Well, here’s a clever promotion for anglers out there who may be taking an Alaska cruise on Princess Cruises this summer: The cruise line is offering to cook whatever you catch.

When I saw the promotion, it brought back a fond memory of a charming Italian captain named Potenzoni, who was master of the long-departed Fairsky cruise ship from the now defunct Sitmar Cruises, which was acquired by Princess. The captain loved to fish in port and would have his chefs prepare what he caught during Mexican Riviera cruises. Sometimes the captain would invite a few lucky passengers to his quarters for dinner (it paid to be a young journalist). So flash forward to 2016 and guess what? Princess Cruises just launched a program called Cook My Catch, an exclusive culinary experience offering anglers the ability to enjoy their very own catch of the day while on vacation with the leading cruise line in Alaska. 

Cook My Catch is one of a number of unique amenities that the cruise line is offering on its North to Alaska program in 2016 — a program that teams up with local experts to feature a variety of authentic Alaska culinary, educational and entertainment experiences. If you've never tasted freshly caught Alaskan halibut or salmon, you are in for a real taste treat, not to mention the satisfaction of eating what you caught.

“The newest North to Alaska offerings, including Cook My Catch, truly demonstrates our commitment to provide our guests authentic local experiences in the destinations we visit,” Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ president, said in a statement. “Alaska offers so many opportunities to create lifetime memories ultimately ensuring our guests ‘come back new’.”

Cook My Catch is available on Princess cruise vacations during port calls in Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Princess Land & Sea Vacations featuring stays at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. It’s part of select Princess shore excursions including Salmon Sport Fishing Adventure in Juneau; Salmon Sport Fishing Expedition, Hunting for Halibut and the Discovery Exclusive Alaska Fishing & Wilderness Dining excursion in Ketchikan. After passengers snare their catch, they bring it back to the ship, select how they want it cooked and what they want with it, and voila, a meal is born.

Princess’s Northwest season will include six ships offering more than 120 Alaska cruise departures from May to September, originating from San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver B.C. and Whittier (Anchorage), Alaska.

Book with a Cruiseable travel advocate

Interested in booking a Princess cruise to Alaska? Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 who'll put your interests first and get you on the right ship for the greatest value at the lowest price. (Me? I stick to the editorial side of things.)