Princess Guests Enjoy Fresh Alaska Salmon Hours After Being
Caught
SANTA CLARITA, Calif.,
May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150518/216956
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kICqLkuREtw
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-copper-river-salmon-arrives-at-denali-princess-wilderness-lodge-300085275.html
SOURCE Princess Cruises