I am thinking of taking my wife on a cruise to Alaska for our 40th anniversary. If any of you have this experience, I would appreciate your advice and input, we have never been on a cruise before. What is the best time of year to go in order to have the best chance of good weather? Any particular line? We are informal people and will be much happier in an atmosphere where we dont have to try to hobnob with a bunch of stuffed shirts, I dont even own a coat and tie.
Please fellers, dont post "do a Google search, you dummie" I want to hear from folks with personal experience. Thanks.
Alaska cruise experience?
Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
My wife and I did the same thing two years ago for our 25th anniversary. We both wanted to see Alaska, and she had always wanted to go on a cruise (although I DIDN'T), so it seemed a good compromise. We enjoyed it so much, that we just yesterday finished booking another Alaskan cruise to take our "children" along this coming summer for their graduations - one from high school, one from college.
I had an idea that a cruise would be masses of flower-shirted high-class folks milling around like herds of cattle, and that someone would hunt you down and make sure you showed up at whatever event was going on at any particular time. I have to be honest, our Alaska cruise was nothing like that, and although it took a couple days to used to the staff doing things for me, and NOT having to be responsible for much at all, (both of which are pretty much foreign concepts to me) I really enjoyed it.
We booked our cruise with Princess, since it seemed to fall in between the "party" cruise lines and the "high-class" lines. I do not mean to offend anyone who seeks these types of vacations, it is just that we wanted a relaxed atmosphere that was not wide-open all the time. We were very pleased with our choice, and were treated very well. We took a north-bound "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruise in mid-June, had good weather, and added a land tour to the end of our cruise that got us into the interior of Alaska and deep into Denali park as well. There are all sorts of options, such as leaving from Seattle or Vancouver, BC, taking a round trip, etc.- it just depends on what you want to do. We wanted to get in all the glacier and wildlife viewing we could, as well as getting somewhat of an overview of what Alaska had to offer, so we booked our trip based on that.
The environment on our ship was much more relaxed than I expected- my jeans or BDUs, wool shirt, brimmed hat and logging boots did not look out of place at all- just a little more "retro" than some of the other outdoor clothing a lot of the other folks were wearing
. There are opportunities to dress up for formal dining if you like, but there is also a casual buffet environment where you can pretty much go as you are. There is a huge variety of things to do both on and off the ship, although of course some of the shore excursions cost money if you choose commercial packages (for example, where else would we ever get to ride an Alaskan bush float plane?). Or, if you want, you can find a perch with a good view on one of the decks, and sit there the entire trip and no one will say a word to you. That was one of my favorite activities- especially later in the night when the passenger traffic calmed some. I would just sit and watch the scenery go by. Remember that it stays light very late into the night, and never gets much darker than twilight in early summer, so you really can see a lot along the way.
We are not wealthy by any means, and it took a lot of financial planning to take our first trip. It will take even more to take four of us this coming year. But I have to say, never having been to Alaska or on a cruise before, to us it was worth every penny spent. I would go every year if time and money allowed, although I would vary the route and activities to get to explore some more. I am definitely NOT a stuffed-shirt person, and never felt out of place anywhere we went (well, except for a couple formal dining nights we did attend by choice- there were honest-to-goodness stuffed-shirt executive types THERE that were much more comfortable in that environment than I was!). I am just an aging blue-collar hillbilly who has finally scrimped enough to fulfill a couple life-long goals.
Most folks choose June or July to do an Alaska cruise, but May is an option (although obviously colder, even to the point that some of the streams and waterfalls will still be frozen), and August into September is still okay but the weather becomes more unpredictable and lots of the seasonal snow pack will of course be gone. We found June a good compromise, and had good weather by Alaska standards, but are going in July this time in hopes of seeing the salmon run. It tends to get rainier (if that's a word) and foggier as the summer matures.
This is a very wordy way to say, "YES, by all means go if this is something you want to do!", but hopefully I have made you feel a little more comfortable about what to expect. I can give you a lot of specific recommendations if you like- just shoot me a PM and I will respond to any particular questions you have.
Good luck with your decision, but my answer is still "GO!"
Take care,
Regan
I had an idea that a cruise would be masses of flower-shirted high-class folks milling around like herds of cattle, and that someone would hunt you down and make sure you showed up at whatever event was going on at any particular time. I have to be honest, our Alaska cruise was nothing like that, and although it took a couple days to used to the staff doing things for me, and NOT having to be responsible for much at all, (both of which are pretty much foreign concepts to me) I really enjoyed it.
We booked our cruise with Princess, since it seemed to fall in between the "party" cruise lines and the "high-class" lines. I do not mean to offend anyone who seeks these types of vacations, it is just that we wanted a relaxed atmosphere that was not wide-open all the time. We were very pleased with our choice, and were treated very well. We took a north-bound "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruise in mid-June, had good weather, and added a land tour to the end of our cruise that got us into the interior of Alaska and deep into Denali park as well. There are all sorts of options, such as leaving from Seattle or Vancouver, BC, taking a round trip, etc.- it just depends on what you want to do. We wanted to get in all the glacier and wildlife viewing we could, as well as getting somewhat of an overview of what Alaska had to offer, so we booked our trip based on that.
The environment on our ship was much more relaxed than I expected- my jeans or BDUs, wool shirt, brimmed hat and logging boots did not look out of place at all- just a little more "retro" than some of the other outdoor clothing a lot of the other folks were wearing
. There are opportunities to dress up for formal dining if you like, but there is also a casual buffet environment where you can pretty much go as you are. There is a huge variety of things to do both on and off the ship, although of course some of the shore excursions cost money if you choose commercial packages (for example, where else would we ever get to ride an Alaskan bush float plane?). Or, if you want, you can find a perch with a good view on one of the decks, and sit there the entire trip and no one will say a word to you. That was one of my favorite activities- especially later in the night when the passenger traffic calmed some. I would just sit and watch the scenery go by. Remember that it stays light very late into the night, and never gets much darker than twilight in early summer, so you really can see a lot along the way.We are not wealthy by any means, and it took a lot of financial planning to take our first trip. It will take even more to take four of us this coming year. But I have to say, never having been to Alaska or on a cruise before, to us it was worth every penny spent. I would go every year if time and money allowed, although I would vary the route and activities to get to explore some more. I am definitely NOT a stuffed-shirt person, and never felt out of place anywhere we went (well, except for a couple formal dining nights we did attend by choice- there were honest-to-goodness stuffed-shirt executive types THERE
that were much more comfortable in that environment than I was!). I am just an aging blue-collar hillbilly who has finally scrimped enough to fulfill a couple life-long goals.Most folks choose June or July to do an Alaska cruise, but May is an option (although obviously colder, even to the point that some of the streams and waterfalls will still be frozen), and August into September is still okay but the weather becomes more unpredictable and lots of the seasonal snow pack will of course be gone. We found June a good compromise, and had good weather by Alaska standards, but are going in July this time in hopes of seeing the salmon run. It tends to get rainier (if that's a word) and foggier as the summer matures.
This is a very wordy way to say, "YES, by all means go if this is something you want to do!", but hopefully I have made you feel a little more comfortable about what to expect. I can give you a lot of specific recommendations if you like- just shoot me a PM and I will respond to any particular questions you have.
Good luck with your decision, but my answer is still "GO!"
Take care,
Regan
Running the ridges and rivers of Virginia's southern Appalachians
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
Had a great time with Holland America last year for the 25th Anniversary. I recommend going land to sea as it gets better as you go, mostly, which the wife will like.
Sincerely,
Hobie
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
Hobie
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
-
Stan in SC
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 806
- Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:10 pm
- Location: Simpsonville,SC
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
Four years ago we went on Norwegian Lines for a seven day inside passage cruise leaving from Seattle.It was great.The best of seven or eight cruises that Linda and I have taken.First stop was Ketchikan,second was Juneau and finally Skagway.If I had it to do over I would do as Woodtroll mentioned above and go on the train ride into the interior which you can do and still catch up with the cruise ship.
We went in late June and missed the July salmon runs.On a do over I would go in July.
In Skagway you really should not miss taking the railway ride up the pass.Expensive but beautiful.
You will have a great time.Enjoy!
Stan in SC
We went in late June and missed the July salmon runs.On a do over I would go in July.
In Skagway you really should not miss taking the railway ride up the pass.Expensive but beautiful.
You will have a great time.Enjoy!
Stan in SC
The more I listen,the more I hear....and vice versa.
45-70,it's almost a religion
45-70,it's almost a religion
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
Its been probably five years ago now, so the details are getting a little foggy, but I can remember basicly the main points. My Wife and I did a 9-10 day cruise can't remember exactly. It was with Holland America, I believe in July.
First off, if you've never been to AK, I say your in for a treat. It was our first trip and I enjoyed the heck out of it. That said I would never do it again. It was long and boring at times and kind of felt like a bunch of cattle being herded around. Don't take that the wrong way though. It was worth the experience, its just that done once is enough. I liked it to see a VERY large part of AK and the Yukon country, and that we did. Having done it, I now feel like I have an idea of the land and where if I were to go back I would have a good idea of where to go on my own. That being the Yukon, some of the most beutiful country I have ever seen, or maybe more time in Denali Park, lots to see there.
A QUICK breakdown of our trip. Drove to Vancouver B.C. borded the ship. Crusied up the inside passage stoping at Juneau and deborded at Skagway, AK. I believe we spent three days on the ship. The cruise its self in my opinion was kind of like being stuck in a large motel for three days the sceenery was great, but my goodness I was ready to get off the boat. If you like hanging out in bars drinking very expensive coctails you'll love it, cause thats really all there is to do. Bring a few good books to get lost in and enjoy the sceenery, cause it really is something. Glaciers, iceburgs, whales, eagles, dolphins, ect. will all be sceen I could almost garentee it, and along the shore line you will likeley see bears.
From Skagway (cool turist town) we took a train up the Chilkoot trail. This is cool and enjoyable. Climbing a winding mountian along the way to canada. Saw Mt. Goats, etc. here.
Got off somewhere in Canada and took a bus to Whitehorse where we spent the night in a motel. The sun never went down. We walked to a cool little bbq joint for dinner.
From Whitehorse we bused to Beavercreek for the next night. This strech of hwy is about the best of all. I love the Yukon Saw more moose Grizz Bighorns, and differnt critters than you could imagine here. stoped a few places just to strech and look around a bit. I want to go back here.
Left Beavercreek Yukon to Fairbanks AK on a bus. not much happening here, but cool seeing all the marshy land and old black spruce forest. Stoped a few places for food and looking around here and there. Stoped in Tok, and Northpole at least I remember.
Spent the night in Fairbanks. We went on our own out of town a ways and had dinner at the Malamute Saloon. Dont forget this. Great place. All you can eat raindeer stew, Dungenous crab-fresh steamed, fried chicken and all the fixins. Great place, then they got a dinner show with some Robert Service poetry.
Did a side tirp up the tanana River on a paddle wheel boat and saw some neat stuff. Ididarod traing camp. Eskimo fish wheels pulling salmon out of the river and drying them, lots of cool eskamo made stuff.
Train from Fairbanks to Denali. Spent the night in Denali and had a full day there to do stuff. We took a bus into the park as it is the only thing allowd in the park. They run like 20 miles into the park on the only road there. You can get out any where you wish and go explore. You go back to the road and they will pick you up and take you back as they pass. Pretty cool. I would like to spend more time hiking around here. Saw lots of Bears, Sheep, Moose, and Caribou here, amongs a pile of other critters. Unreal wildlife park.
Got back on a train and continued to Anchorage. Spent the night there and poked around town, found a few good resteraunts. Found a very cool antique shop down by the bay within walking distance of our motel. This antique shop turned into about the coolest gun store I ever seen. There was one room full of nothing but old winchester/marlin leverguns, and old colt revolvers, in very good shape with price tags to match.
Flew back to Vancouver BC and drove home.
There was much to do at every lay over, you can take side trips as much as your wallet allows. Whale watching trips on little skiffs. Rafting trips. Helicoptor trips up to McKinley. Fishing trips. You name it. I just outlined in rough what ours was. The wildlife sceen really was spectacular however, I just couldn't imagine all the animals roaming the land up there. I always figured Oregon was loaded with wildlife, and it is, but you got to go hunt things down and still don't expect to find them. They got so much stuff they just are everywhere.
Here are just a couple critter pictures from various places along the trip that are already loaded into my photo bucket. Oh bring a camera. I probably took a thousand pictures, not that anybody else will give a stuff about your trip, but its cool to look back at you self.
First off, if you've never been to AK, I say your in for a treat. It was our first trip and I enjoyed the heck out of it. That said I would never do it again. It was long and boring at times and kind of felt like a bunch of cattle being herded around. Don't take that the wrong way though. It was worth the experience, its just that done once is enough. I liked it to see a VERY large part of AK and the Yukon country, and that we did. Having done it, I now feel like I have an idea of the land and where if I were to go back I would have a good idea of where to go on my own. That being the Yukon, some of the most beutiful country I have ever seen, or maybe more time in Denali Park, lots to see there.
A QUICK breakdown of our trip. Drove to Vancouver B.C. borded the ship. Crusied up the inside passage stoping at Juneau and deborded at Skagway, AK. I believe we spent three days on the ship. The cruise its self in my opinion was kind of like being stuck in a large motel for three days the sceenery was great, but my goodness I was ready to get off the boat. If you like hanging out in bars drinking very expensive coctails you'll love it, cause thats really all there is to do. Bring a few good books to get lost in and enjoy the sceenery, cause it really is something. Glaciers, iceburgs, whales, eagles, dolphins, ect. will all be sceen I could almost garentee it, and along the shore line you will likeley see bears.
From Skagway (cool turist town) we took a train up the Chilkoot trail. This is cool and enjoyable. Climbing a winding mountian along the way to canada. Saw Mt. Goats, etc. here.
Got off somewhere in Canada and took a bus to Whitehorse where we spent the night in a motel. The sun never went down. We walked to a cool little bbq joint for dinner.
From Whitehorse we bused to Beavercreek for the next night. This strech of hwy is about the best of all. I love the Yukon Saw more moose Grizz Bighorns, and differnt critters than you could imagine here. stoped a few places just to strech and look around a bit. I want to go back here.
Left Beavercreek Yukon to Fairbanks AK on a bus. not much happening here, but cool seeing all the marshy land and old black spruce forest. Stoped a few places for food and looking around here and there. Stoped in Tok, and Northpole at least I remember.
Spent the night in Fairbanks. We went on our own out of town a ways and had dinner at the Malamute Saloon. Dont forget this. Great place. All you can eat raindeer stew, Dungenous crab-fresh steamed, fried chicken and all the fixins. Great place, then they got a dinner show with some Robert Service poetry.
Did a side tirp up the tanana River on a paddle wheel boat and saw some neat stuff. Ididarod traing camp. Eskimo fish wheels pulling salmon out of the river and drying them, lots of cool eskamo made stuff.
Train from Fairbanks to Denali. Spent the night in Denali and had a full day there to do stuff. We took a bus into the park as it is the only thing allowd in the park. They run like 20 miles into the park on the only road there. You can get out any where you wish and go explore. You go back to the road and they will pick you up and take you back as they pass. Pretty cool. I would like to spend more time hiking around here. Saw lots of Bears, Sheep, Moose, and Caribou here, amongs a pile of other critters. Unreal wildlife park.
Got back on a train and continued to Anchorage. Spent the night there and poked around town, found a few good resteraunts. Found a very cool antique shop down by the bay within walking distance of our motel. This antique shop turned into about the coolest gun store I ever seen. There was one room full of nothing but old winchester/marlin leverguns, and old colt revolvers, in very good shape with price tags to match.
Flew back to Vancouver BC and drove home.
There was much to do at every lay over, you can take side trips as much as your wallet allows. Whale watching trips on little skiffs. Rafting trips. Helicoptor trips up to McKinley. Fishing trips. You name it. I just outlined in rough what ours was. The wildlife sceen really was spectacular however, I just couldn't imagine all the animals roaming the land up there. I always figured Oregon was loaded with wildlife, and it is, but you got to go hunt things down and still don't expect to find them. They got so much stuff they just are everywhere.
Here are just a couple critter pictures from various places along the trip that are already loaded into my photo bucket. Oh bring a camera. I probably took a thousand pictures, not that anybody else will give a stuff about your trip, but its cool to look back at you self.
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
We've been on 6 cruises and Alaska was the best. Mid August is fantastic weather and fishing. We went on Royal Caribbean and it was first class.
I know a whole lot about very little and nothing about a whole lot.
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
Since we live near Seattle, my wife and I have been on two very different Alaska cruises. 2 years ago we took the Princess cruise from Seattle to Skagway and back. Had a great time and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We spent most of the time on the deck watching the scenery and talking with folks. If that is not your thing, there was everything from stage shows, art auctions, a casino, several bars, etc.
Another option is one we did several years ago: the Alaska State Ferry from Anacortes, WA to Juneau, three days one way - or you can go farther north if you want to. While not a true cruise, we actually enjoyed this one more. It takes the Inside Passage and you see mile after mile of incredible wilderness and a few very small towns and homesteads. This is a very "no-frills" trip. There is a restaurant and staterooms are available - some have their own bathroom (book early in the year). Many people pitch a tent on the deck (outside). Be aware that the crew's emphasis is transportation, not tourism. You are pretty much on your own to entertain yourself. We loved it!
Another option is one we did several years ago: the Alaska State Ferry from Anacortes, WA to Juneau, three days one way - or you can go farther north if you want to. While not a true cruise, we actually enjoyed this one more. It takes the Inside Passage and you see mile after mile of incredible wilderness and a few very small towns and homesteads. This is a very "no-frills" trip. There is a restaurant and staterooms are available - some have their own bathroom (book early in the year). Many people pitch a tent on the deck (outside). Be aware that the crew's emphasis is transportation, not tourism. You are pretty much on your own to entertain yourself. We loved it!
-
Grizzly Adams
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 824
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:09 pm
- Location: New Mexico
- Contact:
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
One of the best kept secrets for those who want to travel to Alaska via the Inside Passage, and do it their own way.
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.s ... 7Aod-g729Q
July is the best time to go.
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.s ... 7Aod-g729Q
July is the best time to go.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a Vet!
COMNAVFORV, Vietnam 68-70
NRA Life, SASS Life, Banjo picking done cheap!
Quyana cekneq, Neva
COMNAVFORV, Vietnam 68-70
NRA Life, SASS Life, Banjo picking done cheap!
Quyana cekneq, Neva
-
madman4570
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 6747
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:30 am
- Location: Lower Central NYS
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
It all depends what type people you guys are ???
Done several cruises,one being an Alaska cruise back in 1997 (It was late August)honestly for the $$$$ it was (ok)
Frankly for(us)course the weather was not great and although we saw a lot of cool stuff,wouldn't go that route again don't think.
If you have never been to Hawaii (frigin go)absolutely unreal,simply breathtaking and OMG you would flip riding atv's through it's rainforest.
But, if you guys are kinda active people that like hands on stuff--------------------------
The best???? Packtrip on horse the Canadian Rockies (Banff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnXPxdVHPPo
Plan on spending 10 days in total and catch the stampede event in Calgary.
Let me say(even for my wife)this adventure was the best adventure we have EVER did.
You want to see wildlife/actually lay in the flower strewn fields watching everything and smelling roasted coffee brewed over a campfire and singing along with honest trail hands.(and seeing bear,you wouldn't believe me so I won't go any further)
This event though at times I admit (there is places you will cling on your horse a tad??)but it will absolutely stun you,it is one that is absolutely beyond words.(and the hearty cooking those camp chefs prepared,just fantastic)
Great time to go 2-4 week of July!
If you guys have a travel agent talk to them about best deals (the above one is just an example of one outfit)but is a good one.
The cruise to Alaska was (ok)but (for us)it was the difference between looking at a large scooped Maple Walnut ice cream cone and (eating it)
Done several cruises,one being an Alaska cruise back in 1997 (It was late August)honestly for the $$$$ it was (ok)
Frankly for(us)course the weather was not great and although we saw a lot of cool stuff,wouldn't go that route again don't think.
If you have never been to Hawaii (frigin go)absolutely unreal,simply breathtaking and OMG you would flip riding atv's through it's rainforest.
But, if you guys are kinda active people that like hands on stuff--------------------------
The best???? Packtrip on horse the Canadian Rockies (Banff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnXPxdVHPPo
Plan on spending 10 days in total and catch the stampede event in Calgary.
Let me say(even for my wife)this adventure was the best adventure we have EVER did.
You want to see wildlife/actually lay in the flower strewn fields watching everything and smelling roasted coffee brewed over a campfire and singing along with honest trail hands.(and seeing bear,you wouldn't believe me so I won't go any further)
This event though at times I admit (there is places you will cling on your horse a tad??)but it will absolutely stun you,it is one that is absolutely beyond words.(and the hearty cooking those camp chefs prepared,just fantastic)
Great time to go 2-4 week of July!
If you guys have a travel agent talk to them about best deals (the above one is just an example of one outfit)but is a good one.
The cruise to Alaska was (ok)but (for us)it was the difference between looking at a large scooped Maple Walnut ice cream cone and (eating it)
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
We went on Princess with two other couples 5 years ago. My first, wife's second to AK.
We went from the south:
Advantages: You begin in the Inside Passage so if any of your party (3 of our 6 including my wife) get seasick they have several days of easy motion to acclimate before crossing the Gulf of Alaska. Almost always rough. Shorter day flying to get there so less chance of missing connections. You have the option of leaving from Seattle if you would rather not deal with the customs thing, though through Vancouver we signed up for the shuttle bus from the airport and avoided "entering Canada". The way it worked was that they ran you past an Immigration official, very low key, to make sure you weren't a wanted criminal, then put you on the bus and sealed it. As far as the US and Can were concerned you never left the US. It took us just 30 mins. more than the bus ride to get to the ship. One couple didn't want to ride the bus and took a taxi, took 2.5 hours getting through customs and immigration, waited 20 mins. for a taxi, then had to argue with the driver to keep him from taking the more "scenic" route to run up the tab (our friend had been there before and knew the way).
Disadvantages: If flying back to the midwest or east the earliest flights leave at 2300, the reason being that because of the distances involved flights can't leave after about 1100 from Anchorage and arrive at airports in those areas before they shut down for the night. Apparently noise concerns now keep most airports near large cities from operating 24/7. It's almost impossible to get off the ship and to the Anchorage airport in time to make those 1100 flights. We killed our day sightseeing in Anchorage while one of our friends flew out to Juneau on business. He owns an Aviation Ins. brokerage and does a lot of business up there. We had a rental van, but the cruise lines have a place in downtown Anchorage where you can stash your luggage while you visit, then buses leave for the airport when you are ready.
We fished in Ketchikan with a guide who wasn't associated with the cruise ship, cheaper and better than the arranged trips, but did the train trip in Skagway and a trip to a rainforest in Juneau from the ship's providers, they were pricey but good. Also just took a cab out to the glacier in Juneau rather than the guided trip.
Would love to do it again, but the wife is "cruised out" too much seasickness. Thinking of just flying in to Anchorage and staying at the Travelodge, take train trips and rent a car for a day or two. But I resisted the cruise thing and in the end loved it. Your motel room goes with you so you only unpack once, you don't have to do the formal dining thing, at least on Princess, and I never got tired of the scenery. The longest we went without getting off the ship was 1 1/2 days. Even then there was plenty to see, and I found plenty of time to read.
We went from the south:
Advantages: You begin in the Inside Passage so if any of your party (3 of our 6 including my wife) get seasick they have several days of easy motion to acclimate before crossing the Gulf of Alaska. Almost always rough. Shorter day flying to get there so less chance of missing connections. You have the option of leaving from Seattle if you would rather not deal with the customs thing, though through Vancouver we signed up for the shuttle bus from the airport and avoided "entering Canada". The way it worked was that they ran you past an Immigration official, very low key, to make sure you weren't a wanted criminal, then put you on the bus and sealed it. As far as the US and Can were concerned you never left the US. It took us just 30 mins. more than the bus ride to get to the ship. One couple didn't want to ride the bus and took a taxi, took 2.5 hours getting through customs and immigration, waited 20 mins. for a taxi, then had to argue with the driver to keep him from taking the more "scenic" route to run up the tab (our friend had been there before and knew the way).
Disadvantages: If flying back to the midwest or east the earliest flights leave at 2300, the reason being that because of the distances involved flights can't leave after about 1100 from Anchorage and arrive at airports in those areas before they shut down for the night. Apparently noise concerns now keep most airports near large cities from operating 24/7. It's almost impossible to get off the ship and to the Anchorage airport in time to make those 1100 flights. We killed our day sightseeing in Anchorage while one of our friends flew out to Juneau on business. He owns an Aviation Ins. brokerage and does a lot of business up there. We had a rental van, but the cruise lines have a place in downtown Anchorage where you can stash your luggage while you visit, then buses leave for the airport when you are ready.
We fished in Ketchikan with a guide who wasn't associated with the cruise ship, cheaper and better than the arranged trips, but did the train trip in Skagway and a trip to a rainforest in Juneau from the ship's providers, they were pricey but good. Also just took a cab out to the glacier in Juneau rather than the guided trip.
Would love to do it again, but the wife is "cruised out" too much seasickness. Thinking of just flying in to Anchorage and staying at the Travelodge, take train trips and rent a car for a day or two. But I resisted the cruise thing and in the end loved it. Your motel room goes with you so you only unpack once, you don't have to do the formal dining thing, at least on Princess, and I never got tired of the scenery. The longest we went without getting off the ship was 1 1/2 days. Even then there was plenty to see, and I found plenty of time to read.
___________________________________________________________________
I'm not paranoid because I carry a gun. Why should I be paranoid. I've got a gun.
I'm not paranoid because I carry a gun. Why should I be paranoid. I've got a gun.
-
bdhold
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
If you plan to fish for salmon or trout, I recommend planning to go in August - silvers and fat, fat rainbows.
The rainbows are all catch-and-release.
There is a good King salmon run in July.
If your ship docks in Seward, Ray's is a great cajun restaurant with awesome seafood.
The rainbows are all catch-and-release.
There is a good King salmon run in July.
If your ship docks in Seward, Ray's is a great cajun restaurant with awesome seafood.
-
Borregos
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4756
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:40 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
Went on an Alaska cruise five years ago, one of the best vacations we have ever had 
We went with Holland America, our ship is the smaller one in the picture below.
It is an experience not to be missed
We went with Holland America, our ship is the smaller one in the picture below.
It is an experience not to be missed
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Pete
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
-
.45colt
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4904
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:00 am
- Location: North Coast of America-Ohio
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
My Wife and I went last June for the 7 day inside passage on Princess.We are pushin 60 and My Wife has good and bad days with Her back so plans need to be flexible.It was our second cruise. We booked about 10 months early and a week before We departed got an e-mail from Princess that We were upgraded from our room with a balconey to a mini suite. .
It left from Seattle then up to Juneau then to,Skagway,Glacier Bay,Ketchikan,Victoria B.C.and back to Seattle.part of the package included an extra day/nite in Seattle (Great Idea).
I could fill the page and not do justice to the whole trip. the food on the Ship was fantastic.I don't spend much time at the buffet when the main dineing room is open.there is so much to do on the ship,site seeing at the ports and any number of side trips from each stop.The weather was cool and had about half of the time rain on and off,other days were Sunny.
We took the bush plane from Ketchikan to the Misty Fjords National Monument where they land on the lake.......Breathtaking... it was expensive but when am I going to do it again?
The day We were in Glacier Bay was cloudy with light rain and the Glaciers were a irredecint blue color. unbeleavible. back in Seattle We toured the city went to Pikes Market and the Pike Brewing Co,had a great time there. We would Go on the trip again.
.It left from Seattle then up to Juneau then to,Skagway,Glacier Bay,Ketchikan,Victoria B.C.and back to Seattle.part of the package included an extra day/nite in Seattle (Great Idea).
I could fill the page and not do justice to the whole trip. the food on the Ship was fantastic.I don't spend much time at the buffet when the main dineing room is open.there is so much to do on the ship,site seeing at the ports and any number of side trips from each stop.The weather was cool and had about half of the time rain on and off,other days were Sunny.
We took the bush plane from Ketchikan to the Misty Fjords National Monument where they land on the lake.......Breathtaking... it was expensive but when am I going to do it again?
The day We were in Glacier Bay was cloudy with light rain and the Glaciers were a irredecint blue color. unbeleavible. back in Seattle We toured the city went to Pikes Market and the Pike Brewing Co,had a great time there. We would Go on the trip again.
-
handirifle
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1146
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:38 pm
- Location: Central Coast of CA
- Contact:
Re: Alaska cruise experience?
my wife and I took a Princess cruise about 6 years ago. Flew from LAX to Anchorage, got on a bus from Anchorage to Whittier, AK (about a 1hr ride if I remember correctly), good tour guide on the bus. We boarded the ship there, and cruised to Vancouver, Canada, and flew home from there. Seven day cruise. We preferred this route because we never backtracked.
The ship made about 5 or 6 stops, and we booked excursions at nearly every one of them, including train rides, float plane rides, whale watching, and a couple that got canceled due to weather. We saw sights we will never forget and enjoyed every minute of the trip.
We went in August and had fantastic weather, for all but about 1 1/2 days. We ate onboard, cause we figured we had already paid for it so why pay again. Met some great folks. This was about our 5th or 6th cruise, first one to Alaska, and the best by far.
The ship made about 5 or 6 stops, and we booked excursions at nearly every one of them, including train rides, float plane rides, whale watching, and a couple that got canceled due to weather. We saw sights we will never forget and enjoyed every minute of the trip.
We went in August and had fantastic weather, for all but about 1 1/2 days. We ate onboard, cause we figured we had already paid for it so why pay again. Met some great folks. This was about our 5th or 6th cruise, first one to Alaska, and the best by far.