For Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, a Bucket List meant things like riding motorcycles on China’s Great Wall, laughing till they cried and kissing the most beautiful girl in the world (it turned out to be Nicholson’s on-screen granddaughter in the movie). For country singer Tim McGraw, it meant — in a song — riding a bull named Fu Manchu.
And for Americans who like to cruise?
Alaska, baby.
According to a survey conducted by Princess Cruise Lines, more Americans (25%) have on 
their travel bucket list the 49th state (and all the adventures that come with it) rather than cruising to such exotic places as the Amazon, Australia, Europe, Hawaii, Africa or the Panama Canal. In fact, the competitors weren’t even close, so evidently there are still many cruisers who haven’t seen Alaska.
Furthermore, 17% of them would like to go dog mushing on an Alaskan glacier, discover the lost city of Machu Picchu in Peru, or visit historic castles in Scotland. Therein lies a contradiction of sorts…Machu Picchu is an extremely expensive proposition any way you do it and Scotland…well, you know what they say about Scots!
But hey, it’s a Bucket List, and money is no object.
Thanks to the current social media tools — is there anything more current (seriously) than Facebook and Twitter? — Princess has made these determinations. At the same time, the cruise line is unveiling new cruisetour options, and enabling its customers to book them as they do shore excursions through Princess, rather than separately or at the destination.
Did we mention where the destination is? Oh, it’s Alaska.
Coincidence?