alaska
seven years running by the readers of Travel
Weekly, Princess Cruises is now making the top vacation experience
in Alaska even better with the debut of North
to Alaska! Introduced for the 2015 cruise season and created in
partnership with local experts, North
to Alaska! features a variety of authentic Alaska culinary,
educational and entertainment experiences designed to delve deeper into the
fascinating frontier guests are exploring around them. The program includes
expanded Alaska seafood offerings, with signature dishes from local chefs and
restaurants; unique interactions with Alaskans; and onboard festivals to allow
guests to eat like a local, learn from the locals, and celebrate like a local.
Additional information about all of
the Princess Alaska cruise options and North
to Alaska! can be found
at princess.com/NorthToAlaska.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising,
Princess Cruises is a global cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of
18 modern cruise ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of
choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment
of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising,
Princess carries 1.7 million guests each year to destinations around the globe
ranging in length from three to 114 days. The company is part of Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
Newsroom:
Additional media information is available at princess.com/news.
Media Contacts:
Karen Candy, 661-753-1540
kcandy@princesscruises.com
Ally Berry, 907-561-4488
ally@thompsonpr.com
